-
What a fabulous thread this is – thanks to all of you for your stories and especially a huge congrats to you @petelanger on your first jam. All your comments tell me that you’ll be jammin’ with others for the rest of your days – big win for sure.
My first jam was similar to yours – I didn’t know the set up, the routine or the songs. I most certainly didn’t know I’d be called on to “sing” Oh my God, what had I got myself into!?! Everyone was a better guitar player than I was but they were all supportive, helpful and even welcomed me back.
Since then I started playing regularly with three other guys on Thursday afternoons – we all use tab sheets and I NEVER sing, (although I am slowly trying to brake that bad habit). I also play once a month at a community folk jam sponsored by a local music school. There are usually 25-30 musicians of all different levels and instruments (mostly acoustic guitars), and tab sheets are provided for those who need them (me), and in such a large group it’s easy for me to feel courageous enough to sing sometimes. I’m even flirting with the idea of playing and singing solo at an upcoming annual senior center concert – I must be going crazy! And I’ve had the rarest of opportunities of jamming a few times with three other players (one of whom was my lifelong friend) who had all played for over 50 years!!! They were soooo good and made my head swell when they told me I had a great sense of rhythm – I had no idea, and still don’t.
So @petelanger, congrats again on your first foray into jammin’ with others. Be open to playing with others in all kinds of scenarios – with or without tabs, whether you have to sing or not, and regardless of your skill level. I have found, and I know you will too, that playing with others is so much more fun – and after all, isn’t that the name of the game.
P.S. Oh yea, another of the very first times I played with others was at the 2018 TAC Guitar Festival in Bozeman where I was teamed up with jumpinjeff (and others) and our group learned and played Friend of the Devil together in front of about 150 other guitar players. Hi there @jumpinjeff – so nice to know you’re still with TAC (specially as it seems so many earlier members have left).
Now, after this way too long of a post, it’s time to get back to hammerin’ on and pullin’ off.