THE NITTY GRITTY

Hilow,

If you want to know the best way to learn improvisation then start transcribing solos. I say it's the fastest way because no matter what book you're learning from, you will have to spend time reading the directions. Transcribing gets you right to the Nitty Gritty.

So how do you transcribe solos? Well first you should have a good knowledge of ear training. You should be able to identify, by ear, the tonic and dominant chords. You should also be able to identify the form of the piece. And you should be able to pick out some of the other chords in the diatonic key and whether they are major, minor, seventh, altered extensions, and some of the position of the chord inversion, ie., 1st, 2nd, or 3rd inversion, or most commonly taught as 6-5, 4-3, or 4-2 inversions in the classical theory sense. It would also be helpful to know the names of extended altered chords such as a 13th, a #5, or a minor 7th flat-5 sound. Getting to know the sounds of 2-5-1 is extremely helpful since every jazz song contains this element.

So what if you're not there yet? Then begin with simpler songs for one. There is also another tool that allows you to slow down the song and not change the pitch. Programs like "The Amazing SlowDowner" can be downloaded from the internet for about $40.00. This tool will slow down the music and allow you listen to solos at your own speed.

Once you have begun to master this art then you can transcribe the solos and begin practicing your own transcriptions, who knows you may make up something new!

There are books that offer transcribed solos and if your are a good reader then they can be helpful. I have several books of transcribed solos from Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Mile Davis, Wayne Shorter. I use them in conjunction with listening to a slowed down version and then transcribing them onto my Sibelius music program. I like to get multiple inputs to get the most personal analysis from the piece- In other words, I'm a geek!

One thing about buying transcribed solos, make sure you are buying a book in concert key if you're playing the piano because many of these books are transcribed for various instruments in their own key.

Later,

John