Etiquette in jamming

That thar's funnie!

I have been told at the same jam that I was either playing to loud or not loud enough.

I try to go somewhere in the middle.

Having worked with hard core addicts (at Kansas' Oldest Bed and Breakfast aka Lansing Correctional Facility) I had the opportunity to share with musicians playing sober for the first time.

Harmonica by the way, does sound great with all the concrete and walls.
Good thing all I have to do is change the batteries to tune my harps.

I was a counselor by the way, not an inmate.

Harris "what key is that in" Deutsch
(my wife calls me "Lips"

Be careful when you pick fights with us fiddler types. Half of our instrument doubles as a sword, and we can always play just south of the bridge to create that nails-on-chalkboard sound. Or is that faulty dry-erase-marker on dryboard these days?

Now, as for not knowing the tune, asking is inappropriate. You just need to start playing a tune you do know as soon as it comes into your head. Stomp your foot real loud if others don't start in right away playing with you.

Slow down, I'm a novice guitar player, and want to write this stuff down.

Now, hows about interupting people if you don't know the song?

Or getting REALLY drunk and picking fights with fiddlers. Bunch a stuck up types, those fiddlers are!

If you are a member of a larger session, some rules of engagement are actually necessary to keep the event manageable and fun for all involved.

-- Best session etiquette advice I've ever heard is Be courteous. This will prevent any number of problems, all by itself.

-- Tune your instrument. This, too, will prevent some ugliness.

-- Make everyone feel welcome. Introduce them to the leader if you have one. If they come in after the ball is already rolling, at least point out who the leader is.

-- If chairs are scarce and you don't actually need one, give it up.

-- If the space is tight, try not to spread your stuff out more than necessary. Tuck cases and sacks and such under or behind your own chair. This can be difficult if you play more than one instrument, but it is important for everyone's enjoyment. Having to run an obstacle course to go in or out is not just risky to precious instruments, but to hip joints and blood-pressures as well.

-- If there is a problem, don't assume it was intentional. Try to help whoever caused it understand why it was a problem, and how to avoid it in the future.

-- Try to notice the folks around you and be sure they are having fun too.

--Don't stand up to play in front of other players. It disrupts the flow of the music, blocks their view and hearing of players on the other side of the circle, and leaves them playing to your... well... not your best side.

-- Keep in mind that someone is providing the place for you to play, and don't leave them more mess than necessary, or use language and behavior that could offend their standard clientele.

-- Don't play any tunes outside the Public Domain, unless you have specific, written proof of permission from the original author. Nobody needs a lawsuit, and you do need that place to play.

-- If your session has a leader, pay attention to what they tell you.

Rule of thumb - If the experienced players aren't doing it, it probably isn't such a good idea.

The main thing is to have fun without letting your fun interfere with someone else’s ... not really that difficult if everyone just follows the first rule – “Be courteous.”

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Member of Black Hairy Possum
Webmistress of BHP and NEMOFOTMAD sites

I'll spare you all of my mediocre material and skip to my favorite all time banjo joke:

How do you know when it's a banjo player knocking at the door?

When he wants to come in, he gets louder and faster.

Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week.

-Shawn

A close friend brought two claw hammer banjos to a jam session.
"Why two banjos?" I asked
"Couldn't afford a capo" (major Duh! Learn not to talk to these guys)

It starts out with:

I. Thou shalt not ever forsake the beat.

With the rest of them listed here:

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/pcd/music/jam.htm

Erich
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http://vrteach.freepgs.com/banjo/

My worry here is that if the dulcimer section throws down the guantlet, it's only a matter of time before the TBG (token banjo guy (tm)) picks it up and believe me, the TBG doesn't need any encouragement.

I have shamelessly lifted these from http://home.alltel.net/jhpankey/doc_stock.htm , which credits a 1990 article in The Daily Clog. I knew these guys had a manifesto, but I never thought I'd actually get to see it:

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The Doc Stock Banjo Method or Any jerk can play the banjo so why not you too?
by Jim Rosenstock

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Lesson 2: Stage Presence
A dignified stage presence will do more than anything else to create the impression that you are a serious, professional musician. This is to be avoided at all costs--you have a reputation to maintain, after all! While playing on stage, you should: (1) slouch, (2) drool, (3) pick nose, (4) bump fiddler, (5) cross eyes, (6) pour beer on self, and/or (7) stare off into space. The more you can do at once, the better.

Lesson 3: Tuning your banjo
Musicians make a very big deal about "getting in tune." Fortunately, you're a banjo player, and therefore need not be so hung up. There are three basic ways to tune a banjo:
(1) With a tuning fork: Tap the fork on a hard surface. Listen to the clear bell-like tone. Make sure none of your strings duplicate this tone.
(2) With an electric tuner: Tap the tuner on a hard surface. Continue as with method (1).
(3) With a fiddle: Tap the fiddle on a hard surface. Continue as above.

Lesson 4: Tunes and Tablature
It's a well-kept secret that there are really only four tunes in old-time music: the G Tune, the A Tune, the D Tune, and the C Tune. It's an even better-kept secret that these four tunes sound exactly the same. Tablature is a simplified form of musical notation used by musicians to preserve music on paper. Avoid all tablature--you will get nowhere as a banjo player by imitating musicians.

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Lesson 6: Playing with Musicians
Playing with musicians is always scary for the beginning banjo player. You should not be intimidated, though, because musicians like to have a banjo player or two around. Even the most mediocre group of musicians will sound great by contrast when a banjo player is added. So get in there and start jamming!
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I'll let you and the TBGs work out who has the greater right of way to de-rail the circle, while we dignified 6-string, fiddle & mando players sit above the fray. (all in fun, of course ;)

-Shawn
Play Well.

Looks like Paul Goeltz is dumping his link and moving his stuff to another one. The new address for him is: http://www.pgoelz.com/ettiquet1.html Here's my list for proper etiquette.

1. Dulcimer players have more strings. It's perfectly acceptable to come slightly sharp or flat. Everybody else can tune to you(fewer strings donchaknow) If for some reason one part seems to be high and the lower part of the dulcimer is flat banjo players can tune on the fly. I've see 'em do it before.

2. FLOOD the room with chords from your dulcimer! Chord, especially in the lower part where the sustain is huge are wonderful. It gives the melody players something to play to. If you want to be heard over a huge dulcimer ya shoulda bought an oboe.

3. Kick in with a tune before the caller yells out another tune. Let him save the best stuff for later in the party. These guys are always bossing people around anyway.

4. 9/2 . . . .gotta love it, especially for contra dancing.

5. Bluegrassy dudes NEED to be introduced to more variety of tunes. If you have a Finnish fish slapping tune in your head get'er going. They'll pick it up. Same with the old timey crowd.

6. Contra dances are a great place to throw in huge embellishments. Ok, so maybe they all stop and stare at you. Pick up the beat and they'll start again.

Help me out here.