First Blues Jam!

ericw · #1 10-19-2009, 11:20 AM

I went out to the local blues jam Friday night but left the bass in the car as I wasn't sure if I wanted to play or not. Turned out there was hardly anyone there this weekend for some reason - except for the old salesman talking my ear off. Anyway I signed up and jammed with some of the older guys. I was pretty nervous and the first song was pretty quick tempo. I got lost a few times but the bassist who played before me brought a beer up for me and said some nice things. Then we played Red House which was nice and slow and (I think) I sounded pretty good on that one.

It was a lot of fun though and the one younger guy got my phone # as their bass player is moving away or something. Hopefully I can get a lot of practice in this week and go back out this Friday.

caeman · #2 10-19-2009, 11:30 AM

Rock on!

Honk'n_down-low · #3 10-19-2009, 11:33 AM

Only gets better! Congrats!

Fretless1! · #4 10-19-2009, 12:21 PM

Congrats! Keep going. They'll get to know you and you'll get more playing time and get partnered with better players.

**Stumbo** · #5 10-20-2009, 12:39 AM

Congrats on your first jam!

Here are some great links that you may want to check you out along your blues journey:

5. STYLES
~Blues

Becoming a blues bass player
Blues progressions explained w/ audio samples
Basic lessons/free backing tracks
Getting into the blues
Slow blues

blues jam terms/progressions
Ice Cream Changes
Backdoor Progression
ii-V-I
more blues
Abersole's 35 blues variations
Improving the blues

1 First jam
2
3

Gig coming up

Blues bass player's club

Influential musicians (mostly) pre-1959
History and styles
20 important blues recordings & more

"Blues Bass" by TB member Jon Liebman
Ed Friedland's Essential Styles and Techniques
Blues books
"Complete Rhythm Guitar Guide for Blues Bands" by Larry McCabe
"101 Blues Bass Patterns by Larry McCabe
Turn arounds book for blues/jazz

Shuffle · #6 10-22-2009, 01:46 PM

Way to go!!! Just get out there and play.

p0werslav3 · #7 10-22-2009, 01:51 PM

Stumbo, you should add "Master of the Links" to your sig

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Congrats on your first jam!

Here are some great links that you may want to check you out along your blues journey:

5. STYLES
~Blues

Becoming a blues bass player
Blues progressions explained w/ audio samples
Basic lessons/free backing tracks
Getting into the blues
Slow blues

blues jam terms/progressions
Ice Cream Changes
Backdoor Progression
ii-V-I
more blues
Abersole's 35 blues variations
Improving the blues

1 First jam
2
3

Gig coming up

Blues bass player's club

Influential musicians (mostly) pre-1959
History and styles
20 important blues recordings & more

"Blues Bass" by TB member Jon Liebman
Ed Friedland's Essential Styles and Techniques
Blues books
"Complete Rhythm Guitar Guide for Blues Bands" by Larry McCabe
"101 Blues Bass Patterns by Larry McCabe
Turn arounds book for blues/jazz

caeman · #8 10-22-2009, 01:54 PM

I am going to try and sit in on the bass for 1 or 2 songs tonight at the open blues jam I have been attending. I have been going primarily to play harmonica, but the siren call of the bass that is there has become strong.

ericw · #9 10-22-2009, 02:11 PM

I kind of feel bad when there are such better players there and I get up and make mistakes here and there. At the same time I want to improve and I feel there's only so much playing along with blues jam tracks in the bedroom can do - it was completely different.

caeman · #10 10-22-2009, 02:14 PM

At an open jam, such playing is not a surprise, and somewhat expected. The folks at the jam I attend are nice guys, all of them. The main bass player brought his new MusicMan fretless in 2 weeks ago. If I had known how much it cost, I might not have asked to play it! :shock:

But, you gotta learn somewhere.