If we learned to swim like we 
learn to jam, we would have one lesson and then be pushed off a cliff into a stormy sea. It’s true. There is a ton of material on how to operate your given instrument, and then plenty of chances to attempt what you learned in a group setting and watch it fly to pieces, raining down burning shards of your expectations.
And that’s one of the primary motives for our study of jamming, is to get a clearer picture on where we are in our jamming abilities, as well as set goals so that each jam becomes a learning experience for us. In other words, there is a big difference between showing up and struggling to get through the chords to a song, or being able to have fun while playing them and add your own licks and tricks. But the question is, what exactly is this difference?
Well, beside simply countless hours of practice time (and that doesn’t sound terrifically fun) the secret is this: having a clear map for your progress in the art of jamming, and knowing where you are on that map.
We have such a map, designed specifically for those of you starting out on the path of jamming, and we call it the Jammer’s Journey.
It will take you from those first mind-numbing experiences when you attend your first jams, and end up clinging on to any chord you can find and praying for the tune to be over with, to the full realization of Jam Guru, where you are hosting and leading your own pickin sessions, and are hopelessly hooked on this delightful pastime.
Let’s look at what this entails…
Stage 1: Survival
This is when you’re just starting out at jams, and basically are an adrenalized mess. Luckily you can always opt to Sit Out, which basically means stop playing, and just sit there and grin. No one will ever give you grief for doing that! Next is the classic Fwap, which in JamAlong-bonics means to make a percussive sound on your instrument, in time with the song of course.
Then, for the intrepid, you can always just play the Key Chord of the song, and if you stay soft and don’t get out of time, this will actually work.
Stage 2: Advanced Chording
Now you’re playing the chords to the songs, and although you are glued to your Chord Charts, you are keeping up and having fun. And since you don’t really have the songs memorized yet, when you forget your charts you are forced into Hand Reading, where you stare at the guitar players left hand and try to interpret the shapes. Stressful, but it does work. (unless the guitar picker is also lost, which means you’re doomed)
Stage 3: Basic Chording
At this point you’ve got a small handful of songs memorized, your Set as it were. Now finally you’re freed from the tyranny of music charts, and can look around and enjoy the festivities. Much better. You’re also beginning to dabble in playing actual “backup”, which means using the various licks and tricks of your given instrument to spice up the chords. Each instrument has it’s own Backup Style, and can include bass runs, licks and up-the-neck chords. This not only makes the jam sound way cooler, but is much more fun for you as well.
Stage 4: Lead Playing
You are no longer content to shake your head in terrified refusal every time the lead comes around to you. You have made the leap, and for better or worse are playing something when it’s your turn. You can begin with Chord Picking, where you just keep the same chords as before but make more noise with them, which counts as a lead! Next you start to learn the Melodies of songs, which gives you much more jam “cred”. Then you move on to memorizing TABs, the pre-composed Arrangements that are much fancier than your two previous approaches. Finally you enter the last frontier, Improvisation. You begin with the “bluegrass scales”, and then move on to licks, and pretty soon are creating a stream of notes that is both effortless and funner than a box of frogs.
Stage 5: Singing
Deep down, we all want to sing. And it’s easy! All you gotta do is start hollerin along with the Choruses, because it’s really noisy and no one will really hear you. Eventually you begin to hear Harmony Parts, and now the jam is starting to sound like the read deal. Finally you can no longer contain yourself, and you begin to Lead Sing verses all by yourself, and behold, you don’t sound half bad!
Stage 6: Jam Leading
When you’re Calling Songs for the jam, Conducting the flow of leads, and Hosting your own pickin sessions, you’ve made it. You are a Jam Ninja! When you reach that place where you have a decent collection of songs memorized, and can play some decent leads when it comes your turn, you can sit back and smile and know that you have arrived, and in truth it’s not necessary to get all into organizing jams and conducting songs. Many, many folks lead happy musical lives strumming and singing songs, and taking an occasional lead. But we invite you to leave the door open to creating musical culture, and you would be surprised how easy it is to get your own jam started. Or even to kick off and conduct more songs. These are all very learn-able skills, and we invite you to explore whichever stage of the Jammer’s Journey that you are on.
But there is no time like the present, so let’s get started! First, be sure to print out your own copy of the Jammer’s Journey Map (click on that title), and then ponder on what exactly is bugging you the most about your jamming. Are you having trouble staying in time when you play at jams? Do you wish you had a lead part that you could play? Are you feeling a lack of knowledge of all those music terms they banter about? Or maybe you just want to come in screaming with some hot leads and raise the rafters? We’ve got instruction here at JamAlong for all of those subjects, and invite you to fill out or Custom eLesson questionnaire and order a lesson that addresses exactly what you wish to learn! Visit JamAlong.org or just click HERE to fill out the Custom eLesson order form, and boost your level on the Jammer’s Journey so you can really shine at the next jam. Get ‘er done!
