Outstanding advice! I wish I’d known a fraction of these tips when I first started jamming! If I could also add a little nugget - many staple Blues numbers have been covered by multiple artists, so its useful to be familiar with a couple of versions - Stormy Monday is an example - there’s the T-bone, Allman Brothers & Clapton versions which are all slightly different - worth telling your fellow jammers which version before you start :-) Additionally remember - everyone has been in the same position as you - best way to pop your Jam cherry is to dive straight in! Don’t overthink it and don’t dwell on the dropped note/chord you made in the second chorus (we’ve ALL been there)! Everyone I’ve ever played with has always been incredibly supportive and many times, you’ll be the only one that spots your mistake. Don’t be too critical of yourself and have FUN!!!
Thanks so much! Yes you are right, so many staple blues numbers out there done by different artists, Stormy Monday is a great tune, love the Bobby Blue Bland version
It has not been my experience that most guitarists fail at blues jams. People are there for a good time and are pretty supportive when someone makes a mistake. It's playing without passion that's the failure.
Solid advice. I have found that being polite and supportive of other musicians is the way to go. Snobbery or arrogance can ruin a good thing. It will be encountered at some point - if a host is particularly difficult, don’t support his/her jam.
When I started going to jams, I knew my way around the guitar. I really learned to sing and play at the jams. An invaluable learning opportunity! 30 years later still having fun in between gigs and such. Thank you!
If you're in the Chicago area - check out the First Tuesday of the Month blues jam at Johnny's Blitz in Westmont, friendly vibe and we get some great musicians joining us - you'll learn a ton and have a great time! I'm in the house band, would be great to see you there!
It matters not what you play in the middle, but a good opening phrase and a definitive turnaround to hand it off is all you need to make people remember.
Thank you for the insight. I’ve been a home player for many years with high anxiety about a blues jam. Thing is that I really want to do it but there are so many accomplished guitarists in this town. Your tips are very helpful.
Really hope you get out there and do it! All those so accomplished guitarists went through the same emotions as you are right now. Conquer and move forward.
Thank you! I am one of those guys aspiring to do Blues jams. I am blind, which adds to my anxiety, but it's a thing I want to do. Love your advice! It is very helpful.
You can do it man, Jeff Healey was blind, still blows me away and is a major inspiration to me as a guitar player and singer. His bands 'See the light' album is a cherished favorite!!
An Overdrive and a maybe a delay. YES Don't forget your tuner!! Took me a couple years to listen, learn how to comp, play broken chords and leave SPACE, call and response. I hated blues when I grew up with metal and rock. I appreciate it alot more today! I was always a Hendrix fan, I just had tto make way there slowly😂 When in doubt STAY on the high octave of the root note and ride on that note over the changes. It will give you mind breather.
These are Great tips for blues jammers!! Ive used them in the past and will in the future.A real Key is listening and step back when others take the lead..They all work!
1) B.B King Live At The Regal 2) Allman Brothers Live At The Fillmore East 3) Eric Clapton Just One Night Listen to these and be able to sing the tunes and hold down the rhythm guitar 🎸 parts and learn a few of the lead parts and you’re on ! It’s not that difficult . You can panic when someone calls to play Giant Steps
This is great👍...so basically,its all about preparation,and take a breath and practice before heading on any stage🤔✌️...good advice,nobody likes to make a wally' of themselves,its also being confident too🙄....thanks for the upload,its helped me no end😊🎸
Great advice and vid thanks. Best way to succeed at Blues Jams is to be respectful of your temporary band mates and not be flash or try to outdo them. Main tip is ENJOY yourself and jam for the sake of the music. Oh, and if the singer calls the key of Eb, just tell everyone else it's E (singer won't notice lol)
Great advice Tim. Just wish there was a blues jam pub or club in my area. Then again, I get nervous enough just playing in front of friends when someone pulls out a guitar at a party. Prepare for the unexpected I suppose! (Always thought that was a contradiction in terms). Thanks for the very helpful videos. I've subscribed of course !
As a german who has spent quite some time in G.B. ( girlfriend ),your accent is definitely a bonus for me for nostalgic reasons . I liked England and the English. Last time I heard the phrase " suss it out " was in the lyrics of the Cream song "NSU" . Thanks for your vids,really like the way You present them ! Best regards !
