LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Transcribing help

glynn -- 06/05/2007, 20:40:05 -- #35360

Hi guys I finally started transcribing something useful (night in tunisia), and I got the lead sheet from Ralf Patts thing. How can I determine the key used in different parts of the piece? So that I can improvise over it? Basically I want to know how the whole transcribing thing goes down.  I'v listened to the tune and have the basic melody down etc, but can only improvise well on parts of the tune. Thankls

Scot -- 06/05/2007, 21:13:22 -- #35360

Ok, cool, you've got the melody down. Next, you gotta figure out the bass notes, the root notes. Usually they are the first note that the bassist plays in the measure.   The goal is to play the root notes in the left hand and the melody notes in the right hand. Once you can do that, start figuring out the color of the chords. Major, minor, 7th, etc... You'll probably have already done a lot of that just figuring out the bass notes.   Then when you have it all memorized, internalize it so you can play the thing without even thinking about it.  Start in the middle of the tune, start other places, play the tune for a few measures, then rest for a few measures and then start back up where the tune would be, just practice it until you really know it. Then you'll have no problem improvising over it.  Once it's under your fingers like the blues, it will become easier and easier.

glynn -- 06/06/2007, 23:59:33 -- #35360

thanks for that, just making sure I understand, I work out the root note the bass plays, and those are likely to be the chords used? Is that right, it makes sense. Cheers

Scot -- 06/07/2007, 10:30:57 -- #35360

Yep, that's basically it.

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