The Easy Way To Get Good At Music
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 16. 12. 2021
- đ Soundslice links: openstudiojazz.link/easy-way
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The first thing I transcribed was in April 2020 when I was bored during the coronavirus lockdowns. Honestly, they were pretty terrible. However, the only way I improved was by making more transcriptions. Now, the transcriptions that I do are so much better (some transcriptions are from freelancers I work with). They are not perfect and you would be daft to ever claim that your transcription was perfect - but it has given me a new perspective on music. Like as said in 3:58, it's more than just picking out the notes you can hear. It's about understanding and learning the fundamentals of a piece's melody, harmony, and rhythm.
Even if transcribing something seems daunting, go for it. I had no transcribing experience when I started but there is no such thing as a useless transcription. Any transcription improves your own skills.
Thanks for this honest comment George. Really helps motivate people seeing you talk openly about your process--I know a lot of people have been on your channel lately looking up to you...
My man you've inspired me to start transcribing some good tunes
Thumbs up for the work you do sir.
THE GOAT!!!
So humbling to hear this from one of the greats on CZcams right now. I've never transcribed anything in my life. But this gives me hope that I can do it
I can feel the energy radiating from Adam whispering, "It's time for you to transition to jazz adulthood"
Itâs time for you to transcribe to jazz adulthood
@@MarioCalzadaMusic It's time for you to transcribe transcription itself
All I hear is, "Quit. Quit now."
The moment has come!!
Iâve been transcribing for 1 year till now, I didnât remember I started because of this video ! HAHA
I still count as a jazz teenager⊠my heart is young
czcams.com/video/RDnqKiHpUac/video.html
"You can't be great AND be lazy! Those two things don't match." I'm going to make a sign and hang it on the wall with this quote. There comes a point with every student where they become conscious of their incompetence and at that point, they must choose their path. They can stay fat, dumb and happy and continue to play stuff no one wants to hear, or they can go home and not sleep too well until they get up and work through what's making them uneasy. We all arrive at this point. Admit it, that's why you're viewing this video right now! Welcome to your moment. You can just go back and hide in the pentatonic scale for the rest of your life OR, you can squirm and really feel that you are at a crossroads. If you're ready, my advice is to be gentle with yourself, laugh a little more and listen, listen listen! Are you still here? Don't you have something else you should be doing RIGHT NOW?
Niccccceeeee
Not really.
I hate catch-all rules like that. They never truly work and the more of them you believe, the more you limit yourself. Life is wild, and greatness can sometimes come to the graceful effortlessness.
>Don't you have something else you should be doing RIGHT NOW?
Yeah. That's why I stopped the video to go practice. Gotta realize I'm not Allen Iverson.
i guess you're trying to be motivational but that was just toxic
I can confirm, you really get better when transcribing alot. My first transcriptions was Michael Brecker on Straphangin', and now I got to Kenny G on Songbird.
bro thatâs my favorite sax solo, respect
Thatâs real progress đđ
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What's funny is I'd been avoiding this, but the way you describe transcribing sounds absolutely delightful.
This is true for classical musicians too and it's almost never discussed, learning a piece by ear will do wonders for your understanding of the music, ability to grasp a piece quickly, and especially improvise and compose in the style of whatever you're playing (or in your own style!)
Your comment makes me want to try it.
So⊠I have a degree in Jazz Studies. Iâve done a good amount of transcribing. Probably a dozen or so where I wrote out the entire solo beginning to end. And countless ones where I just learned it by ear. I also have perfect pitch. So Iâm kind of always transcribing whenever I listen to music. But when I do that I donât necessarily get the feel.
I was always told the real secret to getting good is learning songs in all 12 keys. Transcribing is great and it will help you develop your ears and learn the language, but I feel like itâs still only going to take you so far. And eventually youâll kind of get to the point where you can do it on the fly. Itâs like getting a snapshot of jazz when what you need is the full HD video. So whatâs next? I think learning things in all 12 keys pushes you even more and gives you so much versatility. That and playing things in odd time signatures and getting really comfortable with soloing in them.
@Juru imo, just taking easy songs like marry had a little lamb in 12 keys, to let your ears know how it sounds like (intervals wise), and take it into easier standards that are stepwise like there will never be another you. Slowly your ears get how it should sound and you just kinda get it
âGentle Thoughtsâ is just one of my all time favorite tunes. And I thank you so much for this video. Makes me wanna get in the studio and practice!
Just discovered Open Studio, I have learned more about playing Jazz in the last few weeks with the Jazz Jump Start piano course and video content from Open Studio than lessons from various teachers over the years. I'm bummed I didn't find you sooner but glad that I now have. Thanks for all the great content!
