Video Guitar Lesson 15: Tips for transcribing, arranging and figuring out solos by actively listening
- What can help me to work out solos by ear?
- When and how should I use tabs online?
- What does active listening mean and how can I train my ear?
- What should I bear in mind when soloing over a track in a covers band?
If these questions interest you and you want to develop your transcribing ability, then keep reading and be sure to check our video and audio out for this lesson.
Our video on our YouTube channel (my lesson with Dan):
(see below for timings)
In this lesson, Dan and I take a look at the outro solo for “Feel Like Makin’ Love” by Bad Company – a song which I am covering with my band. During the lesson we go through 9 tips on transcribing from Dan and we look at 9 licks from the solo. Dan shares his ideas with me on tone and effects for songs and also the different ways to approach different sorts of solos.
Our audio podcast on SoundCloud (my lesson with Dan):
Some things which I am really going to take away from this lesson are that:
- I will listen to songs actively and repeatedly listen when working out a song
- I will aim to do more transcribing
- I will get the licks for this song under my belt to improvise an outro solo of my own
All the best, Gary and Dan
https://soundcloud.com/tunein-toneup/
Timings for Video Guitar Lesson 15 – on transcribing:
| 00:03:18 | Boss RC30 Loopstation – I talk about various features on it |
| 00:04:32 | I overdub with the part Dan came up with before |
| 00:05:41 | Dan’s first improvisation over the riff |
| 00:08:42 | A word on active listening and the value of ear training |
| 00:13:24 | Comedy – the dots (correction: not Smith and Jones but French and Saunders) |
| 00:14:40 | Tip 1: You need to play the song alongside the tab |
| 00:18:29 | Tip 2: When you try to transcribe something do it in small chunks |
| 00:23:56 | Tip 3: Check out live versions and alternate versions of the song |
| 00:24:17 | Sometimes YouTube guitar lessons can be illuminative |
| 00:24:48 | Tip 4: Pick something simple and work at your level |
| 00:25:12 | Tip 5: Listen for the chords – can you work them out? |
| 00:25:37 | Summary of Tip 2 |
| 00:26:08 | Tip 6: Stitch the parts together and learn the piece |
| 00:27:05 | (tip 1 summary) check tabs against the songs |
| 00:27:17 | Tip 7: Try to actively listen to different parts / instruments |
| 00:28:33 | Tip 8: write out the structure of songs and parts |
| 00:29:26 | Tip 9: Music theory helps your transcribing |
| 00:31:36 | We’re going to listen to the track and lift some of the lciks from it |
| 00:33:16 | Lick 1 |
| 00:34:42 | Lick 2 |
| 00:35:14 | Tip 10: It’s good to write down what you hear |
| 00:36:59 | Lick 3 |
| 00:39:54 | Lick 3 broken down |
| 00:50:42 | Lick 4 |
| 00:54:22 | Lick 5 |
| 00:54:58 | Lick 6 |
| 00:55:04 | Lick 7 |
| 00:55:12 | Lick 8 |
| 00:55:33 | Lick 9 |
| 00:56:03 | Lick 10 |
| 00:56:46 | Three different types of solos |
| 00:57:32 | Solo 1: Part of the song |
| 00:58:44 | Solo 2: Has become an absolute classic and so should be learnt and retained |
| 00:59:58 | Solo 3: Free to mess with but there are licks and phrases that ought to be in there |
| 01:03:11 | Solo 4: Improvised and very free to mess with |
| 01:03:43 | Example of going nuts and over the top with Bad Company riff |
| 01:05:53 | Crazy Little Thing Called Love |
| 01:06:53 | Purple Rain solo |
Curt Mangan Strings Website: https://www.curtmangan.com/
Last six lessons for new arrivals or those who want to brush up on this content
Keep watching listening and getting in touch. We really want to hear from you! Keep an eye out for some improvements to our video setup coming shortly which we’re really excited about.
You may want to check Dan Davies out in action. You can find a video I made of Dan and his band Full House on this YouTube channel: Full House Brighton Band (more to come with improved video and some different approaches to the audio).
Enjoy your musical journey 🙂
Tune in, Tone up! Guitar lessons 