Need Simple Practice Jam Song Suggestions

[manbass]

I have the start of a group. We get stuck with jamming to Fake Books or Classic rock from our memory. None of that does what we want which is to ride a long jam into a place where we learn. It did happen for about 10 minutes when between songs I persisted noodling a 3 chord 1-4-5 progression in G...one by one they guys joined in and we all traded holding down the roots or trying to solo or do inversions lots of mistakes but it provided some great learning space.

The 13 minute Dave Matthews version of "Cortez the Killer" (Neil Young) is perfect. 3 chords and lots of variation space for moving off the melody line but experimenting.

So, what songs have you found does this without needing to stare at a lead sheet the whole time?

[Depth_Charge]

12-bar blues, mainly.

[drpepper]

Sympathy for the Devil

[rtslinger]

Yeah 12 bar blues, I would go with Eric Clapton version of Before you accuse me song written by Bo Diddley good jam song that you can go till you drop.

[Vakmere]

Boss RC-50 looper , a ken Smith 6 string, and a keyboard.

[billjr]

Our guitarist has always loved Ted Nugent's "Stranglehold". He just wanks away on lead for as long as we'll let him. I haven't tried doing anything on that song, just keep the bass line going, but it woud probably be a good song for everyone to have at it.

[stratovani]

Originally Posted by Depth_Charge

12-bar blues, mainly.

^ this.

[manbass]

Yes we do 12 bar blues and will continue that. We dont seem self-inspired enough to take it anywhere like a long stroll. One that comes to mind though that exemplifies this is Gilmour's "Mihalis".

As for the Looper I agree, my digitech jamman does the job when I use it. In a group setting we want to trade off being the looper.

Just trying to spark yall's for more. Thank you and keep em coming.

[Jimbob Jones]

I find a simple chord progression with some space in it works best, just start playing, get the drummer to join in, and let it flow!

The old Em D7 C B can be very funky (would that be a 1,7,6,5 in a minor key, or a 6,5,4,3maj in a major key?), or a 6,4,2,5 are nice ones to try.

[billiam5billion]

"La Grange"

[pbagley]

+1 on 12 bar blues. And the old I - V - IV progression like in the never ending instrumental section of My Sherona.

For a '50s to early '60s feel try a I - VI - IV - V progression, like Last Kiss and so many other classic tunes.

We've jammed on WatchTower (Hendrix/Dylan) for a good long time. Minor I - VII - VI - VII - repeat forever.

One thing to try is dynamics and phrasing. Loud and busy vs. soft and simple, etc. The contrast can lead to some interesting interactions.

Good luck,

- Paul

[Stumbo]

I picked this up recently: The Guitar Grimoire -Progressions and Improvisation

IMO, it covers exactly what you're looking for and will keep you busy for quite awhile.

[tangentmusic]

Funk # 49 by the James Gang is a fun jam song

[tank49]

Knockin' On Heavens Door or All Along The Watchtower.

[aerodyne1]

Strange Brew by Cream is a fun song and can be played for DAYS!

[scootron]

With my last band, the drummer, two guitarists and I would always finish setting up for practice at about the same time. One of us (didn't matter who) would start up some type of riff. It might be a bass line, a funky drum beat, a lead line, or a chord progression. The others would join in one at a time until we had it cooking. Usually, it would last from 10 to 20 minutes. During that time, the dynamics would change over and over.

It helped us tremendously in learning to play together, to anticipate each other, and to pick up quickly on anything new that came up. We always found some cool way to get out of the jam, often some type of Allman Brothers style ending.

The only bad thing was that the singers didn't get in on it, but a) they were usually late, and b) when they did get there, they would usually get into the groove.

By the time we were finished, we were warmed up, pumped up and ready for a great practice.

[Jkaz]

We play Keep Rocking the Free World, and the song will go on and on. I'm not a big fan of the song, but people like it, and our lead guitarist rips it apart.

[delta7fred]

I've never been a big fan of 'jamming', even when I was young and just learning bass. No one gets much out of it, the lead guitarist gets to practice his chops that he should have worked on at home, the rest get terminal boredom. If I never play another nameless 12 bar blues in E (or A) again it will be too soon.

Far better to learn an actual song with a structure to it, even better if you agree beforehand what you are going to try at the next rehearsal so you all come prepared.

When you are young and have all the time in the world it does not seem to matter how much you noodle. As you get older time has a higher premium on it and you have to make best use of what little there is available when all band members manage to get in the same room at the same time.

Sorry to sound like an old fart (ok, sorry to be an old fart) but there is very little mileage in jamming one song for hours on end. I just wish that I had put all that time to good use rather than listening to endless (usually bad) guitar solos.

YMMV of course

[Andysalina5]

Our jams mostly start off when me and my drummer get into a nice groove. When that starts drying up we usually just go to the IV and come up with a different groove. Then we can do a V turnaround and head on back to the the first groove. Feeding off of everyone's energy keeps it spontaneous and interesting. If the groove is really infectious, we like to keep it in our arsenal so we can always fall back on it if we run out of songs at a gig.

[manbass]

You guys have made great suggestions here.

-Sympathy for the Devil
-Before you accuse me
-Stranglehold
-La Grange
-WatchTower
-Funk # 49
-Strange Brew
-Knockin' On Heavens Door
-Keep Rocking the Free World