Transcribing is listening to a recording or live performance and working it out (usually writing it down).
It is such a vital skill for the jazz musician. There have been many gigs that I’ve played where there has been no charts and I have not known the songs and I was expected to play along. Transcribing helped me greatly with that.
Transcribing will help your ear, your reading (if you right it down), help you to know what your favourite musician is playing and give you ideas that you can use in your own playing.
A few tips :
1. Transcribe lines or solos that you like the sound of and you would like to be able to play. Don’t bother working out a solo you can’t stand. There’s an unlimited amount of music that out there that you probably love, so transcribe that instead.
2. Use youtube or other digital media players to slow down the piece if you can’t work it out at the speed.
3. You can also transcribe something that you know someone else has already. That way you can check it later. Though don’t go to it just because it’s getting a bit tough to work it out. Keep trying and listen hard. Train your ear!
Here’s a video that I did on transcribing. It was a one minute tip, so it’s a bit rushed, but hopefully it helps.