Is it CHEATING to write out a Jazz solo?

[@Nico-zb6sq]

I experienced, that I learned more by writing out 3 solos than playing over the changes for hours without any thoughts or ideas. Improvisation is spontaneous composition and in order to be spontaneous in it you first have to master it

[@DojoOfCool]

I've had multiple teachers who said to write solos then play to hear what my ideas sound like. I believe writing a solo is practicing the thought process you want your subconscious to do when soloing. I've read where the great Jaco Pastorius who was an arranger at heart would write and arrange certain solos. On gigs he would include parts of his written solo. Then he'd go back and keep arranging and changing the solo again and again. It was all part of his practice as an arranger and composer. As some say composing is slow speed improv.

[@NicholasStein]

Writing out a solo, aka composition, is essential to becoming a complete player. Essentially, you are transcribing a solo you hear in your head; which you then practice. Not cheating. An essential musical skill building exercise.

[@rockstarjazzcat]

Great way to develop one’s own vocabulary. We sublimate what we practice, and compositional skills are vital. Cheers, D

[@jackwilloughby239]

I do write an awful lot of etudes, but never a solo. And I don't know why, cause this has been emphasized by everyone from Joe Venuti to John Mortensen(Pianists guide to Historic Improvisation). Joe says "In order to Improvise a hot chorus, you must be able to Play one, and in order to play one you must be able to Write one." Mortensen adds that it makes a difference writing it out on paper, rather than just typing it into your computer. So I need to get some decent manuscript paper and a good pen. I guess everyone probably knows that Mingus recorded himself playing the piano every morning, and then wrote out the interesting parts and turned them into what I think are some of the most brilliant compositions. I've also read that a speaking vocabulary and a writing vocabulary can differ enormously, by as much as 100%. So, Thanks! I guess if I hear this enough I might just actually set down and do it.

[@ninaottmusic]

I think it’s great to do that. Another teacher (Bergonzi) had me write out a solo based on the rhythms of a Herbie Hancock solo and then transfer to another tune. I learned a lot about phrasing/rhythm from that.

[@ruby_gleyzes]

Excellent video!

[@dougp2917]

As a bass player, I made the most progress studying and playing walking bass lines from masters like Ron Carter, and to play songs with bass lines from wizards such as Chuck Rainey. If all I get is a chord chart, heck yes I'm notating my own sheet. Perhaps the best thing to do then is not stay with one iteration every time you play the song. Write two or three different ones, mix and match. And experiment - never get comfortable. But the bass has a primary function, to outline the harmony so the soloist can rip away to their heart's content :{}

[@skineyemin4276]

Well, it seems like the tenor solo on the 1959 Charles Mingus recording of "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" played by John Handy (I believe) may have been composed by Mingus himself or he may have at least provided the map for that solo's direction, given the fact that on most renditions of that composition played by others, usually the soloist almost note for note plays that solo or large portions of it, and Joni Mitchell sang the solo with her lyrics on her "Mingus" album. My father, who played with Mingus off and on for about 10 years from around 1960-ish until about 1972-ish, never wrote his solos, he was a pure bebop thinker and from Detroit. I think that he and people from his "class" or era worked on things together and individually, then, worked it out live, then, the spontaneity of whatever solo they would play would sound more natural. I think you have to work on things like "Cherokee" and "Giant Steps" alone and play it live hundreds of times before it becomes second nature. By the way, if I am incorrect and John Handy actually did spontaneously create and play that solo on the original 1959 recording, that would be equally amazing, given how perfect it is.

[@NickWebbSax]

No. It helps you analyse and study what's going on, otherwise, it may as well be the stereotype of 'pressing random buttons and hoping something good comes out'. If you know how the solo is constructed then it'll help you when you are improvising. Also, my memory for lines is terrible. If I didn't write down things I transcribed then I'd forget them by the next day or after I've moved on to practising something else for a bit.

[@TheBlackTrumpeter]

🤔 it’s scary how your video topics lately seem to be reading my mind.

[@JazzDuets]

what the next one? Can you give me a head up?

[@raybutcher3542]

I recorded an album and like parts of what I did but in the end I had to replay bits of it and therefore had to ‘compose’ the line to get what I wanted to hear on the recording!

[@raybutcher3542]

A well known current New York trumpeter told me there were examples of same solos by leading icons in jazz- and indeed they were very similar- almost the same!

[@alexojohndlaborgona3653]

Saludos mr. Nick!.

[@johnjacquard863]

i really like charlie parker apartment album recordings where it was on the fly and he experimented in different ways with rhythm, melody, harmony super imposition,

[@vlady0331]

Hola, no encuentro el video de improvisación sobre el standard de “all the things you are” lo bajaste?. Agradezco tu ayuda

[@juliensjuliens57]

Great idea. Could you give us other limits/scales to write a solo ? Thanks

[@neilsaunders9309]

Is it cheating? Yes. Have I done it? Yes.

[@johnjacquard863]

im trying to practice more advanced triplet things in lines and just rhythmic things in general on a line. like polymeter and polyrhythm in terms of embellishment

[@johnmc3862]

Yes writing down anything you hear is cheating 😂😂😂

[@johnjacquard863]

look at the practices of pop music industry THATS cheating ! lol :D

[@michaelarndt3823]

I'm attempting to learn jazz with never transcribing or learning any theory.

[@remingtonportable]

I just ask you for more videos in Spanish

[@gregfinlayson8135]

It seems like it would be beneficial, but my problem is the hearing in my head while writing out the notation...... some skill lacking there.

[@normalizedaudio2481]

Sell your solos on KZbin as a PDF.

[@rockstarjazzcat]

he does

[@pamelajj8082]

Nope...not cheating

[@CaptainCreature]

Writing a solo is not cheating.. It's part of studying, and practice. It's not like you can read it on paper while in a gig lol

[@lucamcardle729]

You are technically still improvising, just on paper

[@naturalbornhuman3450]

No, because a solo is not an improvisation

[@lucamcardle729]

In jazz it is

[@nevetsw2004]

No it's not cheating.

[@johnjacquard863]

cheating is not possible. ( except lip syncing someones else material haha lol )

[@TheMrMRsmoke]

I write mine in recording situations to save time unless it’s a tune im very used to improvising on. but even then ill have key phrases ready. for live playing i never really played it the same way. Maybe similar note choices but rarely verbatim.

[@erikstorm4536]

Yes