Great video. The advice on scoping the jam out without gear is priceless. I prefer to know the sound guy's preferred guitar hookup. I'd rather use my effects box into the PA than to use the mystery amp when I get there. One less variable to deal with. Your solo / no solo advise is also spot on. Cheers!
At lot of it depends on if you can sing or not. I can't and I don't really like blues or jamming. But because I play guitar in a band whenever I go to an open mic night I invariably get asked to play something, that's when the problems start, that usually means I need to play a song I already know or I'll jam along to something I know loosely like some kind of 12 bar as you mentioned. The easy/best bit for me is the solo portion I can do what I like then but the rest of it can be problematic and often I watch the bassist to see where he is as some sort of guide. Obviously with 12 bar you don't need to because that is obvious but being able to see the bass fingering for me at an open mic is a big help.
Also I forgot to mention, a great video and a massive help to a whole lot of people especially getting used to playing with others and in front of an audience. Nice job bro.
I like the key of B#. One time at a jam they handed me a Strat with flat wound 11 gauge strings. So when it came the “solo” I used the mic stand as a slide. I pulled it off. That’s an old trick when the guitarist hands you high action with a heavy stringed guitar. You can’t be better than the leading act. Just like the sound technician mixes the warmup act really crappy the head liner gets a great mix. It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock & roll.
I get up there and take command! If you got it flaunt it! That's how you get a name for yourself. Them loop Station one of best pedals ever for learning to solo over rhythm tracks. Soon you learn the licks n tricks. And your own flavor of emotions.
Hey Tim, a very serious question… I like to go with the feel of what I’m feeling when I’m listening to the other players, and therefore when I do a lick, I like to of course, mesh with the other guys that are throwing in some licks, but at the same time, just kind of create on the spot. To me that puts less pressure on me than trying to nail a Hendrix lick or a Clapton lick. Would love your thoughts.?
That's a very good point Doug. I think of it like this. It's important to study other players licks and sometimes do them exactly like they do them, but what happens is the way you are playing the licks gets under your fingers and kind of subconciously influences other things you play. Which is very cool. So when you play your own ideas they are actually influenced by all the other stuff you've studied. It's not all about replicating them on the spot exactly. Does that make sense?
@ hey Tim, I was driving there for an hour or so… Sorry I didn’t get back earlier. Yes, it makes total sense, and I need to start doing that, I’m good at mixing it up with others, but definitely would want the influence of somebody like Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix… David Gilmore, or Mark Knopfler! Thank you so much for your lessons and sound advice! Do you have a Patreon page?
@@DougSmith-y4o No worries at all Doug! Glad it make sense. And yes I do have a Patreon page, the link is in the description. Here you go. Loads of lessons on there, over 100. Also got a book out which is on Amazon. Thanks www.patreon.com/c/timdaleyguitar
I study other players to learn how they played stuff I like. But then I play how I like it. Of course it's cool for the audience if you can throw in recognizable "quotes" on spots where they are surprising but fitting.
The most important thing to know in order to have a successful jam is how to start a song and end a song. Being able to do this will make a musician sound like they know what they are doing.
I found you can screw up a lot during the song, but if the ending is tight, the audience will applaud enthusiastically . enthusiastically. enthusiastically.
This is great advise. My experience is everyone is very chill and appreciates people coming out to play. Sometimes you’ll do great and occasionally it won’t go well. If it doesn’t, no big deal, learn from it and try again next week. If you are friendly with folks, ready to play when called, say thanks and basically don’t be a dick you will soon be getting called on to play with other people and having a blast.
Haha, maybe! I admit it's fun to go straight to the amp with reverb, crank it and control with your volume knob on the guitar. You need a bit of 'space' though!
Also, for soloing - a slow blues take 1 chorus, anything faster take 2 choruses (that's a good rule of thumb). If you don't overplay and they like you then you could get a better situation in the future and may be encouraged to play more once they know you.
