AUM162: Week 10

Our class continued working on our last transcription for Project 1 in our week 10 lecture. I found this song to be a bit challenging than the previous two transcriptions as most of the instruments in the track don't play similar rhythms throughout the whole track, particularly the drums section. I had to really listen in to try and get the exact same hits in the song.

The snare was the easiest instrument in the drums as it was a straightforward rhythm with a few little fills. I found though that it changed tone in the choruses, which I thought was interesting, as I found it also heightened the chorus. In the verses and outdo, the rim stick was used then for the choruses and bridge, the centre of the snare was hit. Definitely took note of technique to try out on future compositions.

The kick was also a straightforward rhythm but it a few frequent fills here and there so I had to listen in to get the right hits. The bass also was very close to the kick in terms of frequency range so most times I couldn't tell the difference between both. I then just really listened in to hear if there was a hit had a clear note on it, and if it didn't, I'd transcribe it as a kick.

With the hi-hat, it was a bit easy to transcribe as it was a simple beat. Towards the end when I was wrapping up the project and listened to it again, I noticed I missed out on some open hi-hats, which made a big difference they were added. Before, because I'm not a drummer and don't really have knowledge on how to spice up my rhythms or heighten different sections via rhythm, I used to never add open hi-hats or fills on my compositions until recently, and from this transcribing project, it's open my ears to what I can do to spice my tracks.

Other elements that I heard in this track in the drums sections were rides, crashes and some china cymbals. I thought they were all ride cymbals but then I analysed them all and noticed the different tones then remembered "ah yes there's other cymbals other than the ride in a drum kit". The rides played mainly in the choruses, and the china and crash cymbals were started in the first chorus then was sprinkled in most sections of the track, to add some sparkle or help heighten the open hi-hats.

The bass wasn't too bad as most of it was repeated in most of the sections, it was just hard to differ form the kick at times as it was in a very similar frequency range to the kick.

Transcribing the piano was pretty fun to do as I've only started to transcribe piano parts in the last transcription. It was good to analyse and try to transcribe the melody of both the left and right hands. I'm not a piano player either so I was surprised with what I transcribed at the end.

By the end, I didn't really have the energy to analyse the entire vocal parts of the track as it took longer than I expected to even analyse the required instruments. I noticed also the vocals were syncopated and had some swing to it as well so it would've taken extra time to try and replicated those grooves and rhythms of the vocals.

Really enjoyed doing this transcription project and it's definitely taught me new techniques to try out on some of my own work. It's definitely a useful tool to help dive into tracks and sounds that you want to sound like.