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Transcribing

Question

  • What's your view on transcribing? One teacher I had said you should be able to scat sing the solo you want to transcribe for ideas before figuring it out on the guitar and/or writing it out? What's your take on this?

    • Response

  • Well, obviously transcribing has certain value like using your ear (the most important) and figuring out how to notate the stuff (which can be a problem when people, such as myself, play over the bar line phrases) and is a ton of work. In my opinion though, if using it to gain a wider vocabulary, it's too direct. I mean I believe in the power of influence rather a direct copy of what someone played. I figure it this way: everything we hear that reaches us on an emotional level is taken in our brain - let it fester, and become part of your subconscious to manifest as you learn to play what you hear and not what you think. So, in summary, I believe transcribing once or twice for the experience of it is useful but not as a means for creativity in finding your own voice.