You are absolutely right for beginners about blues jam/free mic nights - just go along and watch first AND don't play your guitar/instrument. Get a feel for the venue setup and the level of musicality of the other players. You'll soon see who is good, who they think they are good AND who can play in front of strangers with confidence. And most importantly, playing with others. You can learn a lot by just watching and listening. Jim is getting pretty cocky but whacking the drummer with his strat! LMAO
I can tell you now, it will NOT go 100% as you think it will go. So roll with it and have fun. I still have a lot to learn, like not stepping on everyone else in my excitement.
Great stuff, Tim… I just subscribed! By the way , Jimi got mad at you because he was getting tired of you playing Clapton! 😆🎸. So if you understand the cage system, you understand blues 145 and relative Miner sixth… And of course the Dominant 7th and the blues note, the flattened 5th… can’t you pretty much get there and jump into whatever they’re playing? Doug from Denver.
Thanks Doug! Yeah Big Jim gets mad at me, let him, that's his job! Re what you are saying, yes pretty much. There's lots of times people have got up and played stuff I'm not familiar with and I just need to jump in. That's where a good ear comes in handy! And a bit of theory to back it up. But yes, you are correct. Just depends on the tune really.
@@timdaleybluesguitar101 very good Tim, I just shared this with my friend Kevin who’s a great bass player and my friend Donny Dark, a guitarist that plays all over Denver from decades now… I become friends with him and he invite me over to jam out and it’s really helping. He gave me a big thumbs up on what I sent him and said that your approach was excellent to better understand.
Thank Tim,great advice! however let me add I host jam nights with my trio,the bar fills up with jammers,and some are fantastic, but my beef is the bar sells over $1000 of beer and we get paid $200 divided by 3 guys.We have to stop letting bars take advantage of musicians!
I went to a jam that was clearly advertised as a “blues jam” and a lady showed up with a clarinet and her husband carried an accordion. It went downhill from there.
My tips: Groove is more important than notes, sloppy strumming adds nothing but clutter. Practise with a metronome on beats 2 and 4. If the other guitarist is on neck pickup choose a different sound on your guitar and play a different part of the neck for contrast Playing standard chords or barre chords across all six strings is often too full a sound muddying what the rhythm section is doing. Double stops allow more tonal space. For the whole band: If someone suggests playing Cocaine make sure you have listened to Clapton's hit version. The amount of times I've heard everyone on stage drummers and bass players all playing the effing guitar riff throughout (with the exact same phrasing) is insane and makes it horribly one dimensional. Have fun and if you're new don't feel you have to carry the whole tune all of the time. Silence is also a valuable contribution to an arrangement. Less IS more!
@@timdaleybluesguitar101 I agree, it's amazing what you can play on the same four notes on a solo with proper phrasing and on three notes with hammer ons on rhythm if you play with conviction and groove.
I've been frequenting the same two open-mic blues jams for about twenty years and I can safely say that 99% of our guitarists don't "fail", whatever that means. Advanced guitarists or just-beginners all have a place at our jams. So you're not so good on guitar? At our jams nobody cares! All are welcome! In fact, most open mics I've been to are like that!
Learn songs (the whole song, including riffs, heads and other rhythm parts), learn how things are communicated on stage in blues bands, if at the mic and leading GIVE solos first, support other players and don't demand a spotlight. All works
I used to love jam nights. Years ago. The players today are better players. Back then Stevie ray Vaughan thing was in. I’m sure it is to a point now. I remember seeing three piece ‘bee bop’ drums , bass, guitar. instrumental. To me it was early 60s jazz Montgomery west whatever? I dont know jazz but i wish I had that recorded. This was 20+ years ago. Sitting (right In front of guitarist) I didn’t recognize (one chord) he played. Serious . But that lil ‘three piece band’ took ‘entire audience TO SCHOOL that night. I’d seen bass player years before working at music store. Had no idea he played jazz like that. Nowdays some kid probably go up and play ‘40 ounce polyphia’. And the house band will know how to play it!
thank you for this i appreciate it. so, im going to hit you with this englishman. clapton is not a blues man cause he dont bring it home to church, ya dig. dig it!
I like playing the blues, but I would never enter a blues contest because I’m not a blues guitarist. There’s only one blues guitarist, who is even worth listening to, his name is Chris Cane. He mixes jazz in with his blues, and it’s certainly not boring
Hendrix at the Isle of Wight. The little pic you have of him in his concert dress. He performed red house that night and that performance was the greatest example of blues ever created! None will ever come close to that
Open Jams are great fun Just don’t have your backup Strats stolen from the bar while you’re up on stage playing with one of your favorite players , Andy Aledort. 🤦♂️ True Story Was still great to jam with Andy.
