Questions about transcribing solos.

[casivake718]

When you transcribe solos, should I take a lot of breaks to prevent fatigue chops or no? Is it okay to start getting annoyed by a solo after listening to it many times?
Is it bad to have the sheet music in front of me?

[jazz_trpt]

[cheiden]

When transcribing there may be times it's easier to figure out what's happening to use the horn, but most of the time you can transcribe using a keyboard and save the chops.

Sure transcribing can be a grind when you're starting out particularly if you need to need to cue up the recording for each additional note. But if you stick with it eventually you'll be able to be able to write out entire phrases and it'll go much quicker.
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[BeboppinFool]

There's only one thing that I need to figure out when I'm transcribing:

What's the next note?

And, when you can't hear the next note, take a break. It will come.

That's all . . . it's really not that complicated.

Also, hearing chords (to me) is equally as important as the lines somebody plays, so I always try to figure out the chords first.

Next . . . .
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[Mike Sailors]

[Turkle]

[markp]

Do you guys think it is cheating yourself to use the "Amazing Slower Downer?"

[jazz_trpt]

[Paul Tomashefsky]

Some players feel that you shouldn't transcribe (on paper) and learn the Solo by Ear.

I am of the school that you should write it down, only because I have found throughout the years that I am a visual learner. This also allows me to go back and reference Phrases and Licks later but also share them with Students. Do what works BEST for you.

1. Pick a player / Solo that is at a level that you can easily transcribe, at least for the first several. Gradually build up to more complex rhythms and harmonic structures as you move from one Solo to the next.

2. Listen to the Solo many times, before attempting to play, transcribe. To the point where you can sing it from memory. Drummer Tony Williams would do this and it was one of the things that helped get him to play in Miles Davis' band.

3. If you don't have Keyboard chops, I would suggest working on the melodic / rhythmic transcription First, before transcribing the Chords.

4. Transcribe 4 - 8 Bars at a time. Taking small bites will avoid the frustration level, and allow you to make small positive accomplishments along the way as opposed to trying to learn the entire Solo in one fell swoop.

5. If you run into a challenging rhythm / phrase, and can't seem to figure it out, you can have a friend (Drummer -Pianist) give you a hand, or point you in the right direction.

6. Practice each section of the solo as you transcribe it, and then practice the entire solo after you complete it with the recording and then without. Pick out small "Jazz Licks" or sections that really interest you or "Grab your Ear" and practice these in different keys, and at different tempos. This will allow your Ear and Fingers to subliminally digest these into your own playing and allow you to incorporate them into your improvisation.

The Bottom Line is Have Fun and good luck!
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[jazz_trpt]

[Turkle]

When I first started transcribing, years ago, I would have to go "note by note" and write 'em down as I went. My ears weren't good enough to pick up the harmonic structure of the tune so that's all I could do. I had to first get it on the page and later figure out what was going on harmonically and melodically.

Now, after a whole lotta years, I can recognize harmonic structure by ear and because of that, it's infinitely easier to just pick out the notes and patterns they're using, the color tones, etc. So now I learn whole phrases on the horn as I go, getting them in the fingers first and only later putting them down on the page so I can analyze it in more detail later.

But I still have to use the "Amazing Slow Downer" or similar from time to time on bizarre or very fast passages! (Wynton, my man, you're killing me.)

So while writing it down is important, I find that after years of this sort of thing I do most of the transcription work "off the page," which helps develop those BIG EARS we all are trying to earn.

Cheers!
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