What Keeps Good Players From Coming Back to a Jam

Lynnie, I agree with your comments. I play the banjo so I can easily offend during a jam because my instrument can overpower others. I think manners are very important to jamming and makes it more fun. One of my peeves is someone practicing (usually a loud banjo) between songs when everyone is trying to get ready e.g., key and maybe name of song. After awhile the buzz starts to fray nerves. I have found as people get to know you and your capabilities perhaps you are included more readily. I love a good fiddle player but sometimes you are not as plentiful as one would wish. Also, newer players have to adjust to fiddler technique. Do you know how you can tell a violin player from a fiddle player? Teeth. Now you can return a stupid banjo player joke.

hi im new to the sight but not to jamming. I love a good fiddle. I play bass and like staying in the background enjoyin the show. When it feels right to come out and do my thing,im no wallflower but for most of the time I really like filling in. I play latin so a good piano and me can go far, but I also like a Kenny Loggins country feel of music. When it comes to me and a violin i've played charanga which combinds a violin and a flute.

JUST A LOUD AMEN

Martha Haehl
www.playwellwithothers.com

I loved your comments. Jamming is like a great dance number where the musicians blend together, show off together, and bring out the best in other musicians.

Martha

Martha Haehl
www.playwellwithothers.com

Fiddle is one of my instruments and one of my pet peeves is a fiddler who never stops. Even constant drone notes can overshadow a fine guitar break or a singer. And playing melody all of the time, even softly can distract from other music.

Guitar breaks can be particularly overshowed by a fiddle, banjo (or flute -- one of my other instruments) For that matter, rhymthm guitar players often need to back down to hear a guitar solo, particularly one that is finger picker.

Lynnie, it sounds like you would be great to play with. I hope to get the chance some time.

Martha

Steve, I've never heard that one before. I play viola much of the time and there are pages and pages of viola jokes -- like the first one I ever heard -- what's the difference between a violin and a viola? The viola burns longer. Yes, I can never drown out a banjo but I can sure mess up my group when we switch to a new tune that everyone has agreed upon and I forget and swing into another tune... all eyes are upon me with visible disapproval, and they switch to whatever I am playing because I am the loudest instrument .

Hi Stringbean and welcome!
I've never heard of a charanga but might well do something to learn about it. I've decided that since violin/fiddles are played in almost every country, I'm going to take a virtual musical trip around the world and learn about and play every kind of music that includes violins. Right now, I'm taking a class in Near Eastern music at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago.

This virtual musical trip began with three questions -- 1) What's the difference between a violin and a fiddle, and 2) How did violins end up in Mariachi bands and 3) Why does a lot of music from Mexico sound like German or Polish dance music? I hated history courses when I was in school but learning world music has begun to bring me up to date and I am fascinated and delighted with what I am learning. What kind of music includes a charanga?

Lynnie

Martha, that would be great. What state/area are you from?

What would keep me away from a Jam?

1) overall poor musicianship. I went to a jam in New England ( won;t say where) and the level of players was just absymal. Almost every song eventualy lost the beat ( rubberbanding) and was just painful to listen and play to.

2) Overly stuffy people - wow, that is a jam killer for me.

3) Insistence on sheet music. IMHO - that is not a jam, its an orchestra rehersal. And God forbid you improvise ( my specialty). Nope, I am gone!

4) Crappy location - A mall is not a good jam space, a busy bar is not a good jam space and someones cramped basement is not a good jam space.

I lead some jams in Nashua NH (www.studio99nashua.com) . I've not been doing this long so it's great to hear all these comments. I think politeness is very important, it's just common sense. Introducing people to each other, asking wallflowers to pick something, leaving space to hear others and hanging back sometimes, all good ideas. We have new people show up each week, so sometimes it's best not to judge any jam until you've been there three times! Be nice to the newbies, maybe have a handout to give them when they get there if you want things to be clear.
ANd, sometimes a punchy musical crazy brawl can be fun, don't be too stuffy to try that too! I love the songs (our jams are singing and playing) that we can't remember the lyrics to and start making them up or laughing ourselves silly too! But I guess a whole night of that could get frustrating for those who don't get out to play music often enough!

I am a fiddler, I like to play and sing. I am used to sitting or standing in a circle. If I start the tune or song, then the person to my left takes the next break, and on around the circle and I end it. THEN the person to my left picks the tune or song. They set it up and go around the circle. And so forth.

Play backup! That means QUIETLY play behind the singer or break so they can be heard. Don't play if it is a dobro or quiet instrument. There is no rule that says you have to play every second. Backing someone up is making sure that lead person can be heard.

Don't put your back to someone trying to get into the circle - thats plain rude. If its a closed jam, please state so.