Another question: Transcribing songs

Garland
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Posts: 4,661
AKA: Gdjjr Thistime
Location: Texas!
Playing guitar since: off and on since 1960, a lot more off than on

Another question: Transcribing songs Jun 5, 2021 8:13:50 GMT -5

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Post by Garland on Jun 5, 2021 8:13:50 GMT -5

Most songs are fairly straight forward and relatively easy to transcribe- 3, maybe 4 lines per verse, 3 maybe 4 verses, with one of the lines/verses as a chorus- then add the chords/notes above a word- that's how I do it- however, some long songs, or long versed songs, take up a lot of space on paper- for instance; this is what got me started thinking on asking this question: The Gambler, by Kenny Rogers, and, I'm No Stranger To The Rain, by Keith Whitley- things get really crowded when you hand write for transcribing in a script large enough to see- I don't have a printer for my computer ( I had one once, years ago, and it caught a virus [pre-covid] LOL- and printed whatever it damn well pleased, so, that ended that- permanently) plus, having to have space for a printer is a problem for me- I have over 200 books so space is at a premium-

So, it would be better, more legible, on two (2) pages- but, in a spiral bound note book that presents a problem- add in some songs in a different key or some different words redundancy sets in and gets old in a hurry-and you spend a lot of time transcribing and less time actually practicing- there is no way around that I can see- it is what it is- but, still... it adds to the transcribing issues-

My thought is; tape two (2) pages together (I'm thinking 1/2 in masking tape) to make a kind of book approach where the binding (masking tape) is flexible enough to lay flat so you can go from page 1, to page 2, seamlessly- and just lay them in a notebook of your choice vs being held in a notebook by spiral wire or pre-punched holes-

What do/have y'all done? Ideas are welcome?

Thanks-

Playin at playin guitar-

SO MANY GUITARS/SONGS, SO LITTLE TIME

Guild D140 Natural
Epiphone Dove Pro (limited edition)Alpine White
Luna Artwood Vintage Distressed Folk Body
Washburn HG75SEG-0 (gave to my youngest son)
Gretsch 5420T in Aspen Green
Orangewood Ava w/LR Baggs Lyric
Martin 00015M w/LR Baggs Lyric
Lag T118ASCE-BLK
Guild D240E
A-M-I J45 clone
Squier Affinity Telecaster in White

FloridaGull
Administrator

Posts: 1,028

Location: Palm City, FL
Playing guitar since: The age of 18...with a good 20-year hiatus somewhere in the middle...

Another question: Transcribing songs Jun 5, 2021 8:45:06 GMT -5 Garland likes this

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Post by FloridaGull on Jun 5, 2021 8:45:06 GMT -5

Most of my songs are printed on 2 pages. Two songs - Annie's Song and Dust in the Wind - fit on one page. Two songs - Lyin' Eyes and Suicide is Painless (the theme from M*A*S*H) - are on 3 pages.

I have 2 sets I use at the Open Mics. At the Monday Open Mic I usually use a plain manila folder that contains my sheets, with plastic clips to hold the sheets to the music stand so they don't blow away.

At the Saturday Open Mic I usually use a 1" 3-ring binder that holds my sheets, also with clips to secure the corners of the sheets.

Both Open Mics I currently attend provide a music stand. I do own a portable, folding stand for any possible Open Mic that does not provide one.

I do know a total of 6 songs I can play without printed chords/lyrics. These are:

Lyin' Eyes
Dust in the Wind
Wonderful Tonight
Nights in White Satin
Wish You Were Here
Leaving on a Jetplane

Last Edit: Jun 5, 2021 8:46:28 GMT -5 by FloridaGull

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths."
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

TonyKgull
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Posts: 6,425

Location: Ontario, Canada

Another question: Transcribing songs Jun 5, 2021 18:56:46 GMT -5 Garland likes this

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Post by TonyKgull on Jun 5, 2021 18:56:46 GMT -5

Garland , I am OCD about fitting all my songs always on one page. I only have a 3, I think, maybe 4, that are two-pagers. American Pie is one of them; LOTS of verses in that song, no repeats outside of the chorus.

I do this because I'm usually in front of some sort of audience, whether at church, jam parties (get-togethers) or gigs. I need to have it all on one page cuz I'm often looking up and out to the people there and then back to my music. I try not to just stare at my music if I can help it. So for that reason, I need my eyes to be able to land back into my music quickly where I left off, roughly. That's a lot harder, for me at least, to do when the music is spread over 2 pages, never mind any more than that even.

If I had to hand write all my songs, good golly, that would be a nightmare. You can't beat printing for formatting things fairly quick and easily to fit on one page or any way you want it to fit.

You know, you can get small printers that don't take up much space. If all you're going to do is print songs with it, you don't need anything big or fancy or even a lot of printing yield.

FloridaGull , I actually have Lyin' Eyes in my song book, and it fits on one page.

He he he!

Screen Shot of my .doc file for Lyin' Eyes, not a great screen shot, but gives an idea of how I lay my songs out.

