Common Jam songs

[jorgey]

Not sure where to post this, but being fairly new, I thought I'd post here: I don't have familiarity with jams yet, but I was curious, what, would you say are the top 5 or so songs that are regularly played at jams I'm sure most of you could be sick of these songs, but which ones would you recommend a person have in their repertoire to start?

[Randi Gormley]

Which genre? bluegrass, old time, Irish ... ?

[jorgey]

Sorry, Randi, I was actually thinking of all three of those categories, but didn't know if I should break it up like that. If you can do all three, great! Otherwise, just BG

[Randi Gormley]

ITM (the only one I'm even partially qualified to answer) is one of those tricky questions that depends on where you play, since every session has its standard favorites. But some of the old tunes that everybody seems to know are Boys of Blue Hill (hornpipe), the Kesh (jig) and Father Kelly (reel). It is a question that comes up every once in a while and I can see if I can find the last time it was discussed (I'm not as good with the search function as I ought to be, frankly) and provide a link or three.

[JeffD]

Jorgey the best answer, really, is to just go to a local jam. Take some 3X5 cards (the original memory card) and write down the tunes folks are playing. See what is popular locally. Perhaps your local jam has a tune list. Perhaps this tune list is available to download.

Besides, you are going to introduce yourself to your local jammers anyway.

Unless there is an agenda here - to go to your first jam totally prepared. Well I guarantee what every you do, what ever you learn, you will not be prepared for your first jam. So go anyway, and learn what you need to learn directly.

[jorgey]

Thanks, Randi. Jeff, no agenda here, other than, I've been picking out tunes to practice just cause I like the way they sound and the pick nice and easy, but I thought there might be some consensus on "the usual suspects" that show up in these genres. I don't have much opportunity where i live to jam--there's nothing I know of locally. With small kids, I don't plan on getting out much now anyhow...

[Tobin]

Every jam will have a different set of favorite songs and atmosphere. Some crowds like to play the universally-known songs, while others will shy away from them because they're over-done. It's really hard to know what crowd you're dealing with until you go. And heck, it may be different even from one week to the next.

That said, I can think of several songs that most people will know, and indeed should be considered staples (or I think so, anyway). Doesn't mean you'll hear them at every jam, but most folks will know them or at least recognize them. You should be able to call any of these songs and have people playing along. Or, conversely, if someone else calls one of these songs, you should be able to play along.

Whiskey Before Breakfast
Red Haired Boy
Soldier's Joy
Tennessee Waltz
Old Joe Clark
Salt Creek
Ashokan Farewell

[mandolinlee]

Hi jorgey -
Consider learning several easy tunes that you have practiced enough to be able to play nearly note-perfect and that you can play at a reasonable tempo and keep your timing solid and smooth. Examples might be "Wabash Cannonball"; "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain" and "Wreck of the Old Ninety-Seven". Most folks at a jam will know and play along with these and give you all the support you need as a new-learner.

Enjoy,
Lee

[jorgey]

Lee, Tobin, thanks for the tips and songs

[Markus]

Whatever you do, learn at least one tune in 3/4 aka waltz time.

[Jon Hall]

Jorgey

Some of the tunes/songs that are played regularly in our local jams are:

Tunes

Whiskey Before Breakfast
The Flowers of Edinburgh
Soldier's Joy
The Tom Bigby Waltz
The Temperance Reel
Fisher's Hornpipe
Staten Island Hornpipe
St. Anne's Reel
Cherokee Shuffle
Ragtime Annie
Ashokan Farewell
Blackberry Blossom

Songs

Keep on the Sunny Side
If I Lose
I'll Fly Away
Eight More Miles to Louisville
The Wandering Boy
The Texas River Song
The Fox
You Ain't Going Nowhere
Sittin' on Top of the World
Columbus Stockade Blues
Gold Watch and Chain
Don't Let Your Deal Go Down

What part of Texas are you from?

[farmerjones]

Two of my favorite lists:

http://www.drbanjo.com/instructional...gfavorites.php

http://www.drbanjo.com/instructional-2chordsongs.php

[Leon Peoples]

Jorgey

Some of the tunes/songs that are played regularly in our local jams are:

Tunes

Whiskey Before Breakfast
The Flowers of Edinburgh
Soldier's Joy
The Tom Bigby Waltz
The Temperance Reel
Fisher's Hornpipe
Staten Island Hornpipe
St. Anne's Reel
Cherokee Shuffle
Ragtime Annie
Ashokan Farewell
Blackberry Blossom

Songs

Keep on the Sunny Side
If I Lose
I'll Fly Away
Eight More Miles to Louisville
The Wandering Boy
The Texas River Song
The Fox
You Ain't Going Nowhere
Sittin' on Top of the World
Columbus Stockade Blues
Gold Watch and Chain
Don't Let Your Deal Go Down

What part of Texas are you from?

