How to chart

Guiseppe · #1 07-31-2005, 02:09 AM

Ok, I've played for a long time, but am FINALLY getting serious about playing, and this coming Wednesday I have an audition for a blues band that has a lot of people talking in the Portland area. Our styles of music seem to be a good fit, but today the guitar player (leader) told me "bring something you can chart on". Now I now a little on sight reading, but I just haven't ever done transcription. What can you experts tell me that might give me a good idea how I can walk in and not completely show my inexperience on this?

Thanks!
Joe

Jazzin' · #2 07-31-2005, 08:10 AM

Blank music notation sheets?

Bruce Lindfield · #3 08-01-2005, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guiseppe

Ok, I've played for a long time, but am FINALLY getting serious about playing, and this coming Wednesday I have an audition for a blues band that has a lot of people talking in the Portland area. Our styles of music seem to be a good fit, but today the guitar player (leader) told me "bring something you can chart on". Now I now a little on sight reading, but I just haven't ever done transcription. What can you experts tell me that might give me a good idea how I can walk in and not completely show my inexperience on this?

Thanks!
Joe

It may be that you're not talking about musical notation as such...?

So, when somebody says "chart" - to me, it usually means an outline of the "form" of the tune - that is : 4 bars of Bb7, 2 bars of Eb7 ...etc. etc.

If so, blank notation sheets with added barlines - say, 4 bars a line is easy to read - may be useful - but you can use any kind of blank paper really - ruled staves can help, but aren't essential if it's a "chart" of the chord progression , rather than a fully-written "part".

wulf · #4 08-01-2005, 07:44 AM

You can grab a PDF file giving you blank manuscript paper from various places on the Internet. The one I normally use came from Dolmetsch.com. At most rehearsals, I've take a few sheets of this in my music folder and a sharp pencil. You can scribble words and chords on it but it is handy if you do want to notate a particular riff - you just need to write it clearly enough to read back sometime in the next few days, at which point you can transcribe it more neatly.

I also take a minidisc recorder with me. I actually take most of my notes using that and write them up later but it's all part of being prepared and making the most of rehearsal time.

Wulf

Pruitt · #5 08-01-2005, 11:18 AM

You can print all kinds of different types of sheet music from here.

http://www.blanksheetmusic.net/

Good luck getting the gig!!!

Guiseppe · #6 08-01-2005, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

It may be that you're not talking about musical notation as such...?

So, when somebody says "chart" - to me, it usually means an outline of the "form" of the tune - that is : 4 bars of Bb7, 2 bars of Eb7 ...etc. etc.

If so, blank notation sheets with added barlines - say, 4 bars a line is easy to read - may be useful - but you can use any kind of blank paper really - ruled staves can help, but aren't essential if it's a "chart" of the chord progression , rather than a fully-written "part".

Gotcha. I admit to being a little rusty on my sight reading/theory, but that's definitely doable. Thanks, Bruce.

Guiseppe · #7 08-01-2005, 11:44 AM

I appreciate it! Saves me a trip (and $$$) to the local music store!

Joe

Steve · #8 08-01-2005, 02:43 PM

If you where a real pro....like me

.....you would grab a cocktial napkin and your girlfriends eyebrow pencil and chart it with nashville numbers.....

1 4 1 5 2 6 1

the_luke · #9 08-01-2005, 05:21 PM

I bring a whiteboard to rehearsals/auditions/jams. Great to quickly note the highlights of a song.