Transcriptions

[DonnyK]

think this is the right place for this thread.

Ok, so I'm reasonably ok at transcribing pop/blues songs as they're fairly straightforward and I've got a fairly good understanding of the basic theory for jazz and music in general. However, with the mulititudes of things going on in any jazz song, I'm finding it pretty difficult to get an acurate transcription of a song by using my ear.

I love acoustic guitar and the comping that goes with it. I'm trying to start off fairly simple and 'No Doubt' by Sarah Menescal (on the Jazz & 90's album) has really nice guitar on it. I think I've got the verse down:
Am7/Em7/Dm7/G7 which echoes the original (which starts on Cm). It then goes into the chorus which I just can't get. I've looked at the originals chords and tried transposing them and changing them to 7ths (dom, maj or min) but I just can't get it.

Is there a method to narrowing down the chords? Start with the bass obviously to determine the chord, but then there's so many variations once you've found out it's an 'A' chord (for example) of some description.

Cheers for any help

[stevel]

Chordal possibilities in the Jazz world are huge, the guitarist may be playing partial chords that you won't find in a chord book.

The way to get around this is to listen hard, and practice listening hard.

Once you know the root (from the bass assuming it isn't an inversion) Try first to identify the chord type i.e. Major, Minor, Dominant etc. then try to isolate the voicing. So try to work out where the notes sit happily together on the guitar neck. So is it a C Maj7 & on the 3rd fret or 7th or 12th? All sound totally different when you listen to them. Which strings are being played to achieve the sound?

If there is movement in the progression in between chord changes (which there invariably will be) try to determine the main chords first, then identify the notes that change, the position on the neck that that change occurs easily. That sound may not be part of the chord, although you can always find a name for it, but it may just be a passing tone over a basic chord.

The more you listen and transcribe, the easier it gets.

Steve

[vsaumarez]

The bass root usually works, but don't take it for granted. Many jazz bass players sometimes omit it, as they do other chord tones. You need to piece together the individual elements like a jigsaw puzzle, and a knowledge of jazz is useful.

1) Firstly, is there a common root progression going on? So where is he coming from and going to? What are the other notes in the bass that might spell a chord?

2) What is the guitar, or piano harmony?

3) What does the melody, and improvised solos do?

You make a guess based on certain assumptions like key center, you then use your ear to discern individual elements, and finally seek confirmation from the other sources or instruments.

[franco6719]

"Is there a method to narrowing down the chords? Start with the bass obviously to determine the chord, but then there's so many variations once you've found out it's an 'A' chord (for example) of some description."

Yes, it's very hard work sometimes just to transcribe a simple "Tin Pan Alley" tune. I find that it is much easier with guitar than with piano voicings or sounds. I suspect this is because I never learned that damned instrument at all though as a kid. At any rate, I find that memorizing a lot of other tunes and really internalizing certain progressions (I-VI-II-V, IIIm7b5-VI7b9-IIm7-V7, etc), all kinds of turnarounds is one of the keys here. This applies at least for functional tunes. For the other stuff, you're on your own. Theory helps a great deal.