Nice set of songs/tunes that probably came out of several books in your library, wish I could find a good book song/tune book with tab.
Im sure the OP would like a book suggestion ? if not my apologies.
Best/joe

[terzinator]

Bob Grant's "Fiddle Tunes for Mandolin" has a great bunch of tunes that seems to be in all the basic lists. I really like his arrangements, and the CD renditions are crystal clear.

Steve Kaufman has a few monster collections of tunes from Mel Bay...

Brian Wickland's mandolin book is a good starter book, too.

To Tobin and John Hall's lists I'd add these:

Big Sciota
Bill Cheatum
Liberty
Lonesome Fiddle Blues

if you're ambitious, add:

Jerusalem Ridge
Big Mon
Old Daingerfield
Cuckoo's Nest

[jorgey]

What part of Texas are you from?

Thanks Jon, and everyone else, this is a great start. Jon, I live in Katy, just west of Houston.

[greg_tsam]

[QUOTE=jorgey;1199593]Not sure where to post this, but being fairly new, I thought I'd post here: I don't have familiarity with jams yet.../QUOTE]

There's a jam in the heights TONIGHT! Actually, every Weds. at Hickory Hollow ( Heights location) we get together from 6:30 to 9:00. Going to and participating in a jam is something you should do sooner rather than later.

[RobinAronson]

A current song that's popped up at several jams lately is Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker. Also, don't forget Will the Circle be Unbroken.

Edited before someone jumps on me. I know Darius Rucker didn't write Wagon Wheel - he just made it popular again

[Jon Hall]

Nice set of songs/tunes that probably came out of several books in your library, wish I could find a good book song/tune book with tab.
Im sure the OP would like a book suggestion ? if not my apologies.
Best/joe

The "tune" list, with the exception of "The Tom Bigby Waltz", are standard fiddle tunes that are available in numerous books. The "song" list are from a variety of sources: The Carter Family, Charlie Poole, Albert Brumley, Grandpa Jones, Doc Watson, Bob Dylan and Nickel Creek. I can't recall learning any of the songs from books. They were learned from recordings or playing with other musicians. I think tab for most of the tunes will be found on the tab link here at the 'cafe.

[jorgey]

[QUOTE=greg_tsam;1200046]

Not sure where to post this, but being fairly new, I thought I'd post here: I don't have familiarity with jams yet.../QUOTE]

There's a jam in the heights TONIGHT! Actually, every Weds. at Hickory Hollow ( Heights location) we get together from 6:30 to 9:00. Going to and participating in a jam is something you should do sooner rather than later.

Thanks, Greg! Didn't know that. I might try to peel over there after work soon. thanks!

[killum]

A current song that's popped up at several jams lately is Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker. Also, don't forget Will the Circle be Unbroken.

Edited before someone jumps on me. I know Darius Rucker didn't write Wagon Wheel - he just made it popular again

Actually that is Old Crow Medicine Show. As usual Darius is playing someone elses song. To his merit though in the video guess what band is featured...

[mandroid]

depends on the group .. the Senior Center Jam is a lot of 50s Country Music ..

[texaspaul]

The Bay Area Bluegrass Assiciation, BABA publishes a slow jam list with tabs each month for newbies. You might do a google search for these website to find it.

[Pasha Alden]

As someone said genre? Blue grass I would not comment. Mainstream pop? Wow there are many.
If you are an xer like me then The Beatles, Eagles The BGs can come to mind. Also folk stuff, Suzanne Vega, Joan Baez, Steeleye Span the latter all around my hat; Yesterday by Beatles, "love me do" "From me to you"
I am working The War is Over by John Lennon.
Also working on African/Western music.
But if you are a beginner some of this may be a bit tricky?

[Ed Goist]

Not sure where to post this, but being fairly new, I thought I'd post here: I don't have familiarity with jams yet, but I was curious, what, would you say are the top 5 or so songs that are regularly played at jams I'm sure most of you could be sick of these songs, but which ones would you recommend a person have in their repertoire to start?

As someone said genre? ...snip...

As a representative of the Rock contingent I'll throw in my current 'Top 6' mandolin Jam Songs:
* Knockin' on Heaven's Door (key of G)
* Rise
* Norwegian Wood (key of D)
* The Weight (key of G)
* Wagon Wheel
* Simple 12-bar Blues Shuffle in G (an experienced Blues vocalist can often makeup lyrics to this on the fly...Great fun!)

[Pasha Alden]

Hi Ed

Norwegian wood brilliant! Going to go and play that now, in D not e!

Rise also good.

On the wonderful Friday 13 a friend wanted to hear my new mandolin so I played the song "yesterday" by the Beatles. not a jam, but a beautiful song. Played in C not in f.