What's necessary for jam sessions?

toshiro94 · #1 07-21-2010, 06:38 PM

I was going to have a few jam sessions with a few of my friends this summer. My best friend, who plays guitar, doesn't really "jam"... he just kinda plays the songs he knows, i try to get him to jam with me but he's wimpy.

what knowledge do i need to jam? musically, i mean. i know the basic scale pattern (the finger patterns) which probably isn't the best way to know scales, and thats pretty much it beyond basic music theory. the musicality and creativity part of bass is the thing i'm lacking and don't know how to improve, really, so do you guys have any tips for that?
thanks!

toshiro94 · #2 07-21-2010, 09:04 PM

bumpity.
please, I need help.

MalcolmAmos · #3 07-22-2010, 05:31 AM

I love to jamm, in fact that is the way I play bass. No sheet music. The vocalist has a gig book with the lyrics and he thumbs through the selections and may or may not tell me the name of the song or the key. I know he will sing in C or G maybe in A. I look at his fretting hand and see what chord he is forming to let me know what key. Helps that I have rhythm guitar experience and can recognize the chord fingering patterns. Insist that your guitarist at least give you the Key and the name of the song. You can wing it from there. I know, I know, it'll not sound professional right at first, but, you got to start somewhere. If you can get fake chord sheet music of the songs y'all will be playing so much the better.

OK I know it's going to be in C, what next. Well I assume some stuff:

Our stuff is all Country so a basic I IV V I progression is going to work. You can assume that Pop, Rock and Country is going to use a "cookie cutter" chord progressions. Take the ole standby I IV V I progression - The verse will start with the I chord move to the IV chord somewhere in the first line of the verse. (Where actually depends on the melody line, and as you do not have the treble clef sheet music - you have to assume where.) Continue with the IV into the second line of the verse and then near the ending of the second line will move to the V or V7 chord. The second line will end with the I chord. The next two lines of the verse will repeat this same process. Of course I am assuming a four line verse format. Is that going to be exact every time? No, but, it'll be close and in jamming close is all that is expected.
I watch his hands and change chords when he does. In a jam circle there probably will not be any chord charts used, the lyrics may be written out, but very seldom are chord charts used. So everyone is winging it. After awhile of playing the same songs you get to know the chord changes. Hearing and recognizing the chord changes is perhaps the most important skill you need to develop to jam.
Pick out some generic bass line patterns and rely upon them to get you by, i.e when you know a major chord is coming have your favorite go to "Major chord bass line pattern" --- that will fit the groove you are wanting to develop ready.
If you get lost roots are OK, vamp a R-5 of the tonic chord until you find your place and if you are completely lost, can not recognize the chord changes a pentatonic scale run using the tonic chord as the pentatonic scale will get you by until you can recover.

For example. Roots work, R-5 is better, chord tone interval patterns are better still. What's a chord tone interval pattern? Chord being used is C. You could just run a bunch of C. R-5 would be C - G notes or use a full chord tone pattern like R-3-5-3 for C. R-3-5-b7 for C7. R-b3-5-b3 for Cm, etc.

Practicing jamming can be done with all the Internet Videos that are available.

This one recaps what I've just said. http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/vid...4A3D3E7688E4F6

Here is a basic 12 bar progression to get you started. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUK5pE5x_6A Notice all the videos on the right hand side of the screen. You practice jamming by jamming. The Internet is full of backing tracks you can use.

Ask questions, someone will answer. Have fun.

Steve Dixon · #4 07-22-2010, 06:22 AM

a great ear is the best thing you can have... no quick fixes for that unfortunately

Spolodaface · #5 07-22-2010, 10:07 AM

good jamming ability like the majority of good musical traits comes best from experience. Get him to practice on his own with a few jam tracks without the guitar part. You should do the same except on tracks without the bass.

http://www.freejamtracks.com/index.html

that's an awesome site for free practice jam tracks in a decent variety of genres.

Fergie Fulton · #6 07-22-2010, 10:21 AM

Watch out for the alligators....they have big mouths and no ears.

Chris K · #7 07-23-2010, 12:26 AM

Have do disagree with the giants that posted in this thread before me. First of all: I am known by all musicians I've played with for hearing chords on the spot and playing by ear. And I'm talking jazz, not blues or country, which are (no disrespect meant at all) much less complicated to play by ear.

I might venture to fumble around if it's a private jam with no audience. In all other cases I never play without a proper chords sheet. I'm most happy to bed any singer or horn player playing their special stuff, but they have to bring their own sheets

The message is: jams before audiences should be well prepared. That will also make it much easier for new guys to join in.

JimK · #8 07-23-2010, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris K

The message is: jams before audiences should be well prepared.

Not that I'm anybody...but I disagree, as a player & especially as a listener.
In other words, I would not like to hear "a jam" that sounds as though it's been rehashed/rehearsed.

cnltb · #9 07-23-2010, 04:57 AM

Tip;
Know many ,many songs
Tip 2
Bring sheets of songs you may call at a jam so the others have something to go by.
An audience even at a "Jam" want to hear music and not some guys fumbling through songs they obviously don't know.
But it seems that the word "Jam" means different things to different people.

blockinlay · #10 07-23-2010, 05:14 AM

Jamming, IMO, is more about having fun, and doesn't have to be so serious. That being said, you still want to sound good together. If you or others are not very experienced, it helps to talk ahead of time about what you're going to play so you can be somewhat prepared. Start by taking the songs your guitar player already knows, and learning them. See if he will learn to play the whole song, and also learn some new ones. Work up a set list. Helps if he's willing. Don't pick songs that are too advanced for you or the others. The more you jam together, the more you will have a feel for their playing and style. Add more songs. If you want to play music that girls will like and have fun, you must play dance music. Just because it's disco, doesn't mean you can't rock it out like Jethro Tull.

Fergie Fulton · #11 07-23-2010, 05:34 AM

See jamming as a conversation that flows between people, you have to know your subject to participate and join in, you have to listen to how the conversation is developing and keep your points relevant, or there will be that awkward point where everyone is trying to make a point at the same time, that's when it starts to go wrong. Brushing up on songs is like brushing up on the conversation point or bringing notes to a meeting is like bringing sheets to a jam, they are there to help so use them.

For me jamming goes stale when the subject matter is knowing and players play it off by heart rather than "ears on" and make something from it....apathy and complacency the two enemies of jamming.

Chris K · #12 07-23-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

Not that I'm anybody...but I disagree, as a player & especially as a listener.
In other words, I would not like to hear "a jam" that sounds as though it's been rehashed/rehearsed.

That certaintly would go too far for me as well and is not what I meant to express. The kick of jamming is the spontaneity. Rehearsals might harm that, but misunderstandings and insecurity about chords/melodies are no big plus either.

kenlacam · #13 07-23-2010, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

Not that I'm anybody...but I disagree, as a player & especially as a listener.
In other words, I would not like to hear "a jam" that sounds as though it's been rehashed/rehearsed.

I agree-a "jam" that has to be rehearsed takes AWAY from the very nature of what a jam is. It should not sound like it's been rehearsed. A jam is improv.
If jazz is your thing, then you should know that.....

Richard Lindsey · #14 07-23-2010, 03:10 PM

Well, providing charts does not necessarily mean rehashing or rehearsing. It does mean providing some signposts, for those members who need or want them. If you don't need them, great. If only some of you do, great again. Jamming isn't defined by whether you look at a piece of paper from time to time or not.