Here is my method for transcribing using audacity. It also helps to transcribe into Tab|Edit. (NB: I have a Mac)

  • Download and install Audacity here: https://www.audacityteam.org/download/

  • Import your song into a track in Audacity. It works best if notes from the banjo stand out well from any other noise. Your track should look something like this:

 

  • Figure out the chord progression and document it with markers as seen below. To enter the marker, press CMD B and then type in the label you want. To move markers, select the center circle and drag. To delete, select the center circle, then put curser at end of label text, back space (delete) until text is gone, and one more to delete the marker.

 

  • Figure out the length of each measure. This can be done by measuring the length between the markers for the chords. Once you have measure length, you will know the length of time for the different type of notes. To determine the measure length, click and drag your cursor from one marker to the next. In my example, the banjo solo starts in the middle of the measure prior to the first chord. Looking at the length between the A chord to the E chord (1 measure), you get 1.600 seconds. That means if the time between notes is .400 seconds, it’s a 1/4 note. You can see the length of the selection at the bottom center of the screen (see arrow below). Ensure you have “Start and Length of Selection” shown.

 

  • Next, select a little slice of the waveform that represents a note. On the top menu, select “Analyze” and then “Plot Spectrum”. This will bring up an amplitude vs frequency plot as seen below. Put your cursor on the highest peak. There will be a line that snaps to the peak and and an indicator on the lower right that gives the frequency of the peak, the associated note, and even the octave number for the note.

 

  • Measure the length of time to the next note and then transcribe the note to Tab|Edit or however you are documenting it.

  • Repeat until you have the song/solo transcribed.

  • The last step is to change the placement of the notes on the fretboard so you can play it easily. That is a whole separate challenge and is mostly, trial, error, and experience.

Hope this helps!

Pick on!
Matt