Transcribe tunes you like – keep educating yourself
A few years ago I started transcribing some tunes that I really like. The latest ones are “Moon River”, “Ballad of The Sad Young Men” and Anders Jormin’s composition “Q”. Speaking of Anders Jormin – I’ve found his composition to be particularly interesting. His use of melody and harmony is very musically interesting and satisfying to me.
I’ve transcribed Jormin’s compositions and made lead sheets for “Not”, “Seli”, “Sediment”, including the whole piano part for his theme on “M” played by Bobo Stenson from his album Cantando.
I also transcribed a couple of tunes by Keith Jarrett (The Mourning Of A Star, Rainbow, So Tender), Lars Jansson, Bobo Stenson (Reflections & Mindiatyr), amongst many others. All tunes which are not formally published by the artist, making it more interesting and intriguing to study and learn from.
Transcribing will benefit your ability to recognise sounds (including chord extensions), your reading, ears, your piano skills in terms of voicings and chord progressions.