I must tell you this has been the best advice and utube video I have seen . I watch you other times, but today you killed it, I needed this . I am a beginner and piano is difficult when you learning from utube only. WOW this hit me in the core.
Interesting, I always found transcribing one of the most enjoyable things in music. I just love it. Unfortunately I have had little time for my musical endevours recently, but in general this is what I enjoy doing. Music lives within you, once you start doing this
One of the best instructional music videos I've ever watched.
That was a great pep talk for all musicians. I'm a professional musician and teacher and I transcribe for a living and still this was an inspirational video. Advice I'll pass on to my students. Thanks for all the great content Adam Maness!
Half the battle is giving ourselves permission. Thank you.
Loving the gentle thoughts in the background
I developed the same method by myself, so rewarding to see that I am on the right path...
AND I also believe that learning tunes by hart once you have played them many times reading them also helps a lot...
Awesome encouragement Adam! Deepest thanksâŠand great video
Thanks for this inspirational video. Needed that!
Cheers Adam, I needed to hear this today! Its given me a kick up the arse to get back on it đȘ'thankyou Harry'
Thank you! I really needed that today
Iâm getting more and more serious about GOOD music. I have a thelonious monk piano book. Iâve never been told this as a musician. I am absorbing all of what my dad is giving me plus searching MYSELF what I know I need to get to the next level.
This was very encouraging! Thanks much!
This is one of first truthful videos about music & its reality's if your going to be serious about it. I have since I was little, at 60 now yes might take a while to get good, still do about 2 hours a day on Bass , Drums or production it just keeps getting better that way.I mean practice it is a mental thing just to go down & do it.
Thatâs exactly the right way in my opinion too! I was lucky enough to study my first steps in jazz with a teacher that sent me to transcribe a Charlie Christian solo every week! It was hard at first and There was no CZcams then to slow down.till this day i still transcribe once in a while when I realy like a solo or even an interesting chord changes.it realy helped me and I think too many players donât go to listen to the recordings of songs they learn.they go straight to the chart or iReal app.they basically are playing blindfolded with no knowledge and the way itâs felt!
Great video! Besides how much I enjoy the "you have taken this 45 seconds too long" quote. Your take on non-classical music is very helpful. I like the outline of listening 21 times, start singing (I"m guessing 21 times there is good as well), and playing on the instrument away from recording is a serious challenge. Your video on "Swing Your *ss Off" really moved me forward and I think this will help. Even for music outside of jazz this has been helpful.
Great video, and wonderful reminder of just exactly what makes us better! Thank you for this vid!
Oh this video hit hard - very much needed to hear this. Letâs go!
Crystal clear, thank you. đ¶
Your manner is so pleasant. You're easy to listen to. Thank you.
simple direct on the point thank you so much , this video shoul be put on the music school TVs all day long
Really loved this đđŸ
Thank you so much for this
*Most things worth doing don't come easy*
Thanks for this.... I think most people's fears of transcription is the idea that they have to write solos out. Aint nobody got time for that. This is brilliant
Iâm a drummer (been playing for 2 years) and i enjoy transcribing drums on songs. I know drum transcriptions are easier (no tones, just drum parts) but it just makes me more appreciative of the drummers driving the songs, even if theyâre simple to play to. Itâs not just the big complex fills theyâre playing, itâs also the spaces which the notes are not playing, acting as a breathing room so other instruments can pass thru sonically. Tl;dr yeah transcribing songs and reading notations really help me in my drumming journey.
Such a sweet and friendly, enchanting and motivating video!
I love this.
Love this video thanks so much
Great video a important lesson it takes many a LONG time to learn.
This is what I need to hear. Thank you
The new editing style is fantastic!
Every time I transcribe something my ear and my understanding improves. It's hard, but it helps. Thanks for this.
Straight FAXX đđŸđđŸ. Save me hella time when learning to do thiS... Great video
Fantastic advice. Tried and true technique.
In all seriousness. This was a very eye-opening video for me. I like the emphasis on the âfeelâ and that you are one of the only CZcamsrs Iâve seen attempt to convey the arduousness of the process. I think a lot of people give up because they think they âhavenât got itâ, videos like this remind us beginners that weâve barely scratched the surface, and all of the greats are simply people who scratched deeper than us.
For years Iâve known that transcribing is the best way to improve, but I procrastinated it until recently, and I wondered why my fingers couldnât crack the bebop sound...
Iâve been transcribing Donna Lee and some Oscar Peterson from Motions and Emotions, and it is honestly the most fun Iâve had practicing in a long time. It was a steep learning curve, but once I got the ball rolling I canât stop!
Best video on jazz developmental methodology
I love th way you always give us actionable info. Such a great teacher. This was facinating..I love the idea that the reason I can't play usic better is because I haven't failed enough. its soothing haha,..Do more of those looping 'shorts' they are so good. More bassline ideas por favour. Thanks for the amazing content either way. Peace and love!
