Trouble transcribing jazz greats

cire113 · #1 10-17-2011, 11:51 AM

I've been trying to transcribe jazz but man alot of it is just too dam fast for me it seems; Is there a period of jazz that was played slower where I could transcribe and still learn the jazz language???

I'm trying to learn Parker, trane, etc

Ed Fuqua · #2 10-17-2011, 12:08 PM

Why not start where Bird did, with Lester Young?

TroyK · #3 10-17-2011, 12:10 PM

Or Ben Webster, very approachable.

Sweets Edison is a good choice too, not acrobatic, easy to hear and bluesy as a mofo.

Michael Case · #4 10-17-2011, 12:16 PM

As far as who to transcribe I think Ed and Troy are 100% on the money, I'll address music players. You might want to look into some software or a cd player that will slow the music down which will make it easier to transcribe. I actually use windows media player it has a speed control. You have to rip whatever track you're transcribing onto your computer because it only works with MP3 files.

Ed Fuqua · #5 10-17-2011, 12:33 PM

I use AUDACITY...

Michael Case · #6 10-17-2011, 01:47 PM

I didn't know Audacity had that feature. Is it better in anyway to Windows media player?

Ed Fuqua · #7 10-17-2011, 02:24 PM

I don't know, do all my music stuff on a Mac...

TroyK · #8 10-17-2011, 02:48 PM

I use Audicity for digitizing vinyl and it works great. Would work even better if I knew more about post-production work. I haven't used it to slow down or loop, but I don't doubt it. Amazing piece of free-ware.

Can I suggest, though. Find things that you can transcibe at original speed. Transcribe them to voice (sing it back) then play it in 1-4 bar phrases. Develop an ear for it and then move to faster transcriptions. It's a skill that you can learn and with practice get better at like anything else.

I'm not great at it, but they time that I've put in has produced good results.

hdiddy · #9 10-17-2011, 05:23 PM

I use Capo on the Ipod Touch or Iphone. Awesome usability and the app just kills. Blows using something like Audacity away. And you pull the music from your Ipod Touch/iPhone library. No need to transfer around. Multiple playback speeds (3/4, 1/2, and 1/4 speeds). The touch screen makes it real easy to mark bars and places to set up loops.

Very well worth the $15. I wouldn't get the mac version - that's more guitar oriented and more expensive.

cire113 · #10 10-18-2011, 07:37 PM

Cool guys thanks for the suggestions If any others come to mind lemme know in meantime ill be busy

uilleann13 · #11 10-19-2011, 02:01 AM

Also Amazing Slow Downer:

Amazing Slow Downer

Bruce Lindfield · #12 10-19-2011, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cire113

I've been trying to transcribe jazz but man alot of it is just too dam fast for me it seems; Is there a period of jazz that was played slower where I could transcribe and still learn the jazz language???

Miles doing "Funny Valentine" or anything from "Kind of Blue" ?

"Somethin' Else" by Cannonball Adderley has some very clear bass lines at medium/slow tempos?

TroyK · #13 10-19-2011, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

"Somethin' Else" by Cannonball Adderley has some very clear bass lines at medium/slow tempos?

Indeed and Sam Jones is beautiful on that record (and usually).

I've transcribed not only his lines from that record, but some of Hank Jones and Miles as well.

cire113 · #14 10-19-2011, 12:53 PM

I perfer not to "slow" things down.. I'd rather just work with slow stuff... Also I'm talking mostly about transcribing horn solo's not really bass lines..

So far ben webster and lester young rule!!!

Exactly what I was looking for...

transition · #15 10-19-2011, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cire113

So far ben webster and lester young rule!!!

Yes indeed they do!

cire113 · #16 10-24-2011, 02:44 PM

Add Louis Armstrong to the list! some really good simple melodies; anyone else got some suggestions...

Also besides Autumn Leaves, All of Me, Blue Monk, Blue Bossa.. what are other simple jazz melodies for learning the basics