Jazz Transcription

[sthomas98]

Does anyone have any special techniques when transcribing jazz solos? I've started doing this more frequently, and I find it very hard when I'm trying to write down something being played at a million miles-per-hour, and I usually don't have matching chord sheets for the songs I transcribe. Does anyone have any sort of software/program they use to slow down fast jazz solos when transcribing, to make it a little easier to hear each note to write down?

[Gonzalez]

Amazing SlowDowner
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[Turkle]

If you do it a whole lot, like every day, eventually your ear will get to the point where you don't need to slow it down so much.

But more importantly, when transcribing, I don't think you shouldn't be going directly from the recording to the paper. You should listen to the recording and then learn to play it by ear. Only after you've learned it by ear should you put it on the page.

So the process should go:

1) Listen to a phrase over and over until you can sing it exactly (this is crucial!)
2) Play it over and over on your instrument until you can exactly match the rhythm, articulation, and phrasing
3) Write it down
4) Proceed to next phrase

If you do the above, you likely won't even need to slow passages down. Get it in your ear by singing it, then transfer that to your instrument, then write it down, and you'll be good.

That's how I was taught, anyway! Your mileage may vary! There are a whole lot of different ways to learn jazz, good luck to ya.
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[djpearlman]

I agree with Turkle. I most use Logic to isolate and loop phrases, but the Looper for Youtube is very handy too.
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Dan Pearlman
Santa Fe, NM

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5NafoVeXrsRm-fOhKaIpnA

[homebilly]

Superscope half speed deck is my arm of choice
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[kehaulani]

I've found it very helpful, ref. transcribing the chords, to transcribe the bass first.

Then to hear where the major climaxes and how they're lead up to.

Then to play hunt&peck to fill in the connecting chords. I also, at times notate the rhythms alone, adding the melody to that next.
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[Turkle]

[halfgreek12]

You can slow down in youtube keeping the same pitch to .75, .5 and .25 just using the settings (under HD gear).

Steve

[kehaulani]

[utkwhite@gmail.com]

The more you transcribe, the easier it will get. Its the first few that are the most difficult.