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Originally posted by DacursvilleBanjoSo I feel like I am at a point where I would benefit from going to a local jam and possibly trying to sit in. My instructor has also told me that I should go. Being someone who is not a very social/outgoing person (for lack of better terms introverted) does anybody have any advice on how to approach it? I think my biggest concerns are getting in there and messing up, or not being able to play anything, or feeling like I am not up to play with the group or not being welcomed at all. Any input is appreciated!
- Also I know that some of these things are not worth worrying about because they are scenarios that my head has created but at the same time I would like to hear what the hangout has to say.
So you've done your observing, it's time to do that thing that you aren't 100% comfortable doing but that is going to teach you all sorts of good musical things. One thing the beginner always thinks is that the jam people care about the little mistakes the new person makes. In truth, they do not care at all, they're there to make music and they are thinking about their playing, not your playing.
If the stress level's too high for you - it happens - then position yourself outside of the circle and play quietly. All the jam people have seen this before, it's the new person getting used to the situation, nothing out of the ordinary.
You say you're not outgoing. Truly, no one cares! They are there to make music. So are you. All kinds of musicians are introverted, you're not that unusual.
I attended a jam that met weekly. There were varying levels of ability and we were always eager to help the beginners. One day a beginner banjo player came to the jam for the first time. He started climbing the steps leading to the jam and when he heard the music, he became intimidated and stood there for a few minutes debating with himself whether to continue up the stairs or turn around and go home. Fortunately, he bit the bullet and proceeded to the jam. He has since become one of my closest friends and, obviously, he knows he made the right decision.
It can’t be overstated that a jam is not a performance. Though I was in a band at the time, I valued the jam for its social aspects. It’s a place to learn, to teach, to have a good time and meet new friends. If you don’t get that vibe from a jam, find another one.
I guess the responsibility for the success of a mixed jam relies upon the attitude of the advanced players. If they’re confused about the difference between a jam and a performance, they can become the jam killers rather than those who are just finding their way through right chords and the correct timing. The bottom line: take the risk that my friend did.
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Originally posted by steve davisAnother aspect of a jam is the possibility of finding 2 or 3 folks that want to get together outside the jam. Great place to meet fellow pickers.
Yes, indeed.
Back in spring of 2010, I finally attended a local (as in fraction of a mile away) jam for the first time after knowing about it for years. A guitar player/songwriter there liked my playing and invited me to join a band he was putting together. The core of the band's first-year repertoire was his original material from a self-produced, professional studio, CD -- on which Mike Munford had played banjo, as a paid session musician.
We had a good run as a part-time band, playing almost every month. When I had to leave the band in the summer of 2013 because my wife and I were moving to NYC, I was the last original member besides the leader. Bass, mando/fiddle, and female vocal/2nd guitar were all second or third player in each role.
In the three years we lived in NYC, I became active in a few jams, some of which led to musical friendships outside the jam that included private at-home jams, dinners and weekend-getaways. Great times -- all thanks to music.
My big hold up in improving was not playing with others. If you only play by yourself you may not become aware of problems like playing in time, (that was me). It's a good place to polishing up a lot of other useful life skills, like getting along, giving everyone their chance, being the encourager, etc. etc.
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Originally posted by Dale DiehlMy big hold up in improving was not playing with others. If you only play by yourself you may not become aware of problems like playing in time, (that was me). It's a good place to polishing up a lot of other useful life skills, like getting along, giving everyone their chance, being the encourager, etc. etc.
As well as learning how to adapt to timing changes and mistakes made by others.
I'm not a fan of "slow jams," even as a training ground. I think it's better for beginners to go to a regular jam and limit their role until they get more and more comfortable. Get the pace of a regular jam into your bones. Get used to following chord progressions by ear and/or by eye rather than by instruction.
That said, I'm also not a fan of (what an old friend used to call) "jam busters": songs which tend to exclude all but the best players. Like songs in minor keys. Or songs with weird chord progressions. I understand that the best players want to play more intricate material, but a regular jam shouldn't be for experts only. In my experience, the best jam leaders avoid "jam busters." They want everyone to participate, even if their participation is in the background.
At our last jam session we had been playing a couple of songs when a third banjo player arrived. We joked a bit about a third banjo not being allowed at our session (in reality we sometimes have five... ). I said that two banjo players was good but then the non-banjo players agreed that in reality 0.8 banjos was the ideal number of banjos in a bluegrass jam session. All in good jest, of course.
To non-banjo players a banjo is part of the overall sound and to them it usually is enough if it doesn't become obnoxious. They don't care how well you can play it, how tasty your licks are, whether you can play JD's famous break note-for-note. They want you to blend in and not overplay. Roll over the chords in time, play silently or not at all (a musical option that many overlook) when someone sings or a guitar is taking a break, and they will agree you are a good banjo player. If they'd care about all the details we care about, they'd be banjo players.
Only time I ever had a problem at a jam was when two 15 year old boys, playing banjo, showed up. Both had a couple years experience so they could play reasonably well. Problem was.... they constantly tried to out-play each other. And always tried to play beyond their actual abilities, resulting in a mess. After the jam, as I was walking to the car, several other jammers made the comment that they wouldn't be back. And I agreed with them. That jam only lasted a couple more sessions. That particular problem was caused by lack of a good jam leader.
