My Method
Hi Ryan,
I hope you're enjoying the Jazzman transcription I did for you. All good ideas above.
I'll start by saying that it really helps if you know the solo in your head before you start trying to write it down. Not necessarily to play it from memory, but just know how it goes and can sing it.
I use two bits of software - Sibelius and Slow Gold (one for notation and the other for playing loops and slowing things down) you can use others. Media Player can slow the music down, but I don't think it can create loops within the track. Others may have advice on this.
Start by breaking the song or solo into smaller sections, if you're doing the whole song map out the form, counting bars (measures), time sigs and changes etc. Even repeated sections if you hear them, that way you won't be writing them out twice or more. You can use letters A A2 B etc or names like verse chorus bridge, whatever works for you. This is where I create loops in slow gold of each section.
Either use your sax, or another instrument (I often use a guitar or sibelius or a keyboard) to get the starting pitches. Pick the key and start slogging away one section at a time.
Start with someone like Kenny Garrett or Maceo Parker who play very blues oriented funk music which is generally not as harmonically adventurous as others. They will both, however, challenge your ability to notate rhythms!! Or just start with the heads of songs you are interested in. Start small.
The best piece of advice I can give you is to work on your relative pitch. i.e. the ability to pick intervals, picking one pitch after hearing a given reference.
Or develop perfect pitch. I've worked really hard on my relative pitch and it helps me get through transcriptions without too much difficulty.
Hope this helps.
Dan