Composing Secrets 🎵 How to Transcribe Music (Tips & Tricks)

[@SnehalA]

Thank you! The EQ filtering is helpful. I've been transcribing an orchestral piece for so long only to have figured 25-50% of it so far. I thought I was going to go crazy. I am going to try filtering it and slowing it down

[@seaofglass77]

This is awesome! I don't compose really, but I have to arrange and often transcribe music for work all the time! Great tips!

[@SohnCompositions]

Hey Sarah, glad you found the video helpful! Transcribing is so useful in any field in music whether it's teaching, performing or composing.

[@dillonmderosa]

Great little vid. Excellent job showing how to use EQ/plugins to help with transcribing those hard to hear instruments in a busy mix. :D

[@SohnCompositions]

Thanks Dillon. Glad that you appreciate the video.

[@jamisonbenjamin8806]

i know it is quite off topic but does anyone know a good place to watch new tv shows online?

[@jasiahhouston9568]

@Jamison Benjamin Try FlixZone. Just search on google for it :)

[@emilioreign6391]

@Jasiah Houston yup, been watching on FlixZone for since april myself :D

[@jamisonbenjamin8806]

@Jasiah Houston Thank you, I signed up and it seems like a nice service :) I appreciate it!!

[@l00p.crmbl.l00p]

I've never thought of using plugins to specifically hear high or low frequencies, thank you so much!

[@SohnCompositions]

Happy to help!

[@dawnrock2391]

Hi, have u ever gone more in depth on this? I'm trying to figure out how to transcribe rock music, using a DAW as well.

[@improvementTime10.3.17]

6:20 hi and low pass filters basically EQ Rm to also boost the volume when taking frequencies so you can hear those lower or higher freq better 8:40 mv2 by waves Compressor can bring out the lower note details

[@MusicalWizardryMarcoIannello]

I am wondering how one would go about discerning layers and layers of percussions, for example. Layered guitars might be easier, if they are double/quad tracked, I suppose

[@SohnCompositions]

Oh yeah, percussion can get tricky. I've done a lot of drumset transcriptions for my drum students which is good ear training for these things. The difference with drumset and highly produced/arranged percussion parts for film is that there isn't a limitation of notes on the latter. With the drumset, there are four limbs that can only do so much at a given time where as with samples and layering, it is hard to discern like you said. For that reason, it wouldn't hurt to reach out to the composer or see the BTS videos on how they achieve their sound.

[@shreyansjain3571]

So should we transcribe all instruments in the piece or just our principle instrument part? Which one would be more helpful for self practice and is it worth the time to write it down? Thanks!

[@SohnCompositions]

Hey Shreyans, so it depends on what you want to achieve. If you want to be good at orchestrating or arranging, then I would suggest doing all parts for good practice. Good ear training to figure out the inside harmonies and drum rhythms. If you are just trying to figure out a specific thing like a guitar solo or trumpet solo, then I think just focusing on that is fine although listening to the bass line and harmonic progress will also help figure out the solo line. Hope that helps!

[@shreyansjain3571]

@@SohnCompositions Thanks for replying! Keep doing the great work!!

[@michaele.canete4968]

I want to transcribe an entire song for choir band and orchestra by December. For our Christmas concert. I’ve never done something like this but I think it can be amazing. Any advice you can give me would be fantastic. Also I am 16 years old. I am going transcribe Mary did you know by pentatonix

[@SohnCompositions]

Hey Michael, im glad you were able to watch the video and get something out of it. I think it would help to watch with the music video as a reference to see who sings which part. From there, get a feel of the range and role (alto, soprano, beat box) of each singer. Then work one line at a time. It's okay to listen to the track 10-50 times for each voice. You'll get better with each transcription. Good luck!

[@DJDavis844]

I'm looking for my composition skills to develop. I have a mentor that says after transcribing something you should experiment with the chord and see how to get in and out of the chord, what it sounds like as an open chord and as an open or closed chord with either the 3rd or 5th in the bass. I'm just having difficulty with it

[@SohnCompositions]

Yes, that's a great idea. Voicing chords is one of the most important things to get down when accompanying the melody. Good counter melodies are also fun to write. Keep at it and you'll get better and better, to the point where you don't even have to think about it!

[@yesanaung9378]

Thank You!

[@batarasitohang9699]

Do you transcript each instrument or all all instrumen at once?

[@SohnCompositions]

Most of the time it's one at a time but I'll also listen for the interdependence of instruments to see how they fit together.

[@batarasitohang9699]

Sohn Compositions Could you mind to explain more detil how to import that mp3 to sibelius after settiing up on cubase?

[@jaykahuri9106]

Which software are you using?

[@SohnCompositions]

On this video it was Sibelius but now I've switched over to Dorico.

[@mksounds]

hello, I just have one question: do you know the key shortcut to make a file transpose to another key?

[@SohnCompositions]

For Sibelius?

[@philippeb9944]

What's your software ?

[@SohnCompositions]

Sibelius and will plan on switching over to Dorico.

[@philippeb9944]

@@SohnCompositions okay thanks you 😌

[@dagomara8380]

In this video, he also used Cubase.

[@andyjacobs7010]

@@SohnCompositions just curious, what do you see in Dorico that you are switching from Sibelius?

[@sambarisaiteja749]

what is the software name...?

[@toderox]

Awesome

[@mariorlanygarcia70]

Not certain about the points made but ,if anyone else wants to discover music slow down try Lomonting Slow Music Mentor (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now ) ? Ive heard some awesome things about it and my partner got excellent results with it.

[@Dragoslav369]

Video is A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME.

[@judevanseveelo6804]

I don't get u