My advice is respect the drummer and bassist .. give the key and style (boogie, shuffle, slow blues) .. Practice some rythum 1e barr because if your 2 guitars on stage. 👍
You Tube keeps screwing over on the content makers. Make sure you're still Subscribed. You tube removes content makers Subscribers all the time. I had to re-subscribe to several channels in 2024. Keep an eye out for that.
Going to your first or a new Jam can feel like survival, especially if you have follow the local SRV protégée - it can be daunting task. But you are right - once your up jamming, its all about the music and having fun :-)
If they say "backline provided", you'll know the organizer has provided the amps. If you bring your own amp, as some players do, don't set it louder than the backline amps. At one jam I attended, a guy came in with a 4x10 Fender amp and blasted everyone in the bar. Then he picked up his amp and left. Good riddance! I think it's polite to at least listen to the next set before you pick up and leave. Also, before you play, ask what key the song is in if the set leader hasn't already told you. And if you're leading the set, give the other players to solo if they want to. Don't hog all the solos!
Yep, the best way to experience music is through fear, trepidation and paranoia. On no account must you be having fun and celebrating the fact that you’re just an enthusiastic amateur bonding with other inexpert enthusiasts. BTW, once you’ve taken on the whole Fear Of Humiliation attitude you’re almost a full blown American.
Outstanding advice! I wish I’d known a fraction of these tips when I first started jamming!
If I could also add a little nugget - many staple Blues numbers have been covered by multiple artists, so its useful to be familiar with a couple of versions - Stormy Monday is an example - there’s the T-bone, Allman Brothers & Clapton versions which are all slightly different - worth telling your fellow jammers which version before you start :-)
Additionally remember - everyone has been in the same position as you - best way to pop your Jam cherry is to dive straight in! Don’t overthink it and don’t dwell on the dropped note/chord you made in the second chorus (we’ve ALL been there)! Everyone I’ve ever played with has always been incredibly supportive and many times, you’ll be the only one that spots your mistake. Don’t be too critical of yourself and have FUN!!!
Thanks so much! Yes you are right, so many staple blues numbers out there done by different artists, Stormy Monday is a great tune, love the Bobby Blue Bland version
It has not been my experience that most guitarists fail at blues jams. People are there for a good time and are pretty supportive when someone makes a mistake. It's playing without passion that's the failure.
Glad to hear it!
Solid advice. I have found that being polite and supportive of other musicians is the way to go. Snobbery or arrogance can ruin a good thing. It will be encountered at some point - if a host is particularly difficult, don’t support his/her jam.
Yep, always be humble!
When I started going to jams, I knew my way around the guitar. I really learned to sing and play at the jams. An invaluable learning opportunity! 30 years later still having fun in between gigs and such. Thank you!
Yep, I do a lot of singing as well. Sweet!
I really enjoy the comments from mister Jimi in the corner! You have a great sense of humor!
Ah thanks so much. Glad you like the chuckles!
Good video for helping people build their confidence when confronted, even if they've volunteered themselves, with the blues jam scene.
Big thanks!
Thank you for the tips, very helpful. I am going to my first jam next week to a local blues club, still pretty nervous. Greetings from Chicago!
Good luck!
If you're in the Chicago area - check out the First Tuesday of the Month blues jam at Johnny's Blitz in Westmont, friendly vibe and we get some great musicians joining us - you'll learn a ton and have a great time! I'm in the house band, would be great to see you there!
@@BritBluesMan Thank you. I definitely will check it out.
It matters not what you play in the middle, but a good opening phrase and a definitive turnaround to hand it off is all you need to make people remember.
If one gets that far, the middle is only a few more seconds of material. If it were a topic like making love, the middle counts, too!
Some valid points!
Thank you for the insight. I’ve been a home player for many years with high anxiety about a blues jam. Thing is that I really want to do it but there are so many accomplished guitarists in this town. Your tips are very helpful.