I was learning major scales when I first playing by ear, and surprised myself on how fast it is compared to sight reading and feels more aware of what I am playing which leads to freedom of improvisation as well. I really hope I can get better at it
Great Lesson..THE FEEL Jewels
this video changed my playing.thank you
I needed to hear this.
OK, this is the Flip Side of the big lesson in music I may have finally learned - Ear Training. Learning to Listen/Hear/Identify. That's how we transcribe. Listening is how we process music, we can remember what we hear, in a sequential, rote, repeatable way, AND we can also learn the relationships of what we hear, the relative pitches (intervals), and learn to narrow down the pitch we hear to the actual note on an instrument, so we can write, that down on paper/computer = Transcribing or Transcription. Right?
And on weekends we can do Eye Training for learning to perceive what we see, for learning visual arts. It's all getting fun again.
Thank you!
Iâm primarily a singer and Iâve picked up a few instruments in the past. I learn best by ear and quite fast. I then went to college to study music and was told that learning by ear was worthless and baby I STRUGGLEDDD! Thank you for this video, I now have a little hope to continue my journey of music making. My favorite thing to do with song is to literally sing every voice, instrumental part even percussion, once I have that in my ear Iâll create harmonies, counter melodies, and even create different rhythms that can fit inside of the song. Now I just need the know how and courage to put it on paper. Would anyone have any suggestions to bridge that gap? I want to get into composing.
Learning by ear is worthless in terms of communication but in terms of building musical vocabulary and internalizing intervals and melodies and such it's a very useful skill
Yes i using your step before i transcribing, and for this weekend i try to transcribe sonny stitt "i can't give you anything but love"
Awesome video!
Every day, without fail I try and work out a song by ear. To at least the chord progression level, and vocal melody if possible. Each week I choose one of my favorite attempts and try and do a complete breakdown. I then produce a breakdown video and post to my private CZcams channel.
It has helped immensely over this last year.
I will start doing the same and use the transcription to play at least the melody in my instrument. My ear sucks right now, but I hope I get better at it...
Impossible not to feel good, hearing this dude đ
Good motivation!
dude thanks so much
I love your video!!!!
Thank you
THIS! Finally you gave the best advice on how to get good at music... BUT you can still do better
The BEST THING you can do is transcribe WITHOUT THE AID OF YOUR INSTRUMENT, THIS is what is going to make you really good. It's HARD, like REEEEALY HARD. But it is what is going to make you THAT much better. The next level is to be able to trasnscribe something in your head (know what notes are being played) INSTANTANEOUSLY, in real time as you listen to the song.
Again, this is INSANELY HARD, but it is doable, it really is, and is what going to make you actually in tune with the music you're playing!!
Cheers! And good luck to those who are motivated enought to try and do it!
đđ
It's absolutely not at all do-able for most people. How dyk what you wrote is correct, without your instrument? Most of us don't have those ears.
The thing (I find) that's made jazz so difficult to learn, is, essentially, being on my own for the long haul. No one at my high school was interested in jazz, I was the only person. There wasn't the internet resources we have now. The idea of studying jazz at conservatoire was not on the cards either.
20 years of confusion. Books have been almost useless. But I eventually realised you just have to teach yourself jazz (as in, devise your own study). You have to become an active problem-solver, responsible for your own learning, realistic with yourself (sometimes harsh...it's hurts but you have to transcent your pride/ego to really get better) and always think critically about what you're practicing.
Now here I am, almost 40, still striving to get there, and the best progress I've made has been thanks to transcription.
But man, it's been about the most delayed gratification there is. Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!
Most people inspirational music lessons on CZcams đ€đ»
i come from a producer side of things, and i wanted to learn how to write melodies, i am not sure how this helps musicians, but, weirdly i interpret music better visually in my DAW, i would hear a tune, and i wouldn't really care, about the notes or the scale, but i focus more on the rythm and timing, the spacing between notes and the length of each note, that helped me a ton! so if i can add to this more by actually learning more about the theory( i know the basics ) i will improve 10tons, great advice over all !
Yea this video seems to be towards jazz and classical music but Iâm tryna figure out how to transcribe techno music lol maybe itâs being down the sounds and listening if they use any distortion, delays or other fx.
@@MisterExcelsioryou can definitely try to recreate songs in your daw, super helpful practice!
Thank you.
