11709 / 18210 · Workshop 95 — Arranging by Ear from a Recording: Extracting Melody, Bass, Harmony, Groove, Texture, and Form Without Depending on a Lead Sheet← prev⊞ allnext →
95.146Apply it to “Mack the Knife”
Use your legal recording/lead sheet only as source material.
First listen without playing.
Map:
- chorus repetition
- bass evolution
- texture escalation
- modulation
- ending behavior
Then transcribe only:
melodic landmarks
bass
functional harmony
signature rhythmic/arranging events.
Build your piano version from the architecture, not by stacking every band note under the melody.