Really hope you get out there and do it! All those so accomplished guitarists went through the same emotions as you are right now. Conquer and move forward.
Thank you! I am one of those guys aspiring to do Blues jams. I am blind, which adds to my anxiety, but it's a thing I want to do. Love your advice! It is very helpful.
No worries, thanks!
You can do it man, Jeff Healey was blind, still blows me away and is a major inspiration to me as a guitar player and singer. His bands 'See the light' album is a cherished favorite!!
@@drichards-2024 I teach a blind guy . You can definitely do it. Go for it!
An Overdrive and a maybe a delay. YES Don't forget your tuner!! Took me a couple years to listen, learn how to comp, play broken chords and leave SPACE, call and response. I hated blues when I grew up with metal and rock. I appreciate it alot more today! I was always a Hendrix fan, I just had tto make way there slowly😂 When in doubt STAY on the high octave of the root note and ride on that note over the changes. It will give you mind breather.
Yep, all great points!
@timdaleybluesguitar101 love your Channel btw !!! 🤘❤
@@JJvienneau Ah thanks so much dude! Mean a lot.
These are Great tips for blues jammers!! Ive used them in the past and will in the future.A real Key is listening and step back when others take the lead..They all work!
For sure!
1) B.B King Live At The Regal
2) Allman Brothers Live At The Fillmore East
3) Eric Clapton Just One Night
Listen to these and be able to sing the tunes and hold down the rhythm guitar 🎸 parts and learn a few of the lead parts and you’re on ! It’s not that difficult . You can panic when someone calls to play Giant Steps
I've listened to those albums so much! Great choice!
Thanks for these great tips, man!
Fantastic video, great advice and I love Jimi’s input !
Ah thanks, Big Jim is super fun for sure!
This is great👍...so basically,its all about preparation,and take a breath and practice before heading on any stage🤔✌️...good advice,nobody likes to make a wally' of themselves,its also being confident too🙄....thanks for the upload,its helped me no end😊🎸
Absolutely, prepare then relax and enjoy! Super glad it's helped.
Great advice and vid thanks. Best way to succeed at Blues Jams is to be respectful of your temporary band mates and not be flash or try to outdo them. Main tip is ENJOY yourself and jam for the sake of the music. Oh, and if the singer calls the key of Eb, just tell everyone else it's E (singer won't notice lol)
No worries thanks for the comments. Like the Eb one, I've done that a few times!
This is great, i didn't think there was so many jam nights, especially blues jams. Spot on vid, mate!
Yeah there's quite a few about. Cheers!
Great advice Tim. Just wish there was a blues jam pub or club in my area. Then again, I get nervous enough just playing in front of friends when someone pulls out a guitar at a party.
Prepare for the unexpected I suppose! (Always thought that was a contradiction in terms).
Thanks for the very helpful videos. I've subscribed of course !
Bet there's one not too far away. Ask around/Google it. Cheers re sub!
I scope out a new jam as a spectator the first time. Good video and advice, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
As a german who has spent quite some time in G.B. ( girlfriend ),your accent is definitely a bonus for me for nostalgic reasons . I liked England and the English.
Last time I heard the phrase " suss it out " was in the lyrics of the Cream song "NSU" .
Thanks for your vids,really like the way You present them ! Best regards !
Glad you like the accent! Super glad you like my vids!
I wish we had blues jams around town... too small. But, I am lucky enough to have a good friend we jam to tracks every week. And sip on Cogac.
Cognac sounds good!
I prefer Remy Martin VSOP or LouisX13
@@mumenrider862 sounds great!
Most excellent advice, thanks so much, couldn't have made more simple and stress free
You're very welcome!
Great video. The advice on scoping the jam out without gear is priceless. I prefer to know the sound guy's preferred guitar hookup. I'd rather use my effects box into the PA than to use the mystery amp when I get there. One less variable to deal with. Your solo / no solo advise is also spot on. Cheers!
Thanks so much!
I like your little helper...keep up the good work
Ah cheers!
Thanks Tim, don't often get this kind of content spelled out like this, great stuff!!
My pleasure!
