Three Little Beats
Day 23
With every transcription project there are moments that fit under your fingers with ease. It’s in these moments that I can get over confident.
Internal dialogue:
“This is great! So easy. Today’s section is going to come together quickly.”
A couple of beats later and you can’t find your way out of a wet paper bag.
The process reminds me of this scene from the Chappelle Show featuring (Dave Chappelle as) Rick James & Charlie Murphy
Rick James = Transcription
Charlie Murphy = Me
Slap = Reality
These projects make you think and problem solve.
Here’s where I spent most of my time thinking today:
These three measures were a puzzle for my left hand to realize. The challenge is connecting the last beat of the first measure (melody) to the down beat of measure two.
You think about something long enough, experiment, GO SLOW, and you begin to see the solutions for you. One thing that I particularly like about this process is that it’s personal. My solutions work for me, my hands, and my musical approach. That’s what makes this process interesting. The more you do this kind of work, the more clearly you begin to define your own way of playing, approaching musical ideas, and expressing them to the listener.
Here’s where I ended up at the end of my session today. Not perfect. Progress.
See you tomorrow.
