How To Learn A Tune By Ear-How To Transcribe

[@johnfritt2125]

Thanks Lynden, appplied your transcribing technique to Glenn Cambell `Gentle on my Mind' found the first chord using my keyboard.. and then was able to work out the melody etc. have been some really useful videos recently.. Thanks again John

[@lyndenblades]

Hi John, that’s great news, thank you so much and I’m delighted that this is helpful for you. Thank you so much for your support, that is greatly appreciated 🎷🎷🤝🤝😎😎

[@usmc2309]

It was really fun watching this. I will look for a song that I really love and try one on my own.

[@lyndenblades]

Thank you Eric, please let me know how you get on 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@ME-rz6en]

Danke!

[@lyndenblades]

Thank you so much, your support is greatly appreciated and extremely helpful in motivating me to keep making tutorials 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@Laura-wg5jk]

You are amazing! You are incredibly patient to go through all of the steps! One thing I also do is use my tuner to see what the concert pitch is (when I sing it) and then transpose down 3 semitones to get to alto sax.

[@lyndenblades]

Laura thank you so much 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@trefordavies3670]

OMG. You absolute wizard of a man .. I listened to your tutorial with sax in hand ! Started working out the notes and got slightly ahead of you in my enthusiasm . Played along with Adele a few times and then down loaded the Karaoke version . To my amazement I could play it with said backing track from my head . Holding back your ears next . Sending you a well earned coffee . Still buzzing .

[@lyndenblades]

Wow Trefor, that makes me so happy to hear, thank you so much 🤝🤝😎😎🎷🎷

[@trefordavies3670]

@@lyndenblades Billy Joel sings it better than Adele .. Bob Dylan as well

[@lyndenblades]

You’re absolutely right 👍👍🎷🎷

[@trefordavies3670]

Thanks

[@lyndenblades]

Trefor, thank you so much, I really appreciate your support 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@jaredwaltzer736]

That was so helpful Lynden! Please do a transcribing lesson on the tenor sax.

[@lyndenblades]

Thanks Jared, that’s a great suggestion 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@mosesidika3092]

You are a blessing to me

[@lyndenblades]

Thank you 🤝🤝😎😎🎷🎷

[@BassNSax628]

Brilliant. This is the most useful skill (imo) that any musician can develop. The best tip I was given for beginners who haven’t done any transcribing before, is to start on nursery rhythms. Twinkle, twinkle is the best one! Then keep going. Excellent video. Thanks.

[@lyndenblades]

@@BassNSax628 thank you so much 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@nicolaycunha]

Pure gold! Many thanks once again Lynden!

[@lyndenblades]

You are so welcome 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@ronsax56]

Thanks!

[@lyndenblades]

Thank you so much Ron 😎😎🤝🤝🎷🎷

[@ronsax56]

Really appreciate your stile of teaching.

[@lyndenblades]

So nice of you to say Ron 🤝🤝

[@tomaszszlapanski5988]

Oh so glad I found you!See you soon !

[@lyndenblades]

@@tomaszszlapanski5988 thank you Tomasz 🤝🤝😎😎🎷🎷

[@callumbrown3357]

Wow. What an excellent explanation. Great job.

[@lyndenblades]

@@callumbrown3357 thank you so much Callum 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@williamstewart611]

Another amazing video! You make everything so easy to understand!!! Thank you so much!

[@lyndenblades]

You are so welcome William, thank you 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@ME-rz6en]

pure gold, thank you!

[@lyndenblades]

You're welcome! 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@studiozeroone1164]

Hi mate, been playing 3 weeks learned all major and minor scales. Started doing playing by ear this off my own back last week....its great fun. Quick tip....as a dj I use virtual dj. I can change any songs key to a friendlier key. I then record it and use as a backing track . You can download virtual dj and use for free to do this...great tool. It does change vocals but to match pitch....amazing!! Now for a confession....as a dj I have worked with a few sax players but only one stands out. My goal is to learn 30 or so pop tunes in 12 months and get out other floor. Next confession...I bought a yamaha yds 120( live in apartment) and a modification kit from China so it looks like a black altoGreat bit of kit! I connect a wireless transmitter to my speakers....sounds awesome....plus it does tenor and bari aswell as soprano. Think your videos are awesome Lynden

[@lyndenblades]

Wow, thank you so much for this, that sounds amazing!! 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@studiozeroone1164]

@@lyndenblades take a look at virtual dj....will save you time

[@studiozeroone1164]

Just to add , i always felt i could pkay the sax. Being a dj i listen very carefully to music, beats key for mixing ....but could always hear fills i my head....excited to give it a go

[@lyndenblades]

Excellent and enjoy your sax journey 🤝🤝😎😎🎷🎷

[@lyndenblades]

Thanks, I will do 🤝🤝

[@garyjeneson1519]

More fantastic content. I have improved a lot since watching your videos as have many others I’m sure!!😊🙏🙏🙏

[@lyndenblades]

Gary thank you so much, that’s very kind of you to say and I’m so happy to think this is helping 🤝🤝😎😎🎷🎷

[@שמוליקזולטק]

Totally!

