Bilbo's Transcription Archive

[Bilbo]

Had a look. I think there is only one note difference (although it repeats). The differences are Chris plays it 'slower' in terms of bpm and he also includes an E major key signature which I don't. Chris is correct whereas I, as a Jazzer, use accidentals to sharpen and flatten notes. He also does the correct thing in terms of the geography which I don't. I suspect Chris's chart is technically superior to mine but I played them both through and it's all good.

[Bilbo]

Another request (although I think there are loads of these out there already), the Chuck Rainey part for 'Josie' from the 1977 Steel Dan album, 'Aja'.

 

https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Josie-Chuck-Rainey-Bass.pdf

[itu]

15 hours ago, Bilbo said:

...whereas I, as a Jazzer, use accidentals to sharpen and flatten notes. He also does the correct thing in terms of the geography which I don't. 

A reasonable note. Therefore you write B flats (Bb), because of the jazz background. 

 

Geography, what do you mean by that? 

[Bilbo]

Repeats, Sine, Codas etc. It's the accepted way of reducing the repetition in the chart itself but, with my approach, I am writing EXACTLY what is being played so repetition is often not exact so, unless it is identical, I don't use repeats/sines/Codas etc. Sometimes I do, if the repeats are exactly the same but, with Jazz tunes, this is rarely the case.

As for notes, key signatures can be as much as a hindrance as a help when there are loads of chromatic phrases and changing keys. I just got out of the habit of alloting key signatures. It's something I need to think about more carefully.

[ChrisDev]

Lots of personal preferences. I also write what works best for me on stage.
I like to see the structure of the song immediately. The key signature gives me a basic hand positioning, etc..
 

1 hour ago, Bilbo said:

... but, with my approach, I am writing EXACTLY what is being played so repetition is often not exact so...

I'm pretty sure the repeat is exactly the same here. I will have another listen. I don't use repeats either if there's more than 1 note different.

[itu]

To me, @ChrisDev (as well as @tomread) writes the song including repeats etc. I also like the key signatures, as they turn my head to the right direction from the start. @Bilbo, your score is more like, as you said, a road to somewhere. Chris' charts are compact and economical. 

 

[I was trained classically (piano, ages 5 - 18), and after that I went to play bass to a jazz and popular music school (found my instrument!) for four important years. I can read and play somewhat nowadays, but am far from an expert, because I make my living from technical R&D stuff (an engineer). I got tired of working strange hours, and so little money. I'm just a player, while you both are musicians.] 

 

I play in few bands (5 to 12 players), and the need for notes and arrangements is important. I do not remember every song by heart: one of the bands played 118 different songs last spring. There were maybe dozen gigs only. Quick changes in set lists also require the ability to read. 

 

All in all, I love your work and cordially thank you for your effort in helping this bass playing community to play lots of different music. 

[Bilbo]

1 hour ago, ChrisDev said:

Lots of personal preferences. I also write what works best for me on stage.
I like to see the structure of the song immediately. The key signature gives me a basic hand positioning, etc..
 

I'm pretty sure the repeat is exactly the same here. I will have another listen. I don't use repeats either if there's more than 1 note different.

I think it is in this case, Chris. The point I was making is that, because I do a lot of transcribing where the details change on every chorus, I get out of the habit of using the repeats and codas etc. and I often don't even consider it, even when it would be helpful. As a result, some of my charts are 10 pages long which is ridiculous! 

[ChrisDev]

39 minutes ago, Bilbo said:

... which is ridiculous! 

Absolutely not. I wish I had had those when I was learning to read music.

Edited 3 hours ago by ChrisDev