Being a beginner at a jam...

**mandolinlee** · Jul-21-2012, 7:10am

Hi Sarai,
Here's a Festival to consider. Northern Indiana Bluegrass Assoc. Festival over Labor Day Weekend at the Fairgrounds in Kendallville, Indiana. On Saturday morning they have several workshops including one called Jam Etiquette for Beginners (or something like that). It is run by a couple friends of mine that are old-hands at festivals and BG music and they will answer all your questions. Also a lot of groups picking in the camping area, most are open to other pickers. Some groups playing will be the paid performers rehearsing and warming up, you'll soon learn if they don't want visitors playing along. Camping is available. You can get more info by going to Google and putting in: Northern Indiana Bluegrass Association. Maybe see you there.
Regards,
Lee

**Bertram Henze** · Jul-21-2012, 12:28pm

Originally Posted by Gerry Hastie

a willingness to humiliate myself (someone else said that on the cafe once - great quote)!

Very important indeed, and not just for jams - without this ability, you're bound to paint yourself into a corner where you squat, desperately trying to hide the fact that you are incompetent at life. Who experiences no humiliation is probably dead.

**greg_tsam** · Jul-21-2012, 12:42pm

Get in front of a group, take a lead accepting the possibility of a train wreck, Repeat.

**doc holiday** · Jul-21-2012, 4:58pm

JackM, Head over to the Fiddler's Green in Austin & you'll find out everything you need to know. Most things mandocentric in Austin (w/ the exception of jazz w/ Paul Glasse)....happen around the F Green.

**jackmalonis** · Jul-21-2012, 7:22pm

Originally Posted by greg_tsam

Get in front of a group, take a lead accepting the possibility of a train wreck, Repeat.

Haha sounds great! I'm excited to be back in Austin.

**jackmalonis** · Jul-21-2012, 7:24pm

Originally Posted by doc holiday

JackM, Head over to the Fiddler's Green in Austin & you'll find out everything you need to know. Most things mandocentric in Austin (w/ the exception of jazz w/ Paul Glasse)....happen around the F Green.

Sorry to repost but I didn't see this.

Yep, I'm headed there first thing when I get back to Austin.

I'm sure I'll be raving about it as soon as I go!

**JeffD** · Jul-21-2012, 8:28pm

Originally Posted by jackmalonis

Since I'm new to jams too, is it acceptable to sit in and chop along to a song and add some improv lead if you get the nod... Even if you don't know the song??
Or are the "motifs" and themes of the melody usually pretty important?

Your question makes me think bluegrass, in which case "don't be a jerk" makes the most sense. I think better (much better) improvising comes from know the song, so I would be careful there. Its not difficult to identify the improvisation of someone who hasn't learned the tune. But you have to start somewhere, right. My first improvisations are always close to the melody, and the more nervous I am the closer I stay.

It certainly depends on the type of music. Irish traditional there is no chopping. It just doesn't really fit. And there are no real "breaks" one could take. No improvisation, but individuality in ornament. Some light and unpercusive chopping works ok in old time, and again no real improv.

Good luck and enjoy.

**jackmalonis** · Jul-21-2012, 9:22pm

Originally Posted by JeffD

Your question makes me think bluegrass, in which case "don't be a jerk" makes the most sense. I think better (much better) improvising comes from know the song, so I would be careful there. Its not difficult to identify the improvisation of someone who hasn't learned the tune. But you have to start somewhere, right. My first improvisations are always close to the melody, and the more nervous I am the closer I stay.

Yes, bluegrass is mainly what I was thinking about.

Awesome, thanks so much for the advice.
Yeah I definitely don't want to step on any toes.

I mostly just want to go to learn some

**pickloser** · Jul-22-2012, 5:08pm

IMO, nobody cares if your break su. . .er. . .doesn't sound all that great or doesn't track the melody. They DO care if your enthusiastic rhythm playing messes up or walks all over their break. Playing rhythm requires attention. Enthusiasm or no, watch your timing. Really.

**JeffD** · Jul-22-2012, 9:56pm

Originally Posted by pickloser

IMO, nobody cares if your break su. . .er. . .doesn't sound all that great or doesn't track the melody. They DO care if your enthusiastic rhythm playing messes up or walks all over their break. Playing rhythm requires attention. Enthusiasm or no, watch your timing. Really.

This is a good point. I wouldn't say nobody cares, but I agree that folks are more willing to foregive a bad break than they are bad rhythm. Folks tolerate a bad break because its expected that newbies are going to be nervous and rough, and because its your break not theirs. Bad rhythm screws them up, and that is irritating.

**greg_tsam** · Jul-23-2012, 4:27am

I would go so far as to say that a bad break is not an issue, a problem or a concern. It's a positive thing b/c it's part of the process. Bad rhythm and timing is harder to forgive since it does mess with others but it's OK if it's part of the learning process and it gets better. It's annoying if the offender is a repeat offender that just doesn't learn and doesn't care to learn or seem oblivious to their offense. That's when the scowls and sour faces come out.

**Turnip Mountain Picker** · Jul-23-2012, 8:42am

Some times I feel like if it wernt for bad breaks thered be no breaks at all!

**JeffD** · Jul-23-2012, 9:07am

Originally Posted by Turnip Mountain Picker

Some times I feel like if it wernt for bad breaks thered be no breaks at all!

There is some truth to that.

**sarai** · Jul-25-2012, 8:52am

Pete Wernick has a great list of popular BG jam tunes on his website
http://www.drbanjo.com/pdf/bluegrass-jam-favorites.pdf

Thanks again - I've been adding a bunch of these to my Spotify playlist.

A couple favorites right now...
Footprints in the Snow - IIIrd Time Out's version was my fav. I like it so much I have to keep repeating it.
Love, Please Come Home - Bill Monroe's version
Lonesome Moonlight Waltz - Bill Monroe & Doc Watson Live (actually this one I think I got from a different thread - the one about 12 mandolin standards to know , or somethign like that)
Nine Pound Hammer - Bill Monroe's version
Little Maggie - Ricky Skaggs (love this one)

Anyway - thanks this stuff is soooo helpful because ther is so much music out there and it really helps to have it narrowed down.

(PS If you don't know what Spotify is, you are missing out - free music anything you want to hear on your PS, a few ads here and there. You have to pay if you want the mobile phone version but computer is free).