[@lyndenblades]

Thank you 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@jillytiffen6305]

Brilliant explanation Lynden! 👏👏👌👌Thank you😁👍

[@lyndenblades]

My pleasure Jilly, thank you 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@daveball137]

What a fantastic lesson. Thanks.

[@lyndenblades]

Dave thank you so much 🎷🎷🤝🤝😎😎

[@Robert-fi2pf]

These videos are amazing. Not only are they clear, but they motivate me to pick up my horn to practice! I was curious: What do the brackets represent in your transcription of Adele’s song? What are your thoughts in learning to write in musical notation? Any suggestions for learning how to do that without going to Music school? Keep up the great work!

[@lyndenblades]

Hi Robert! Thanks for your feedback, it’s really appreciated 🤝🤝 The brackets over the top of notes are where the octave key goes on. I think we should all develop our music reading skills and I don’t think that there’s a shortcut to that other that regular practice 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@Robert-fi2pf]

Thanks for the quick response, Lynden. I saw that you explained the bracket notation later in the video. To be clear, I was talking about musical note writing, not reading. Specifically, my challenge is how to figure out the length of a note in a phrase (or measure) when transcribing. Any tips on how to improve that? I don’t see much instruction online on how to develop that skill.

[@lyndenblades]

@@Robert-fi2pf I don’t have any tips that I can give you quickly here other than to read and write music on a daily basis, getting more familiar with it each day. I think there’s apps out there that might help too and sorry that I can’t be more helpful 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@Robert-fi2pf]

No worries; Thanks for the quick response. Keep up the great work! You’re a talented teacher!

[@lyndenblades]

@@Robert-fi2pf thank you so much 🙏🙏🎷🎷😎😎

[@johnjenkins2315]

Thanks for your great advice Lynden. How is it that I play a lot of my music by ear and I also listen to key notes and build up my music from that. But what you described does make a lot of sense and I’ll be trying your suggestions. I play with a duo where the guy writes most of his stuff and when I catch up with them they’ll bring out a new piece that I haven’t heard before and say “what do you think of this” and this is something I enjoy doing ‘adding my thoughts to their music’ and what a lot of fun we have. Cheers from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@lyndenblades]

@@johnjenkins2315 you’re so welcome John 🤝🤝🎷😎😎

[@jean-pierrethouin2404]

Yes you do need PATIENCE.... But what a Great exercise for my EARS. And guess what; i am a drummer who since covid , started the BASS guitar.( to compliment the music) Thanks for the motivation, you are a great Teacher, and i admire you. P.S. Luckely my ears know more than i do. J.p.

[@lyndenblades]

JP thank you so much 🎷🎷😎😎🤝🤝

[@mosesidika3092]

Oh my God it works like magic I just tried it now I've been looking for how to play I'm desperate for you and I'm playing it now

[@lyndenblades]

Excellent 🤝🤝😎😎🎷🎷

[@Chris-zc8jg]

Great video ^^ I like to print out the lyrics with plenty of space between lines and then do basically what you did (only less expertly xD) :) love to put some colour in with the occasional textmarker too as reminders for certain emotions or effects in the song.

[@lyndenblades]

That’s absolutely brilliant Chris, they lyrics are crucial in understanding the rhythm of the song 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@stephenbrophy836]

Excellent stuff. Any chance of showing us how to work the chords out from a melody?