=====================================
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will
give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I
am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
- Jesus, from Matthew 11:28-30

Garland
The Mostest Bestest Member

Posts: 4,661
AKA: Gdjjr Thistime
Location: Texas!
Playing guitar since: off and on since 1960, a lot more off than on

Another question: Transcribing songs Jun 6, 2021 5:18:11 GMT -5

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Post by Garland on Jun 6, 2021 5:18:11 GMT -5

FloridaGull, TonyKgull, well, thanks- now I have another song to transcribe

But, since my "live" performances don't exist other than on you tube videos (and in my imagination) lookin at a song ain't a problem- and, in my case, I do memorize them anyway- and I do play/practice most of the songs I call myself knowin every time I play/practice- and, like I said not many take more than one page- but, too- there are several I do in different keys depending on what I feel like- so, I add the chords, in parentheses which can get confusing when playin- I'll think on a printer though-

Playin at playin guitar-

SO MANY GUITARS/SONGS, SO LITTLE TIME

Guild D140 Natural
Epiphone Dove Pro (limited edition)Alpine White
Luna Artwood Vintage Distressed Folk Body
Washburn HG75SEG-0 (gave to my youngest son)
Gretsch 5420T in Aspen Green
Orangewood Ava w/LR Baggs Lyric
Martin 00015M w/LR Baggs Lyric
Lag T118ASCE-BLK
Guild D240E
A-M-I J45 clone
Squier Affinity Telecaster in White

Jim
Supreme Member

Posts: 1,939

Location: Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
Playing guitar since: circa 1960

Another question: Transcribing songs Jun 6, 2021 7:02:15 GMT -5 Derick and Garland like this

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Post by Jim on Jun 6, 2021 7:02:15 GMT -5

Transcribing with chords above the lyrics doesn't seem to work for me. They never seem to line up properly, so I've taken to inserting the chords into the lyrics. This also gives me more room on the page.

Ragged But Right Riley Pucket (Capo II)

(C) I come here to tell you people I'm (G7) ragged but right
I'm a thief and a gambler, I get (C) drunk every (C7) night
It's a (F) porterhouse steak three times a (C) day for my (A7) board
That's (D7) more than any flatfoot in (G7) this town can afford

A (C) big electric fan to keep me (G7) cool while I sleep
A mattress full of $100 (C) bills at my (C7) feet
I'm a (F) rambler and a gambler and I'm (C) lit up every (A7) night
I (D7) tell you boys I'm (G7) ragged but (C) right (G7)

(C) I go everywhere, I don't pay no fare
I can ride a freight train just (F) any(G7)where
(C) If I win or (C7) lose, (F) I don't get the blues
I'm a (C) ramblin' (G7) joker, that's (C) me. (G7)

Last Edit: Jun 6, 2021 7:03:48 GMT -5 by Jim

-1962 Martin D-21
-1950 Gibson LG1
-1958 Goya M-26
-1974 Yamaha FG75 high strung
-A number of banjos, mandolins, Autoharps, ukuleles, dulcimers, mouth harps, a Tele clone and various other stuff.
-I own a fiddle, but only play it when Maggie and the cats are all out of the house.

Garland The Mostest Bestest Member Posts: 4,661 AKA: Gdjjr Thistime Location: Texas! Playing guitar since: off and on since 1960, a lot more off than on	Another question: Transcribing songs Jun 6, 2021 8:10:38 GMT -5 Jim likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Garland on Jun 6, 2021 8:10:38 GMT -5 Jim, okay! Another one I might want to learn!
	Playin at playin guitar- SO MANY GUITARS/SONGS, SO LITTLE TIME Guild D140 Natural Epiphone Dove Pro (limited edition)Alpine White Luna Artwood Vintage Distressed Folk Body Washburn HG75SEG-0 (gave to my youngest son) Gretsch 5420T in Aspen Green Orangewood Ava w/LR Baggs Lyric Martin 00015M w/LR Baggs Lyric Lag T118ASCE-BLK Guild D240E A-M-I J45 clone Squier Affinity Telecaster in White

TonyKgull
Global Moderator

Posts: 6,425

Location: Ontario, Canada

Another question: Transcribing songs Jun 6, 2021 17:45:38 GMT -5 Jim likes this

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Post by TonyKgull on Jun 6, 2021 17:45:38 GMT -5

Jim, Ya, I do that too, depending on the song and how much room there is on the page.

Actually, funny that FloridaGull, mentioned that particular song, and you should mention that particular way of putting the chords in vs above the words, cuz my copy of Lyin' Eyes, if you look at it, is one of the rare songs I have where I'm actually doing both. LOL.

What are the odds?

=====================================
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will
give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I
am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
- Jesus, from Matthew 11:28-30

WELCOME TO THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR CABIN!!!

Another question: Transcribing songs

Post by Garland on Jun 5, 2021 8:13:50 GMT -5

Post by FloridaGull on Jun 5, 2021 8:45:06 GMT -5

Post by TonyKgull on Jun 5, 2021 18:56:46 GMT -5

Post by Garland on Jun 6, 2021 5:18:11 GMT -5

Post by Jim on Jun 6, 2021 7:02:15 GMT -5

Post by Garland on Jun 6, 2021 8:10:38 GMT -5

Post by TonyKgull on Jun 6, 2021 17:45:38 GMT -5

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