jamming

Hi AW - Something that has worked for me - keep an eye on your local Craigslist, maybe even post an ad. I hooked up with a local bass player that way and we have gotten together a few times for some great jams.

I'm in the same boat - playing 1-1/2, 2 years and need to find some way to step it up. Lessons would do it, but jamming with others I'm sure would be tons more fun.

I think you need to do both.  When I was learning to play tennis, at the end of the "Introduction to tennis" section told us this.  I have used it in as many aspects of my life since as I could.

He told us, "Kids, you have now learned something and accomplished something by finishing this class.  To improve, you need to find people better than yourself and play with them.  To give back, and to ensure that there will always be a better player willing to play with you, you need BE the better player and help out others who haven't learned as much as you." 

So, be both an ambassador by playing with people who are learning the basics, and also a student by playing with people who are better than you.  This works best if you only go one or two steps better or worse.  I wouldn't expect to be able to sit in and play with Doc Watson, and probably wouldn't learn much from him because he is SO far advanced that I wouldn't have even a chance of figuring out what he's just done.  (No comment against Doc Watson, whom I have heard is among the nicest kind of people). 

- Zurf

Lone-wood Doug's advice is true.  You gotta play with others more important than playing what you want.  The others you play with will either help you learn what you shouldn't do or what you should.  Either way you keep learning.  I was at a party and the college kids there asked us to play a sort of country song we didn't know so we didn't play it.  Now that I've listened to it a while I realize how fun it is to play.  The same thing keeps happening so don't just play songs YOU like, play what someone else wants.

Steve

Hey again AW,

  Know what you are saying there about looking foolish...  OK I'm 53 and a bit grey around the beard.  I used to think it would look funny, me playing something by.... Oh... Nirvana, Maroon 5, Puddle of Mud....!!  C'mon, we grew up with Steppenwolf, Led Zeppelin,
Ted Nugent, Pink Floyd, and that genre.  It ain't no thang!  As for the acoustic guitar in a rock band... look at Modest Mouse, Rilo Kiley, John Mayer.  You are gonna find at least one hollow piece in the woodpile... Nothing sounds like real wood, and sometimes no amount of wire and megawatts of power will give you the sound, that might set you apart from all the other metal thrashers on the planet. 

  Dare to be different!

Take Care;
Doug

By the way stop by your local music store and see if they have a bulletin board... sometimes you'll find a lead on a jam group looking for another player.  I live in a College town and there are always folks new in the berg looking to meet up with like minded musicians.

Haha. nice. you forgot to mention the bandanna on his head though.

You may also want to check out music clubs.  I live in an area with a folk music club.  They rent a back room of an establishment once per week and set up a small sound system.  They play for each other to work on songs, stage presence, etc.  After each song, they chat and critique one another - always done with a great deal of encouragement.  I've never played there but do enjoy going to see them.  Anyway, give it a go and see if there's a club in your area.

Doug - I wear a bandana much of the time I'm outdoors for the same reason.  Actually, I'm not hiding so much as trying to prevent sunburn.  My forehead goes all the way to my backhead.  And while you may not think you're that good, we all have our own windows on the world. 

- Zurf