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Got my first jam session in this past Sunday
I had never done this before, never played with anyone else besides myself so I was quite apprehensive going in. And it was very intimidating at first. It was a smaller number of participants than anticipated based on communicating with the leader of the group. Only 6 players including myself. 4 of them were much more advanced than I. As time went on I got more comfortable with the situation. I discovered the things I need to do to make the next session more productive for me:
What’s nice is they will play anything you come up with. I passed my turn at first but later on we did play several that I suggested. I discovered that I couldn’t play any of my chosen songs with any confidence at all. In the moment, not even the strum patterns came to me for songs that I have gone over dozens of times in the past couple of years, unfortunately not fresh enough in my memory to be able to play up to speed.
Having that moment of feeling exposed was helpful because I am quite certain I can be better prepared next time, knowing what the group’s expectations are. I didn’t know how they were going to operate beforehand, but I do now. They go around the room and ask each participant what song they would like to play. Then you are expected to lead into the song and sing it, while everybody joins in. They’re very good players, a couple of them are way beyond intermediate so they will carry you musically, all you have to do is sing and try to stay with the song as much as possible rhythmically. Even though I sucked, it was still fun. I need to work on having a better command of the song and give a lot more focus to singing. I also learned that they will play a lot of different songs, some easy and some very hard ones. We did a Dylan song where there was a chord change for nearly every word and I couldn’t nearly keep up. But it was good practice, anyway. I didn’t feel judged!
In the heat of the moment I forgot all strum patterns and could not even recall how to execute on songs that I had practiced just a few days prior to the jam session. I learned that the way I am rehearsing songs is inadequate. I need to play them all the way through: every verse, the chorus and bridge wherever they are to be played. This is how we’re doing it in the jam, so the abbreviated (kind of cropped versions) of the songs we are doing in the challenges are inadequate preparation for a player of my stature.
Also, get used to singing along while playing. For the most part I could only do one or the other. I am hoping to be able to practice singing a long with playing, even if I just do one strum per bar, get used to changing chords while singing.
Also my set up was lousy. I had my tablet lying on the floor and was trying to see it. I’ve ordered a stand for my tablet, so I can have the tabs right near my eyes next time. I found a great solution on Amazon for only $20 that will accommodate a tablet, or laptop or loose sheet music – perfect!
I am so glad that I found a group to jam with, I’ve been wanting this for years and this is ideal since everyone is better than I am and they still want me to come back! Also it’s only a few minutes away from my home – they do it biweekly
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13 Replies
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The best part is they meet in our community rec center, it’s only a few minutes away from my home. Also, even though I totally sucked, I’m still invited back for the next session in 2 weeks!
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The hardest jam sesh you will ever go to is the one you just had. Nicely done guitar player! Keep going as often as you are able. Each time especially at first gets better and better. Get your stand set up. Don’t prep, keep doing what you are doing. Try playing without looking at a song sheet. I am not talking about memorizing the progression but pick a song and feel your way through it. Find the key and feel. As you are feeling your way, think about your key feel those changes and guess what sounds are likely to come next (higher or lower is a good start). You have made it to a very exciting part of the journey. I am stoked to hear it!!!
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Definitely the beginning of an exciting phase! I wanted it sooner, and I met with somebody about a year and a half ago but it was just 2 of us and he was way more advanced than I. We had a lunch and talked, that was it we never touched our guitars.
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Hi Peter,
what an awesome experience—and you’ve already got a solid plan for the next JAM session. I’m a big fan of TAC too, but about a year ago I realized that I had to be careful not to rely too much on the provided tabs . Music isn’t just about translating what we SEE (= TAB, notes) into sound—it’s way more important to train our EARS (= ohter musicans) and turn what we HEAR into music. It is a total different job for our brain ;-).
I think that’s a big reason why jam sessions can be tricky, even with songs you know really well. You can’t just follow tabs—you have to listen and sync with the other players, focusing on sound rather than visuals. Maybe train that with youtube videos as well? (That helped me immensely when I had my ukulele course in the spring and suddenly we were supposed to play and sing with 9 people at the same time).
I’m sure with your dedication you’ll make great progress over the time.
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Good point, @Kristin1
I always knew that I wasn’t practicing full songs, so it’s no surprise. (So many new TAC members come on here asking: “What about the SONGS, where are they?”, etc.) Playing the full song is on me, TAC isn’t going to feed it to me note by note, that’s actually a good thing because as you said: there’s more than one way to play a song and you have to be able to adapt. This group uses Ultimate Guitar as their primary source of TABs so there is common ground.
