Importance of Transcribing?

[Natethegreat]

Hello all, I've been playing for a bit over a year, and I am a competent player for the time I've been playing. I've nearly mastered the front half of the fretboard (knowing note names quickly and being able to find things etc.) have my major and minors down, know my pentatonics, I work through 15 minutes of two different books nearly everytime I practice, but still don't feel competent at writing basslines. I was wondering if maybe I should start trying to transcribe songs, and that will help on the creative instead of technical aspect of stuff. How important would you guys say transcribing was to you in becoming a competent and creative bass player?

[projectMalamute]

Your ear is very important, and it is absolutely part of the technical stuff.

More important than technique, more important than theory, more important than reading.

Being able to hear something and immediately know what it is is the single most important skill you can have as a musician.

So yeah, I'd spend some time transcribing.

[Snarf]

Yeah, if you're having trouble hearing what you should be playing in your head, then transcribing bass lines is a MUST.

I found that transcribing bass lines and improvised solos (all instruments) was enormously liberating for my technique and my musical vocabulary. It also helps improve your sight reading.

[MalcolmAmos]

Analyzing has helped me. Transcribing by ear takes some skill and is not mastered over night. I'm not there yet.

I found in analyzing bass clef sheet music that roots, fives and eights account for a lot of the bass lines being used in the music I play. Pick up your church hymnal and look at the bass clef - before the service starts...... I think you will be amazed how transparent these bass lines are. Most of the time less is more.

Whether it's reading sheet music or transcribing by ear learning what has been done by others has value.

[Natethegreat]

Originally Posted by MalcolmAmos

Analyzing has helped me. Transcribing by ear takes some skill and is not mastered over night. I'm not there yet.

I found in analyzing bass clef sheet music that roots, fives and eights account for a lot of the bass lines being used in the music I play. Pick up your church hymnal and look at the bass clef - before the service starts...... I think you will be amazed how transparent these bass lines are. Most of the time less is more.

Whether it's reading sheet music or transcribing by ear learning what has been done by others has value.

Is the bass in hymnals not bass for the vocal parts? Thats what I always thought and thats how it is on the sheet music we play typically at my church (we only play out of a hymnal maybe 30% of the time) but after I learn any piece of music I try to analyse it, find patterns and such and figure out how the different notes work together

[Melodious_Thump]

Like you, Natethegreat, I've been playing for a short time. I'm learning theory, reading, etc. and have found that transcribing has helped me turn the corner in terms of things "falling into place". Transcribing your favorite songs helps the ear, improves reading, gives you that boost in confidence that things are coming along and keeps you motivated.

Additionally, the fact that you can learn/play the basslines that some of the all-time greats created is a benefit that you can't put a price on. Why not learn from the best to ever thump 'em?

[Intenzity]

You can learn more about creating bass lines from transcribing a great one than you can out of 10 books.

Books and videos are a second-half-of-the-twentieth-century ONLY option. Only we get that as an option to learn how to play. Every bass player before us learned by figuring out stuff other people had played, either from records or by listening. That was it.

Transcribing encompasses everything you need in one exercise - ear training, rhythm, composition, harmony.

Start a binder for your transcriptions, pick out your favorite CD's and just start through it. It goes slow at first, but don't get discouraged, keep at it. There are several programs that can assist in getting through it a bit faster (just search here, it has been discussed a lot).

[devine]

Transcribing = SUPER IMPORTANT!

Also, on another note... heard this the other day which really made me laugh (but it's true)...

Pick up your instrument and play twinkle twinkle little star... DON'T WORK IT OUT BEFOREHAND! You've heard this tune your whole life, you know how it goes!...If you can't play it straight off without any mistakes what are you doing when your improvising?... work on your ear training!

Food for thought

Easy man,

Scott.

Free Online Bass Lessons - Scott's Bass Lessons
SCOTT DEVINE-BASS PLAYER-COMPOSER-EDUCATOR

[Natethegreat]

Originally Posted by devine

Transcribing = SUPER IMPORTANT!

Also, on another note... heard this the other day which really made me laugh (but it's true)...

Pick up your instrument and play twinkle twinkle little star... DON'T WORK IT OUT BEFOREHAND! You've heard this tune your whole life, you know how it goes!...If you can't play it straight off without any mistakes what are you doing when your improvising?... work on your ear training!

Food for thought

Easy man,

Scott.

Free Online Bass Lessons - Scott's Bass Lessons
SCOTT DEVINE-BASS PLAYER-COMPOSER-EDUCATOR

Would 2 mistakes be acceptable? haha, thats what I got. Although I tried to work out a few other simple songs and did so pretty well. It got me to start writing this pretty sick chording version of amazing grace....

[narud]

if youre not transcribing youre not trying