Transciribing Tips

[J-B'ass]

Hey guys and gals,

Transcribing is becoming a much bigger part of my practice routine, and I was wondering if anyone had any interesting tips to offer. It's not like I've never transcribed before, I'm just generally interested in other peoples' take on it is.

One thing I will recommend is the program 'Transcribe!'. The main use being the ability to slow down the track without changing the pitch, and vice versa. Another cool thing is that you can have a guide tone ringing out at any pitch to compare against the track you're transcribing. Free 30-day trial, but doesn't cost much to buy.

Cheers all!

[Lichtaffen]

That is a good program, I did the trial.

Here's my crazy technique: I imagine that back before tape recorders were a household item, musicians used to just keep playing a record (vinyl) over and over until they learned the material. I just loop a song in iTunes and play along with it until I get it. Granted, you probably won't be learning any Jaco solos with this method, but it has helped me to learn bass parts in relation to the song, not a looped slowed down phrase.

My 2 cents. Take it or leave it.

[Rudreax]

Originally Posted by Lichtaffen

That is a good program, I did the trial.

Here's my crazy technique: I imagine that back before tape recorders were a household item, musicians used to just keep playing a record (vinyl) over and over until they learned the material. I just loop a song in iTunes and play along with it until I get it. Granted, you probably won't be learning any Jaco solos with this method, but it has helped me to learn bass parts in relation to the song, not a looped slowed down phrase.

My 2 cents. Take it or leave it.

This is what I've done whenever I wanted to learn something.

Maybe it's just me, but when I've listen to a song countless times I seem to be able to slow it down or speed it up in my head easily. I prefer doing this as opposed to using things like Transcribe! (not to know them, they are useful things to use) since I force myself to internalize the entire piece before I learn, and can hear and learn different parts easily in context of the entire piece.

[foderaman77]

I usually convert a MP3 to a WAV file and import to an audio program like soundforge. I then mark up the file per measure. That way I know what notes per measure (which you can then convert to notation) and can practice by looping a section. You can even time stretch for those fast licks. I think you can do the same with Audacity. I think.

[Zombbg4]

Try a search, good amount of info on the subject.

I use transcribe and love it. Selecting parts of the song is easy, EQing is cool and very useful especially for bass lines, and it slows it down crazy slow. I wouldn't recommend going below 50% though, if you need it for more than a few phrases try an easier solo, don't use it as a crutch.

[Chris K]

I received old school training. Music paper, pencil, eraser, human ear. No musical instrument, let alone electronics. Forgive me for not counting the computer notation programme I use today.

My transcribing tips:
In complex cases, start with the rhythmic notation on a scrap of paper; you need one line only. Split up the passage into the smallest note/rest values present (like 16th notes). Drum 16th notes add 'sing' the passage over them (either in tune or ignoring the height of the notes for the time being.
Writing down rhythms is an essential phase learning to transcribe. My teacher used to drum them with his teaspoon on the rim of his cup... and they were xxxx complex.
Then fill in the actual notes, starting with the notes you are sure about.

The rest is just about doing lots and lots of it. No idea what the future might bring, but I can assure you this method, once you master it, is way faster than anything else.

[Stumbo]

Here are some links that may improve your transcribing skills:


~Software: Notation, Transcribe, Slow Down, Loop, Record, Metronome,Utilities
1 Slow down
2
3

BestPractice-free, easy to use, slow downer/pitch shifter/looper/vocal remover/bass isolator/ backing track maker

1 Suggestions for music notatation software
2
Transcribe/read transcriptions free online
Let the computer transcribe your played notes
Transciptions examples
Taking transcribing to the next level

Making chord charts w/lyrics

Metronome-odd time sigs.
Victor's metronome lesson

Free music software
Cheap/good recording software
Guitar Pro

~Ear training
Goodear.com
Test your ear
Free downloadable ear trainer (basic/advanced) Solfege. Great program
Trainers/tutorials. Music theory, ear training, read music, chords, intervals, etc.
Discussion of Solfege

[Intenzity]

What I do:
1) Map the form - verse, chorus, first ending..what ever it is, get a map of the entire form of the tune.
2) Main chord progression, root notes, fill in the chords bar by bar
3) Measure-by-measure going through and getting the bass notes and rhythms.

[Kevin.Kevin]

^ exactly my method.

Start with big picture, then get smaller. Basically fills itself out when you do it that way.

[Lichtaffen]

Great advice. I've found that writing the structure of the whole piece out ahead of time helps a lot, then you just fill in the blanks. Plus visualizing the rhythm helps me a lot.

Originally Posted by Chris K

I received old school training. Music paper, pencil, eraser, human ear. No musical instrument, let alone electronics. Forgive me for not counting the computer notation programme I use today.

My transcribing tips:
In complex cases, start with the rhythmic notation on a scrap of paper; you need one line only. Split up the passage into the smallest note/rest values present (like 16th notes). Drum 16th notes add 'sing' the passage over them (either in tune or ignoring the height of the notes for the time being.
Writing down rhythms is an essential phase learning to transcribe. My teacher used to drum them with his teaspoon on the rim of his cup... and they were xxxx complex.
Then fill in the actual notes, starting with the notes you are sure about.

The rest is just about doing lots and lots of it. No idea what the future might bring, but I can assure you this method, once you master it, is way faster than anything else.