Writing a Chart, Pt 1. - Big Band Arranging SECRETS REVEALED

Watch me as I write a swingin' big band arrangement of the Bossa Nova, "The Girl from Ipanema." In part 1, I write the melody section of the chart.

Joining my Patreon at the $5 level gets you access to the study guides to these lessons. This week's study guide is the score that I wrote for this video!

All of the background music was recorded by the Pandemonium Big Band.

#jazztheory #bigband #musictheory

[nbevan]

Does anyone else find this chap's love for the music infectious?

[KrystofDreamJourney]

6:50. No, it’s not silly 🙃 It’s great. We all do that. I tend to record my humming into Pro-Tools (to a tickin metronome in pre-determined target tempo of course) on an audio track, then create an instrument track with the piano or trumpet patch, and put my humming into notes transcribing myself. Then use the function “Send to Sibelius”, and voila ! It works every single time, it’s effective and leads to idiomatic, and extremely natural writing. Sometimes I hum like for 10 minutes, and trust me : some of the phrasing I would probably never create by just intellectualizing it…
Love your videos - recommend them all.

[Music_Lad]

Thank you for all of the instructional videos Elliot. They have helped me a lot as a very early beginner big band arranger and composer. The advice given here as well as your arrangement of pure imagination (which is my personal favourite arrangement I've ever heard of the piece) gave me the idea to arrange pure imagination as a bossa nova so thank you for the inspiration.

[jlrinc]

I just finished arranging john cages 4'33. Actually it's in cut time so it's only 2'16 but I added a bunch of solos to fill time. Getting eighth note rests to swing is harder than it sounds. If your interested in not playing it I can send you the charts

[spudsmith]

This is really great, man! I'm a beginner big band arranger and I'm gaining SO much from watching these videos, thank you so much!

[robertomachado]

Your Brazilian fans are having a ball! Many thanks; great stuff!

[jillianferguson]

You’re having so much fun in these videos, which BTW, are getting so great, by your editing down the info to the nitty gritty stuff…that’s what makes them so interesting…the tasty tid bits that one might not even think to ask about!

[Snavels]

9:15 Rythmic Pads are what I feel greatly define Big Band Swing. My favorite one to use is all brass playing: (bracketed numbers aren't played)

"(1)AND, (2and), 3(and), (4)"

Basically, the 'te' of 1 and the downbeat of 3.

[kaillimb]

You are my favorite person ever. I've been looking for someone who actually cares enough to explain everything relating to all of this. So helpful! thank you.

[pattibrugman]

Absolutely wonderful, Elliot. Love the textures you create and your best tip—sing what you want to write. Oh year!! We’ll talk again soon!!

[jerrodshack]

No matter how many textbooks I read or videos I watch, I always learn at least a little something new every time a talented arranger like you posts about arranging. Thanks for the great stuff.

[bmenear]

Elliot,
I’ve been arranging for several years, although I thought what I was doing sounded decent your videos have given me so many fresh ideas, especially in voicing.
I like how you went into depth on your lessons. The idea of being able to rewind a video and and double checking a subject really helps. Thanks so much…

[siegfriedwifling]

A big big compliment from my side to you.. you have a very refreshing and interesting creative Art to present your work. I can’t stop listening to you…❤️👍🎺 thanks for sharing..😊

[NCbluesman]

Wow. This stuff is just AWESOME, Elliot. I really appreciate what you're doing here.

[codedlAnguage]

Brilliant. Good Morning. Not sure how I found you here today but you popped up somehow. Excellent

💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝
😍

[MLing-qx]

Could you do a video of how to write for pop horns

[sacrificialobama]

Great video as always! My only suggestion for future parts in this series would be to show sheet music/playback for the areas that you reference or hum throughout the video, although I know that that would be a lot more editing and hassle. But thank you so much, i’ve been wanting a video like this forever!

[onemaninstruments]

Someday I will have time to follow you with time, thanks for sharing the process! Thanks again!

[riffraftmusic]

Thanks, man, this was a huge help in getting a chart ready recently for an ASMAC playdown. I followed your advice about the saxes (write them in their clef range) as much as I could, and they NAILED it! Good advice about the brass, too. Used info from some of your other vids, and it all really helped. Thanks again!

[ericmoreno]

Thank for sharing these valuable ideas!