Vision Music

[Jeff]

I am new to this wonderful site, and I have been studying past posts. These discussions have convinced me of the value of transcribing, and how this approach enables you to learn the language, which cannot be learned through scale study. I had read of the value of this exercise elsewhere, such as in some Jamey Aebersold materials, but this site is filled with many compelling reasons that have been articulated well throughout the posts. Being a newbie to jazz as well as to transcribing, my question is what do you use to maintain context? Mark suggests keeping a book of licks, but how do I know where to use them? For instance, if I transcribe a phrase, would I want to know for instance that it was a phrase based on D Dorian in order that I could analyze it and then apply it later to a G Dorian portion of a song? Or do I need to think more in terms of chords? Thanks for any help you can provide

[Larry_DC]

Jeff,

first of all, congratulations on seeing the light regarding the value of transcribing. Regarding your question, I would say most players think in terms of chord tones, passing notes, and leading tones rather than modal phrasing. If you fixate on Dorian over the IIm7, Mixolydian over the V7, Super Locrian over an altered V7 your phrasing will be technically correct but probably dry as toast. Try learning a bar or two at a time from the masters and analyze what is taking place in terms of how one phrase connects to the other and how they use chromaticism, enclosures and other devices. It helps to visualize the chords on the fretboard as you play the phrases.Then "plug in" the phrases over jam tracks or in songs you already know. Little by little the language will creep up on you.

[Mark]