Everyone wants to know how to transcribe but no one finds out so here we go. These are really tips and tricks because there is no other way than to listen to the song and play it on the guitar, but these are tips that will help you a lot.
- Find a comfortable, well lighted, quiet place to work
- When transcribing try to find out the tuning by listening for strings that ring more. These strings are open so if you hear a low D ringing you know you're not in standard tuning.
- Try to find out the key of the song. It will help if you can use one scale to transcribe with. It also helps when you're looking for what the chords are. See lessons 16, 17, & 18
- Get a CD player, but if you use a cassette you might want to invest in one with a "Cue/Review" button so you can hear it rewind or something that will go back to a designated spot. You might be able to find an old one that fits the criteria at a yard sale or flea market.
- Use headphones. They help... trust me
- Try to use something with a left/right button. (A mixer is the ideal tool for this)
- Try to use something with an Equilizer. (All you need is Low, Mid, High but a 10 band one is still more useful)
- Good pencil, eraser, and pencil sharpener
- If you have money, buy something that will slow down the playing. I know Ibanez makes one. The problem is that some of these also lower the note an octave too, but I don't think that Ibanez's does.
- Sometimes music is mixed on different channels (for example: guitars go through the right speaker while vocals go through the left) Use the left/right knob to only listen to the guitar side.
- Use the Equilizer to lower the Highs and Lows, then boost the Midrange. This helps to bring out the guitar and lessen the rest of the band
- If you can get a song onto your computer and have a program to manipulate the song to bring out the guitar, slow it down, etc. use that program. It'll save you time and bad notes.
- You may also want to invest in a vocal eliminator.
- You can also cheat and find a video and see how they play it.
- Most of all... Practice and take it one step at a time. (Start Easy and build up)