Are there "rules" to jamming? Tips or tricks?

[98dvl]

This may be the wrong place to post this question, but I don't know where else to put it...

I've never been in a band that just "jammed". With the band I'm in now, we're just doing cover songs, so everyone pretty much knows what to play.

I'm curious though, with most bands, if you want to play something spontaneous and start "jamming", what's the protocol?

Is it usually totally spontaneous, like someone (guitar player for example), just starts playing something, and everyone else is supposed to figure out what he's playing, or do you decide on some chord changes ahead of time, and then start playing? Or, maybe you just decide "let's Jam in E Major (or whatever key)" and then start playing?

I don't get it, honestly (because I've never done it). I can usually pick up what a guitar player is playing by watching his left hand and where it's at on the neck, and then can pick up the chords and stuff sort of by ear (and some trial and error). I'd like to "jam" with some guys, but I don't know what to expect and don't want to embarass myself (it doesn't help that even if they said, let's jam in A, that I would know to ride on an A note, but wouldn't know where to go from there).

So, what are some tips/tricks to jamming?

[BetterBottomEnd]

Just do it. Seriously learn a some scales and go. It could start any of the ways that you mentioned.

[CTF6]

You don't neccessarily have to "start" a good jam session, it will happen on it's own, at least it's been that way for me. It's just when everything locks together and mixes seamlessly.

Also, some people just don't "Jam". I've played with both types. Maybe the guys you're with aren't the free for all kind of people.

I'd recommend just making up something simple, show it to the rest of your band and just tell them to jump in when they feel it. That's worked for me.

[98dvl]

So, once it starts... then what?

How are the changes handled? Or is it usually just some blues I, IV, V progression (which is easy enough to handle)... Or, do you sometimes jam with some other "standard" progressions (if so, can you list some?)

[Tnavis]

It can vary quite a bit, depending on if you're playing rock, jazz, blues, country, bluegrass, polka.....

Basically, just listen. If the guitarist has some chords they want to jam on, they'll either tell you what they are, or just start playing them. If they just start playing them, listen. Then start playing along. Let them lead for a while, maybe they'll throw in some new ideas, or maybe they'll take some solos. It all depends, and it's hard to tell what will happen. That's what makes it fun!

There are no hard and fast rules, other than listen to what everyone else is doing. Once you get more experience, you can start leading the session by inserting some of your own ideas or new directions.

[Joe Nerve]

There are lots of different ways people jam. The two most common that I know of are to, 1. jam to a simple blues progression, or 2. pick a key, stay in it and let it go wherever it may. I prefer the latter as I feel it can be a lot more creative without any guide lines.

I'll spit out my random thoughts regarding jamming, in hopes that it will help ya a bit.

• Know that there are a lot of people who actually don't know how to jam, or simply suck at it. If you have a jam that doesn't work, don't immediately give up on it - could very well be the people you're jamming with.
• A creative drummer really helps move a jam along. If they can really listen and work with different feels and tempos it can make jams really interesting.
• The more you jam with same people the better the jams usually get because you start to anticipate what others are doing.
• The less you think and the more you listen and feel, the better the jams usually are.
• The more you do it the better you'll get.
• A great way to practice on your own is with a drum machine (even better with one you can program some keys into). I have a casio that I can play an A minor on, and jam with for as long as I want. Change tempos, beats - play anything I can possibly play in A minor.
• A metronome is the next best thing. Just get fluent playing in different keys. Get used to making things up on the spot.
• If you start the jam it gives you a little safer starting ground. The simpler and more open it is, the better start you've got, IMO. You can just play and octave and 5th thing that grooves, then see where the guitarist takes it and just make music.
• Finally - I don't like jamming with guitarists who have complicated patterns they made up and they want you to just follow it. Don't be discouraged if you meet up with people who want to do this. It's pretty common. It locks you into things that are difficult to get out of, and it's often because they want to just play leads over some guitar part they've got. In the best jams everyone is trying to make music, and nobody is trying to show off.