LOVE it đ
You know, with all the CZcamsrs and ads out there promising magic solutions like âlearn piano in 3 days!â âLearning piano/music is easy!â I REALLY appreciate the honesty around how much hard work and time it truly takes to get great at anything musical. Itâs a grind at least 75-80 percent of the time and thatâs why so many people quit music. You have to learn to fall in love with the process and the hard work of it all. One of my mentors likes to say, âLearn to love the process more than the product.â Itâs actually encouraging to hear people talk this way about it like you are because then failure becomes a friend instead of a foe. To quote another great master: âThe greatest teacher, failure is.âđ
Thanks for this and Iâll be checking out a lot more of your channel!
The easy way is the hard way, thx Adam !
so glad i started jazz and learned the right way haha
This $*** is SOOOOO good I transcribed/paraphrased the key points and made a damn wall chart!!!
Cool lesson on musician pursuit
yes you are right , I just transcribed a Wes Montgomery solo , it took me best part of two days . Now I have it in my fingers rather than just have read it.
To be honest, i only started learning music theory 6 months ago and i already transcribed two pieces of music..
All i can say is that i transcribe to really *feel* the music that i listen to, i donât have perfect pitch (i only recognize some notes) so i use softwares.. Glad that there are these types of videos in youtube and i can binge every single one
I come here and watch this video at least twice every month. All the motivation that I need
Good stuff....
Amen to all of this, YEAH!!!!!!!!
Currently transcribing an organ piece for guitar. It's an interesting experience for sure. Trying to transcribe a guitar piece for organ. That's a completely different experience. Trying to emulate a guitar string bending on an organ is so ethereal.
I just learned to sing my first solo end to end: Chet Baker's trumpet solo on I Fall In Love Too Easily. Just from doing this once I find myself able to sing parts of other solos that I have listened to a bunch. I think it's a matter of breaking through that barrier between hearing in your head and externalising, which is of course a huge part of soloing in a lyrical way.
What a great CZcams channel!! Wow
Thank you for this. I'm not sure how this will help me since I am just a pianist and have never transcribed anything. But i have a feeling this would help with ear training, understand music theory implementation, and other things. I'm going to start with ridiculously easy songs that I like though.
Adam, you are a cruel genius. Yes, I hate to do this. I guess I will try again and remember your words of wisdom. I'm going to try Blues Back by McCoy Tyner. It ranks up there with W. Kelly's solo on So What.
Gosh! And I thought listening 3 times was sufficient!? Thank you! Advice taken
I never thought I could transcribe until I learned the C major scale in the open position. From there I had a choice of 7 notes to figure out basic melodies. Once I got very good at playing numerous melodies by ear/memory I moved on to simple guitar riffs/simple solos. As I got the knack of this I could easily pick out bass notes and then find out what chords were being played. So I guess I learnt lead before rhythm but there's no one perfect way to learn an instrument.
Thank u
sitting here almost a year after seeing this and girl can i tell you this is as helpful a youtube video as you will ever see
Truth!!!
This is so true. Only when I started performing on a regular basis and learning a lot of new material did my playing really improve. The other thing I would say is do little and very often For me at least internalising the music was easier doing 15 20 minute chunks rather than salving over it for hours.
You're telling us, once you really started playing all kinds of music, you started geting better at playing any kind of music ? Shocker
Wise words and inspiring, best wishes to everyone! Transcribing - simple to understand (the concept) yet (imho) very challenging - nonetheless musically rewarding.
I've also had good luck learning a bit of Beethoven and Chopin this way via playing along with Daniel Barenboim - different eras of music can sometimes be very different stylistically than other genres, especially with dynamics and fluid tempos feels.
Also, changing pitches and speeds helps, too - lots of tools now for this (even with CZcams plugins).
For swing, I love to comp quarter notes along side Oscar Peterson recordings when I get the chance :) Always feels like I just went to some sort of rejuvenating spa haha
Kudos on using âGentle Thoughtsâ in there. Herbieâs âSecretsâ is a masterpiece!
Hey love that Herbie tune from Secrets, I thinkâŠ.wow that takes me back
Veery helpful
I've done a lot of solo transcriptions, but barely any chords, and I suck at chords, so it proves the point. Time to do that
speaking facts
Guilty, guilty and guilty. I rely on tabs and other people's transcriptions and have been steadfastly avoiding transcription for as long as I've known I was supposed to do it. Because it's hard. And I've tried and failed. And I feel like I must be missing whatever musical brain cells y'all were born with. So thanks for breaking this down. Not just do it, but this is how you do it. This is why you do it. This is what will happen when you try at first. And this is what will happen to your musicianship when you stick with it. Such an important and encouraging video. Thanks so much!
I do it but if ppl knew how bad I was at this theyâd laugh and never want to play with me. Also I donât understand what theyâre talking about âtranscribing the feelâ
This guy!
Using a DAW for transcribing is super helpful :D
Try starting with small bits, this way you can learn what chord progressions to play these bits over, and play them on many songs
A follow up by Bob on bass would be appreciated :)