Blues Jam - what happens?

CaseOfAce

stratman3142 said:

I go to a monthly Blues Jam.  I just went along and listened the first time (a year or so back). But then I wished I'd taken a guitar with me (just in case), as I found it a comfortable and supportive atmosphere.

If it's literally a 'Blues Jam', most of the songs will just have the One, Four and Five chords, but not all (see later)

The following applies to the jam I go to, but I guess it might be different at other jams.

The guy organising the jam lets you know when to get up and play. At the jam I go to, generally each person gets up for three songs, then there's a change over until you're called up again.

Whoever is singing, will name the song, the key and whether it's major or minor. Usually, they give you the nod to take a solo.

Not always, but they may also say things like 'early four' if it goes to the four chord in the second bar, before going back to the one chord. I've even encountered 'early five' being said, when we played Key To The Highway.  If it's a song I'm completely unfamilar with, I might play sparsely and listen out for when it goes to the four, and whether it goes to the five chord (or not) at the end of the sequence, until I've got the structure.

If it's not an obvious chord sequence, they'll generally ask if you know the song and, if not, tell you the chords. If someone else is leading the song, I'm not afraid to stop playing or play very sparsely until I've sussed what's going on.

I try to find something that slots in with, and compliments, what others are playing. I also look at and listen to the bass and drums a lot. When someone else is taking a solo, I may reduce my volume a lot or stop playing completely to leave them space, especially if there are two or three guitarists and keyboards.

There are three 'curve ball' blues songs that might crop up, that don't follow the obvious chord sequence. So it might be worth familiarising yourself with them. The good news is they're almost invariably played in the same key every time.

The Thrill Is Gone (BB King) - B minor
Need Your Love So Bad (Fleetwood Mac) - A
Stormy Monday (Allman Brothers) - G.
Watch out for Stormy Monday, because it's more like a standard 12 bar, if the T Bone Walker version is played.

I recorded the first few jams I went to on my phone, so I could practice at home and be better prepared. I don't do that anymore, but I record any song that crops up that doesn't have an obvious chord sequence, unless I'm up playing and having to 'wing it'

It's good to get to know the regulars, and it makes it more of a social evening. I make a note of names on my phone, plus something to remember them by, as I've got a terrible memory.

fantastic post that answers the original questions succinctly. 

HAL9000

relic245 said:

For me the biggest factor on the success of going to these things is not what guitar/amp/pedals I take. It's more about the attitude that I turn up with. 

I used to torture myself by expecting to play at a certain standard and then berating my self when I couldn't play as well in front of a room full of strangers as I could at home. 

I'd be constantly comparing myself to others. I'm better than him/her and then feeling pressurised to live up to it when it was my turn to play. To show people how good I was. 

On the other side of the coin was I'm not as good as that person, and then feeling intimidated. 

I've not been to a blues jam for many years but lately have been thinking about it again. If I do then I'm going with the attitude of having fun and probably learning something in the process. 

I'll be as good, or as bad, as I am on the night and I'm not going to judge myself on that. 

Then, if the jam session is made up of people who don't judge me either then I can just relax and have fun, which is after all w why most of us play guitar in the first place. If it's one of those jams where people do bring their egos and it becomes a judgemental environment then it's not a place I want to be. 

My immediate strategy will be, just go along without a guitar and watch what happens and try to get a feel for the people there. 

I hope you find one you enjoy as it can be a very rich experience. 

Excellent post. A blues jam isn’t a competition - it’s about having fun and meeting others with similar interests. 

Fez

"Early four" I know that as a "Quick change blues"

roundthebend

I didn't get to the event this month. I was on a video call until gone 8pm and the weather was minging so I didn't bother. But the pub posted some videos and it looked like a really great event. So I'll be going next month and will report back. Actually, I'm probably on holiday for that one so will go in March 

sev112

Apart from the occasional person, what's not to like?
Either it is all the same so that less experienced people can give it a good go.
Or you can stand out by being brilliant over standard chord progressions - if it is "all so simple and standard for you" then i guess you re the ones who can make it sound fabulous because you are all  so good

Plectrum

Fez said:

"Early four" I know that as a "Quick change blues"

I've heard it called a flying change and wouldn't be surprised if there's lots of other names for it. "Early four" sounds like a lunch-time drinking session where you were waiting at the door for the pub to open.

Lebarque

Middle-aged/old men stand up and butcher blues classics on expensive guitars that far outweigh their talent.

There's usually a dog there that runs on the stage.

bbill335

i haven't been to one in ages but seem to remember the cockiest players kind of using up the oxygen in the room playing run-on solos that didn't really go anywhere. i think in a blues jam setting no one should take a lead break for more than 24 bars. play the song, be reactive. 

stickyfiddle

Lebarque said:

Middle-aged/old men stand up and butcher blues classics on expensive guitars that far outweigh their talent.

There's usually a dog there that runs on the stage.

If there’s a dog I’m much more likely to show up

soma1975

bbill335 said:

i haven't been to one in ages but seem to remember the cockiest players kind of using up the oxygen in the room playing run-on solos that didn't really go anywhere. i think in a blues jam setting no one should take a lead break for more than 24 bars. play the song, be reactive. 

The first one I ever went to I was so petrified my hands were seizing up. I could barely play and instead just kept my couple of lead breaks thingies very simple and concise and funnily enough afterwards I had a bunch of people saying they thought what I played was really tasteful and restrained...

If only they'd heard what I WANTED to play!

But lessons learned from that. 

EricTheWeary

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/285/one-chord-progression-songs-suitable-for-jams-or-encores/p1

If it goes outside Da Blues ^. That Discussion is probably in need of a heavy edit but has some examples of blues/jam standards that aren’t typical 12 bars eg

All Along the Watchtower

Hey Joe
Gloria 
Hit the Road Jack
Stir it up
Black Magic Woman
Dance the Night Away
I Would Rather Go Blind
Werewolves of London
Tulsa Time

If you can strum your way and/or play short solos over choons like that as well as 12 bars you’ll be fine.