Do you manuscript your original songs?

Joelman

Joined: Sep 07, 2006
Posts: 1505
Redlands, CA
United States

Posted on Feb 01 2007 11:48 PM

I have spent way to much time trying to transcribe music I have heard and like. Only to wonder how close it is to the original.
When I look for music in books, all I usually find, (_even from big names like Hal Leonard)_ is transcribed music. Often from some person working on a disertation in music or something. Very often incorrectly transcribed.

Mozart's and other great composers music was written down. Their music has lasted ages.

How long will your music last if it isn't written down?

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DannySnyder

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11062
Berkeley, CA
United States

Posted on Feb 02 2007 12:17 AM

I think if Mozart had recording equipment available to him at the time, he would have spent his time partying instead of writing it down. It's the same thing really, anyone can transcribe, why should the artist do it?

—

Danny Snyder

"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party

Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF

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SurfBandBill

Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
1 News Pin

Posted on Feb 02 2007 03:03 AM

Generally speaking, I do transcribe about 95% of what I play. I find that it helps in the "learning" stages of a piece if I can have my notes in front of me, and when we switched bassists a few years back, my copious records of the songs really helped both the interim and new bassist. (though I think the interim was the one who really benefitted - Rodd's got a better ear than I do.

~B~

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dp

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3546
mojave desert, california
United States

Posted on Feb 02 2007 10:20 AM

I keep "Nashville Notes" sort of chord sequence charts of my tunes...but, I have not tabbed out melodies (or leads)...

-dp

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WR

Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 3832
netherlands
2 Link Pins

Posted on Feb 02 2007 11:04 AM

man, I have trouble enough coming up with a title!

our bassplayer keeps note though, just the chords, and an occasional bassline, or enigmatic esoteria no one understands typical mono-tones conversation:

"let's play 'Am fast'"
"is that the one with Dm E in the bridge? "
"I think so"
"not a clue how that bridge goes"
"me neither"
"can you hum it? "
"uh, no"
...
...
"ah, what the heck, let's just play it and see of it comes back"

it usually does. if it doesn't, it probably wasn't any good

WR

—

Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."

https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/

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dwgregory1

Joined: Oct 30, 2006
Posts: 118
Baltimore, MD

Posted on Feb 02 2007 01:03 PM

I usually just write ideas out in my own chicken scratch. Some notes, some tabs, some chords, mostly just terms or ideas, to try and refresh my memory. These usually help to put me back in the same headspace I was in when the idea was first conceived......not very effiecient, but it works for me!

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wooza

Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 1618
Ithaca, NY
1 Download Pin

Posted on Feb 02 2007 01:33 PM

I can't read or write music so that limits my abilities. Tabs I've never bothered to write. Any song I've taught myself or personally come up with I know just by memory.
I've got a big juicy brain. It all fits up there.

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SurfBandBill

Joined: Mar 15, 2006
Posts: 1487
San Francisco
1 News Pin

Posted on Feb 02 2007 02:12 PM

Generally speaking, I only use the notes in the "learning" mode of a song, or else if we haven't played something in FOREVER.

At one point I took all my scattered notes and wrote them out concisely and legibly (for me at least), and kept them in a single spiral-bound book of staff paper. That wound up being a great way for me to sort of look at what worked well, as well as to re-re-re-familiarize myself with some of the tunes.

~B~

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Mustard_Man

Joined: Jan 16, 2007
Posts: 100
England

Posted on Feb 02 2007 02:22 PM

We tend to record EVERYTHING we do (on minidisc) in practice. Then its someone's job to break to split it all up into MP3s and email them out.

Then its my job to tab out the good bits and make them into 2 minute classics..

I think a certain fraction of what we do ends up tabbed out in a note book somewhere, around 40% would be my guess. Never a whole song with 'do this riff for X bars then play run B bridge Z then riff Y..' form, that would just far too organised..

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beelzebozo

Joined: Mar 02, 2007
Posts: 96
Las Vegas

Posted on Mar 05 2007 07:24 PM

for our originals I write the changes out and the notes for a line that I might forget. I just started doing that in the last year. The band has gotten into modulations and odd time signatures for this latest batch of songs. I also like to have a master book of all the songs I learn and write.

—

4 out of 5 people prefer Thee Swank Bastards to nothing.
theeswankbastards.com

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Tuck

Joined: Sep 02, 2006
Posts: 3166
Denver, CO
12 Calendar Pins

Posted on Mar 05 2007 09:02 PM

I think that transcriptions (not necessarily very good ones) were originally a necessary part of the music copyright process. I don't think they are are anymore. See the first link below, which discusses the elimination of the requirement to register a song with the Library of Congress.

While a sound recording of a performance is clearly a nice thing to have, and transcription was clearly for a long time the closest approximation to a recording that there was, a transcription usually includes features missing in a modern sound recording, e.g., some degree of instruction in how to reproduce it. As such, and this applied before sound recordings, transcriptions are copyright(able).

I gather that automatic transcription is still something of a research area, though there are some PC-based tools for this listed on the Web.

A sound recording is definitely essential now days. You can always video record your hands, too. It may not be entertainment, but it would definitely be art.

For what it's worth:

The list under "Playing Music in Public" in the first link is a bit confusing in wording. The bullet list is contexts in which playing requires permission of the licensee.

