MRichaud - Posted - 10/31/2025:  11:27:21

There've been several posts concerning how to conduct oneself at jams - specifically in this instance, old-time.



The jam group (Little River Jammers) that I had been playing with before moving away recently compiled some guidelines that I think are sensible and might be of use to others. Bear in mind, this is specific to the group based in Maryville/Townsend, Tenn., developed from input from the group.



Little River Jammers

Guidelines for the Monday Afternoon Jam



We will use an Old Time Jam Format by all playing together as opposed to a bluegrass jam format where musicians take turns soloing.



Players sit in a small circle, enlarging with multiple circles like onion rings as numbers grow. This will enable us to hear better and keep time. (Let’s face it folks, most of us are hard of hearing…lol)

We start at 3pm with “Whiskey Before Breakfast”and end at 5pm with “Scotland the Brave.” Each player is asked to help defray the cost of using the building by either chipping in a few bucks or by purchasing snacks at the Canteen each week.

Players take turns naming a tune they want to play.

The player…

--Names the key in which they want to play the tune.

--Starts the tune or asks someone to start it for them.

--Gets to set the tempo at which they want to play the tune and name the time signature.

--Provides music if it is a new tune, with either paper copies or digitally via Forescore/Airdrop. The          player should also be prepared to lead the group in learning the tune.

--Decides when they want to stop by lifting their foot up or signaling at the beginning of the B section    of a tune. If the B section repeats, the player signals both times.

--Should be prepared to call a tune in turn or pass if they are still thinking.



The family of music we usually play is Old Time, Old Americana, Old Gospel and Celtic.

Old Time Jam instrumentation is traditionally Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin, Bass, Claw Hammer Banjo and Dulcimer. Little River Jammers always welcome other types of acoustic instruments such as spoons, harps, frame drums, concertinas, penny whistles and flutes. These musicians are asked to be mindful of their volume and genre requests so that the jam keeps its Old Time Jam flavor.

Lastly, the 2 most important goals of the jam are to make beautiful music and have fun!

GS - Posted - 10/31/2025:  11:56:03

Where do you put the spitoon? We put ours in the middle of the group. Some of our elder members even take their own!

Bill H - Posted - 10/31/2025:  14:44:27

That sounds about how a jam should work. Though allowing only claw hammer banjo seems a bit restrictive.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 10/31/2025:  16:23:35

Ours is:



Show up.

Play music, OT preferred.

Name your tune. We'll ask you what key, two seconds after you start.

Devolve into chaos.

Go home.

Edited by - trapdoor2 on 10/31/2025 16:23:56

banjoboyd - Posted - 10/31/2025:  18:46:59

quote:

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Originally posted by Bill H

That sounds about how a jam should work. Though allowing only claw hammer banjo seems a bit restrictive.

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I was going to say, if you allow frame drums and pennywhistles at your jam, surely playing the banjo in a non-clawhammer fashion is not crossing some line?

PHJim - Posted - 10/31/2025:  22:24:29

Do the North Carolina Ramblers, The Carter Family, Fisher Hendley, Sam & Kirk McGee. The New Lost City Ramblers, Clarence "Tom" Ashley. . . qualify as "Old-Time", or does Old-Time refer only to unison instrumental tunes?

carlb - Posted - 11/01/2025:  04:22:53

I hosted an old time jam for a while (only a by ear jam, no written sheets of music).
My rules:
Anybody could suggest a tune (even a bass player). They didn't have to start the tune but they had to decide when we'd quit.
In introducing a new tune, I found that one fiddler was not really enough for others to pick up the tune, but two fiddlers always worked. You could hear about the sixth time through that many players were catching it.

MRichaud - Posted - 11/01/2025:  04:36:30

quote:

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Originally posted by Bill H

That sounds about how a jam should work. Though allowing only claw hammer banjo seems a bit restrictive.

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Yeah, I suggested the same to the authors.  Pretty sure they're going to revise it.