Willspear
247 posts
Dec 31, 2012
7:26 AM
|
Worst jam stuff is generally people being assholes
Guitarists playing terribly at extreme volume. There was one time a guy insisted on using a bottom of the heap solid state combo over all of the great stuff on the back line. He then preceded to play as loud as possible on the bridge pickup of a shrill tele knockoff with the treble cranked on the amp. It was so bad I would have preferred getting blasted with pepper spray and having people blast my ears with air horns non stop for half a day.
People who call songs that change key several times or rhythm. It's fine when you have a great group but honestly most groups have a new player in the mix. Honestly the best jam material is simple I IV V or any number of variations. You shouldn't be playing material that is a head trip and calls for a rehearsal.
People who call songs but feel its beneath them to call a key. I have pretty solid ear training but sometimes I still need to find the key. There are new players that need the info. It also just makes for a smooth set.
Fundamentals of being a great jam attendee
Be humble
Listen
Support the establishment
Leave space for everyone to get fills.
Let the singer and whoever is soloing shine
If you bring gear be generous.
Learn
Ask before touching anyone's stuff
Have fun and make friends.
We have all been a new guy.......remember that.
Last Edited by on Dec 31, 2012 7:30 AM
|
The Iceman
619 posts
Dec 31, 2012
9:08 AM
|
Jams are definitely learning opportunities.
However, there are 2 levels to learn.
1. Your ability on your own instrument
2. How to play along within an ensemble.
Problems stem from those that are aware of #1 and are too self involved to realize that #2 comes into play....
----------
The Iceman
|
Joe_L
2288 posts
Dec 31, 2012
4:30 PM
|
When i am leading a tune, my goal is to make sure people have fun while on stage with me and to try to make sure we don't look like the worst group of the night. I try to set up a very uncomplicated tune, sing a couple of verses, get out of the way so others can play finish up the song and close out the song or pass the control to someone who will finish it out.
If i play one song with a lot of harmonica, i try to limit the amount of harmonica i play on other tunes. If there is another harp player, i will invite them up and play something harp friendly. My goal is to be the you're of person that people want to jam with.
That means putting others first and playing to the strengths of the people on stage. Recently, i jammed with a great guitar player who nails the SRV thing. I try to play stuff that leverages that style. It's a win for him. A win for the audience. I learn how to deliver a different type of tune. A win for me. Every one ends up leaving happy.
----------
The Blues Photo Gallery
Last Edited by on Dec 31, 2012 4:32 PM
|
Rick Davis
1091 posts
Dec 31, 2012
5:09 PM
|
Joe, you are a good jammer.
----------
-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
|
Joe_L
2290 posts
Dec 31, 2012
6:45 PM
|
Rick - if I wanted it to be about me, I would book my own gigs. I am not completely selfless.
I'm not overly concerned about my harp playing. I don't consider myself a great harp player. Where I live, there just isn't much demand for harp players who don't sing. Plus, I want to perform music that is personal to me. That means, I have to have some degree of control.
I am more concerned about song delivery and vocals. Blues is primarily a vocal art form. Without vocals, little else matters. I don't expect to ever be Tyrone Davis. There are a lot of great tunes that don't have or need no harp. I just want to reach a point, where I don't cringe when hearing recordings of myself.
Jams give me a chance to try new stuff and build a library of material. It also gives me an audience to gauge their reaction.
----------
The Blues Photo Gallery
Last Edited by on Dec 31, 2012 6:52 PM
|
bigd
405 posts
Jan 01, 2013
8:03 AM
|
I had a fixed bridge crack during a solo and although I probably looked like I swallowed a hand grenade I kept it going until I could resolve the solo....I had a reed fly into my mouth during a solo once (I admit to bending notes with the force of a Dyson vacuum cleaner sometimes). And (while a camera was literally inches from my face) my nose became a small waterfall of mucus once (winter cold) and I didn't stop the solo because (you had to be there) all eyes and the camera were on me!
----------
Facebook
|
The Iceman
621 posts
Jan 01, 2013
9:29 AM
|
bigd:
excellent example of "The Show Must Go On".
I've had my 4 hole inhale reed stick (piece of grit) during blues solo...so had to get creative in the moment to keep playing while avoiding this note as part of my melodic line.
----------
The Iceman
|
BikerG
7 posts
Jan 03, 2013
11:58 AM
|
I never had any problem at a jam except for one time when another harp kept stepping on me when it was my turn to solo. He was a novice, so I gave him a pass.
Last Edited by on Jan 03, 2013 11:59 AM
|
atty1chgo
958 posts
Jun 06, 2014
7:47 AM
|
Any jam containing the following:
-- A jam advertised as a blues jam where very little blues music is played.
-- A harp player that doesn't know when to sit down.
-- Hosts that favor one player over another, and not for proficiency of instrument reasons.
|
Ugly Bones Ryan
82 posts
Jun 08, 2014
10:26 AM
|
I almost always play sessions with a group of guys at my school so you kinda have to behave. These experiences are really interesting though.
|