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Hell yeah! Nice job. I’ve only had the opportunity to play with others a handful of times. If you can keep meeting with this group, do it. This will accelerate your playing ability and confidence at light speed. I played with a couple of strangers when I was in Baja. It was awesome, and the more we played, the better I got because I got more comfortable. One time was in a larger group setting, and we were playing “That’s the Way The World Goes Round” by John Prine. We had the crowd singing, and got a nice applause when we finished. The guy I was playing with was pretty advanced and carried me most of the time.
I agree 100% with what jumpinjeff advises. Try to play without a songsheet, or tablet to try and follow along with. There’s so much going on, and to mentally try to process the song sheet or table will just confuse in my opinion. Take in the moment, be the guitar. The second time around will be completely different. Please let us know how it goes. I’m real exited for you. And a bit jealous. 🙂
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Sorry @Skyman911 !
I understand and appreciate that I’m in an enviable position; it took this long – almost 2 and 1/2 years since I first made the decision to become a guitar player. Those of you who are just starting, hang in and good things can happen!
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What a wonderful experience! I am happy for you. I just came back from my annual trip to the Kerrville Folk Festival. The fun of such an event is more in the camp grounds playing with others than the music presented on stage. I lived in the Bay Meadows area of Jacksonville for three years and my son graduated from Wolfson High School. I got to play around the campfire with some dads from Troop 333. One is brought back to a true joy of music when you can play and share it with others. Not only does playing with others shines a light on those uncomfortable areas where we most desire improvement, it also affirms our progress. I’ve never felt shamed in a song circle. Everyone in the circle is just appreciating the opportunity to have others with which to share.
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Thanks @albert_d for your kind encouragement! My wife is a Jacksonville native, her grandparents lived in the area too. I met her while vacationing in Jax back in 1986 and after our engagement in ’87 I moved here from Montreal. But we left the city in ’91, moved to Bern, Switzerland and then on return to the US we went to the Orlando area via Melbourne. We just moved back near Duval County to Fruit Cove (just minutes away from Switzerland FL) about a year ago. Our married lives have been somewhat of a circle and now we’re back home.
My only regret is not starting to play guitar sooner, I don’t understand what stopped me! Oh well, just have to make the best of it and use my time left wisely
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@petelanger That’s great! I’m so happy for you.
Your experience sounds a lot like my first experience including the tablet on the floor. That group would also go around the circle and have each person pick a song and they were all better than me.
I’ve since found a different group that meets every Monday and they are setup a little different. There is one person that kind of leads the jam and he screen shares his tablet to a TV screen in the room. So everyone can see the same Ultimate Guitar screen and it helps a little more with everyone staying together. There are some very talented guitar players in the group, many who have been playing 30+ years and they are all so helpful. I learn some new technique at every jam which is the main reason I keep going back. I’ve learned almost as much there as I have here at TAC.
Singing and playing guitar is hard and is a skill just like everything else. As the skill has developed it has gotten easier. One tip someone gave to me was to start off just humming the song, before attempting to play it, do that for a few weeks/months. Then sing the lyrics in your head for another few weeks/months. Then when comfortable you can actually sing it. This approach accelerated my ability to sing songs.
I am very excited to hear about the next one.
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Hey @Moose408 appreciate your comment! So funny that your first experience jamming was so similar. There’s always a first time and going in you have no idea what the room is like etc. I thought there would tables to put things on or maybe even music stands. But it’s all good this made me look for a solution and I’m just delighted with the stand I got. I’m using it at home all the time – just perfect.
There are 2 excellent players in the group, an Asian guy (Mike) who plays just like John Mayer – his electric guitar playing was mind blowing. The other guy (Ken) was playing acoustic, also very good but not quite as fabulous as Asian. The leader (Geri) is a female also on electric and she plays well but a few tiers below the other guys. I was next to Dave with his electric, he’s somewhere in between. Lastly there was young Asian girl (Lana) who is closer to my skill level but differently skilled. She was doing more fingerstyle and didn’t know a lot of the older tunes we played except for Fast Car which she did rather well.
I had to leave before the session ended because I was expecting my wife back from a road trip. So I didn’t get a chance to chat with people afterward. Mike most certainly should be getting paid to play, can’t wait to talk to him.
Thanks for the tips, Moose! I’ve been practicing with Hotel California, just single strum and singing the lyrics. I want to get them memorized by the next session. I used to know it back in the 70’s. I still know all the lyrics just not necessarily in the right order. I’ll try to do the same with Simple Man.
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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.
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Thanks for that @Berndog ! I’m super encouraged by my TAC friends and now by my newly found jamming group. Now I’m trying to learn songs in more complete way – what it’s all about to relive our youth again when you used to drive around with the cassette player blaring!
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