However, Don's advantage over me is that if he is listening to some
complicated piano rubato, he knows precisely what notes he has heard.
He has to think about what is going on sometimes and which octave
certain tones are in, etc. but while sitting at his desk can
transcribe anything. Also, he can listen to very involved orchestrations
and pick out all the harmonies even if they are overlaid. It's all
very instantaneous though of course he's been transcribing for 35
years or so. He can also hear very clearly the bass line even if there is alot
going on and perhaps not the best recording. Once in a blue moon Don
will go to the piano to check out some voicing .
I can do solos really well, but my ability to do the rest has evolved more
like I explained. Of course, even solos takes alot of experience in
understanding
how jazz lines work, etc. Alot of notes are in the cracks as far as pitch
(as well as overtones for me too) and you have to hear the logic of the line.
Of course, I use all the high tech gizmos for slowing things down to
do solos and maybe as other gizmos becomes available, it will make the
rest easier too.
I can teach someone to transcribe solos , even a beginner,
but the harmonic/voicing aspects of things take time and experience
more like I explained.
When I transcribe piano/guitar voicings, it's more because I already
play those voicings myself or something very close. If it's something
very close, I can just modify what I play using trial and error until
I find a match.
For chord progressions, I know alot of tunes and reharmonization ideas
so I can figure out pretty quickly what is going on usually , but not always.
I can be fooled if I don't spend alot of time
and there is something tricky going on that I havent transcribed before.
reed