Transcription Approaches

[emilio g]

I'm transcribing more than I ever have at the moment and I'm learning lots of good stuff.

Generally, I use Transcribe! to slow things down, then I write down the solo or bass line, and learn it. But I'm curious as to how everyone else approaches it.

-Do you memorize transcriptions often or approach them more analytically? Both?

-If you've slowed something down substantially, but still are having trouble hearing the notes, how do you work past that?

-I've been transcribing the melodies and chords to tunes I want to learn. Its really helping me open up my ears and get the music to stick in my head for more than a week or two. Does anyone here do this? Most people I know use a lead sheet or fake book to learn new tunes.


Tips, tricks, and any other wisdom is appreciated!

[Phil Rowan]

Have you tried transcribing without an instrument at hand? I've done this a few times, using only a tuning fork to get a note and figure out what the first note of whichever solo I was transcribing was. The first one I did was the melody for Coltrane's "Resolution".. just went to the park w/ my manuscript paper and ipod and went to work.

[Bubbabass]

When I do this (which isn't nearly often enough), I listen to a phrase enough times to sing it accurately, then try it on my bass, then finally write it down. By this time, it is usually memorized.

When things are hard to hear (generally fast notes in the low register), I make educated guesses based on the chord/scale and see if it sounds right. Something that works for me is to focus first on the rhythm, and often that will lead me to the right notes.

Things often turn out simpler than I try to make them.

[emilio g]

Things often turn out simpler than I try to make them.

Yes.

As for transcribing away from an instrument, my teacher was telling me he did that all the time when he was on tour and stuck at an airport or where ever. I can't do this very accurately...yet.

On my next exam I have to write out lead sheets to about a dozen tunes. Not simple ones either...'Round Midnight, Moment's Notice, Stablemates, Along Came Betty, Naima, etc.

To prepare, I'm going to transcribe the chords and melody with bass and piano at hand, then try it again a day or two later with nothing. I think that would be more productive than just copying the lead sheet over and over (which got me through exams, but musically is pretty useless).

[Chris Fitzgerald]

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[Phil Rowan]

Originally Posted by emilio g

As for transcribing away from an instrument, my teacher was telling me he did that all the time when he was on tour and stuck at an airport or where ever. I can't do this very accurately...yet.

Just start with something simple and not too fast (say, Dexter Gordon or Lester Young). If you can hear intervals, you can do this. The first time I did this, it's not like I just breezed by with it. It was pretty tough and time consuming, but by the end I'd picked up a little flow.

Oh yeah, check out Chris' link.

[emilio g]

Chris, awesome link. Definitely assured me that I'm at the right stage in my technique to be transcribing my ass off. Also, I hadn't checked out Drew Gress much..he's fantastic. I'm a huge Anders Jormin fan so Drew's playing was right up my alley.