Getting ready for first Jam
Hi David,
I was interacting with an old friend on Facebook who has kept his music up all the years since High School. He plays woodwinds (fairly accomplished amateur of sax, clarinet and fluit) like I once did. I mentioned Im working hard to be a musician again and focused on Blues Harp. He said "Oh I tried that too as it looked easy to pick up, but I gave up as it was way too hard." [insert laughter]
My question is this. He said "are you sitting in on Jams?" I said no I dont think Im ready. He said forget it...jump in.
Your method is a very solid way to learning this seemingly easy (but its not) instrument but I readlly dont feel ready. What should I focus on in order to be ready for that big step? Im punching into level 7, decent bends, impriving technique but limited scales and chord proficiency.
In these Jams do guys come with music or is it mostly improv? Playing with a band again is one of my top Bucket List goals.
Thanks
gary
Hello Gary. No sheet music... it's all memorized or improvised. At your level it's been a long time since you've played "Temperature," but revisit it. Memorize it and pay attention to the portion of the lesson where I teach you how to play the song with a band. Also watch the "Performance Training" series on the site. Go to your local jam, tell them that you want to lead a tune, and when you get up, give them the speech I teach you.
Some further tips...
Practice the song with the Amazing Slow Downer and speed the jam track up for one play, and then down for one play... use different jam tracks (still shuffles)... learn to play at various tempos and different iterations of he shuffle, since the band won't be exactly as you played to the original jam track.
If they won't allow you to lead a song (which is the case for newbies sometimes), then study up on the accompaniment lessons on the site to learn how to play behind a vocalist and other instruments. When the solo comes, use a couple of choruses from one of your study songs that have a similar groove (you'll need to have your study songs memorized to do this).
It's also a good idea to go to the jam one time to just check it out and see how they run it.
Lastly... have thick skin... this can be fun, exhilarating, and very disappointing at times (why can't I play up to the level I am!)... just roll with it and take it as a learning experience... you will get better after EVERY experience up playing!