Transcription

FromFundamentalsofJazzImprovisation:
WhatEverybodyThinksYouAlreadyKnow

Dr.MarkWatkins
DirectorofJazzStudies
BrighamYoungUniversityIdaho







2010byMarkWatkins
Materialshereinareprovidedforpersonaluse.Nopartmaybereproducedwithout
writtenpermissionfromtheauthor.
 SuggestionsforTranscribing

FindingaSolotoTranscribe

1. ReferencetheWhosWholistforplayer,instrument,andstyleperiod.
2. SeetheTop100JazzStandardslistfortunechoices.
3. UtilizeiTunesoreMusic:
a. Searchbyperformerandchooseamongtheirtunelist.
b. Searchbytuneandselectaccordingtoperformer.
4. TakeadvantageoftheMcKayLibraryholdingsthroughtheirsearchenginebytuneor
performer.
5. Askanexpertforadvice.
6. ObtainaleadsheetfromafakebooksuchasSherMusicsTheNewRealBook,vols.1,2,or3.
7. Trytofindasolothatisatamediumtempo,stayswithinareasonablerange,andisasingle
chorusofAABA(32bars)ortwochorusesofblues(24bars).Moreorlessdependsonyour
skilllevelandinstructorapproval.
8. Firsttranscriptionsshouldbeofthestudentsprimaryinstrument.

BeginningLevel

Theprocedurefortranscribingdependsonyourlevelofexperience.Ifthisisyourfirsttry,dothe
following:

1. Selectasolothatissimpleandnottoolong(SwingEraworkswellbutbecarefulofdated
style).
2. Findaleadsheetforthetune.Transcribingastandardwouldbepreferable.
3. Listentotheheadseveraltimestobecomefamiliarwiththeform.
4. Listentothesoloandfollowtheform,meter,andchordchanges.
5. Learntosingthenplaythesolo(memorize).
6. Dictatetherhythms(seebelow).
7. Fillinthenotes.
8. Useatranscribingprogramifthenotesmovetooquickly.

AdvancedLevel

Ifthiswillnotbeyourfirsttranscription,amoreadvancedmethodshouldbeused.

1. Selectasolothatismoreextensivethanyourlasttranscription.
2. Listentothesoloseveraltimes.
3. Learntosingandplaythesolo(memorize).
4. Practiceplayingthesolowhilekeepingtheharmonicstructureinmind.
5. Playthesolowitharecordedaccompanimentorwiththesololineremoved(Transcribecando
thiswithmorerecentrecordings).
6. Dictatethesolo,rhythmsfirst,asbestaspossiblewithoutreferencetoyourinstrumentorthe
recording;dictatefrommemory.
7. Practicethespotsthatweredifficulttonotate(showsweakspotsinyourlearning).
8. Completethenotationwithreference.
9. Indicateallarticulations,inflections,anddynamics(seebelow).
10.Analyzethesoloandcatalogpatternsthatyoumaychoosetointernalize(seebelow).

SuggestionsforTranscribingRhythms

1. TapBeatMarkersintoyourTranscribe(orotherprogram)file.
2. Dictatenotesthatfallonbeatswithvisualandauralcues.
3. Determinehowmanynotesfallbetweentwobeats.
4. Determinethedistribution:2notes(straightorswung1/8thnotes),3evennotes(triplet),
threeunevennotes(1/8+two1/16ths),considerrests.
5. UtilizeyourknowledgeofRhythmBlocks(BeatMarkerson1and3orall4beats);consider
doubletimeinterpretationofRhythmBlocks.

TranscribingChords

1. Listentotheheadanddeterminemeterandform.
2. Writeoutthemelody.
3. Transcribethebassline.
4. Identifyobviousplaceswherechordschange.
5. Identifyprominentpitches.
6. Makelogicalassumptionsconcerningthechordprogression.
7. Identifythirdsasmajororminorbyplayingthemonthepianowiththerecording.
8. Identifyseventhsasmajor,minor,ordiminishedinthesamemanner.

TranscribingArticulations

1. Becomefamiliarwithstandardjazzarticulationnotation(refertothesectiononRhythm
Vocabulary).
2. Selectaphraseormotif.
3. Recordyourselfplayingthemotif.
4. Comparewithoriginalandmakeanassessment.
5. Makechangesandrepeattheprocessuntilyousoundliketherecording.
6. writedownwhatyoudid,articulationwise,tosoundliketheoriginal.

Analysis

1. Firsttranscriptionsshouldbecompletesolosinordertostudysoloformanddevelopment:
2. Solostructure:
a. Howdoesthesolobegin?
b. Wheredoesitclimax?
c. Howdoesitend?
3. Rhythm:
a. Considerthespacebetweenphrases.
b. Rhythmictendencies(triplets,turns,etc.).
c;. Useofrhythmiccomplexity/simplicitytoshapethesoloorenhancestructuralpoints.
4. Harmony/notechoices:chord/scalerelationships,color,consonance/dissonance.
5. Memorablepatternsorconcepts:
a. Samepatternmorethanonce(signifiessomethingthesoloistmayhavepracticed).
b. Tonespectrum,collectionofnotesconsistentlyusedoverachordtype,scalere
ordered.
c. Consistentconcepts:bebopscalefragments,chromaticprinciples,etc.
6. Devices:mute,range,dynamics,specialeffects,etc.

OtherTranscriptionIdeas

Itsnotalwaysnecessarytotranscribewholesolostocontinuelearningabutjazzimprovisation.

1. Fragments
2. Vocal/melodicinterpretation
3. Interestingharmonies,catalogcolorideas
4. Wholetune,allparts:piano,bass,drum,etc.
5. Otherinstruments:studyofjazzasagenreasopposedtoonesspecificinstrument

 TranscribingChords:FormandMeter

 TranscribingChords:Melody

 TranscribingChords:BassLine

 TranscribingChords:PointsofChordChange

 TranscribingChords:ProminentPitches

 TranscribingChords:LogicalAssumptions

TranscribingChords:3rdsand7ths