Learning from an audio file??? (Full Version)

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britguy -> Learning from an audio file??? (Dec. 16 2012 20:54:31)

I have real problems trying to learn falsetas from an audio file. Sometimes takes me several hours just to get one simple falseta!

I have a fairly good musical ear, and can generally get the tune in my head O.K., but just can't seem to pick out the notes on the guitar? Particularly in the higher positions.

I've read about things like "slow-down" software, etc. But have no access to any at present. Is this the answer - slow it down and pick out each note?

What's the best way to copy stuff from audio/video files on to the guitar; are there any specific techniques other players use that I might research?



El Kiko -> RE: Learning from an audio file??? (Dec. 16 2012 21:44:27)

I used to do a lot of transcriptions , mainly for jazz, and usually i would listen to the piece a few times so that i know it in my head , and there are no surprises ,
then go through it section by section , sort of roughly , so to see where on the neck i would be playing it ,
Sometimes it may have to be changed or re-fingered or something to fit what comes next ..or what was before it ... .thats always a pain if you have already got it in your head that it is one way and then try to change it .

So first time just listen and think about it .

2nd if there are some bits that sound like you could get them , learn those first .

3rd start filling in the gaps ...

4th go back over it in a bit more detail to make sure it is exactly right ..


you dont have to learn it from beginning to end in that order , you may learn some bits in the middle first and then its kind of like building bridges between the pillars of what you have for the finished structure



Erik van Goch -> RE: Learning from an audio file??? (Dec. 16 2012 22:54:29)

If i want the notes to be 100% correct i use an old tape recorder played at half speed (you can use modern days alternatives as well) after which i figure out how to play them on the guitar...it helps if you develop a sense of (flamenco) guitar logic over the years and sometimes that 1 unexpected note you heard in slow motion makes all the difference (especially Vicente used to integrate "trick notes" that told a different story in your mind than on the guitar and were based on the same abuse of expectation magicians use to trick your mind). Sometimes i settle for using the idea only, not copying note by note but just the idea.

oh....and despite of being pretty good in ear playing myself it quite often takes me several hours to work out a couple of notes as well....on some occasions i even had to spend several hours of blood, sweat and tears to rule out (or confirm) a single "hard to get" note (sometimes a note is audible but not part of the fingering but an overtone of 1 of the notes that is played).

1 trick you can use is the previously named expectation....you can restrict to passive hearing only but you can also use your knowledge of chords/harmony/flamenco logic to surge for (and rule out or confirm) certain notes....when i had to ear sing my teacher of musical theory at music high school i had huge problems to hear all the (jazz) chords he played on the piano since i had no trained ears for that kind of music and the instrument involved....i scored extremely good but at least 50% of the notes i sung were not based on actual hearing but on expectation and general logic.



RTC -> RE: Learning from an audio file??? (Dec. 17 2012 2:45:39)

I think you can benefit from Transcribe

http://www.seventhstring.com/



mark indigo -> RE: Learning from an audio file??? (Dec. 17 2012 12:08:42)

quote:

Sometimes takes me several hours just to get one simple falseta!

So comforting to know I'm not the only one!


quote:

I've read about things like "slow-down" software, etc. But have no access to any at present. Is this the answer - slow it down and pick out each note?

you can very easily and simply slow down audio tracks if you are using a PC using Windows Media Player.

First you must have the track saved to your computer. If it's on CD, bung it in the disc drive, rip it to "My Music" or wherever, then play it with Windows Media Player.

You need to be on the "Now Playing" view, not the library view. Right click in the middle of the player somewhere, and then select/hover over "Enhancements", then "Play Speed Settings"

A little box comes up and you can select slow, normal fast, or use the slider, or check the box to "snap slider to common speeds" and then you can easily check 0.5, 0.6, 0.7 etc.

You can also use this to practise playing along with whatever you work out back up to normal speed in increments.

With this the sound quality is not great, but it's something you probably already have on your computer. With more specialist software you can get better sound quality.

Hope that helps.



rogeliocan -> RE: Learning from an audio file??? (Dec. 17 2012 12:33:44)

quote:

I've read about things like "slow-down" software, etc. But have no access to any at present. Is this the answer - slow it down and pick out each note?


That is exactly why. Especially with flamenco, there are a lot of fast sections, slowed down, you can make out what is played. Sometimes it is still difficult, especially when there are other instruments playing; when the music is slowed down, it can get really muddy because everything drags on so much.

I did not know you could slow down with media player and keep the pitch. Nice but not good enough. Transcribe works but I find that the easiest program to use is Roni Music's Amazing Slow Downer. Easy to understand settings, takes 5 minutes to figure out how to use it without reading anything.

These specialized software also allow you to set start and end points so the section you are learning will loop forever. It's cheap and worth the money, the looping alone will make your life easier.



johnnefastis -> RE: Learning from an audio file??? (Dec. 17 2012 13:43:29)

I really rate Transcribe, it handles video as well as audio.

It also allows you to set markers so you can break down a single compas and learn a few beats at a time (see picture). That way you can easily learn a falsetta efficiently as described by Ricardo here.




Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px



britguy -> RE: Learning from an audio file??? (Dec. 17 2012 14:06:48)

quote:

you can very easily and simply slow down audio tracks if you are using a PC using Windows Media Player.


This sounds very interesting, and maybe not too much for my feeble brain?

I'll give it a go - thanks very much!



britguy -> RE: Learning from an audio file??? (Dec. 17 2012 14:44:02)

quote:

quote:

you can very easily and simply slow down audio tracks if you are using a PC using Windows Media Player.


Wow!

Works really easy. Just two clicks and slide the bar to the left. Sound is a bit distorted, but not bad.

Now I can clearly hear all the individual notes that guy Castellon (Sabicas) was really playing in his fantastic Seguiriyas; "Duelo de Campanas" on my old Hispavox recording from the '70's.

Thanks a lot Mark. Much appreciated. . .



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