Have a Successful Jam Session
Have you ever found yourself and some friend in need of a good jam session but didn't know what to play? WikiHow is here to help!
Steps
- Take a look at the instruments that you and your friend(s) will be playing. Jamming is meant to be fun, so you want to pick music that is fun for everyone to play and isn't too heavily focused on a single instrument.
- Decide on a chord progression. It is a good idea to start simple and as you get more comfortable with more complicated progressions.
- The percussion typically begins by just keeping time with a simple rhythm. As the jam progresses the percussion will build up in complexity and intensity bringing the entire band with it.
- The other instruments follow the same pattern from simple to complex.
- Have fun. There is no pressure involved.
Tips
- Go for interesting combinations of instruments and styles, it'll keep things interesting for everyone. If you know a marimba player or saxophone player, why not get them together with the classical pianist and the thrashing metal guitarist?
- Don't hesitate to jam, even if you are not as experienced as the other musicians. Just keep it simple and tight. You will notice you will get more comfortable with the music as the jam progresses. The best way to advance as a musician is to go outside of your comfort zone.
- Keep in mind what styles the musicians are used to: a thrashing metal guitarist and a classical pianist will have to stretch their creativity.
- If there are two guitars, try both starting out playing a variation of the chosen chord sequence, and be able to hear each other to switch off improving later on.
- If a session occurs in your home, be gracious and provide food, drinks and breaks for conversation
- Be patient with one another, some of the best creative musicians can be shy or nervous to start with, keep your sense of humour
- Don't be afraid to vary the solos. Try trading fours with the drummer or other instruments. Also, don't forget about the less experienced players. The only way they will get better is with the practice they get from these jam sessions
- If you don't know any musicians to jam with, ask your friends and acquaintances if they know anyone, or go to an open mic or other public music session and get to know people ( be aware of your personal safety if you answer or put out an advertisement)
- If you have no clue where to start, try listening to some blues and get comfortable with its scale. But be careful! It can put you into a musical rut that can take some time to get out of.
- Make sure that you have a solid rhythm section (bass, drums and other chordal instruments). A bad rhythm section is worse than none at all. Make sure your drummer and bassist don't drop the tempo or turn the beat around.
- It is a good idea to not have every instrument playing the entire time. Have chordal instruments take turns comping for the soloist. If everyone plays constantly, it is very easy to lose the tempo or drop the song entirely, and the session gets boring fast.
Warnings
- keep distractions such as TV, lovers, video cameras, and background music to a minimum as you could drift out of concentration and miss a cue or slow/speed up
- Chill out rather than get frustrated. Otherwise there is no point.
- take breaks have water, beer, or food relax discuss ideas then go back and have a nice jam
- jam with people who are easy to get on with, jamming with difficult or critical people is a deeply unpleasant experience
Things You'll Need
- Instruments
- Forgiving neighbors
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