Category Archives: Transcription

Lester Young Solo – Fine and Mellow – Transcription

October 6, 2015Jazz, TranscriptionJ. Garner

This is the perfect blues chorus. Well, for Fine and Mellow, that is. It’s perfect. And it can’t really be notated, you have to listen, or you won’t play it correctly. As is often the case, it’s not so much what you say, but how you say it. He’s got some choice verbage, too, though.
Check it.

Written for Gtr, transpose accordingly.

Click here or the image above for pdf of transcription.

Listen to whole track on Youtube.

Starting at solo. Youtube. Lester actually starts a few seconds after this clip starts, but just to set you up a little, I link here.

Here is the complete show. It’s great!

Written on Musescore 2.0

Wardell Gray Solo One O’Clock Jump

October 5, 2015Jazz, TranscriptionJ. Garner

Ashamed to admit it, but I just really started listening to Wardell. He is the perfect blend of my favorite saxophonists. Lester, Bird, Stitt, and his own thing.

Anyway, this is a perfect swing meets bop chorus on the One O’Clock Jump. A twelve bar blues. Basie plays the first few choruses in F Major, then modulates straight to Db for the horn solos. Pretty cool. Have fun with this. Listen to the track to get the articulation.

This is written for Guitar, transpose accordingly.

Click image or here for pdf.

Youtube might still have it.

I have track.

Enjoy!

Wayfaring Stranger – Tony Rice Solos – Standard and TAB

October 1, 2014Bluegrass, Tab, Transcription, Uncategorizedguitarninja

The great Tony Rice recorded this solo a couple of times. They are just short 8 bar solos, but they are both perfect in my opinion. Wayfaring Stranger is a beautiful tune, recorded many, many great ways by tons of people. I’ve always loved this tune. Seems to be the source for many other songs. Learn the song, too. It is good for you.

The first solo is found on the Emmylou Harris album, Roses in the Snow, from 1980. The whole album is ridiculous, you need to check it. You can here this version here.
The second solo is from one of my favorite albums, Cold on the Shoulder, by Tony Rice, released in 1983. Buy it. Buy them both. You can hear the track here.

As usual, the fingerings are mine, and may be great, or you may have a better idea, or just what works for you. Listen to recordings, learn solos, play along. Get it up to tempo and enjoy. Click on image for pdf.

And without further ado…

Solo 2

Seven Come Eleven – Charlie Christian Guitar Solo and Head – Standard Notation and TAB

September 22, 2014Guitar, Jazz, Tab, Transcriptionguitarninja

Here is where so much jazz guitar comes from. We (jazz guitarists and the whole universe) are seriously indebted to Charlie Christian. Really study this one, notice how it sits on chords shapes. Memorize and play along, it’s zippy! Written in Standard Notation and TAB. Of course, other fingerings are possible, and depending upon how you play advised. Try them out. (Advantage: Note readers.;p)

Some fingerings might have other options. I’ve also included Benny Goodman’s great lead line for the bridge during the head, you want this, trust me. Also, I’ve included the background riff, played by piano and bass at the beginning of the song. (note: Pianist plays wrong note the first time through, but no other time during the piece. So, the end of the figure is Ab.)

You should already own this track, if you don’t, go get it. Buy it, don’t steal it, c’mon, man.
You can also listen on the youtube.

Click on the image to open and download the .pdf file.
and, as always, without further ado….

Seven Come Eleven Charlie Christian Solo Notation and Tab

Roly Poly Transcription – Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys – Intro and Guitar Solo -Standard Notation and Tab

September 16, 2014Guitar, Tab, Transcription, Western Swingguitarninja

This is the intro, for two guitars and solo for Roly Poly, by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. Recorded in 1946. The solo, is played by Jimmy Wyble, I believe. Maybe Cameron Hill. Not sure on that though, because I’ve heard a lot of different stories about it. If I’m wrong, please let me know. Definitely.

I’ve included the super cool intro for Gtr 1 and Gtr 2, followed by the main guitar solo, chords written above. There are a lot of different possibilites with fingerings, so here is just one that I came up with. I play it a few different ways, and I may post different fingerings.

You can hear the track over on youtube.

Click on image to get pdf of intro/solo.

and with no futher ado….

Minor Swing Transcription – Django Reinhardt Solo – Quintet of the Hot Club of France (1937)

September 8, 2014Django Reinhardt, Guitar, Jazz, Tab, Transcriptionguitarninja

Can’t think of a better way to get this site started than with one of my favorite musicians, Django Reinhardt. I feel like this is one of the most perfect solos ever recorded and really enjoyed learning and transcribing. There are limitations to the software I’m using (Musescore 2.0 Beta), but all-in-all it’s a pretty accurate transcription. But, of course, I’d appreciate your feedback, anything that can be improved, things I missed, or typos. Thanks and enjoy the transcription. Make sure to play along with the recording, this is the first version from 1937.

You can download the .pdf here, or by clicking the image below. Have fun!

This transcription is both in Standard Noation and Tablature, or TAB.

Guitar Ninja

How to Play Guitar and All Things Guitar