Scared to "Jam"

havik180 · #1 09-25-2007, 08:44 PM

I've been playing for right about 2 years but never really played with any other musicians.

I'm pretty nervous about the whole idea really.I've taken lessons on and off and can play along with a bunch of cd's but have a hard time believing that i can just jam and make up stuff as I go.

What should I do ? I am alittle self concious about my playing but this is making me feel like a pussy. I don't really know what to expect or what is expected of me !?

Can you guys share some experiences and maybe a bit of encouragement !

unclejam · #2 09-25-2007, 08:50 PM

with jamming all yuo do is come up with a bassic rift and loop it ad the throw in chords and that good stuff

ill put up a Jam rift inn the morning befor school

Bassist4Life · #3 09-25-2007, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by havik180

I've been playing for right about 2 years but never really played with any other musicians.

I'm pretty nervous about the whole idea really.I've taken lessons on and off and can play along with a bunch of cd's but have a hard time believing that i can just jam and make up stuff as I go.

What should I do ? I am alittle self concious about my playing but this is making me feel like a pussy. I don't really know what to expect or what is expected of me !?

Can you guys share some experiences and maybe a bit of encouragement !

What is the worst that could happen? Honestly.

Find a couple of friends to jam with. Be honest. Let them know how much experience you have.

It might help your confidence to know how to play through an F Blues or Bb Blues. You can do all kinds of stuff with a blues progression. You can keep it simple or go crazy. You can keep it simple while more experienced players take it to another level.

What style of music are you into?

Joe

havik180 · #4 09-25-2007, 09:16 PM

I like all kinds of music but I find I mostly play 90's rock/alternative (STP, Rage,Nirvana,Cake etc) punk, some classic rock like Hendrix .I'd be willing to learn play pretty much any rock , blues based rock , blues , funk plus a lot more mixes of genres.

I know some theroy scales , pentatonic scales ,chords and have a pretty good sense of timing. I'm just afraid to try and put it all together in front of people and I'm a grown man (27)!

When you say F or Bb blues do you mean like I-IV-V progression in those keys ? What are some other blues progressions I could learn ?

Thanks for the input

Rich

RAM · #5 09-25-2007, 10:33 PM

Yeah...being scared happens all the time. I've been playing bass non-stop for the last 24 years and I still get nervous. But now, I know what I know, and I know I'm still learning all the time. You have to start somewhere.

It helps to walk in understanding how to play the songs you'll be expected to play. You'll get thrown curve-balls, such as not knowing how to end a song, what to do if a guitarist lengthens the solo more than you've learned from the recording, the singer improvises a little, and so on. The thing to keep in mind is that absolutely no one can anticipate what someone else is going to do until they've worked out their parts together. That's a huge part about jamming.

Last, trust what you know, and don't try to do something you don't know until you're comfortable expanding your musical vocabulary.

alfredpunkjazz · #6 09-25-2007, 11:18 PM

A mistake while playing won't change the world, it will just make you a better muscician.

A tip: one mistake that is repeated, sometimes doesn't sounds that bad... he he he he.

sobie18 · #7 09-26-2007, 04:44 AM

When I attend a jam for the first time in a different club/city/state. You don't want to make too much of a fool of yourself the first time out...

Be yourself and use your ears.

Baryonyx · #8 09-26-2007, 04:45 AM

Jamming is all about honesty. I don't care if you have chops like Victor Wooten, if you are not honest and open hearted in jamming you will not produce anything of value. It's playing without a safety net, but in such a free space you can really travel to some amazing places. Let yourself go, and work within your confines until you are comfortable. Speak with your own voice and add what you can to the music.

Read about the idea behind "Temporal Analogues of Paradise" by Jonas Hellborg, Shawn Lane and Jeff Sipe. That is how good jams go, when the players are honest and have no preconceptions about what they are trying or going to create.

jomahu · #9 09-26-2007, 04:48 AM

just listen.

Phalex · #10 09-26-2007, 06:37 AM

Don't be afraid to look stupid. Fear of embarrassment is the enemy. I've had "moments" in front of thousands of people and no one notices.

Get out there with the idea of having a good time, and take any train wrecks that may occur with a sense of humor.

The Golden Boy · #11 09-26-2007, 08:26 PM

Playing with people is where you really learn.

You're going to mess up. Get over it.

I have my little stash of cached licks or runs that I know or feel in different keys, I have an idea of what to expect- just based on playing experience.

Don't "memorize" songs. Learn them. Like RAM mentioned, when you play with different people, different people will play the same song differently. If you're playing it "right" and you're the only one playing it "right," you're still "wrong."

Listening, and rolling with the song is (to me) what being a musician is about.

Matt Till · #12 09-26-2007, 08:47 PM

It's scary, but the only way to get good at jamming is by doing it.

KeithBMI · #13 09-26-2007, 08:51 PM

Playing with a drummer and guitarist is one of the best lessons you can get.

Have fun!

unclejam · #14 09-26-2007, 08:53 PM

Jammig is like $ex if you don't do you don't know the feel

havik180 · #15 09-26-2007, 10:28 PM

Thanks for the input,advice and experiences. It's actually nice to hear others admit that they are nervous or scared.

I guess I should just look for someone maybe a bit more experienced than me and just try to hold it down for them and maybe coax them into doing covers for awhile !?

Mitchell Royce · #16 09-27-2007, 11:41 AM

Don't you have some musician friends? Playing with friends is always fun and you won't have to worry about impressing them or messing up. It always feels odd to me when I walk into a room full of strangers, I feel as if I have to meet the expectations of people I hardly know. Sometimes it's cool, other times it ain't.

Skel · #17 09-27-2007, 12:11 PM

I really think if you first just jammed with ONLY a guitarist a few times, each trading off on playing the supporting I-IV-V chords of 12 bar blues, while the other gets to solo. If you can do that, you're ready for any kind of jam there is.

MakiSupaStar · #18 09-27-2007, 12:28 PM

Herb.

havik180 · #19 09-27-2007, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitchell Royce

Don't you have some musician friends? Playing with friends is always fun and you won't have to worry about impressing them or messing up. It always feels odd to me when I walk into a room full of strangers, I feel as if I have to meet the expectations of people I hardly know. Sometimes it's cool, other times it ain't.

I have 0 musician friends , none. I get the same feeling about other people's expectations.

NoNoise · #20 09-27-2007, 05:00 PM

I think "jamming" is ridiculous. I absolutely hate it. Have I done it...yeah, too many times to count with too many people to remember. However, I don't like hippy bands or "jam bands," so I don't find jamming very productive. All songs I play are planned out, meticulously. So, the closest my bands get to jamming is playing one part a few times to figure out what might work for everyone playing. Maybe some people consider that jamming, but it's usually only for 30 seconds to 5 minutes max and is done with a specific goal in mind- get a part down so that we can move on. Of course, things can change in practices later or while working at home, but it's not "jamming."