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