If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

Chris of Arabia

Chris of Arabia

Desert RATT
Let's suppose that you're just beginning to get together with other musicians to start pulling some form of (musical) performance together? What would you expect them to know how to do without really having to think about it too hard? It could be techniques, scales, chords, songs - the latter is going to depend a little on your own musical tastes and I wouldn't expect to need to sit in with Joe Bonamassa or Steve Vai any time soon. I've put a few ideas of my own down below to get things started, but what do you think?

  • Basic 12-bar blues in E
  • Pentatonic and blues scales in all 5 positions
  • Major/minor chords in open positions
  • Major/minor bar chords using E, A & D shapes
  • Highway to Hell
  • Boys Are Back in Town
  • Wish You Were Here

What else?
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

Good ears !!!!
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

How to use the knobs on your amp to get a decent sound and most importantly which one is the volume. A tuner !!!!!!!!!!
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

How to communicate with others in an adult manner.
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

Listen first, play second.

To make music, the contributors need to leave the ego at the door, and work to serve the tune.
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

There needs to be a clear understanding of who's bringing the beer.
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

crusty philtrum said:
Listen first, play second.
Click to expand...

That's it. They need to learn to sit in the back seat ... and not try to drive from there.

Learn to to mesh tone wise and to a greater extent volume wise. Maintain a good attitude and amplitude.
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

one thing to consider is an amp stand. its usually a small room with frequencies bouncing everywhere, so I bring my stand and then can turn down the volume, which others regard as a benefit.
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

"Knowledge" has nothing to do with it. It's all about attitude. Have a good one.
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

leave your over-sized ego at the door and try to include and help the less talented players ….

I've seen amazing players act like complete jackasses during open jam nights and that's not very civil, nor cool !
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

Don't really have the opportunity (or desire) to jam with anyone other than the guys in my band all (except the drummer who's a talented kid & really nice guy) of whom I've known & been close friends/bandmates with for 20+ years & have no expectations for at all..everyone knows the drill & loves what they do (we learned to play from scratch together...) I guess no one getting too drunk/falling off stage would be the only real concern (it's happened) :p

I do get the urge for a little musical self-indulgence/to dabble with stuff other than 'metal' once in a while..that's where my Zoom G1Xon pedal comes in :lmao:
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

Are we talking variations over well-known chord changes or improvisation from almost absolutely nothing?
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

Crusty is the f'n man in da house. Man I totally admire your wisdom. What other guys tell you in one paragraph, you tell in one single word. Total respect mate!!!

What you said is really all what someone really must know about being a musical companion. And playing together, addind ideas / talent is really all about that!

Total respect, man.
 
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Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

  • They need to be a team player.
  • They need to be unpretentious.
  • They need to know how to tune their instrument and recognize when it, and anything else, is out of tune.
  • They need to have an ear for music, and be able to find their place in a song without a chart.
  • They need to know how to listen to others and blend musically. Skills can be added later, but an ear is prerequisite.
  • They need to take constructive criticism.
  • They need to be willing to find something they like about a song in order to play a song they don't like.
  • They need to share the burdens of the band, share the success, share the compliments, share the criticisms, share the failures and disappointments, and share the costs.
  • They need to be supportive of the band and of the individuals in the band.
  • They need to be loyal to the band at least until they are no longer in the band.
  • They need to be a team player.
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

An example of what NOT to do:

My second year of being a music major, I sat in on a bunch of other fellow majors having a jam session (I didn't have an instrument, I just appreciated what was going on).

The setup was two guitarists, a bassist, and a drummer. The first guitarist pretty much dictated what everybody else would play, then did his jazz fusion thing over them, and never let them take any solo breaks of their own. After a break in his... jamming, I asked if I could make a suggestion, to which he replied "No," and went about showing everybody else what he wanted them to play for another... song.

I left. And from what I understand, after that session, no one would play with him anymore.

Which is a crying shame, because he was an honestly talented player, he just had his head so far up his ass he was useless as a musician.
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

^^ He's probably got himself a Zoom G1Xon now. All's well that ends well.. :lmao:
 
Re: If a guitarist is going to jam with others, what should they know?

If you are just getting together to Jam, then a 12 bar blues thing would be fine, but if you have specific songs you want to work on together then all should be prepared before you get together. I know with the guys I've played with you wold think they know the songs but it turns out that they didn't so rather then wasting studio time I would offer to get together and review the songs so everybody is on the same page. Playing together each should know the parts that they are required to play...
 
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