Yes, yes, we know, we’re always bugging you here at JamAlong to get out there and jam with folks. “It’s the only way to learn!” we say, “It’ll get you there quicker than music lessons” and the the like. And although it is true, to be completely honest there are a few problems with this idea as well. For starters, not everyone has a gaggle of jammer friends they can call up whoever they feel the urge to play music.
And, if you’re a beginner, sometimes it’s hard to convince your more adept pals to put up with your painful guitar strums or banjo plinks. Yes they’ll try to sound excited, but you can hear it in their voice: “hey, um, sure! That sounds….fun…” And you know they’re just thinking “jeez why can’t this kid just take some guitar lessons like everybody else!”
And to tell the truth who can blame them, when that last time you invited yourself over it took 45 minutes to get through Wagon Wheel.
Or maybe you DO have friends that play music, but they’re too far away. Like, if you live way out in the boonies.
Or, it could be that you’re just not ready to subject yourself to real live human beings with guitars and banjos, and you want to learn how to play in the safety of your own comfort zone, your happy spot. Because the last time you attempted to go to a jam you made it half way through You Are My Sunshine and then forgot how to speak the English language, and spent the rest of the session in the corner pretending to text.
This is totally understandable! You are normal to feel this way, especially if you just started learning how to play guitar, or have only a few music lessons under your belt. You’re sposed to be nervous right now, that’s your job!
So how then can we “jam”, and not annoy folks, drive all day, or get PTSD? Well, we have an idea….let’s call it “Virtual Jamming”. And by this we mean using technology to create ways to play along with “other” musicians, or even yourself, without anyone else ever hearing you.
Probably the quickest way to start doing this is to just find a way to record yourself, and then play something to jam along with. It sounds almost silly, but actually it is reaaaaally fun! Even if you just play a few chords for several minutes, when you play it back and then noodle along with your recording, you’ll suddenly feel a strange rush. Your playing will become charged with a new excitement and your want to do it again, and again.
This is because of a universal truth about learning music: it’s all about interaction! You can play a tune over and over all by yourself, but then the instant you play it WITH something or someone, it transforms into something new.
So, get your computer hooked up to record, and try this out, we promise it will blow your mind with how much more fun it is. (If you’re not quite sure how to do this, feel free to email us or call or text at 530-566-3629 and we’ll gladly coach you through it)
The next step, and this is even more fun, is to play along to actual “backing tracks”. This is where you have a recording of a band or backup instrument that plays a song you are learning, and you get to be in the spotlight while you practice!
Trust us, there is no funner way to learn music, and it certainly is more enjoyable than music instruction by a long shot. Check out some of our sample backing tracks on our free downloads page, they’re more fun than a box of frogs. Or, better yet, you can order custom backing tracks for any song you want, just drop by our custom lesson page and fill out the form. Yes, we will actually record a full string band, with guitar, mandolin and bass, playing the songs of your choice. This is something you won’t find anywhere else, you have to try it to believe it, it’s so fun.
After you’ve had your fill of jamming with backing tracks, it’s time to start some actual Jamming. What we mean by this is, trading leads back and forth. It’s one thing to get to be in the spotlight the whole time (like our backing tracks allow you to do), but it’s definitely more challenging to trade the melody with other instruments, and this is what happens in real jam sessions.
But, you ask, how could you possibly do that without other actual people? Ah ha, well then it’s time we introduced you to the Virtual Jam Videos! Yep, we thought long and hard about this, and finally came up with a way to hand an interactive jam with several different instruments: a Virtual YouTube jam! Imagine a video where three instruments all take turns playing the lead, and then, they pass it to YOU! Yep, it’s now a real thing, and we’ve got Virtual Jams for Swing, for Blues, and of course good old Bluegrass in G. So, take a minute to tune up and click the links and try it out, you’ll have more fun than a three peckered billy goat.
And it doesn’t stop there, what if you want to learn some of this hot licks you hear the other instruments playing? We beat ya to it. We tabbed out all of the solos you hear us play, and you can get any of them with a Vjam Companion lesson, so you can really tear it up the next time your solo comes around.
So, what are you waiting for, dive in and start virtual jamming today. And we promise that you’ll get better at your instrument without having to take boring music lessons, look for online instruction or ever have to wade though another “how to play music” book again.
Don’t believe it? We dare you. Try a 
Custom eLesson or just call us up, and we’ll answer any of your questions.
One, two, three, go!
