First Attempts At Transcribing

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally posted by orthanc


Thanks for your help.

No problem. You're setting a good example for others, and doing the right thing. Maybe you'll start a trend.

Most importantly I would like to know if that little part that I transribed is correct (starts around 0:13 and repeats a bunch of times). If I knew I am on the right track it would be much easier to figure out the rest of the song because I could relate it to that part.
It would also be great if you could tell me if you think the chorus and bridge stray off of that "main pattern" alot (e.g. key change) or just vary it.
I think that should be all the help I need.... at least for THIS song.

Okay, here's what I'm hearing for the first section you mentioned, and remember I'm not at an instrument to check my pitches...I'll use as standard a "chord chart" format as the internet allows, using the designation "5" after a root name to denote a POWER CHORD (root-5th harmony):

Bb5..../Gb5..../Eb5..../B5..A5/ (repeat)

So, to begin with, I'm hearing "Bb" where you're hearing "A" (translation: on a normally tuned bass, I'd be starting at the 6th fret - (or 3rd string 1st fret) - where you have 5th fret marked). From there, you can check the relationships from one note to another.

What further muddies the water here is the fact that many of these "grunge" bands detune their instruments either just to be cool, or to make things easier for the singer. If they are detuned a half step, then you'd have to compensate by playing UP a half step to match pitch. Follow me? So, if they are drop tuning, you'd actually be playing the song as if it were in "B" instead of Bb. If this is confusing, let me know.

When I transcribe, I usually try to get the harmonic structure down first, and then zero in on the actual line later. The easiest way I know of to do that is to think in terms of relative pitch relationships. For instance, if you think of a chromatic scale as being 11 notes all in relation to the first one, you could notate it like this:

I, bII, II, bIII, III, IV, #IV/bV, V, bVI, VI, bVII, VII, (I)

(You could also use Arabic numerals for this, but I chose Roman ones because we're going to be denoting chord relationships with them)

Thinking this way, the section starting at 00:13 of the song breaks down like this:

I..../bVI..../IV..../bII..VII../ (repeat)

and you can make "I" any pitch you want as long as you keep the others in relation to it. Am I going too fast? Let me know.

As for the second part of the song, i don't want to give away too much, but it does START on the same chord as the first section does. The second chord is different, though.

Let me know how it's going, and if anyone wants to jump in and correct my pitch skills (I couldn't check the Bb part on an instrument before posting), please do so.


DURRLS ON PARADE

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally posted by THORASSIC SPANK


Thanks for your help.
Most importantly I would like to know if that little part that I transribed is correct (starts around 0:13 and repeats a bunch of times). If I knew I am on the right track it would be much easier to figure out the rest of the song because I could relate it to that part.
It would also be great if you could tell me if you think the chorus and bridge stray off of that "main pattern" alot (e.g. key change) or just vary it.
I think that should be all the help I need.... at least for THIS song.

coughcoughfeelfreetogoforitcoughcough

 

[danqi]

I have tried out your corrections. I would have done it earlier but I currently have very little time on my hands. I am about to finish school and am preapring for final exams and stuff. Also, I got a lot of paperwork because over here every male person has to do a little less than one year of military service after finishing school. Whenever I find the time to play bass I usually try to get through my pratice routine before dealing with stuff like transcribing.
Anyway, I wouldn't have thought that I have been so wrong. It's the same as it is always: once you know how to do it it is easy. I played your line and it definately sounds much more right than mine. It was that "Ahh, of course!" effect.
I think my problem is that I think too much in scale patterns. When there are notes that sound relatively close together I try to make them fit into a scale pattern. This worked nicely with my transcription.

Originally posted by Chris Fitzgerald
What further muddies the water here is the fact that many of these "grunge" bands detune their instruments either just to be cool, or to make things easier for the singer. If they are detuned a half step, then you'd have to compensate by playing UP a half step to match pitch. Follow me? So, if they are drop tuning, you'd actually be playing the song as if it were in "B" instead of Bb. If this is confusing, let me know.

This IS confusing. I mean, if the bassist plays a Bb then I play a Bb, no matter what his tuning is. With a different tuning he just plays a different positions than I, but as long as not notes lower than the low E are played that does not really matter, does it?

I hope to find some time to continue transcribing soon.
Thanks for your help (yeah, I know, you're just doing your job. It's what your getting paid for ).

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally posted by orthanc
I have tried out your corrections. I would have done it earlier but I currently have very little time on my hands. I am about to finish school and am preapring for final exams and stuff. Also, I got a lot of paperwork because over here every male person has to do a little less than one year of military service after finishing school. Whenever I find the time to play bass I usually try to get through my pratice routine before dealing with stuff like transcribing.

No excuses needed...I was just being an obnoxious doofus, as usual.

Anyway, I wouldn't have thought that I have been so wrong. It's the same as it is always: once you know how to do it it is easy. I played your line and it definately sounds much more right than mine. It was that "Ahh, of course!" effect.
I think my problem is that I think too much in scale patterns. When there are notes that sound relatively close together I try to make them fit into a scale pattern. This worked nicely with my transcription.

This is why I almost always find it useful to sketch out the basic harmony before going further. The bass lines on most pop/rock stuff are at least partially improvised, and it's a pretty safe bet that the player is basing the line construction off of the basic harmony in most cases.


This IS confusing. I mean, if the bassist plays a Bb then I play a Bb, no matter what his tuning is. With a different tuning he just plays a different positions than I, but as long as not notes lower than the low E are played that does not really matter, does it?


If I understand you correctly, you are entirely correct - as long as you don't have to go below the low "E", the only difference the detuning could make is a timbral one (open string vs. fretted note), and that's being a bit nitpicky for the subject at hand. Good call.


I hope to find some time to continue transcribing soon.
Thanks for your help (yeah, I know, you're just doing your job. It's what your getting paid for ).

Yeah, I'm really raking it in...

Keep at it when you have time. This stuff WILL make you a better player, and a better musician. Just say NO to TaBz.