[Brucehum]

Hello,

Could someone give me a rough guide when a newbie player can consider himself more or less ready to participate in a jam session?

What should be the basics you need to know?

[Stratrat]

Originally Posted by Brucehum

Could someone give me a rough guide when a newbie player can consider himself more or less ready to participate in a jam session?

As soon as you can find some people to jam with!!!

Seriously - if you can find some players who don't mind a newbie sitting in, you'll have a lot of fun and learn a ton. Playing with other people does a lot to teach you rhythm and timing, and you can pick up a lot of very useful tips (and new songs to play) from more experienced players.

[starsailor]

Hi Bruce, I have a mess around every few weeks with my friend who is in a band, my Daughter joins in on drums and we get the Mics out and sing a few songs as well, I'm nowhere near as good as my friend but he helps me out and I learn quite a lot from him, so in answer to the question, if there's a jam session going on, I don't think the guys would object to you being there and as you've learnt a few chords and your way around the guitar a bit, you could join in, I think just being at a jam session would help with your playing as well, being around other guitarists does make you improve quicker, If one comes up, don't turn down the opportunity.

[knight46]

Hardest thing is getting over the "shy" factor, but Stratrat is right anytime is the best time.

[krissovo]

As soon as you feel confident to play in front of people you should start as you learn so much that a book cannot teach.

The basics to know, tough question! I would say it depends on the others you jam with as the style you want to play. From my experience you will need at least:

Popular chord progressions in various keys (Blues is great way to start jamming)
Minor pentatonic scale in the minnimum of A and E and at least 2 or 3 possitions (If you want to play a bit of lead)
Good timming
Your own set list of popular songs to cover that you can play to bring to the jam (other more experienced will follow you)

[chuckswood2001]

I found a friend to pick with , we try to get together once a week, but very seldom do every week, we had to fig out what to play, he likes the newer stuff with distortion, and i hate it, i like 50"s and 60"s and country, so we decided on country, i has helped me learn much faster and better than playin by myself, then this summer at our family reunion my cousins brought there guitars and amps and we jammed for 11 hrs , i kept my volume down so as not to bother them and it helped me a lot, im pickin much better now, cant wait for next yr, i should be much better

Chuck

[Slideplayer]

for sure man, get out as soon as you can play a few songs. As long as you are comfortable playing at least one song, you should play with other people. You will get loads better, faster.

[zappa]

you're ready when you can hear what other people are playng and can join in

[Hilch]

I always thought I wasn't good enough to go and jam with someone ..

Jay Jay and Skinny in the video room have proved me wrong and I am jamming with anyone who will let me now ..

I still stink at playing but I am getting better ...Jam with people you know and understand what level your at , so you feel comfortable with what your doind in front of them ...

I jammed with some old guys recently who have been playing for over 50 years some of them and they just kept saying " Trev come on you can do this "

It was brilliant , jam with who ever you can find jam with people who understand what it is like to be a beginner ..

Happy playing
Trev...

[coldethyl]

Yep, sooner rather than later would be the better thing. Jamming with other guitarists etc is a great way to improve and enhance your playing skills and to learn new and interesting things.

[eddiez152]

The sooner you start, the quicker you may progress your own playing.
We learn from each other. Of course try not to pick out difficult stuff and that will build confidence for all.

[GeetarGal101]

I, too, am a newbie at guitar. I've been lucky to have some people who let me sit in with them and will switch from their normal country/rockabilly music to blues so that I can get a few licks in, although there are some of their tunes I can go with. The thing that stands out most for me is the sense of rhythm. They don't wait for me, lol. All of them have been patient and willing to help, though. I'll bet it will be the same for you, and it will accelerate the learning process. After the first time you'll be anxious for the next time, and it's a great way to learn (steal) some new riffs.

[skinnybloke]

Bruce, jamming is about having fun with the guitar
Have a go at every opportunity you get

[LMay]

You can begin anytime you find yourself with other musicians who are willing to let you play. Don't worry about being "ready". We all had to start somewhere and most musicians who are truly MUSICIANS welcome the opportunity to help beginners who truly WANT TO LEARN!

There is great benefit in "jamming" with musicians who are more experienced than yourself. Just play when you can and hang in there the best you can--noone expects more.

Another thought--you might want to try "jamming" with some of the free online mp3 jam files. That would get you used to playing with others in the comfort of your own setting!

Keep it up!

[Brucehum]

I have jammed with mp3... when I say I only know 2 songs, I really should say I only know two known songs: "House of the rising sun" and "Knocking on Heaven's Door". But I have jammed with 6-7 no name songs, playing along, and those I know too, of course.

With bass, my first line is Pink Floyd's "Money". I mainly learn music theory, scales, etc (which I then apply to guitar!!) I have a nice toy to jam with my bass now (There is an equivalent for guitar): Tascam MP-BT1. You can get same effects with computer software, but I like it being portable. This allows me to play bass anywhere in my house.

For guitar, my new toy is Jamlab. I didn't really need it, but I had to pay 20€ transport as I wasn't in the free packaging yet, so I got this, which is 29€.

About musicians, maybe I'm wrong about my area, but there don't seem to be jams, or open mic nights. There are some jams in Barcelona... I could go there. Will have to go some day and ask about musicians entering. The guy who sold me the POD XT with bass extensions was a musician that left Barcelona to Berlin to be able to do something as he had lots of trouble here to find anything. On the other hand, my bass teacher plays in a band that play new-Cabaret and with the classes and that he seems to be doing well.

On the other hand, on my town there are two rock bands (5000 people town) that I know of. But, haven't got them to tell me yet "yes, you can come to jam with us". Here many bands just have time for once a week training, and they prefer to use it for that.