[@lyndenblades]

Thank you Stephen 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎 Do you mean study the chords of a well known standard? Like this? How to improvise over Misty on tenor saxophone kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6ioYZuXn9Krobc

[@JayCee-hw4zc]

Bloody brilliant! 😘

[@lyndenblades]

Thank you JayCee 🤝🤝😎😎🎷🎷

[@lesterpeters1359]

Absolutely great stuff so glad I came across your tutorial and subscribe to your channel..❤❤❤

[@lyndenblades]

Thank you Lester 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@andyhuckleberrywilliamsoni3873]

Grazie Lynden 😀

[@lyndenblades]

@@andyhuckleberrywilliamsoni3873 Andy you’re so welcome, thank you 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@rainerconrad9877]

Hello Lynden, I would like to give you feedback on your video. There was/is a ballad by Scott Hamilton that I've been listening to on my smartphone with headphones for ages while walking with my little old dog. "Pure imagination"! Point 3: take a song you like! I made a DIN A4 paper with the scales. I have the song in Transcribe! loaded and I already knew F major. The first few bars weren't difficult! If you have the sound of F major in your ear, it's not difficult to figure out the notes. Your tip about the chord tones was also very helpful. After all, I practice the steps in the scales every day. Your tips in the video helped me to translate my daily practice into a transcription. Thank you very much!

[@lyndenblades]

Thank you so much, when I find out that somebody has benefited from my videos, I’m so happy 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@kooky74]

Ho my god! When the sound track started I eared a F. You said D. What ???. Then I realized you spoke in Eb because of Alto. Then I realized for someone like you that plays Tenor AND Alto you have to not simply ear but ear + transpose depending on the instrument 😮 (-2 or +3 semi tone!!!). Honestly, I don't know how you can do that ❤. Jumping from C flute, piano, guitare or C melody sax is easy. But in you case it is for a pianist really hard to imagine. Thanks for you video and congrats

[@lyndenblades]

Kooky thank you so much for your support and kind words, I really appreciate you 🤝🤝😎😎🎷🎷

[@kooky74]

@@lyndenblades I definitly think you have special skills like super heros lol

[@lyndenblades]

😂😂😂 I wish I did 🙏🤝🤝🤝🎷🎷🎷

[@darrylglover7795]

Thank for the melody format to transcript songs. I will start on simple songs, but will you demonstrate how to play bebop licks and bebop songs. Much Appreciate. If you have a bebop tutorial, please provide the web lick.

[@lyndenblades]

Thank you! I haven’t done anything on bebop yet, but it’s on the list 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@timcadd7490]

Please can you tell me how much you charge for a new student, and do you teach sight reading?

[@lyndenblades]

Hi Tim, it’s £45 per hour at the moment which will be going up soon to £50 and yes I can help with reading music basics.

[@timcadd7490]

Thanks for the response Lynden,£50 is way to expensive and to only be able to read the basics is on the expensive side, isn't it? I have found a reputable Classically trained teacher for only £35.

[@lyndenblades]

Brilliant 👍👍

[@stephenbrophy836]

No. Say for instance that i know a melody then want to work out the chords from this melody without taking the easier path and looking them up. Hope that's clear...

[@lyndenblades]

Ok, so no, there’s not a short cut as far as I know. I’d use the brilliant resource of iReal pro for that 🤝🤝😎😎🎷🎷

[@tomson310]

But that's all transposed, innit? So she's in fact singing in Bb and that's how it would be played on concert C instruments, right? And would that be in C on tenor sax, then?

[@lyndenblades]

Hiya, it’s in G for alto sax, C for tenor sax which is Bb for concert pitch instruments like piano 🤝🤝😎😎🎷🎷

[@tomson310]

@@lyndenblades Thanks, by the way, it's the best, most realistic, common sense tutorial I've seen on the subject. The points about starting with something a)simple b) familiar and c) a piece that you like, are priceless. You get a Charlie Parker tune or solo to figure out and you're toast just trying to sing it, with all the chromatics, incidentals, ghost notes, and whatnot. And you just give up. But now I got my scales chart ready and I'm all pumped up to give it a go with, don't know, maybe a Sam Cooke classic. And one more question: if it was a blues, would you use the same approach but work with blues scales instead?

[@lyndenblades]

Thank you Tomson and yes, I’d use this method for all tunes 🤝🤝🎷🎷😎😎

[@davebaxter9210]

Thank you Lyndon, you have a very nice way of explaining things. I wish I lived a little closer to you …😊

[@lyndenblades]

@@davebaxter9210 thank you Dave, really appreciate your feedback. I teach people in lots of different countries via Zoom too 😎😎🤝🤝🎷🎷

[@RockRabot007]

You have a good singing voice. (Although you wife may respectfully disagree;)

[@lyndenblades]

@@RockRabot007 😂😂😂 that’s very kind of you 😂😂😂😎😎🤝🤝🎷🎷

[@RockRabot007]

@@lyndenblades I play C Major on tenor. Right?

[@lyndenblades]

@@RockRabot007 that’s right 🤝🤝🎷🎷

[@danielokoro]

Thanks!

[@lyndenblades]

Daniel thank you so much 🤝🤝😎😎🎷🎷