Transcribing a big band arrangement

[Dippledorp]

Im thinking of creating a major long term project out of transcribing a big band arrangement off of an album. Have any of you ever done this? What did you think of it? What tips can you offer me? Any books or other publications that might help me out? Thanks a lot!

[Merlin]

In my second year of arranging at Humber College in Toronto, the first project was a big band lift. If we didn't pick a suitable chart ourselves, one was assigned to us.

I'd highly recommend Ray Wright's "Inside the Score" from Kendor as a very handy reference for learning about voicings and passing chords.

As for the transcription process, I always laid out the form of the chart first on score paper, then filled in the blanks. Whenever I got stuck trying to pick off a voicing, I'd do a process of elimination thing, and fill in all the rests that I knew for sure.

As far as it being a long term project, yes, your first one probably will be, but it does get faster. I can knock off a swing era chart in a day or so now.

I'd advise picking something about 3-4 minutes in length, standard instrumentation, no doubles to start with.

Stick to a medium swing chart to start with.

[gary]

Just a couple'a questions. Where is your starting point? I.e (1) are you already good and experienced at transcribing solos and (2) do you know big band orchestration?

[Dippledorp]

Just a couple'a questions. Where is your starting point? I.e (1) are you already good and experienced at transcribing solos and (2) do you know big band orchestration?

1 Sorta
2 I think so, what exactly do you mean

[Riff]

I've transcribed big band arrangements several times in the past though probably not in the past 20 years. After transcribing I decided I'd rather just write my own arrangements; it's easier.

I self-taught myself with this method which worked for me.
First, listen to the arrangement as many times as necessary to memorize it's form. If it's an arrangement of a standard tune get a lead sheet for the melody. If necessary transpose the lead sheet to the same key as the arrangement. If the arrangement changes key, transpose the melody again to the new key. If it's not a standard tune you'll have to transcribe the melody and chord changes and work from that.
Follow the melody throughout and identify what sections are playing it and when. Is it in unison or harmony? Transcribe the melody lines as played in the arrangement with melodic and rhythmic accuracy. (Arrangers often augment or decorate standard melodies to add interest)

Lay the form and melody lines out on the score paper.
Transcribe any counter melodies into the score where they occur.
Add the lead lines from any backgrounds whether they be whole notes in the saxes or punches in the brass sections.
Notate any accents the drummer plays that are in unison with the ensemble or that kick with individual sections.
Listen for any piano, guitar or bass lines that are part of the written arrangement and add those to the score.
By this time you should have most of the arrangement down. Now you just need to add the details.
Listen to the instrument sections (sax, trpt or bone) that are in harmony and try to pick out the bottom part.
Once this is done you need to fill in the inner parts. If you can't quite pick them out (which is often the case depending on the quality of the recording), just use your own voicings based on the chords from your lead sheet or take some educated guesses at what the arranger intended.
If the rhythm section players are competent musicians you can just give them chord changes to work from. If they are young players who are still learning you'll have to write out parts for them to play. Just use your best judgement here.

That should pretty much get you through. As with anything musical, the more you do it the easier it becomes and the more you learn.

I did my first big band transcription when I was in 10th grade. There were many errors in it compared to the recording (ie. harmony where there should have been unison, rhythmic errors etc.), but it was still a very playable arrangement that sounded just fine and I learned quite a bit about how to write for big band. I continued arranging like this throughout high school and eventually majored in composition at college.