What solos did you transcribe before you even realized what transcribing was?? Also, only a couple weeks left to get 50% off the Intro to Piano course!! cornellmusicacademy.com/intro-to-piano
When I started learning guitar I figured out a lot of songs by ear. Does that count? Metallica’s nothing else matters or jimmy eat worlds 23… Also.. by the way - can we get a whole video of you noodling around to the solo? 😂
This happened to me with songs like Blow Your Mind by Jamiroquai and Dahlia by Future Prospect. I listened to them so much that eventually I just knew all the solos.
I won't lie the outtakes at 3:12 were deeply relieving. So often we see videos of our favorite musicians that have been edited down to the perfect or near-perfect takes and sometimes it's lovely to remember that even you take a few screaming cursing reps before you nail something
I love the kids singing the Coltrane solo, it’s amazing how the captive audience captures the minds of children. These kids will always have an appreciation of jazz and they will always remember singing it with their dad!! Very cool!
It takes courage to sing a solo for your subscribers. Bravo. I remember not wanting to sing my parts in a room with 50+ others singing their parts at the same time. You really do know how to talk music to the people!
Sonny Stitt will always be my favorite saxophonist, he always had an interesting satisfying simplicity style to soloing, like each note was felt. It almost sounds as if his solos were composed before hand because it felt so perfect
The Barry Harris Giant steps solo was something my ears just couldnt stop listening to. Its such an incredibly melodic solo. Completely different from any other version Ive heard before.
Those kids were so awesome! Really shows how well we can internalize music and understand it, consciously or unconsciously, from such a young age. Their unintentional practice will lend itself to any musical skill they might pursue in the future if they don't already :)
I’ve been listening to Plini’s “Electric Sunrise” for months and realized just the other day that I‘ve been singing along with the whole guitar solo. Incidentally, 13/8 is just such a fun time to vibe to.
From listening to my favorite bands over and over again, I can audiate every last detail of their music in my head. It makes sitting down and learning these songs on your instrument a whole lot easier.
this is how i know pretty much every dream theater song with portnoy as the drummer, just from listening to it and following along with how the drums go, over and over for years. even down to all the live variations he does on their live dvds. takes a while to figure out exactly how to hit the right drums in the most complicated parts but i can pretty much play along to songs ive never tried to play before.
This video is one of the most helpful video on this kind of stuff. I think your point of not trying to be a singer and nailing 100% of the notes is correct as you want to get the feel of where the solo/ song is going. I definitely fell in that trap and spent way to much time fixating on getting every single note without paying attention to articulation and all that other jazz and not really getting anywhere. The best thing to do first before singing is to just enjoy the song and listen to it so much that you can sing roughly with the track
Charles, I’d love to see you go in depth on the music of The Magic Schoolbus. Little Richard went absolutely crazy on the theme song, and it’s unironically still one of my favorite songs today.
I really needed to see this today. I started learning to read sheet music and have started really feeling my musical talent was all in my head. But now I see I've 'transcribed' a lot more than I realized throughout my life :)
That’s just that point where the Dunning-Krueger effect starts to wear off when you get into deeper learning of a craft 😉. The confidence creeps back in in a way more stable and professional kind of way after a little while.
I did the same thing with Freddy Freeloader! Something about those sweet sweet tones Miles puts out there in his solo that get me every time… I love to sing them and play them on our bass.
