Transcribing methods

[samzemuel]

How do you guys go about transcribing well anything? Im pretty poor at hearing a line and being able to figure it out. I understand that some hard work and dedication is needed, what I would like to know us there any specific methods that you use? Cheers

[MalcolmAmos]

I'm not very good at transcribing melody, I can given enough time pick out a melody on the keyboard. Of course write it down as you go. I am pretty good at coming up with the chord progression. Course I've been playing rhythm guitar for over 10 years and jamming bass lines (no sheet music) for a couple of years now.

I assume some things and run with them until I'm proven wrong. Hunt the key first, that gives me a hint of what scale notes will be found in the melody and what chord progressions will be used in the chord line. Knowing the key and the chords helps with what melody notes will probably be in play. Having the lyrics also helps. Normally one melody note per lyric word. Two syllable words have two melody notes - what chord is over the lyric word, it's chord tones are a pretty good bet to be in the melody.

It all starts with the key.

Takes time, in my case quite a bit of time, however, it's not rocket science and it is fun, give it a try.

The above gives you a lead sheet - no bass clef. I leave the bass line to the bassist.

[bassybill]

Originally Posted by samzemuel

How do you guys go about transcribing well anything? Im pretty poor at hearing a line and being able to figure it out. I understand that some hard work and dedication is needed, what I would like to know us there any specific methods that you use? Cheers

Just take it one bar at a time - works for me. I use Sibelius notation software and nearly always try to nail the exact rhythm first as far as inputting the notes goes. When I've done that, I drag the dots up or down the stave to get the pitches right. Sometimes I'll use my bass first to play along and figure out what's happening, other times I can do it right there in Sibelius without needing to pick my bass up at all.

[over_the_moon]

Invest in some tools. I like Seventh String's Transcribe! software ($50). You can slow a song down, loop bits and pieces, and annotate it to mark the beats, measures and sections. Plus it has a spectrum analyzer that helps you determine what notes you're hearing. Pick up some notation software to write out what you hear. You can also buy ear training software to sharpen your hearing. EarMasterPro is pretty good at $60 or so.

[Intenzity]

Internalizing it is very important, humming/singing/matching the notes you want to figure out anyway you can until you can hear it in your head.

Also check out "Transcribe" from Seventh String Software. It makes the management of looping sections and getting through a transcription very easy.

There is no real trick, at first it is hard, and it goes slooooooow, but the more you do it, the quicker it goes, but no matter what there are always going to be tough spots to hear. Sometimes its the mix sometimes it is just hard to hear them.

And don't start with a 19 minute magnum opus song in 7/8, ya know? Start simple so you can feel like you are making progress. Check out old Albert King records, BB King, or Booker T albums with Duck Dunn on them. They all have clear bass and they are almost all blues tunes so you can concentrate on the notes themselves instead of having to worry about the progressions. Then just go through it measure by measure.

Hear - sing/hum - play (on your bass or on a keyboard), write.

Repeat 100,000 times.

[JimmyM]

Start with simple stuff...on the level of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" if need be. A good ear doesn't happen overnight. You have to develop it. Start with the baby stuff, not Coltrane.

[Stumbo]

Transcribing is a combination of skills. Here are a few links to check out:

~Newbie Sight Reading
Beginner's Bass Clef tips
"Name that note" online SN game
Downloadable read "bass clef" software
Online bass clef audio/visual trainer
print bass clef flashcards/staff paper

~Newbie Rhythm
1 Learn rhythm
2

~Transcribing, Music Notation, Chord Charts, Software, Online
Intro to transcribing
Transcriptions to practice;many with .mp3 files. Click on Transcriptions
200+ Free transcriptions-Arcellus Sykes
TB transcriptions thread
1 Suggestions for music notatation software
2
Let the computer transcribe your played notes
Taking transcribing to the next level
Making chord charts w/lyrics

~Ear training
Goodear.com
Test your ear
Free downloadable ear trainer (basic/advanced) Solfege. Xlnt program
Trainers/tutorials. Music theory, ear training, read music, chords, intervals, etc.
Online Visual Beginning Theory, ear trainer

~Sight Reading
{url=www.studybass.com/lessons/reading-music/bass-clef-fretboard-notes/bass-clef-notes-fretboard.pdf}Note: paste web address to your search bar to Download this cool doc: clef to fretboard translation. Memorize this!
1 Learning
2
Improving
Practicing
Sight reading source material
Transcribe/read transcriptions free online

[devine]

I know it sounds daft... I used to sit watching TV with my bass and work out the TV ad music in between movies etc. It wasn't a conscious thing though... just something I did as a kid... for years, drove my parents wild!

My advice to you is transcribe anything and everything. But don't make a chore out of it. Stupid stuff like... 'The Simpsons' (great use of the sharp eleventh), 'The Flintstones' (is based on the chords of Rhythm Changes'), X files... etc, etc ,etc.

Once you can get simple melodies down it's going to be soooooo much easier when it comes to taking down walking bass lines, solo's etc.

Easy man,

Scott.

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

[stratovani]

For the longest time now one of the things on my musical "wish list" was to be able to play the opening keyboard sequence of Genesis' "Watcher Of The Skies". I started searching YouTube for a video that would show me how to play the chords that made up the song, and I found a video of someone playing it on their IPad using a Mellotron app. It was clear enough for me to see which keys he was using, so I wrote down on paper each individual fingering for the chords and in no time I was playing Watcher! All this time I was wondering what transcribing was all about and here I was transcribing! Sometimes you learn by accident!

In reading this thread I came across this website that Stumbo has on his list. After reading it I know more about it than I ever did. I don't think I'll ever have the need to transcribe a song note-for-note, but I have scribbled up quickie chord charts for myself in the past, and for me that has been a useful skill to have. Thanks, Stumbo!

[mambo4]

I don't transcribe for educational value, usually I'm trying out for an original band and I need to get their material down.
Depending on the complexity of the song, and how specific the bass line needs to be it takes me anywhere from 10-30 minutes.
(These are fairly typical pop songs...) My transcriptions are not note-for note, but I end up with a chart that I find useful.

My process is like this:
I plug my iPod into my headphone amp.
I have blank staff paper pre marked with 4 or 8 bars to the line.

I generally work in 4 passes:

1.) first outline the song structure:
I listen to the song and write numbers down for each chord change,
-these are not 'nashville numbers' or I-iv-IV-V chord symbols. I'm just
making a note of when the changes occur
if I think hear the same chord again I use the same number.
when a chorus/verse/solo happens I glance at my iPod and note the time.
-very helpful
I mark repeats as I come across them.
If there are extra ninja bars for filler between sections, I usually
mark them with a + as a reminder

2.)second, identify chords/ root notes
Freed from concerns about structure, I play along and find the roots
and note the chords
I noticed I often use 'nashville numbers' at this point, because its
easier to identify intervals than actual pitch names.

3.)rhythms for parts
Using actual music notes, w/ out worrying about pitch, I make a brief
note of the basic rhythm for each section

4.) specific passages (if needed)
finally, I identify specific phrases that I think ought to be nailed
precisely, usually turnarounds and transitions.
I can't sight read these, so its more to remind me me how they go.

[samzemuel]

Awesome stuff guys so much to work through, i shall update progress at sonera point. Cheers guys!