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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I know the idea is to be loose and have fun, but is there an unwritten code of group behavior for this type of thing?
What makes for a good jam session and what can screw them up?
I'd rather not learn by trial an error. For instance...At the Tour Hotel Jam the suggestion of "Country Roads" was followed by talk of "guns, ammo, and I'm not afraid to use them". |
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December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | there always must be a leader to keep things moving.
many times it is disorgainization that makes thing degenerate. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | ...and sometimes it's the degenerate that must lead. Be brave, Brad. |
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December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | as viv savage would say in spinal tap
"have a good time...
all of the time" |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | I've had songs shot down in flames at jam sessions and then there have been other songs done by others that I've wanted to shoot down. But I don't.
There are always going to be songs played at jams that you don't like. Live with it, but don't put down somebody else's choice of songs. Nobody agrees with everything played.
The key is to play along with something you don't like and try to add something to it that's different but fits. I can guarantee that you'll always end up having a good time.
Courtesy is real important at jams. You can't get it if you don't give it (I feel like I'm talking to my kids, but this stuff is real basic). |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | A lot of times songs will get shot down because people don't know them.
When that happens with me, I am content to sit, listen, and enjoy the music. |
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November 2005
Posts: 4827
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | I'm not a fan of jam sessions, so I probably have no business here.....but that's never stopped me before! :D
When occassionally sitting in, or at group sessions I try not to play unless I can
A- play something different than everyone else.
(ego & who needs 14 rythme guitarists playing pretty much together?)
B- find a counter-melody or counter-rythme to add texture to the piece. (sometimes just a couplette played once ever four bars.)
C- unless your the bass player, spend at least as much time listening to everyone else as yourself. if you're the bass player, just go talk to the drummer. |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Learn how to "look" like you are playing, but not really make any sound. Your fingering may be total bullshit, but look confident doing it and you'll fit in just fine.
At the last hotel jam, I was doing fine until somebody (I forget who) sat down one on one with me and said "let's trade lead licks". OHH CRAP !!!!
Dave |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | I'm not a lead player, but in a jam setting, I'm always going up the neck looking for chords in a higher position that will sound different and add something to the mix.
Witko may like to walk around in grass skirts a little more than is normal, but he's a good guitar player. |
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September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | moody, p.i. posted Courtesy is real important at jams. You can't get it if you don't give it (I feel like I'm talking to my kids, but this stuff is real basic). Thanks Dad
Pauly
And for the record he's right. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | You can start any song you like. Just have presence enough to let it go or let others take it up and run with it.
I enjoyed following the songs that you and BrianT started because they have been around for a bit.
For Bluegrass Jams there are set rules.
As Al said, having a Leader is good for keeping things going. Democracy is a great concept but you need some direction on occasion!
Whether its Vocally or Loud Guitar its never good to walk over somebody.
I tend to hear the harmony that most won't take.
Not always successfully, but that's what jams are for. Experiment and share. |
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Joined:
April 2005
Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | Jams...not just for biscuits anymore...reminds me of a song...Good Brown Gravey...wish I could remember who did it...
To me jams have always been about learing something new....and maybe teaching something new along the way...it's always fun when some old timer sitting at the Thursday Night Lukenbach Jam looks over and says "do that again!"
Man, i miss being 40 miles from there! |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Maybe make a concerted effort to listen as much as you play. (concert-ed...get it???)
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I thought that for the most part, all the jams at the tour went pretty well. Especially concidering the chaos of the hotel lobby. |
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April 2006
Posts: 31
Location: Clinton ,Ct | Shut up and play I Say. Whoaa sounds like a first verse.could work. Listen Moody was right.if someone is playing GMaj Play EMin .Mix it up. learn something ,Break out for God sake. Have Fun |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | join in the jam at a distance (or volume) directly proportional to your familiarity with the song.
Work up the neck if you can...
...and remember everyone appreciates good precussion |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Or you can do what Jeff did at the tour - If you don't know the song, just go make a beer run for everyone else! Dave |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | and I was making LOTS of beer runs.... call me, Molly Pitcher. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Knowing Jeff, he turned a pretty profit on that deal. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I guess it would be courtesy
giving everyone a chance
and supporting each other.
Willie Nelson once said, it's what you don't play that's most important. (I take that to mean, don't be a hog and try to fill up the sonic canvas) |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by an4340:
Willie Nelson once said, it's what you don't play that's most important. Maybe that's why folks keep taking my guitar....? |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | Try to support the front man or woman. Add licks that fit and don't be a showman. Make it interesting, basic chords in a different neck position or capo up. Nothing is more boring than 5 guitarists playing the same chords, in the same position, using the same strum. |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4827
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | From the company here I will guess many of us find ourselves in a roomful of guitar players all wanting to play. I'll repeat what someone said earlier....you can't have too much percussion!
Muffle those strings and do a shuffle. The back of an Ovation makes a wonderful set of bongos. |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Flushing, MI | Here's some scenarios that I've run across at open jams that has for sure pissed me off...
The guy who noodles lead lines constantly. During the singing, during other peoples solos... just endless noodling. I realize that playing fills between vocal lines is one thing, but a person that doesn't have enough sense to know not to attempt to solo over EVERYTHING is another.
And then there's the person that (this actually happens from time to time) sings on EVERY SONG - and makes up their own words on the spot while you're trying to play a REAL song that already has REAL lyrics - but this guy's not going to let you have a chance to sing (even though you started the song and it's YOUR turn to sing).
And then there's the folks that, no matter what's going on onstage, they will come right up, plug in, and commence to (attempt to) join in. Usually it's the two guys that play lead and improvise lyrics over everything all night long.
I always wait to be called on, and I'll wait until someone gives me a nod to begin soloing. Otherwise I'll sit down and listen to others while I wait my turn.
It's amazing to my how many of these events are not very well organized, and some people just come in and take over the event, and whomever is in charge just sits back and lets it happen. |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | Tuning up your guitar is really important and polite. Dont laugh, but the only thing worse than a crappy sounding song is a crappy sounding song played on an out-of-tune guitar. Seems fundamental but I have even seen professional acts where I wanted to walk up to the stage and say, "please, may I tune that thing up for you?"
Another one is don't start something you cant finish....it's very aggrivating when some poser knows the first few bars of a song, and wants to make sure everyone else knows that they know....but then the song falls off the cliff a few minutes later.
And I also find it very annoying when one stubborn hold-out keeps playing their chosen song when the other nine people in the jam are playing together on something else, that's just plain rude. |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4827
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Well, if we're talkin' worst case scenarios! :rolleyes:
People who insist on playing along...... in the key in which they learned the tune in rather than the key in which everyone else is playing! :eek:
Who later turns to you and says, "I think you got a couple chords wrong in that." ;) |
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Jam Session Etiquette
