transcribing rules

[DrSax]

Since I've upgraded my iMac, I can now use Quicktime to slow down tracks. It's been awhile since I've transcribed anything and now I'm back on this kick, and I gotta say, I learn more transcribing one solo from one of the jazz greats than all the method books combined. Just finished "Freddie Freeloader", and several bars of Coltrane's solo on "Blue Trane"...man. It's all there! Learn from the greats!


*not slagging on method books, btw, i have a ton of them and they definitely got my head pointed in the right direction. But the lessons are endless with the stack of cd's sitting on my table....

[Dajbro]

I agree. Every time I think about spending more money on yet another book, I stop and ask myself, "what will I get from that book that I couldn't get from transcribing a particular CD?" The majority of the time I realize I don't need the book.

David

[gennation]

Yeah Freddie will show you TONS. I haven't transcribed the full solo's but piece instead. Wynton Kelly's solo is amongst one of the best. The way John starts his solo out is sweet too.

Nothing beats sitting down with the masters and getting what you can from them.

Are you going to make the transcriptions available? There's a great notated/tabbed version of Wynton's solo on the Net if you look hard enough. Looks like some of it's down an octave though.

[Aj_rocker]

i spend alot of times each day doing this stuff and i have to say i have learnt styles quicker than using books cus you hear all the inflections of the style.


Aj

[cyb3rvampire]

+10000000000000000000bajillion

[DrSax]

Yeah Freddie will show you TONS. I haven't transcribed the full solo's but piece instead. Wynton Kelly's solo is amongst one of the best. The way John starts his solo out is sweet too.

Nothing beats sitting down with the masters and getting what you can from them.

Are you going to make the transcriptions available? There's a great notated/tabbed version of Wynton's solo on the Net if you look hard enough. Looks like some of it's down an octave though.

oh man, I'm not a pro transcriber or anything, mainly scribbles on paper, but now that I think about it, I do remember coltrane's solo on Blue Trane somewhere on the net, I'll look around....

Wynton's solo on Freddie is incredible, yes. All of it is great, obviously, but Cannonball just kills me on Kind of Blue....

[gennation]

but Cannonball just kills me on Kind of Blue....

You got! I think he's the glue on that album, right between Miles stylistic playing and John frienzies...Cannonballs right in the middle keeping the Jazz.

It's funny how different All Blues sounds musically compare to the other up-tempo tunes...and it's because Cannonball takes the second solo. It's like it lifts Miles blues to Jazz when Cannonball takes over, and then John plays next and takes it out. Nice succession.

[Clifford-D]

Rule #1. Be accurate

[TehSuperFox]

Transcribing rules indeed. I've been using the program Transcribe! to learn Minor Leaps by Jonathan Kreisberg (if anyone's heard it). Kickass song.

I'm writing it all out in Sibelius, and I think often the hardest part about transcription is the rhythm.

But yeah, it's helped me loads so far and I'm gonna keep at it for as long as I can.

[dkaplowitz]

I'm writing it all out in Sibelius, and I think often the hardest part about transcription is the rhythm.
I would be inclined to agree! Ties, rests, over the barline stuff, odd syncopations, etc... man! Though some harmonies (for me) take a strong second place.