Theory & Impro Finding Out the Chords When Transcribing a (Jazz) Tune

[Neffmusic]

Not sure if it was mentioned yet but for me an important tool is playing by ear with the recording. I was transcribing a chord progression the other day and had no idea what the chords were but I picked up my sax and started playing along and my ear could guide me through the changes with what notes sounded good and what notes sounded bad. Sometimes I write out all the measures of the form and then solo and make notes on the measures. Sometimes we spend way too much time intellectually trying to figure out what the changes are when our ear might be able to do it in a fraction of the time.......