Exactly the video I needed to see right now, I’m in highschool and over the last ~year and a half I’ve started pursuing jazz but I’ve been struggling with internalizing solos and lines, and writing them out hasn’t felt very effective, and in turn it’s formed sort of a mental block with transcribing that has kept my solos very bland. But knowing that transcribing doesn’t necessarily mean writing and repping helps a lot. Great video ❤🎹
Not too long ago I learned my first solo on guitar. I never really took interest in them since I played more so fingerstyle but this particular solo just drew me in. I had memorized it so well It was stuck in my head I decided to learn it. It felt sooo easy at the time but I think this explains why. Thank you for the insight
As a trumpet player, and a major jazz lover, I have A LOT of songs that I know bits and pieces of, but the two solos that I could sing every note to is Arturo Sandoval’s trading in Funky Cha Cha and Wayne Bergeron’s trading in Gordon Goodwin’s Backrow Politics. This big band especially resonates with me when it comes to how Gordon writes. It’s so unique, style varies, and the members have such great character in their playing. Also the monsters inc theme ;)
This video reminded me of crowds singing along to the guitar on Polyphia's Goose. Loving music and knowing - or feeling - how it goes and is supposed to sound are such invaluable tools.
this something i discovered myself when i finally met other jazz musicians, we were talking about albums we liked and when i brought up the Chet Baker sings album i was able to sing not only the lyrics but all of the trumpet and piano solos in it.
This is honestly how I’ve always interacted with music my entire life. I bashed so many different things in there in different ways, and I’ve always heard the layers and remembered them. Give me just a couple of seconds of so many songs, and my brain doesn’t stop until it’s played through, often with me singing bits. 80s pop? Weird indie rock? Every Super Mario Theme? Yes, even jazz. I actively developed this in ways, but also I do think I was wired in a way to absorb as I did, being neurodivergent. Enjoyable video as always! Thanks for introducing me to some new players I’d missed (I’ve always steered towards the later Coltrane, electric Miles, all of Sun Ra end of things 😉)
I just wanted to mention my own experience with playing sheet music whether official or not. When I was learning keyboard, I used to tell my teacher a lot that the books were wrong. We investigated the songs together, and we both agreed that the books had transcribed the wrong note in a few places or placed a chord which gave a slightly different mood to the section. She was very accepting of the changes I wanted to make, and she would encourage and nurture that where appropriate. Of course I would get it wrong sometimes, but it's important to remember that sometimes the 'officially' transcribed music book, might be wrong, as the artists perform the song slightly differently or with their own style contrary to what they might document officially as an archived document. So the sheet music might be the 'written/designed' song, but the performance may be different in the recording (especially in live performances), that the specific styling of the song you might want to learn how to play, could be a little different to the 'official' version. My most vivid memory of this was the official music sheet compilation book from Disney, which contained the song 'Go the Distance' from Hercules. I found 2 notes which sounded so wrong and threw off the feeling of the verse, and also the tempo of some notes was off. The sheet music aligned neither with the Michael Bolton nor the Arranged version in the movie. I changed it, teacher liked it, I felt I was playing the 'proper' version. Trust your ears!
For me_ after having played the instrument for over 3 and a half decades_it has been to go back to any number of songs which I used to listen to as a teenager over and over again, and although never transcribing or formally learning them to go back now with those solos and licks so firmly engraved into my mind that I play many of them in real time on guitar just from memory and having been playing guitar now for so long. It even works on many more classic rock or 80s pop tunes though perhaps not as instantly as real time with the songs I loved, but near enough on occasion from having heard all those songs incessantly on the radio back in the day. And I am not claiming to be s master of my instrument or anything like that, but it's actually a phenomenon that I had never anticipated, but there are certain things that pop up over and over and I certainly have developed my ear quite a lot over the decades. In any event, thanks for clip. Cheers
This is one of my Top Five albums... I grew up listening to Oscar on piano and Sonny on sax. I'm a sax player, and a bebop guy. Sonny was absolutely amazing, and there are no words to describe Oscar other than GOAT. Both players are so incredibly MELODIC, which is a trait that far too few musicians think about. Melody, melodic-ness... it matters. Keith Jarrett is another incredibly melodic player. Thanks for doing this!
one of my first was Miles Davis' trumpet solo for So What/Kind of Blue while I was studying with Phil Mattson... including the sound of the 'clam'... was way beyond my skill level but can hear in my head every time I listen to the chart.
