Song: Stairway To Heaven
Group: Led Zeppelin
Okay...
I just completed this master piece of Rock history.
Now...
I had to make a few modifications in the octave levels so I would
have room later in the song to hit the highest notes.
I also added a few things just to make it sound a little better on the flute.
However...
for the most part...
it is a straight transcription....
except for the minor portions which I had to transpose...
and the few places where I had composed a few runs to make it sound
more interesting on the Bass Flute.
This took me awhile because I was having a bear of a time
when I hit Jimmy Page's fast runs on the lead guitar (16th and 32nd notes)...
especially when he was doing triplets.
I would sometimes hear the notes one way...
and then I would hear them another way...
and sometimes the timing seemed to change.
I had to listen very carefully to decode the puzzle that it had presented me.
However...
I am picking up transposing / transcription more easily now.
My musical ear is improving...
so, many times...
I can lay down the notes by ear (and foot :) ...
without having to play the notes first on my Bass Flute.
Again...
what I do is listen to a song on YouTube.
I then play what I hear on the Bass Flute.
I then write out what I play on to a blank music sheet...
by keeping time with my foot.
The reason I do this is that most of the available sheet music...
especially for modern music...
does not carry the subtle nuances of the instruments or vocals.
And...
many songs I like...
there is not readily available sheet music for them
(I like many foreign and older music).
And much of the sheet music is a simplistic version...
and rarely are they duets.
I will often combine many instruments on to one line of music.
As an example...
on this song...
the Flute I line is composed of the flute introduction...
Robert Plant's vocals...
and Jimmy Page's lead guitar.
The Flute II line is composed of the Bass Guitar...
and the acoustic guitar.
I was going to transcribe a Jazz Bass Flute song next
(with a Bossanova beat)...
however, the artist is selling his composition on line...
so, I cannot legally transcribe and publish his copyrighted composition
(after I had transcribed it).
(after I had transcribed it).
Okay...
for now...
STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN:
It may take me awhile on the next song also.
It has some fast rhythm and note changes...
and some syncopated timing.
But...
it was also one of my favorite songs from the same era
as was Stairway To Heaven
(and is still one of my favorite songs).
The group is called YES...
and the song is my favorite off the FRAGILE Album.
If you know of this group...
then you must know which song I shall be transcribing next :)
(and, no, it is not Roundabout).
Addendum: I did a stupid thing a few days ago.
I transcribe in the middle of the night by the light of the computer only.
Well...
I had set my Bass Flute on...
what I had thought was the flat part of a table...
and it had turned out to be the ledge.
It had hit the floor...
and afterwards...
I couldn't play certain notes on it without extraordinary pressure on the keys.
My Bass Flute is now in the shop getting repaired.
It may be a few weeks to a month before I get it back.
So...
I won't be able to transcribe until I get it back.
----------------------
Addendum: I had gotten my flute back from the repair shop.
It is better than ever now.
However...
my life situation has changed.
I am now taking care of my, almost, 80 year old mother.
She likes to hear me play...
so...
for a while now...
I will be transcribing some sunset music (mellow music).
My mother likes to fall asleep as I play.
