Transcribing, Help! Options

[Marco Fattori]

I see you have a trained ear and have transcribed a couple of songs such as Paul Gilbert's Viking Kong which can be pretty fast at parts.

I wouldn't say I have a trained ear but I have transcribed A LOT and think I have perfect pitch, and have photographic memory so I guess it helps.

My main problem is when I do find the note, I never know how to connect it and where to fret it, some phrasing gives it away as to wheres logical but the positioning and where to go next seems to be the problem.

Some notes on lower strings are obvious to which is correct but the the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings can have the same notes and it can get tricky if you wanted it to sound perfect, if it was supposed to be played up the neck or down the neck on different strings.


So......My main question is, when transcribing where would you know to fret each note?

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[Zsolt Galambos]

It is difficult to answer this question because a lots of guitarists use their own method of playing scales and swithcing between strings. While transcribing I tend to do everything note-per-note but doing it the way it fits me best. Some licks/scales are obvious and some are not. While transcribing a particular guitarist's solo, usually I'll go to youtube and try to find a live footage of the the song. This way I can get a wider picture.

The same thing was with Creeping Death solo for example. I surfed youtube untill I've found enough proof of me playing it right.

Viking Kong is a bit more difficult problem 'cause Mr Gilbert usually improvises the solo, so some of the scales might not be the way he played it, but the notes are 99,9% correct in my oppinion. There is a particular descending lick in F#minor where Paul sort off messes up the scale ( in my oppinion ) so I just fixed it and played it the way I think he would've played it. That's all.

So the summary is that some scales are obvious and some are not. That's when you should play it the way it fits you best or try to make a little research on the web.


Cheers

I see you have a trained ear and have transcribed a couple of songs such as Paul Gilbert's Viking Kong which can be pretty fast at parts.

I wouldn't say I have a trained ear but I have transcribed A LOT and think I have perfect pitch, and have photographic memory so I guess it helps.

My main problem is when I do find the note, I never know how to connect it and where to fret it, some phrasing gives it away as to wheres logical but the positioning and where to go next seems to be the problem.

Some notes on lower strings are obvious to which is correct but the the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings can have the same notes and it can get tricky if you wanted it to sound perfect, if it was supposed to be played up the neck or down the neck on different strings.


So......My main question is, when transcribing where would you know to fret each note?

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net

Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!