Beginning jammers & new tunes

**Hayduke** · May-06-2009, 8:53pm

I'll classify myself as still a beginner and I have been jamming with some others of about the same ability level for about a year. We're getting better and having fun, but here's a problem I've encountered with bringing a new and unfamilier song to the bluegrass jams: since my chops are on the offbeats, it's hard for the rest of the group to pick up on chord changes and we stumble along unless I bring copies of the lyrics and chord changes. Anybody else have this experience and what have you done to make it smoother?

**Jim Broyles** · May-06-2009, 9:03pm

Start it off the first time around by strumming the chords and calling them out. Soon the group will pick up the song and you can chop.

**Chris Keth** · May-06-2009, 9:42pm

I'd just make it easy on everyone and bring copies of the lyrics and chord changes.

**mandroid** · May-07-2009, 12:10am

Bring a Black Board,& chalk ... a white board & dry marker ,
or a piece of white coroplast [blank side of last election's political signs ]
and a grease pencil and /or a crayon .
and write out the chord changes on it .
put it on a music stand or somewhere that everyone can see it. .. erasable, .. reusable.

**ChrisStewart** · May-07-2009, 7:21am

We always bring new stuff written out. Everyone keeps a notebook. Lately I have been trying to use these youtube videos to introduce new stuff but for them to do any good the group members would actually need to practice on non practice nights

**Hayduke** · May-07-2009, 12:21pm

All good suggestions. Thanks and don't look for us on a stage near you anytime soon.

**JeffD** · May-07-2009, 12:43pm

Originally Posted by ChrisStewart

but for them to do any good the group members would actually need to practice on non practice nights

Its amazing how many are not able or not willing to do this.

I play too much, I have much more important things that I should be getting done that I don't (or that I hire out, like lawn cutting) in order to play manolin.

**Patrick Bouldin** · May-07-2009, 3:01pm

Ok, I suggest you do what I have started doing over the last couple of years. Anytime you bring a song more complicated than 1-4-5, or even 1-4-5 but with oddities like 1-4-1-4-1-5, etc...., AND the rhythm guitar doesn't know the song; just bring your guitar and play the rhythm yourself. I have found even in an experienced jam, if the rhythm guitar doesn't "get it" it just ain't gonna fly very well at all. The other jammers will pick right up on the song if the rhythm guitar has it (usually).

I have literally started songs with the guitar, then after the first verse & chorus get back on the mando for my lead, because I'm not a guitar picker. Totally ok.

Patrick