first attempt at transcribing

[bassinplace]

Just by ear, not notation. I just got to the point recently where I can hear stuff and pick it out relatively easy, so I've decided to start teaching myself songs by ear. The problem is so far I get about a third to half way through, lose interest, and move onto something else.

So, I told myself I'm going to finish something. I picked "Furry Sings The Blues" by Joni Mitchell.

I'm just wondering how long it takes some of you folks to learn a song this way. I've been putting about two hours a night into it for a week and I'm about two thirds of the way through. Is this a decent time frame? I know it doesn't matter, takes however long it takes, but just curious on other people's experience. Also, how would you rate this song in terms of difficulty? Thanks for entertaining my silly questions.

[1958Bassman]

Originally Posted by bassinplace

Just by ear, not notation. I just got to the point recently where I can hear stuff and pick it out relatively easy, so I've decided to start teaching myself songs by ear. The problem is so far I get about a third to half way through, lose interest, and move onto something else.

So, I told myself I'm going to finish something. I picked "Furry Sings The Blues" by Joni Mitchell.

I'm just wondering how long it takes some of you folks to learn a song this way. I've been putting about two hours a night into it for a week and I'm about two thirds of the way through. Is this a decent time frame? I know it doesn't matter, takes however long it takes, but just curious on other people's experience. Also, how would you rate this song in terms of difficulty? Thanks for entertaining my silly questions.

Listen to it while you drive or ride for a couple of days and I'd bet you'll be able to play it sooner. That way, you'll know how the song goes and you won't need to learn the song AND the bass part at the same time. Also, play the melody first, then the bass part.

[elgecko]

That's not really transcribing, that's only half the process.

I don't know that song but if you've already put 14 hours into it, you might want to start with something a bit easier.

[bassinplace]

Originally Posted by 1958Bassman

Listen to it while you drive or ride for a couple of days and I'd bet you'll be able to play it sooner. That way, you'll know how the song goes and you won't need to learn the song AND the bass part at the same time. Also, play the melody first, then the bass part.

It's one of my favorite songs. That's why I picked it. I never listened to the bass part too closely though. It's been interesting spending so much time with it. I used to think it was a really pretty song, but now really getting inside of it and the headspace of the bassist on the recording (Jaco Max Bennett), I realize how sad the song really is.

[bassinplace]

Originally Posted by elgecko

That's not really transcribing, that's only half the process.

I don't know that song but if you've already put 14 hours into it, you might want to start with something a bit easier.

No! I said I'm going to finish it and I will! I'm almost there! Maybe once I'm done I'll try writing it out buy my reading skills are weak, to say the least. The time spent though includes getting it note perfect with the recording and memorizing it to the point where I can play it without thinking about it. Maybe it is a pretty difficult song.

[giacomini]

Originally Posted by 1958Bassman

Listen to it while you drive or ride for a couple of days and I'd bet you'll be able to play it sooner. That way, you'll know how the song goes and you won't need to learn the song AND the bass part at the same time. Also, play the melody first, then the bass part.

+1

I call it interiorization. After listening to a song (or a bunch of songs) many times I'm able to finish the learning process easier, because I already know the structures and can guess the chord changes by ear.

If I pick up a hard song I experience the same thing as the OP, as it becomes harder, I lose interest. But eventually I'll come back to it, and I'll be already half way thru.

When I was really woodshedding, few years ago, I'd pick some hard songs like Sir Duke (well, it was hard to me back then...) or some bass lesson video (like the Nathan East one from the '90s) and work my way thru the whole song/exercise until I mastered it. Yes, it was tedious and made my wrist and fingers ache, but after I learned that was it, instantly became a piece of cake. I can play any song I learned back then now with no effort; muscle memory is an enduring thing!

[brydo]

Software can be your friend (if not already). I record the song I'm transcribing from iTunes or CD into Audacity (a free general-purpose audio app). Audacity allows me to slow the song down while maintaining pitch and lets me loop small clips. A good notation software such as Finale (or one of its less expensive siblings such as Finale Notepad) allow you to enter the notes in traditional and tab notation and will even play back the music to give you an idea if what you entered is correct.

I find that transcribing first and then learning to play it later makes the process go a bit faster, but go with whatever works for you.

Oh... and - like anything else - the more you do it, the easier it gets.

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by brydo

Software can be your friend (if not already). I record the song I'm transcribing from iTunes or CD into Audacity (a free general-purpose audio app). Audacity allows me to slow the song down while maintaining pitch and lets me loop small clips. A good notation software such as Finale (or one of its less expensive siblings such as Finale Notepad) allow you to enter the notes in traditional and tab notation and will even play back the music to give you an idea if what you entered is correct.

I find that transcribing first and then learning to play it later makes the process go a bit faster, but go with whatever works for you.

Oh... and - like anything else - the more you do it, the easier it gets.

I use a program called Capo. It's not cheap, but it works really well in both changing pitch and slowing down a tune, as well as isolating bass and reducing vocals.

[bassinplace]

Song #1, done! That was FUN! I think I'll do a song by Chicago next.

[elgecko]

Sweet. Start with 25 or 6 to 4...it shouldn't take you too long.

[1958Bassman]

Originally Posted by elgecko

Sweet. Start with 25 or 6 to 4...it shouldn't take you too long.

Or Teentown. Nice and simple, right?

[bassinplace]

Originally Posted by elgecko

Sweet. Start with 25 or 6 to 4...it shouldn't take you too long.

Nice. I think I'm gonna work on "Listen". I'm sure I'll get to that one eventually though. Thanks!

[bassinplace]

Originally Posted by 1958Bassman

Or Teentown. Nice and simple, right?

Well...I was kinda checkin' out "Hanova" but that's a mighty big chunk to bite off. Somewhere down the road though....

[carlthegroover]

I guess it depends on the person whether he/she should learn a song note for note or just the gist of it and give the song his/her own style.

I'm also starting to seriously learn songs by ear, but I only want the gist (but neither too close to the original song to be a clone of it, nor too loose to barely resemble it) as I prefer to play songs my own way. Since I consider I have a pretty solid notion of time and rhythm I can do so and even go back to the main groove even if I deviate/ screw up sometimes.

I guess that learning songs note by note could become pretty boring easily. Especially with hard songs that one needs to play and try again and again.

Originally Posted by giacomini

I call it interiorization. After listening to a song (or a bunch of songs) many times I'm able to finish the learning process easier, because I already know the structures and can guess the chord changes by ear.

Yeah, I've noticed that in my playing too. If I already know a song by just listening to it, I have a better understanding of the rhythmic pattern and chord changes. Not that I get it the first time, but it is way easier than a song I've never heard before.