When I was in school, the band director at my school taught jazz band as an elective class. I remember I had trouble with solos (still do even now that I’m out of school and I just play piano for enjoyment). And a lot of that was rooted in the sort of very rule based world of classical music where I had learned how to play piano. He told me “when you’re trying to learn a solo, don’t transcribe the notes. Transcribe the feelings.” In essence, don’t try to play the notes that you’re hearing, try to play what the pianist or saxophonist or whatever type of instrument-ist is trying to portray to the listener. Play by feel not by rules. Of course I was like 16 at the time so I was kind of like “whatever” but I realize now that there is wisdom in what he said.
I accidentally learned Coltrane’s giant steps solo ‘cause the changes transfixed me so much I’d literally listen to it on loop for hours (I’m autistic I do that a lot). I didn’t even know I learned it until I was absentmindedly humming along with it walking into band in hs and the director was like “what?” I think I made a memory slip in like chorus 6 or something, but I didn’t even know I knew it until then
So funny this came up in my feed today. I was driving into work today and Blue Train came on WBGO. I was singing along with those solos that I know SO well from years of listening and yes, transcribing a few. I said to myself "I'm gonna do this with my students today! We sang along with Trane, Morgan, Fuller, and even tried to do it with Mr PC! His was always difficult for me! Thanks for a great video!
feeling very validated in the fact that I am terrible at sight reading but pretty good at playing by ear (transcribing!) I quit formal piano lessons because the commitment was too much for me at the time but I started learning casually for fun by just working out simple songs like Christmas carols, then going on to work out other music I've heard and honestly I've made so much more progress learning this way than I had for the years and years I took formal lessons!
I remember trying to learn a song on guitar, something I've never listened to before. I had a constantly moving rhythm section that is note for note. I was also trying to learn singing it at the same time. Not to mention, the song was on an odd time. Played the tune practically 24/7, in the living room, bedroom, and car. Then every three days I'd sit down and try playing it. It definitely accelerated the learning versus learning it line by line. After two weeks, I could play it as though I knew the music from a long time ago that I'm able to change keys wherever I want with a totally different chord shape on the fret board. I guess I'll revisit this process again. I never really though of the process that way, I really was just challenging myself at that time.
All Charles needs to do now is do an acapella Sonny Stitt solo with voiced instruments, if you know what I mean. Also, I've been transcribing without knowing it for ages, and I can sing many solos by heart. Didn't know that this was an actual technique for learning things. Very cool.
One of my solos is Clifford Brown's solo on "Jim" with Sarah Vaughan. It's great! Also Randy Brecker's solo (maybe Randy??) on Techno Pop with Bob Mintzer Big Band. Every note 🤓
Woody Shaw solo on There Will Never Be Another You blows me away every time. I find myself humming parts of it every now and again while smiling. The way he navigates the changes is complete unorthodox to anything I'd ever heard before
Those kids remind me of me when I was a kid. I always listened to my dad's old Reel-to-reel tapes and all of the Jazz and soul music he used to play, and I can still remember some of them or the solos, note for note to this day! But don't expect me to ever be able to play them on Piano, Trumpet, Sax, Clarinet, Trombone or Flute... lol!
One of the worst things ever was getting tinitus. But a few days ago I realized that if I concentrate on it my tinitus is in D, or slightly flat of it. Now I'm discovering that if I focus on it I can call up notes on demand without any other references.
this is video put into words how I learn music. I'm trying to learn piano myself (year or so in) yesterday I figured out how to play my own version of interstellar (part of it) and that's exactly because I've listed to that song for so long, when I existentially hit the notes I knew what to do
The sax solo I learned this way is Marc Russo's on "Sightseeing" from the Yellowjacket's Four Corners album. Never get tired of listening to it and singing along.
