Transcription

FromFundamentalsofJazzImprovisation:WhatEverybodyThinksYouAlreadyKnow

Dr.MarkWatkins

DirectorofJazzStudiesBrighamYoungUniversity–Idaho

©2010byMarkWatkinsMaterialshereinareprovidedforpersonaluse.Nopartmaybereproducedwithout

writtenpermissionfromtheauthor.

SuggestionsforTranscribingFindingaSolotoTranscribe1. ReferencetheWho’sWholistforplayer,instrument,andstyleperiod.2. SeetheTop100JazzStandardslistfortunechoices.3. UtilizeiTunesoreMusic:

a. Searchbyperformerandchooseamongtheirtunelist.b. Searchbytuneandselectaccordingtoperformer.

4. TakeadvantageoftheMcKayLibraryholdingsthroughtheirsearchenginebytuneorperformer.

5. Askanexpertforadvice.6. ObtainaleadsheetfromafakebooksuchasSherMusic’sTheNewRealBook,vols.1,2,or3.7. Trytofindasolothatisatamediumtempo,stayswithinareasonablerange,andisasingle

chorusofAABA(32bars)ortwochorusesofblues(24bars).Moreorlessdependsonyourskilllevelandinstructorapproval.

8. Firsttranscriptionsshouldbeofthestudent’sprimaryinstrument.BeginningLevelTheprocedurefortranscribingdependsonyourlevelofexperience.Ifthisisyourfirsttry,dothefollowing:1. Selectasolothatissimpleandnottoolong(SwingEraworkswellbutbecarefulofdated

style).2. Findaleadsheetforthetune.Transcribingastandardwouldbepreferable.3. Listentotheheadseveraltimestobecomefamiliarwiththeform.4. Listentothesoloandfollowtheform,meter,andchordchanges.5. Learntosingthenplaythesolo(memorize).6. Dictatetherhythms(seebelow).7. Fill‐inthenotes.8. Useatranscribingprogramifthenotesmovetooquickly.AdvancedLevelIfthiswillnotbeyourfirsttranscription,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).SuggestionsforTranscribingRhythms1. 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.TranscribingChords1. Listentotheheadanddeterminemeterandform.2. Writeoutthemelody.3. Transcribethebassline.4. Identifyobviousplaceswherechordschange.5. Identifyprominentpitches.6. Makelogicalassumptionsconcerningthechordprogression.7. Identifythirdsasmajororminorbyplayingthemonthepianowiththerecording.8. Identifyseventhsasmajor,minor,ordiminishedinthesamemanner.TranscribingArticulations1. Becomefamiliarwithstandardjazzarticulationnotation(refertothesectiononRhythm

Vocabulary).2. Selectaphraseormotif.3. Recordyourselfplayingthemotif.4. Comparewithoriginalandmakeanassessment.5. Makechangesandrepeattheprocessuntilyousoundliketherecording.6. writedownwhatyoudid,articulation‐wise,tosoundliketheoriginal.Analysis1. 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.OtherTranscriptionIdeasIt’snotalwaysnecessarytotranscribewholesolostocontinuelearningabutjazzimprovisation.1. Fragments2. Vocal/melodicinterpretation3. Interestingharmonies,catalogcolorideas4. Wholetune,allparts:piano,bass,drum,etc.5. Otherinstruments:studyofjazzasagenreasopposedtoonesspecificinstrument

TranscribingChords:FormandMeter

TranscribingChords:Melody

TranscribingChords:BassLine

TranscribingChords:PointsofChordChange

TranscribingChords:ProminentPitches

TranscribingChords:LogicalAssumptions

TranscribingChords:3rdsand7ths