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Joelman Joined: Sep 07, 2006 Posts: 1505 Redlands, CA	Posted on Feb 01 2007 11:48 PM I have spent way to much time trying to transcribe music I have heard and like. Only to wonder how close it is to the original. When I look for music in books, all I usually find, (_even from big names like Hal Leonard)_ is transcribed music. Often from some person working on a disertation in music or something. Very often incorrectly transcribed. Mozart's and other great composers music was written down. Their music has lasted ages. How long will your music last if it isn't written down? Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11062 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Feb 02 2007 12:17 AM I think if Mozart had recording equipment available to him at the time, he would have spent his time partying instead of writing it down. It's the same thing really, anyone can transcribe, why should the artist do it? — Danny Snyder "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF Top
SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Feb 02 2007 03:03 AM Generally speaking, I do transcribe about 95% of what I play. I find that it helps in the "learning" stages of a piece if I can have my notes in front of me, and when we switched bassists a few years back, my copious records of the songs really helped both the interim and new bassist. (though I think the interim was the one who really benefitted - Rodd's got a better ear than I do. ~B~ Top
dp Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california	Posted on Feb 02 2007 10:20 AM I keep "Nashville Notes" sort of chord sequence charts of my tunes...but, I have not tabbed out melodies (or leads)... -dp Top
WR Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 3832 netherlands	Posted on Feb 02 2007 11:04 AM man, I have trouble enough coming up with a title! our bassplayer keeps note though, just the chords, and an occasional bassline, or enigmatic esoteria no one understands typical mono-tones conversation: "let's play 'Am fast'" "is that the one with Dm E in the bridge? " "I think so" "not a clue how that bridge goes" "me neither" "can you hum it? " "uh, no" ... ... "ah, what the heck, let's just play it and see of it comes back" it usually does. if it doesn't, it probably wasn't any good WR — Rules to live by #314: "When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is." https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/ Top
dwgregory1 Joined: Oct 30, 2006 Posts: 118 Baltimore, MD	Posted on Feb 02 2007 01:03 PM I usually just write ideas out in my own chicken scratch. Some notes, some tabs, some chords, mostly just terms or ideas, to try and refresh my memory. These usually help to put me back in the same headspace I was in when the idea was first conceived......not very effiecient, but it works for me! Top
wooza Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 1618 Ithaca, NY	Posted on Feb 02 2007 01:33 PM I can't read or write music so that limits my abilities. Tabs I've never bothered to write. Any song I've taught myself or personally come up with I know just by memory. I've got a big juicy brain. It all fits up there. Top
SurfBandBill Joined: Mar 15, 2006 Posts: 1487 San Francisco	Posted on Feb 02 2007 02:12 PM Generally speaking, I only use the notes in the "learning" mode of a song, or else if we haven't played something in FOREVER. At one point I took all my scattered notes and wrote them out concisely and legibly (for me at least), and kept them in a single spiral-bound book of staff paper. That wound up being a great way for me to sort of look at what worked well, as well as to re-re-re-familiarize myself with some of the tunes. ~B~ Top
Mustard_Man Joined: Jan 16, 2007 Posts: 100 England	Posted on Feb 02 2007 02:22 PM We tend to record EVERYTHING we do (on minidisc) in practice. Then its someone's job to break to split it all up into MP3s and email them out. Then its my job to tab out the good bits and make them into 2 minute classics.. I think a certain fraction of what we do ends up tabbed out in a note book somewhere, around 40% would be my guess. Never a whole song with 'do this riff for X bars then play run B bridge Z then riff Y..' form, that would just far too organised.. Top
beelzebozo Joined: Mar 02, 2007 Posts: 96 Las Vegas	Posted on Mar 05 2007 07:24 PM for our originals I write the changes out and the notes for a line that I might forget. I just started doing that in the last year. The band has gotten into modulations and odd time signatures for this latest batch of songs. I also like to have a master book of all the songs I learn and write. — 4 out of 5 people prefer Thee Swank Bastards to nothing. theeswankbastards.com Top
Tuck Joined: Sep 02, 2006 Posts: 3166 Denver, CO	Posted on Mar 05 2007 09:02 PM I think that transcriptions (not necessarily very good ones) were originally a necessary part of the music copyright process. I don't think they are are anymore. See the first link below, which discusses the elimination of the requirement to register a song with the Library of Congress. While a sound recording of a performance is clearly a nice thing to have, and transcription was clearly for a long time the closest approximation to a recording that there was, a transcription usually includes features missing in a modern sound recording, e.g., some degree of instruction in how to reproduce it. As such, and this applied before sound recordings, transcriptions are copyright(able). I gather that automatic transcription is still something of a research area, though there are some PC-based tools for this listed on the Web. A sound recording is definitely essential now days. You can always video record your hands, too. It may not be entertainment, but it would definitely be art. For what it's worth: WSU on Music Copyright Music Copyright esp. wrt Instruction SUNY Buffalo on Music Copyright for Music Librarians ASCAP-BMI System ASCAP BMI The list under "Playing Music in Public" in the first link is a bit confusing in wording. The bullet list is contexts in which playing requires permission of the licensee. Top

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Do you manuscript your original songs?