Guide · Updated November 2026
How to transcribe piano parts from recordings
Piano parts pack a lot into each moment: a melody, a bass line, and chords in between. Separating the piano from the band and slowing it down lets you pull those layers apart, whether you are learning by ear or checking a chart.
A step by step workflow
- Isolate the piano. Separate the song and mute everything except piano. Without the vocals and guitars, the middle of the keyboard becomes much clearer.
- Loop a phrase. Mark one or two bars on the waveform and turn on looping.
- Slow it down. Drop the speed to 50% or lower. The pitch stays the same, so you can match notes on your keyboard as you go.
- Take it one layer at a time. Learn the top melody first, then the bass notes in the left hand, then the chord in between.
- Hear the voicing. Use hold mode to replay a tiny window right on a chord. Hearing the same few milliseconds repeat makes it easier to pick out each note in the voicing.
- Build up to speed and play along. Raise the speed in small steps until you reach 100%, then mute the piano and play the part with the band.
Tips for piano parts
- Records that are not at concert pitch. Older recordings and pianos are sometimes slightly sharp or flat. Adjust the pitch in cents until the record matches your keyboard.
- Other keyboards. Organ, synths, and electric keyboards may land in the Other track instead of Piano. If the part you want is quiet in Piano, try isolating Other.
- Separate the hands with EQ. Cut the high bands to focus on the left hand, or cut the low bands to focus on the melody.
- Pedaled passages. Sustain pedal blurs notes together. Slowing down and looping short windows helps you hear where one chord ends and the next begins.
Learning with a band? See the guides for bass, guitar, and drums.
Questions
How can I practice piano parts from recordings?
Separate the song so you can hear the piano on its own, loop a short phrase, and slow it down without changing the pitch. When you can play it, raise the speed and then mute the piano to play along with the band. SlowItDown does all of this in one app.
Can SlowItDown isolate the piano?
Yes. SlowItDown separates songs into vocals, drums, bass, guitar, piano, and other. Some keyboards, such as organ and synths, may be grouped into other.
Does SlowItDown write out the notes for me?
No. SlowItDown makes the part easier to hear. You do the listening and transcribing.
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Isolate instruments, loop any section, and slow it down, all in one desktop app for Mac, Windows, and Linux. $19.95 once or $1.99 a month after the trial.