Transcribe Joel Frahm – ‘Welcome Blues’

Joel Frahm is one of my favourite contemporary saxophonists.  A big man with a big sound and bags of technique this is a great track to introduce you to the man from Wisconsin.

This track, ‘Welcome Blues’ is a 12 bar blues in F concert and is mostly played as unaccompanied solo saxophone. The transcription project is broken up into sixteen clips and I strongly urge you to get Transcribe or the Amazing Slow Downer ready.

You should also spend some time listening to Joel and I have embedded one of my playlists below.

As always, please post any questions or comments into the forum.


Lessons

Welcome Blues Lesson 1

So here is lesson one on our ‘Welcome Blues’ transcription project from Joel Frahm.

Welcome Blues Lesson 2

We’re going to concentrate on Clip 4 today.  Again, there is some incredible blues vocabulary in this clips, enough for an A-Level in Blues saxophone!

Welcome Blues Lesson 3

Lesson 3 on Welcome Blues and we’re into the final bit of section one. 

For some of you, this would make an ideal ‘stop’ point – especially if you’ve been toiling at this for over a month.  For some, it’s a great place to pause.  For others it’s time to get this done and move onto the next 10 clips!

Welcome Blues Lesson 6

Welcome to lesson six on Joel Frahm’s Welcome Blues. This is a brilliant blues scale lick that everyone can get down.

Welcome Blues Lesson 7

Using the blues scale exclusively in solos can often seem a little ‘goofy’ or restrictive, but when you can exploit it like Joel Frahm, then stick with it! 

Welcome Blues Lesson 8

In this lesson I focus on Clips 12 & 13 (only 3 more to go!) – these phrases utilise the harmonic minor scale of G on tenor, D on Alto.  Again, as I’ve said time and time before – take it slow and repeat many more times than you think you should!

Welcome Blues Lesson 9

I wanted to show you how the process of transcribing is still worth all the effort – even if you don’t get the clips up to 100% straight away.

Welcome Blues Lesson 10

What you need to do now is record yourself playing it.  Ideally, (if you can?) Record yourself as I have in this video with Joel is one speakers (pan the fader hard right) and yourself, (hard left) so that you can compare and contrast between yourself and Joel – this is great for all other transcription projects that you do. 

Lecturer

Dan Forshaw

I'm passionate about creating inspirational experiences through music and other arts. A life changing experience under the influence of the music of John Coltrane lead to study in New York and London. My thesis was on the Theology of John Coltrane as expressed through A Love Supreme. I perform across Europe with various jazz groups and teach through my innovative website, www.cambridgesaxophone.com. I'm a total Apple Geek, Cricket, Rugby, F1 and Football fan and I'm learning to listen opinions before giving my own!