How to Transcribe / Work Out Songs By Ear (Blues Transcription)

Transcribe and work out blues songs by ear.
If you want to learn this time honoured technique that so many of the great guitarists cite as being their key to learning then let us show you how it’s done.
I pick the old Robert Wilkins song; ‘That’s No Way To Get Along’ and start from scratch figuring it with my old 1929 Gibson L-1 and 1930 National Tricone.
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Thanks for looking!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Support us by clicking the description above and... 🎯Put something in the tip jar. 🎯Subscribe to the mailing list. 🎯Find us on other social media. Thanks all! ❤️❤️❤️

[@thomaswilleborts6771]

Yes,it helps a lot! I like it when everyone has his own translations of songs. Listen,listen,listen and last but not least,listening to it is the most important thing to discover! Weldone Martin 💯🤙

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It’s good to get stuff note for note then choose if you keep it or adapt it. So much common language in the blues. Get the stock phrases then mix them up and repurpose.

[@richmiller8381]

Definilty one of the most important lessons anyone can learn, and as you say, for the time spent the best way to improve as a player. Awesome video as always Martyn

[@TheWashboardResonators]

So much musicality to be had!

[@garringtontjonesmusic]

Nice one Martyn. Some great tips there!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks! 🎯🎼🎯

[@ralph_s]

Thanks for showing your process. Helpful!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks. Was a request and I hope it demystifies the process for a few folks out there. It’s not hard. Just time consuming but very rewarding.

[@thomaslucas1012]

Great Video, Martyn!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks! Hope it helps!! 🎼🎼🎼

[@cjbuk74]

Lovely stuff !

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks!!! 🎯🤘🏻🎯

[@brianmckinley6177]

That was an outstanding video. Very well laid out. On top of that one of my favorite blues songs of all time. I have a version somewhere of Rev. Robert Wilkins doing it in the 60’s as Prodigal Son. It seemed like it was much longer than the original. Great idea for a video!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks! It’s one of those weird things you learn over time but a novice wouldn’t get. It was requested but I can’t find or remember the original post on here. Hopefully that person eventually finds this. Wilkins had a good ‘revival’ career and The Rolling Stones covered this so hopefully he got some dollar bills come his way eventually.

[@bobgreen8142]

Brilliantly done! I'm of an age where learning songs was done by playing along with records or tapes, dropping the needle or rewinding the tape to try and "get" certain phrases. You kids have it easy these days haha! I guess because of the type of player I am (a bit kind of "give me the idea of it and I'll work the rest out by playing around with it") I tend not to learn things note for note, but start interpreting or putting my own style on it almost straight away. I think either way works, depending on what is your goal, but it's all great for developing your ear and feel. Thanks Martyn.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

I’d read of so many great players doing it that way and this in the equivalent. I’ve heard of players slowing down records them tuning the guitar to compensate for the drop in pitch, learning the tune then tuning the guitar back up so it sounds like the recording at normal playback speed. People like Clapton, Page, Hendrix etc. This is similar. Definitely develops your ear and brings you closer to the musician you’re learning from. Adapting and rearranging is s huge part of this too. Especially with lots of the pre WW2 blues. Most songs are repetitive and could do with a little more ear candy, dynamics or other things happening. Rock on! 🎼🎯🎼

[@bobgreen8142]

@@TheWashboardResonators it's all part of the "folk tradition" developing the music by interpretation...

[@tomo.3678]

Excellent vid, as always, Martyn! Is this the song that The Stones derived their tune: "Prodigal Son" from? It's on Beggar's Banquet (1968). ✌🏻😎☘️☘️🎶🎶🎶

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It certainly is. One of their many rip offs! 🎯🤩🎯

[@tomo.3678]

@@TheWashboardResonators Sly old Mick and Keef! 😄😄

[@terrycaster4976]

Nice one. I was wondering if it might have been in open E that was tuned a bit flat. Then you wouldn’t need the capo.

[@bobgreen8142]

I thought that, too. With no other instrument to tune to, the true concert pitch wouldn't really matter, as long as the guitar was in tune with itself. There could also have been an amount of pitch shift as a result of less than perfect recording and mastering technology.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

I did wonder they too. I edited the video down and did cut out a bit exploring that idea in more detail. Another option is it wax done in D and then slightly sped up. I really wanted the video under 15 mins and even with edits it came out at 17 so much was chopped out to concentrate on showing the process. Could just as easily be that what you suggested. Because I play in D on gigs I opted to learn it with a capo at fret 1. Killer tune. Always fun thinking about this stuff. Sadly we’ll probably never know exactly how Wilkins did it in the day.

[@terrycaster4976]

I guess when you think about it, it doesn’t really matter as long as the string intervals are the same. Make the root whatever as long as you can sing to it.

[@SergeCeyral]

​​@@TheWashboardResonators absolutely relevant ; remember that turntables, in the ’30, were not belt or direct driven : they were primitive spring driven gramophones; typically, the rotation frequency was faster than 78 rpm in the beginning, and slower in the end (loose spring), with the subsequent pitch fluctuations... On pre-war 30cm, 78 rpm records (5 min duration), the pitch variation is highly perceptible, on classical piano pieces. When you listen to Memphis Minnie or Bessie Smith, the voice is also, sometimes, out of key: i have no doubt that these ladies sang perfectly, but the Victor recording (mechanical driven direct cutting, before RCA electric system) was poor and highly subject to fluttering

[@SAHBfan]

This is great - except...I can't play guitar! 😲

[@TheWashboardResonators]

But you will if you do this fit thousands of hours!!

[@SAHBfan]

@@TheWashboardResonators Good point😆

[@SingleMalt77005]

10:22 Ha ha haaaaa

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Repent ye sinners (and give us money).

[@SingleMalt77005]

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