[steve66]

Jam the blues. Its alot of fun. Shuffle a l IV V progession and have everyone join in

[BetterBottomEnd]

It's a jam the point isn't to plan it out it's to feel it and play. Put the tools together before hand. Know common progressions and scales maybe have a couple cool licks ready for a I IV V or a II V I. Just do it.

[IanStephenson]

As Cantus the greatest of the Fraggles said: "Listening is the first step, and Listening is the last step"

Ian

[DeaconBlues]

Jamming is how I learned to play the bass. I've had no real formal training (not saying that is a good thing) and have learned pretty much through just "winging it".

The thing I love about jamming is that it can go anywhere at anytime, it is almost all emotion. What Joe N said about having a creative drummer is very true, because "jamming" shouldnt just be pick a key and play the same thing for forty minutes.

Also it is important that when you jam with anyone, no matter what skill level, everyone needs to put ego aside. You cant have one person thinking they are better than everyone else or just one person. If someone wants to take the jam somewhere you dont necessarly agree with, go with it. Just try to add as much of yourself to it as you can. You can always get a chance to change it back later. Jamming is all about communication.

Sorry if that doesnt really make any sense or doesnt have any relevance to anything, I'm a little stoned.

[ric1312]

Not really a rule, but the way we usually fart around is that the drumme lays down a beat I put a bass line over it and then the guitar player layers on top of that.

If the guitar player starts then I wouldn't be able to follow because I not quick enough yet to follow musical changed by ear, but my guitarist is. So, the drums and I dictate the changes. I can make up a few simple parts quickly and remember them and repeat.

So, if everyone has good ears you could take turns being the leader. But, if not you have to be conscious that you may have to yell notes at someone or tell them your progression, and hope they follow.

[Audiophage]

Just play something that musically relates to what everyone else is playing. This of course follows the assumption that everyone is playing something that musically relates to what everyone else is playing. Assuming in a Jam session isn't a bad thing, if you feel like a change in happening, don't be afraid to follow it.

[98dvl]

Wow!

Thanks for all the ideas and tips!

I think I need to get more comfortable with playing in certain keys... But, I think I could handle a I IV V progression with no problems...

Thanks again!

[RWP]

If you can, jam with just the drummer. I have special night that just the drummer and I jam together. We are mega tight together and know exactly what the other will do next. That feeling follows though to our bands playing. It also allows us to improve a bit keeping things fresh.

[TheBassBetween]

Have fun! That's the most important rule.

[98dvl]

Originally Posted by RWP

If you can, jam with just the drummer. I have special night that just the drummer and I jam together. We are mega tight together and know exactly what the other will do next. That feeling follows though to our bands playing. It also allows us to improve a bit keeping things fresh.

Actually, my drummer and I are starting to get together one day a week just to get more comfortable with each other...

Only thing is that everything I play pretty much sounds the same (to me anyway). We both went in on a book of drum and bass grooves... So, we practicing out of that for the time being.

[Scot]

All of the approaches you mention are valid.

IMO, the most satisfying jams are the ones that sound "composed" as opposed to a 25 minute solo wank-fest with no dynamics over one chord. Use your ears and be aware of using dynamics to make things sound more composed and cohesive. There's nothing wrong with a jam over an E minor chord but it sometimes will make the whole thing come alive if you play (or imply), for example, an A minor or C chord (bass note) in just the right place. Do it again and you've just made it part of the composition and you might even be able to use that to take the thing in a new direction or give someone else a chance to take over. You don't want to force things but it's sometimes appropriate for you as the bass player to make some interesting harmony (chord changes) decisions in addition to taking the lead on some dynamic decisions. If the guitar player is going on and on it may be up to you and the drummer to give some sort of musical queue (e.g. play a whole note, use dynamics, or a harmony decision) that it's time for him to wrap things up. On the other hand, don't get so caught up in taking things in your own direction that you fail to hear a direction that someone else is trying to take things. The trap you want to avoid is to keep changing your bassline for no musical reason (e.g., you're bored of it). You can develop it but don't switch gears for no reason.

