Stop Transcribing Solos. Do This Instead.

First.

Second

As a person trying to learn jazz and jazz improvising, I bought into numerous methods taught by various teachers. Yes, the study and knowledge of scales, chords, harmony, the II-V-!, and all the other technical aspects are critical foundational building steps in the journey. But concentrating strictly on these things, and trying to copy other people's solos is a losing proposition for me. Instead, I now follow the advice of one of the greatest improvisers who has ever lived: Louis Armstrong. Louis said about improvising "First I play the melody. Then I play around with the melody. Then I play around with the melody some more!" Simple but every profound advice. The path for me to learn the Louis Armstrong method is to take the Real Book and sight-read and play along with a backing track like IReal Pro. They have about 1450 jazz standards on their list. I've worked through several hundred of these, with many more to go. I realize this method might be "too vanilla" for more educated players, but it sure has been a fantastic learning tool for me. My melodic and harmonic skills have vastly increased, and equally important is the improvement in my rhythmic skills and understanding. I can now play good-sounding solos out of what I'm hearing in my head and feeling in my heart, like Louis and all the great improvisers did. I'll never reach their Olympian heights, but I'm much further ahead by the dedicated study of the classic standards. PS --- I forgot to add that I spend a lot of time just listening to the great players for inspiration, which I think is also essential.

Great approach - thanks

great advice

Thanks for showing a bridge to get to the more complex stuff!

this really resonates with me. i like to compose "skeletunes" based on the originals that retain the fundamental features of the source melody but either leave room for improivised fills or adding a note here or there to clarify immediate harmonic context. All Of Me is great for this because of the descending guide tone line interspersed with P5 or #5 followed by M3. I like to retain the guide tone and come up with substitutes for the P5,#5 to M3 segments spontaneously and repeat whatever I start out with. For example, C-A-G B-A-G# A A G .... G F. I find approaching woodshedding tunes that way and then listening to some recordings helps to appreciate those soloists who have metabolized the melody and how the harmony relates to it and those who haven't

Thanks for the "heads up" 😄

Im trying the solo over Reincarnation of a Lovebird in the acustic guitar

I’ve never transcribed the solo in my life. I use my ears pretty easy to hear if you have ears.

… I literally just spent 2 days transcribing Jacob Collier. 😂

very clear

Disagree here....transcribing,analizing ..and learning fragments of a certain solo..is the ultimate tool to build up ur own style...try transcribing at least 5 or 6 of guitarists Scott Henderson, Frank Gambale and Allan Holdsworth and you'll find a way to fusion Nirvana.

In another video, you recommend improvising by singing a line two times before playing it. I think the same could apply here: When transcribing the melody, sing it two times after listening, then play it

great thoughts Jeff!

Gotta learn how to walk, before u can crawl lol ! 😂

Honestly, that piece about the delayed resolution of F7 to Bb7 in 3rd bar of "Donna Lee"- was absolutely brilliant. That might be the best piece of musical analysis I've heard in a long time. Can you do a full analysis on "Donna Lee"! Jeff- that was 🔥

YES! One of the most important videos on improvisation!

Unspoken truth. Thanks

Great video Jeff, couldn't agree more about transcribing melodies, vastly underrated. Certainly bebop melodies are curated soloing lines crafted into a comprehensive unit. But also the more simple melodies, grasping the ideas of all these great songbook melodies can give a better conceptual understanding of motif building.

You've convinced me, I'll go into transcription rehab.

Love your channel for a long time by the way. I use the D'Angelo Feels Like Makin Love video in my practical harmony classes with students, so good

/Jorre

Nursery rhymes are a good source of improv melody

You should do both? Analyze melodies, and transcribe solos. Transcribing is really great for ear training and getting new lines under your fingers. Also to see how different musicians think about and approach improv.

Jeff these videos are such gems. Thank you so much for making them!

hey Jeff! if I may ask, What is the Realbook you use for this leadsheets in the video? they look Sharp!!! Thank You bro, Blessings

Edit: Never mind I think I found it, I believe it+s the sixth edition!