We had a banjo picker come to our jam one time and he was the most obnoxious person I ever met. Played loud as he could, never backed off so others could be heard on breaks. Our leader took him aside and asked him politely if he'd tone it down and let others be heard on their breaks. Didn't work. He just got more obnoxious. After a couple more times of asking politely, he was given the choice of adhering to the rules or leaving. He left. The whole jam group clapped and yelled after he was gone and congratulated the leader for his patience and then his telling the guy to leave. Now, that's leadership.
I was happy to learn we are having 3 more Mondays at the Wiley's Corner Grange Jams.
One of our fiddlers is in Germany on vacation.Hope she makes it back for the last one.
Our three jams have leaders.Captain Jim Sharp at the Sail Museum,a cousin of mine at the Grange. and Mark at the Gilford Butler school.
But if someone didn't point them out you wouldn't know we had any.Around the circle/dealers choice/anything under the sun.
Edited by - steve davis on 10/01/2024 13:58:56
No one can learn anything except by trying to do something and messing up. No one. Everyone else at that jam was at one stage a newbie going to her or his first jam. Everyone at that jam has messed up in a jam more times than you have, and probably you will mess up less than them because you are the thoughtful person who asks about such things.
The best thing about going to a jam is meeting other players. I am still friends with two people I met the first time I left my parents house with a musical instrument to go to the equivalent of a folk jam in 1962 when I was 15, and several others stated stayed in touch until they passed. Getting to know people at the jam is important. Many of us who become musicians are good at sitting in a room and working for hours on an instrument until we get it right, and need a breath of fresh air of human contact and friends.
I have played banjo for about 26 years (in 62 the instrument was a guitar), but I continue to be shocked at how positive other banjo players are about the help and encouragement and positive attitude that other banjo players had for me when I first showed up at jams and get togethers with a banjo, especially because I thought I knew it all about banjos having picked on guitar with banjoists for decades, but almost all I knew was wrong.
Boy was going out to pick a godsend for me. People I met the first time I went to a jam helped me out in so many ways, including helping to get a better instrument at a "friendship price", finding teachers, and repairing banjos and guitars I have brought, doing hundreds of bucks worth of work for free, and sending me to the right luthier when I needed help.
Have the spirit that everyone there was once a shy scared person who wanted to play the banjo but could not very well. Everyone there will have been in the situation you are in.
Look forward not just to the music but to the fellowship.
quote:You Mainers are sure lucky with a lot of good music jams of all kind. Please enjoy what you have and be proud of it. My one visit to Maine was when a good friend retired to Belfast, and I went up to visit him and his wife. I could not believe in the 5 days I was up there how many jams or get togethers of musicians were going on, so many that there were some we skipped to do other things.
Enjoy what you have!
Originally posted by steve davisI attend up to 3 jams/week.They are all within 12 miles of home.Tonight's is the Thursday jam from 4-7 at the Guilford Butler elementary school.This one is year 'round as is the Sunday jam at the Sail Power and Steam Museum.All playing styles and experience are welcomed with open arms and patience.
Everyone is treated equally with no demands or expectations.
If someone doesn't want to take a break they simply nod to the next person.
If you are taking lessons, as I think you are, ask the teacher about which jams he thinks you are good at, and set some modest goals that can interweave with your lessons. Your teacher may know the players and tunes of the local jams, and such. You can make one point of your lesson talking about the jam. Your teacher may know some of the players.
Have modest goals, and also try to get to know folks. They will be happy to see you even if you cannot play well.
Tomorrow's 4-7 jam at the Gilford Butler School is a very comfortable venue.Little 4 room elementary school and so welcoming to all.
Plenty of room for players and a small audience and it looks like it will be available year 'round as a gift by the town.They love having us show up every Thursday.
A few songwriters and summer visitors to keep things interesting.
My dude I was in your exact position until last weekend when I attended my first ever jam session, and boy was it fun! All skill levels present from professional musicians to total noobs and everyone played together and was very helpful. Different groups formed of different skill levels now and then, some open to all, some obviously for seasoned players. Best advice I could give is learn the chords. Not just how to play em but their actual names. I know how to play most regular chords in a bunch of different tunings, but I don’t always know what they are called,
especially when downtuning or using capos (which happens all the time) and this makes it difficult to communicate with or adapt to fellow players. For my next jam I’m gonna make a elaborate chord-chart. Also, writing a little list of songs you know how to play is helpful as you can get a blackout on the spot and forget what you know. If you print out the lyrics and chords to the tunes that really helpful als well, for you and all the other players.
Enjoy!
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Originally posted by DacursvilleBanjoThanks for all the great advice! Y'all may or may not know how much, but it really does help my confidence. I have been to this jam before, a couple years ago, but it was just to listen and enjoy. I will definitely shoot to make it out Friday night and just see how things go. Obviously the biggest part of it is just mustering up the courage to step out of my comfort zone. Thanks KCJones for the guitar advice, I will try and brush up on that before going so I can watch for the changes.
Don't forget the 10 Jammandments: https://hawthorne.fastie.com/banjo/jammandments.pdf
I've been at it for about 4 years and remember the nerves. Was sort of funny the other day the shop owner running the jam told me when I started he would have asked me to try their slow jam but they had canceled it during Covid. Now I'm fitting in just fine.
Learn one song you can play solidly at a decent tempo and call that one every jam until you learn your next one. I've found strum machine is a great tool to practice with for jamming. I've also used strum machine as a crutch to follow chords for songs called by others but I've found that throwing away the crutch has improved my ability to hear chord changes and chop chords for songs I haven't learned yet.
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