A good jam is like a good story that all ties together. You wouldn't want the story to be an action-packed chase scene the whole time but you also don't want it to be picking flowers in a green pasture the whole time. When the story is calm you might want to try to give the audience (or each other) the feeling that something chaotic is about to happen.

In the end, a good jam is a give and take between everyone involved. The more musical knowledge everyone has, the more tunes they know, the more experience they have playing with others in jam and other situations and the more they listen to one another, the better it will be. It can help to really know one another but some of the best jams might be the ones with folks you've never played with.

One last thing, if you're used to always playing a totally free-form jam you should definitely try having a jam over a pre-discussed set of chord changes (12-bar blues changes or another tune everyone knows) and if you always jam over some pre-discussed changes you should have some jams where it's totally free-form. If you jam a lot with the same set of players there will be a tendency for everyone to fall in to the same old things every time, which isn't necessarily a bad thing if you're trying to develop something in to a composition but you may not always want that.

[AveryHorton]

To me, a jam happens when someone plays a lick and then the rest just jump in. I'll play the lick for a while, then I'll add/subtract pieces/parts. I'll listen to what the drummer is doing and cop some licks. Ditto for whoever else is playing. It's all about playing with "feeling".

Remember, sometimes NOT playing a whole lot of notes is cooler than ripping off riff after riff after riff...

When I think of jamming, I think of the Hendrix Band of Gypies album. Those were some cool jams.

One thing to do is to jam with people who are way better than you are. If you are "in the groove" then your playing will elevate.

I can remember this one jam at Dragon Bob's annual 40th birthday party in Portland, Oregon. I was playing with this unreal guitar player who I had never heard before. I mean this guy was "possessed"!! I played stuff that I didn't know I could play. To me, that's what jamming is all about.

Jam on!

[Wilbyman]

Um, listen to everybody else, don't play too loud, try to make it groove? Seems like that covers it to me.

[bassmasta05]

ive never jammed before but i do have some advice to give

If you know the chord, lets say A is being jammed in, dont just settle with playing the root. The easist way to make a good sounding bassline without making it to complicated that it doesnt sound good with what the guitar player is playing is to play the root, the fifth, and the octave. These are the 3 notes that will work perfectly with any chord and wont stray away from the melody of the song.

A lot of easy basslines just contain the root and the fifth with a cool grove to it. Take this for example:

-----------------------------
-----------------------------
----7----77-----7---77------
-55--55-----55---55---------

Notice Im only playing the root and fifth of the A chord and it still sounds pretty cool! The grove Im using is from the bass bridge in Adam's song by blink182, but the concept of using just the root and fifth to make an easy, but catchy bassline is used in TONS OF SONGS.

Now take this simple, easy idea of just the root and fifth and slowly add octaves, thirds, fourths, etc... any note of the A scale.

Sometimes you may want to just stick with only root, its not a bad thing to do, it still does the job. Take this bass lick from The River by Good charolette.

------------------
------------------
-6--6--66--6-----
------------------

Dispite only being the root, when you hear the bassist play this lick it actually sounds really cool!

if you want to create an easy bassline that helps keep the melody stick with roots and fifths and octaves.

Heres a bassline I wrote that is very easy but does the job.

---------------------l-----------------------------------
----5---3----2------l-------------------------------------
-33---3--3-3----x2--l-----5---3----2------3---1-----0----
---------------------l--33--3---3-3----11---1---1-1-------

Its an easy bassline that consists only of roots fifths fourths and thirds of the 3 different chords being used.

To sum everything up:

To jam with the guitarist you can:

1. play just the root of the chord: dadadadadadada
2. Play the root with a cool grove: da da dada da
3. play just roots and fifths like the example i gave
4. play roots fifths and octaves
5. slowly start becomming comfortable with all the scale notes and start using them
6. do what ever you want, it is a jam