How To Transcribe Music With Ease

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a piece of music transcribing software that you could load an audio file into and then, after pushing a few buttons, it would spit the piece out for you in neat rows of music staves. Unfortunately I think we'll have to wait a bit longer, or for ever, for that to happen.

But there is a great helper out there that does many very clever things to make transcribing music a lot easier.

What Are The Main Obstacles When Transcribing A Piece Of Music?

The tempo is too fastThe key is too high or lowBad recording, some instruments are hard to hearConstant re-winding and play-backLosing your place in the songDifficulty with picking out chords

These 6 items can be a real nuisance and I've come across all of them many times during the 100's of transcriptions I did while employed by a big TV channel.

How To Make Music Transcription As Efficient As Possible:

Play the song a few times and figure out what and how many instruments are playing or decide what band line-up you need, and then prepare your score paper (if done manually) or arranging software accordingly.Divide the song into its natural regions, like intros, verses, choruses, interludes, solos, instrumentals, endings and set markers (double bar lines) so it is easy to find your place and you always know where you are.Work out the key signature as it is, or lower/raise it to the key that YOU would like to perform it in. Note any obvious and easy to hear chords.Adjust the sound balance so the low-pitched instruments are more prominent and transcribe the bass line (or easiest to hear lowest instruments).If you strike fast or unclear passages, loop the track around that section and slow down the tempo if necessary.Repeat 4 & 5 for drums/percussion, the piano and guitar (notate missing chords as you go) and then move onto vocals, horns and strings etc if applicable.

The great news is that the "helper" I mentioned in the summary can do all the cool things I just talked about, except set the score up for you and insert the notes (sorry about that!).

Some Of The Features:

Slow down or speed up the tempo.Lower or raise the pitch.Subdivide the tune into regions and set markersGet an indication of chords and pitches as you play the trackLoop any section for automatic replayAdjust the play back level of individual instrument within reason (depending on the mix)

Tell you what:

I wish I'd known about the "Transcribe" music transcription software when I was doing all the hard yards bent over a "hot" manuscript pad or punching the computer keyboard. It would have saved the "rewind" and "play" buttons on quite a few cassette and CD players.

Listen to an instrument, Relate to other instruments, Understand what's going on, Notate, Smile.

Have a closer look at this convenient application, including 4 demo videos and a whole lot of other free and helpful info about basic, but very important music theory items like: the circle of fifths, guidelines, scales, intervals and chords at:
http://www.eartraining-online.com/
It will speed up your transcription "chops" even more!

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