Things to Consider at Your Next Jam Session
Come to a jam session with a few tunes in mind to share/lead!
It is customary to go around the circle, taking turns starting tunes. Each player can start the tune at their own pace, or choose to pass. This way beginners get a chance to participate too.
The musician who starts or leads a tune is usually responsible for ending it as well. There are several simple ways to signal that the tune is coming to a close, such as raising a foot near the end or calling out phrases like “one more,” or “last time.”
It is important to keep in time with other musicians and keep with the beat of the tune. If you lose your place in a tune, no worries! Just hang back and play quietly until you find your place again.
If you don’t know a tune yet, try playing quietly while you learn the melody and feel of the tune. It’s always better to ease in gently than to overpower the group while figuring it out. As you become more comfortable, match the volume and energy of the other musicians so everyone can hear and play together easily. If you are leading the tune, it’s customary to play a little more prominently so others can follow along.
Pick tunes that don’t have too many chord changes or odd chords. Keep it simple! You want musicians to be able to learn tunes quickly and join in the fun! It’s also a great idea to call out chords changes if needed. If you don’t know the chords and it seems like most of the other group does, just follow along and watch the other musicians hands until you get it.
Jam sessions are a great place to play well-know/popular tunes so more musicians can participate. It is usually not the best place to figure out brand new tunes that no one is familiar with unless everyone expresses a desire to learn a new tune!
If you’re participating in a bluegrass-style session where solos are being passed around, the solos usually go around the circle so be ready when it is your turn. If you want to “pass,” no problem! Just let the musician next to you know so they can pick up the next solo.
Solo lengths tend to stay the same for each musician. Depending on the type of tune, the solo lasts for a verse/16 bars/A part. Or it could be double that length, verse & chorus/32 bars/A & B part. Don’t fret if you’re not sure about the length, just listen to what the other musicians are doing and cues will usually be given.
Try not to “noodle” around. I know, sometimes as musicians we just can’t help it! It’s hard to start a tune, play together, and for everyone to have an enjoyable time when one or two in the circle are constantly playing.
Remember as you’re playing together, one of the main purposes is to make great music! If you can’t hear the melody line or a singer very well, play quieter. Jam sessions are a great place to hear and learn from other musicians.
If you don’t know the melody, play chords! This may seem obvious to some, but if you are use to playing a melodic instrument like the fiddle, this might not come as easy. It’s important to learn how to enhance the melody or the soloist by playing chords or back up rhythm.
If you find yourself in a jam session rut…mix it up! Play with different musical textures and bend some of the “rules.” A fun way to do this is to add harmonies or “twin fiddling.” The leader of the group/tune can call out different arrangement ideas such as “mandolins take the melody!” or “bass solo!” or “just banjos and fiddles!” This is a great way to bring in some fun. More ways to change up the texture of a tune is to do different things with the rhythm section. Dropping out the rhythm during an “A part” for example or changing from full rhythm to stop-time rhythm makes the songs come alive!
Remember, the most important tip is to HAVE FUN!
