Wynton Kelly "Sassy" Transcription
In this lesson we are going to explore the Wynton Kelly recording of the tune "Sassy" which is a blues in the key of F.
Wynton Kelly is known for his swingin’ bluesy style, and in this tutorial we will discuss the best way to emulate the phrasing and feel of this master of jazz piano.
The Importance Of Transcription
We will start the lesson by discussing the importance of transcription, and how this is an essential element of your jazz piano learning journey.
In this lesson we will examine 1.5 minutes of the recording, and I will outline the approach that I follow to transcribe a solo from a recording.
When just starting out with transcription, you will find it very difficult. The first step is to listen to the recording many times to get a feel for the music and the style of improvisation.
Playing Along With The Recording
The key benefit of playing along with the recording is that it allows you to truly emulate the feel, and the phrasing of what is being played.
There is no other way to absorb the feel of jazz music as effectively as listening and playing along with the players and recordings that you aspire to sound like.
Playing Along With The iRealPro
The next step is to play the solo with the iRealPro backing track app.
At this stage we will be feeling more comfortable with the solo, we have spent the time to listen and transcribe the notes and so we should be feeling the rhythm and the placements of the notes.
Ultimately, the goal is to absorb some of the feel of the recording. Whilst we may not be able to play the solo as perfectly as the recording, we will have improved our jazz feel and we can carry this onto other tune that we are working on.
Related Lessons
When learning a new jazz standard the first thing to do is listen to as many different recordings of the tune. Then listen and transcribe from them.
In this lesson we explore 2 useful features of the Transcribe Software that will help you with transcribing chords and improvised lines.
Transcription is one of the most time effective ways to learn jazz and you should incorporate transcription into your daily practice routine.
Practice Tips
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When transcribing a solo, the first step is to listen to the recording for at least a few days to get a feel for the record.
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After you have transcribed some of the material, play along with the recording to emulate the phrasing, feel, and other nuances of the performance.
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Once you feel more comfortable with the transcribed material, the next step is to play along with a backing track such as the iRealPro.
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Set the repeats to 20+ and cycle around and around the form.
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Take a single idea that you have transcribed, and try to develop it to its fullest potential.
- Use the transcribed lines as a 'spring board' to explore your own ideas.
