Jam session happennigs (Page 1 of 2)

At least at mine,we play music.Talk and joke around,compare toys and have a good time.The songs we are working on,sometimes just noodling around with musical gibberish.No fighting ,everyone gets along(we are all older).Always remember.A bad jam session still beats the s**t out of a day at work.

!st you take off all your cloths.
2nd get a big bottle of cooking oil.

Wrong subject.

Just get a bunch of like minded folks together who likes music and take turns playing. Each one takes a turn at a song and the others just play along. After awhile everyone will kinda learn each others style, types of music, some will be good at lead, some will be good at rythym, sone will sing well, some won't but all will have a good time. Get a group together, plan getting together once a month or so and swap houses if everyone's comfortable with that. Plan to have snacks, drinks of your choice (but keep in within reason) and BE SURE TO HELP CLEAN UP AND PUT UP WHEN THE NIGHT IS OVER!

NELA

I have been to 2 like this in the last 2 months and I can tell it has helped my strumming and timing already.Ya gotta try it! It's fun!

Went to a wedding once where the invitations said, "If you have guitar, bring it.  You'll be in the band for the reception."  8 people and me showed up with acoustics. The wedding was out in the woods next to a creek and so was the reception.  Best wedding I've been to in years! We had dead fall trees for seats, moonshine and all the beer you could fit in your truck.  Add guitars and you've got quite a party.

It depends upon who I'm jamming with.  Cursing the B chord and singing off-key works.  Each taking a turn and swapping stories and jokes works.  Drunken debauchery's not my style. 

- Zurf

My best jam sessions occur at Christmas time when I head home to Massachusetts and jam with my brother and his band..  one of us starts playing a tune and everyone joins in..  and on and on it goes.  I once asked one of the guys to play a Who tune.. he played almost the entire Quadraphenia album..  he's a wicked good guitar player.. 
Deb

Deadstring, that how we do the jam sessions, at a building at church. Are ya'll only going to do gospel music? We do a lotta the old country stuff. Have a pot luck supper and play until everybody gets tired. We do our'n the 2nd & 4th Friday of each month. Be sure you got a good sound system for a place that size. One other thing to keep in mind. You need 1 person to kind'a be in control of things and take the lead, you can't do this by committee. That person has gotta keep things flowing, set the limits on how much mic time everyone gets, make sure the lead guitar player don't get too loud (if you came to one of our's you'd know what I talking about). If ya'll need some player / singers let me know. I could put together a group of 3 to 5 people real easy or just me'n my wife. Not trying to invite myself but we are always looking for a place to play and we are less that 100 miles apart.

Nela

Deadstring, Al, believe me when I say that someone needs to be in charge. The "core" group would be the main ones who spent their energies in getting the thing started. The one in charge is the one who welcomes everyone, if it's like the one we do there will be a prayer request, have snacks / food brought in by whoever shows but put out a "tip" jar just to pick up money for ice, paper cups, paper plates and that kinda stuff - don't charge the folks but do make them aware of what the donations will be used for. Keep the circle filled with the "core group" that you need. If you open the "circle" up to everyone you'll end up with more people playing that you will know what to do with. Let the core group go around a time or 2 then ask the listeners if anyone has a song they want to do. Make them feel welcome and they will come back. If you get too many pickers going at one time it just does not work. Our "core group" consists of a keyboard player, 4 to 6 (and thats a lot) playing rythym guitar, base guitar, one main lead guitar player with 1 or 2 others that will sometimes take a turn, a snare drum, sometimes a steel guitar and sometimes an accordian. Our fiddle player may or may not show up. Counting the players and others that sing we usually have about 15 to 2o people singing. On a typical night each of us gets 2 turns at the mic. Usually the core group will have an opening song to welcome everyone then for closing we get everyone to join in to I'll Fly Away. Everybody goes home with a smile on their face.

I would like to come over there one Saturday and my wife & I do a song or 2 but, like you, it'll have to be after July. And you know you got a standing invite to where we play.

Nela

Last week I hosted a camping/fishing/picking get-together on a local stream, similar to the ones Zurf has planned for July and August.  Played from about dark to 2 am Wednesday through Saturday.  The format is similar to the one NELA mentioned - everyone gets a turn and can either play or pass.  If others know the song being played they join in. At times we had as many as 8 guitar pickers, also a couple mandolin players and a harmonica blower. Each evening was different, with Friday night really special. 

After rising at 6 am each day, doing a float (with adult beverages being consumed), cooking an evening meal (with adult beverages being consumed) and then playing music until about 2 am (with adult beverages being consumed)....... I was ready to go back to work Monday to rest.

We had a couple dozen campers in attendance, mostly Ohio folks, but a few from MI, KY, PA and VA  showed up to add to the mix.  All-in-all it was a great time. Most of the music was folk/country/bluegrass but a few rock songs managed to sneak in too.

Bass Viking (Big Jim) showed up and easily fit right into the group - I hope he posts to give his impression of the event as it was his first time to join us.

DE

I was just gong to ask if anything happens in Ohio...  LOL!   

Central Ohio doesn't seem to have much.

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[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0WeJjPLqyQ[/url]
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkcYALHslEY[/url]

The most fun I ever had at a jam session was a "picker's circle" format where all players grouped around in a circle took turns singing and playing a song. Anybody in the circle could play and sing along to back up the player whose turn it was.
Other instruments could play solos, fill or provide background.
Some players may run out of tunes they know and remain in the circle to play along and accompany with backup vocals.
Of course, a washtub full of iced-down beers needs to be in the center of the circle.
toots

First, hats off to Dirty Ed for all the work he did to put this event on!  I really enjoyed what little time I was able to spend; camped two nights, floated and fished one day and joined in on the jam for two nights.  Although I still consider myself a newbie, I was welcomed openly and after passing a couple times early when it came to me, I then jumped in and did my thing (whatever that is!)  When I first told them to "go ahead" and pass me by until I got comfortable, I was told that I must quit calling people a "Goat Head". I LOVED IT!  Some very talented pickers and musicians graced the presence of all of us.  Dirty Ed is one tremendous songwriter and doesn't give himself enough credit for his talent.  All in all it was a special moment that I relished and wish to do again.  Anytime I can get around others who have talent and let me join in I think I not only learn things, but I grow a little more confident.  Great time; I recommend it to anybody!     "Big Jim"