So, I'm not really a native english speaker but got used to its sound at a young age and never got any trouble understanding it and all. But when you sing, your voice changes a bit and I don't know how to explain it but I deeply feel like THIS is a language I speak. I don't even do music, I just randomly sing while walking (badly), but this has impacted me in such a weird way I needed to write it down
I first started learning solos by reading from the Charlie Parker omni book. I listened to so many Bird solos that I learned a lot of trumpet solos on accident.😂 Miles Davis’ solo on Billie’s Bounce was actually the first solo I learned completely by ear because of this.
This is an awesome album. One of my all time favs. I first heard tracks from it in my early 20s downloading random jazz MP3s off of Napster. A couple of years later, after finding out what album it was from, I spent $50 for a Japanese import CD because it wasn't available in the US at the time. Well worth the price tag.
I learned Yusef Lateef’s ‘Warm Hearted Blues’ from Ab Gb C that way. Listening to it over and over and over as a kid. Then like 50 years later I got to setting it into Musescore. Did the same thing with Lateef’s solo on ‘Revelations’ from The Centaur and the Phoenix.
The guitar solos for Mordecai and Selkies: The Endless Obsession by Between the Buried and Me stand out for me as like... the moments when I realized transcription was what I was instinctively doing. I still to this day can't play the Selkies solo, my fingers can't keep up with the fast sections, but I've got those solos completely committed to memory note-for-note. By-ear and singing transcription has been a big part of my learning process. Combining it with written transcription to fill in the complex parts that can be difficult to parse, like those fast runs you sorta... legato'd your way through... XD That's been my primary method of learning music for 20 years. This applies really well to learning hip-hop vocal lines too, when you stop thinking about words and phrases and start thinking syllables, pitch and rhythm, it makes it much easier. And I've been taking to using this by-ear singing method to learn drum parts too, it can be helpful to learn drum patterns that require complex limb independence by learning the *sound* of the pattern, then piecing together how it feels after. I noticed this was my primary way of learning music when I realized that I could sing along to every song I listened to basically note-for-note, even harmonies for a lot of them, but I could rarely sing any of the words. And I learned very quickly that this learning method could be translated to other tonal, and even rhythmic instruments as well. Now, I'm trying to advance that process by adding in much more detail in my study and mimicry of vocal textures and articulation. Trying to not just mimic pitch, but mimic tone, velocity and timbre much more deliberately. It's opened up a lot of doors creatively for me, and helped me advance the way I think about several of the instruments I play, most of all vocals. Really cool idea for a video, thanks for sharing this! I can't think of a single music teacher I've had advocating for this way of learning, and this way of learning has incredible use and value.
For something different can I recommend The Consouls cover (Consouls Radio #24) of Amusement Park from Nier Automata - the beautiful guitar solo is imprinted in my brain (but I don't think I'd ever be able to play it without countless hours on the piano as my fingers are rusty from many years away from the instrument) There's also a great bass solo that I could probably sing too.
For me it's the Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith soundtrack. I saved money to buy the album when I was 13 in 2005 and listened the hell out of it. It's so good! I know by heart every single detail in even the most obtuse music on that album. Every now and then I listen to it during my job to motivate myself, and I find myself very energized and singing every little detail. I love it.
I completely relate to this!! This was exactly the same for me! I got obsessed with this soundtrack as a trumpet player, and before I knew it I had assimilated every bit of it. It's what got me down the rabbit hole of the world of soundtrack music. Glad to know you also really love that soundtrack :D
This is what happened to me with the solos on If I Were a Bell from Miles' Relaxin' cut. I just listened to it so many times out of sheer enjoyment that my ears and fingers seemed to grasp the lines with the least delay I've ever had when transcribing
When I was younger (sob) I accidentally memorized a track from Three Original by Baden Powell, and some parts of other tracks. I consumed that album. Love your contents!
