Make sure that you can play smooth rhythm guitar without slowing others down! Before jamming, practice playing songs with just a chord sheet in front of you. Switch up the key or move to a 16-bar form (rather than the standard 12) to keep things interesting, and avoid overplayed keys like E and A in particular. Whether you’re at a blues-focused session or someone just stole your song idea, calling a blues form is a simple and entertaining way to please everyone else on the bandstand. In any situation, a blues is a great backup plan. Try to be original with your choices - no, “Smoke On The Water” or “Smells Like Teen Spirit” don’t count.
JAM SESSION FULL
While you don’t need to show up with a full setlist in mind, it’s always a good idea to think of a few songs that you enjoy and can play, are simple to explain, and offer opportunities to solo.ĭepending on the theme of the jam you could find a few jazz guitar standards or popular rock songs to suggest. If the website or sign-up page (if there is one) doesn’t give enough detail, do some more research! Videos from past jams or information from other players who attend could be helpful. You should also have a fair idea of the musical style before you show up to the jam session.
A quick Google search or phone call can save you from ending up with no amp to play through, so don’t forget this step! Some jams will provide a backline for guitarists, meaning you only need to bring your instrument and plug into their amps, while others expect you to bring your own amplification as well. If there’s no information for the jam, you can try some musician’s forums or give the venue a call to ask a few questions.
JAM SESSION HOW TO
How to Prepare for a Jam Sessionīefore you go to a jam session, take a bit of time to prepare so you’re as relaxed as possible at the event.ĭo some online research: look up the venue’s website, see if they have a dedicated page for jam information, get a feel for the style and character of the place. Thankfully, your first jam session won’t involve an audience like this. Odds are any staff or musicians there will be happy to tell you if they know of any jams in the area. If you don’t see any, don’t be afraid to ask any musician friends or even take a trip to a local guitar store. Check for any online groups (especially on Facebook). Local musicians are another great avenue to find jams. Many bars or clubs may host weekly or semi-weekly jam nights in a variety of genres. How To Find Jam Sessionsīefore you can play at a jam session, you’ve got to find one first! The easiest way is to do a quick Google search for jam sessions in your local area. Many guitarists find jam sessions through other local musicians or online musician’s groups. Jams are a great way to improve your skills, and friendly encouragement is often the way to push a bit beyond your comfort zone. Don’t be surprised, though, if they gently push you to give soloing a shot. If you would prefer to just play rhythm, you can let the other players know.
Most jams tend to be inviting for newer and shyer players. However, you’ll probably only get to play for two or three songs at a time, so it’s a definite trade-off! If the jam rotates guitarists (as most do), you may be able to solo for each tune when you’re on stage. Most jams will structure the songs to allow multiple solos from those on the bandstand.Ī good rule of thumb is that if you call a tune, you’ll be given space for a solo. Soloing is an essential part of jamming - after all, part of the fun of playing with other people is showing off your skills! Protocol for soloing may vary from jam to jam the size of the session or skill of those involved can dictate the soloists and order of solos. While tune-callers are generally expected to give some tips on the basics of their song for those who don’t know, you may often need to keep rhythm off of their instructions alone, or play along with changes from a sheet in real time. Players will rotate on and off stage, and each one will generally get a chance to call a song to play.ĭepending on the format, that song may be a popular hit, a jazz standard, a basic blues progression, or anything in between. With that being said, most jams do tend to follow a similar structure, especially those at clubs, bars, or other music venues.
If it isn’t, chances are you can find other jam sessions around that may offer a much more enjoyable experience. The first takeaway from this is that you shouldn’t get easily discouraged by a bad jam. Even two different dates of a periodic organized jam may be significantly different. A variety of factors can influence the character of any particular jam, from the time and place to the genre of music and regular crowd of musicians. First and foremost, no two jam sessions are the same.
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