Transcription TIps, by Andy Rothstein
I used to transcribe for Hal Leonard Publishing and Guitar World magazine back in the mid 90's, so I thought would share some tips on how to approach transcribing.
What is Transcribing?
Transcribing is the process of writing out a piece of music starting with nothing more than a recording. You can transcribe a solo (such as guitar, horn, etc), or transcribe an entire song/arrangement. If you are transcribing guitar, then it is important to learn the positions and fingerings and you may use tab notation to document the fingerings, in addition to the standard music notation. If transcribing other instruments for the purpose of playing it on a stringed instrument like guitar, then the challenge is to try and adapt fingerings for the guitar.
Why Transcribe?
It is hands down the best educational method, and something you can work on independently for the rest of your musical life. Not only will you "get inside the heads" of your favorite players, but your overall musicianship will improve dramatically.
The Tools
You really only need two tools to transcribe, above and beyond your ears and your instrument:
- Software to slow down the pitch - In the old days we would use a 1/2 speed machine for fast lines, but the problem was the 1/2 speed machine would shift the pitch was down an octave and it made it difficult to figure out the fingerings. Now I use (and highly recommend) a software product call Transcribe software by a company called Seventh String which costs $50. It allows you to slow the tempo down to any percentage (such as 50%, 25%, 80%, etc..) but the great thing is the pitch remains the same!! I sure wish I had this 20 years ago :-) I remember spending countelss hours transcribing a George Benson solo when I was 19 because I didn't have the benefit of this software.
- Music notation software - Although this isn't mandatory, it is a great way to document the transcription. Clearly, you can use just pencil and paper but it if you plan on transcribing many solos of your musical career, then it is worth the investment. Personally I use Finale PrintMusic which runs about $100. Finale offers about 5 or 6 different notation sofware products ranging in price from $20 to $600. You can read about all oof their at the Finale website.
Example Transcription
Here is an example partial transcription of legendary guitarist George Benson's solo on Off The Top (from the 1982 Jimmy Smith Album with the same title. The transcription is of the frist 14 bars, and you can listen to the first 14 bars via this link - first 14 bars. You will notice standard musical notation as well s guitar tab. I also indicated the fingerings above the musical notes. This isn't mandatory, but I find it helps me when I revisit the transcription at some time in the future, and it certainly helps to communicate with others.
How to Get the Most Mileage Out of the Transcription
I In my opinion, if you simply transcribe a solo and learn how to play it you aren't getting the most benefit you can out of the transcription. To get the most out of the process you really want to engage in a an analysis of the solo and work to "internalize" some of the phrases into your own playing. Here the steps I recommend following the transcription:
- As a jazz player, you want to identify the "critical ii/V" lines.
- If you are a guitar player, then learn each of these critical lines in at least 3 positions on the fretboard in a low register, medium register and high. . If the line is generally descending in nature, then work out a fingering that will start in the upper register and gracefully connect down the fretboard to a line in the middle register, which then connects once again to the line in the lower register. For ascending lines do the reverse.
- Next, take the aforementioned lines and play it in all 12 keys in a cycle of 4ths.
Andy Rothstein
http://www.andyrothstein.com
http://www.cdbaby.com/andyrothstein
http://www.jazzmatrix.com/andy_rothstein