@CharlesCornellStudios you should do a breakdown on the Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack. There’s so many high quality tracks with such memorable melodies, I would love to see your dissection
I currently can't play an instrument but I've listened to autumn leaves so many times I've ended up learning it in different languages. My favorite is Elliott Skinner's youth arts performance
Listening to music over and over again is how I learn all the solos. I request transcriptions sometimes, but that's usually for harmonic analysis more than anything. I blame growing up singing musical theater and Disney music with my family for my relative pitch capabilities, and now I can learn solos and sing them without references, now the hard part is learning the solos on an instrument! The solos from Cowboy Bebop's Tank! were some of the first I learned to sing in my jazz experience.
My favorite thing is scatting along with Benny Bennack III and Veronica Swift on Social Call. I might not be able to play it, but it’s dang fun to sing along and for a while I listened to it like thirty times straight and pretty much memorized the scatting
So true! That’s exactly how the teachers at the University of North Texas taught us to transcribe. Listen on repeat, get to the point where you can sing along note for note, then grab your horn. It’s a solid technique. Writing it out first just complicates things.
This method of transcribing by listening a trillion times, singing it a trillion times, THEN picking up the instrument and writing it out is actually what I was taught in high school jazz!
What you just described.. happens to me with 'Oliver Nelson's - stolen moments'. The solos in that piece are outstanding! and the musicians are amazing! You should check it out, Charles!
Discovery is the greatest form of entertainment. Good Music and good games allow for that time to grab a couple of strong foundations and noodle your way around to very fun and intresting ideas. Its the very reason i subscribed many of your videos embody the joy of discovery.
Your my fav youtuber!! Please do a music theory episode on the movie whiplash!!! i think it’d be fun for you to make and i’ve never seen a video on it.
This Cat can SKAT! I know "Goodbye Porkpie Hat" note for note, not from any particular instrumental recording but from Mark Murphy's vocalization of Clifford Jordan's tenor throughout the piece. This is one of those musical memories that is so distinct and clear in my head that if I sing Mark Murphy's lyrics, I can play the record afterwards and find I am exactly on key with the recording. I hear Murphy's prolonged opening note as clear as if he was in the room any time I think about the tune. I can indeed play it on my tenor and I don't recall struggling with it once.
It's fun just to see another person enjoying something so thoroughly. The one song that jumps to mind for me when I think about solos I sing along to is Black Friday Rule by Flogging Molly. I'm gonna have a go at that on my guitar, and I'll get back to you!
Man, the thing that got me into jazz and really hooked. But Not For Me, by Chet Baker. I know every take and every solo in all of them. I just love that song, and it really shaped what I play like and, honestly who I am.
This is someone i already knew, but forgot i knew. I'd already ben doing this for a while, but didn't register it as transcribing until now. I once spontaneously did a vocal duet of I Want You Back (Jackson 5) with a girl in college. I sang the bassline and she sang the words. I didn't even realize I knew EVERY SINGLE MOMENT of that bass part until I started singing along with the song in my head.
I am 64 and can remember, in my head, many songs from the 60s note for note. When a cover band attempts to duplicate those songs, I can identify every place where they drifted away from the original in terms of tempo, arrangement or even instrumental mix. The brain is an amazing thing.
I’d really love to see you react to the Disney short, Us Again! It’s got a really cool soundtrack that I absolutely love and fits with the short so well :)
Its not jazz, but the solo i learned by accident in and out, is the guitar solo from TUYU being low as dirt taking whats important from me. I was so addicted to that song that after watching this video, i could play that solo in my head on the spot without listening to the song
Oh my god, there's a solo used to be obsessed with. I haven't listened to it in years and haven't thought about it in a long time but this video just made me think of it. Crazy thing is I can still sing it but can't remember who it's by or what tune it's from. 🤦♂️
I must say that back in the day, when as a youth I was playing in band, our conductor/teacher was making us to sing our scores. I must admit - our learning process of new pieces was "fast forwarding" big style
I’m not necessarily a good musician, but when I’m at my most comfortable, I’ve always moved my mouth to mimic of supplement what I’m playing on an instrument. Then I came to find that so many great musicians do this. Chick Correa really stands out, and if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for me
