Writing it down!

[frank_johnson]

I've been playing alto for nearly two months now. During the last week I have moved on from my previous plateau. I've broken the half-hour barrier, been much happier with embouchure and tone, and started 'composing' on the sax.
As usual, the only way I can remember what I've made up is by taping it: been doing it this way for years on guitar. I'm an ear player, but would really like to be able to write stuff down now without using my own codes etc.
Any recommendations of 'user friendly' material to help me achieve this would be gratefully received. (I will not feel insulted if it is stuff aimed at children!!) :S

 

[Linky Lee]

finale, or any other notation software. Finale is free for a limited version and will cover what you want. If you want something decent then I highly recommend Sibelius.

There's always ink and parchment.

 

[frank_johnson]

thanks Linky.
The ink and parchment idea is what I'm trying to avoid because it is so time consuming (for me!!) 😉

 

[Linky Lee]

I find software as time consuming as ink and parchment unless you buy a midi keyboard and have some basic piano skills which allow you to play it in.

I've actually had an idea for a music notation specific set of shortcuts that are much better than the standard that come with programs like finale and Sibelius. I'm thinking of sending it off to Steinberg or someone.

The only problem I have with finale is that you can't write quintuplets and so on. The most uncommon note value it accepts is triplets.

So it won't recognise four notes fitting into one beat in 12/8 or 5 notes into 1 beat in 4/4 etc. etc. which crops up in many jazz solos. This can be a right pain. I believe Sibelius is fine for these but I haven't tried them extensively.

 

[spike]

Hi Frank,

ink and parchment

it is however good to have a pad with ledger lines to use as a scratch pad especially when working on difficult rhythms. Doing it straight into "Finale Notepad 2007" (correct name for downloadable freebie version) can be a bit fuddle muddle, it's easy to get into a mess if you need to edit.

I personally would not recommend Sibelius for entry level notation, mainly because the price tag is equivalent to one months payment on my house. With Finale you can upgrade stepping stone style to meet your needs, and the free version is more than adequate for starters.

gruss - spike

 

[Linky Lee]

Simon's method of rhythm first is great.

I use this, I notate out the rhythm, then I mark where the chord notes are as I find these the easiest to hear. Just listen out for them and they crop up all over the place. I just wright a 1, 3, 5 or 7 where they crop up and it's anywhere between 50% and 80% done and you can almost guess the rest of the notes once you've got those.

Pencil and paper is much easier to edit for some things as well.

I would agree that pencil and paper suffices most of the time. The only time it doesn't is when you loose it! Or need a clean presentation.

 

[frank_johnson]

Many thanks to all of you for the advice. I'll have a look at finale and see what comes of it. I certainly don't want to spend a lot of dosh on something I may not find that easy to use
Frank

 

[mfox]

try AUDIOSCORE.. its a programme that you can actually play into and it will covert your playing into sheet music..
there is a free trial at
www.photoscore.com

 

[griff136]

I have sibelius but I recently decided that I need to be able to write it down by hand. Main Reasons:

1. I am self taught mainly and I skipped all the theory and now it has come back to bite my backside.

2. Writing it down helps me not only to lmprove my music theory but it is helping improve my aural skills/ear training.

 

[tengu01]

griff136 wrote:
1. I am self taught mainly and I skipped all the theory and now it has come back to bite my backside.

Hear hear. I too suffer from lack-of-theory-induced-butt-munchery

I have found the free finale stuff useful for writing down solos, but only after I can already play them, as it is a little time-consuming. The main benefit of the software is that you can play it back straight away to see if you have it right.

The benefit of the paper and pencil method is that it'll train you not to rely on the computer to get it right.....and you can scribble something on the back of a napkin if you can manage to write a treble score with jazz notation on a napkin, in a club without tearing it 🙂