This transcription is one I did for an assignment in college. I was playing the Joshua Redman tune “Jazz Crimes” in an ensemble at my university and I just loved what Brian Blade was playing during the intro and head of the tune – so I decided to transcribe it. This is one of the first transcription projects I completed that really made me fall in love with transcribing.

Since completing this transcription in college I’ve transcribed hundreds of other drummers, typed thousands of notes into Finale, and learned a LOT. Not only have I learned a ton since completing this transcription, which has made my transcriptions far more accurate, but I’ve also gotten MUCH quicker at transcribing.

This Brian Blade transcription took me months when I first attempted it. Months. And now I could complete it in under an hour (probably under 30 minutes). Now, I don’t say this to brag. I say this to encourage any of you who are trying to get into transcribing. Or drumming. Or really anything in life.

It just takes time.

Time and hard work can make you good at almost anything. I was terrible at transcribing when I first started. I could hardly read music and it took 20 minutes for me to figure out one measure of basic groove. But, over the years, I worked away at it. Transcription after transcription. Drummer after drummer.

So, give the video a watch so you can see exactly how incorrect my first draft of this transcription was – then download the new sheet music below and get to the practice room to start learning this slick excerpt of Brian Blade’s playing. I’ve also included a play-along track to help you get the most of of this transcription.