At lot of it depends on if you can sing or not. I can't and I don't really like blues or jamming. But because I play guitar in a band whenever I go to an open mic night I invariably get asked to play something, that's when the problems start, that usually means I need to play a song I already know or I'll jam along to something I know loosely like some kind of 12 bar as you mentioned. The easy/best bit for me is the solo portion I can do what I like then but the rest of it can be problematic and often I watch the bassist to see where he is as some sort of guide. Obviously with 12 bar you don't need to because that is obvious but being able to see the bass fingering for me at an open mic is a big help.
There's usually someone else there who can sing. But singing def helps.
Also I forgot to mention, a great video and a massive help to a whole lot of people especially getting used to playing with others and in front of an audience. Nice job bro.
Wow, this is a great video! Subscribed!
Thanks for the sub!
Merry Christmas to you I really enjoyed it new subscriber
Thank you! You too!
Awesome advice M8 ! Would be great to see a similar video on negotiating a Fake Book . Cheers !
I like the key of B#. One time at a jam they handed me a Strat with flat wound 11 gauge strings. So when it came the “solo” I used the mic stand as a slide. I pulled it off. That’s an old trick when the guitarist hands you high action with a heavy stringed guitar. You can’t be better than the leading act. Just like the sound technician mixes the warmup act really crappy the head liner gets a great mix. It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock & roll.
I get up there and take command! If you got it flaunt it! That's how you get a name for yourself. Them loop Station one of best pedals ever for learning to solo over rhythm tracks. Soon you learn the licks n tricks. And your own flavor of emotions.
Ah the key of "C
Love the mic stand slide idea! Might try that!
Good on ya!
@@timdaleybluesguitar101 Alvin Lee did it alot. Especially on Hey Joe. Old Grey Whistle Test.
I have no chance to ever be at a blues jam, but I was still able to get a nice anxiety rush from this explanation!
Haha, give it a whirl!
You never know. There are people out there who changed everything and are great players today. Get out there. You'll never regret it.
@ there is no out to get to, but I won’t say no if an out happens
And here is me thinking it would be like the guitar duel at the end of crossroads with Jack Butler haha 😊
Our jam nights can get like that sometimes!
Solid advice Tim! Thanks !
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent tips!
Great advice.. About time I stopped with the excuses and got on with it..👍🇦🇺
Get out there dude!
All great tips thanks Tim
No problem 👍
Hey Tim, a very serious question… I like to go with the feel of what I’m feeling when I’m listening to the other players, and therefore when I do a lick, I like to of course, mesh with the other guys that are throwing in some licks, but at the same time, just kind of create on the spot. To me that puts less pressure on me than trying to nail a Hendrix lick or a Clapton lick. Would love your thoughts.?
That's a very good point Doug. I think of it like this. It's important to study other players licks and sometimes do them exactly like they do them, but what happens is the way you are playing the licks gets under your fingers and kind of subconciously influences other things you play. Which is very cool. So when you play your own ideas they are actually influenced by all the other stuff you've studied. It's not all about replicating them on the spot exactly. Does that make sense?
@ hey Tim, I was driving there for an hour or so… Sorry I didn’t get back earlier. Yes, it makes total sense, and I need to start doing that, I’m good at mixing it up with others, but definitely would want the influence of somebody like Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix… David Gilmore, or Mark Knopfler! Thank you so much for your lessons and sound advice! Do you have a Patreon page?
@@DougSmith-y4o No worries at all Doug! Glad it make sense. And yes I do have a Patreon page, the link is in the description. Here you go. Loads of lessons on there, over 100. Also got a book out which is on Amazon. Thanks www.patreon.com/c/timdaleyguitar
shorturl.at/MGURS
I study other players to learn how they played stuff I like. But then I play how I like it. Of course it's cool for the audience if you can throw in recognizable "quotes" on spots where they are surprising but fitting.
Great video! Love Jimi’s advice!
Jimi should have his own segment
Haha, Big Jim is cool!
Many years of playing live with small clubs with bands I recommend the same tuner is to be used by every instrument so there’s no deviation in pitch…
Yeah Ive had some inaccurate tuners in the past.
The most important thing to know in order to have a successful jam is how to start a song and end a song. Being able to do this will make a musician sound like they know what they are doing.
That's a great point!
I found you can screw up a lot during the song, but if the ending is tight, the audience will applaud enthusiastically .
enthusiastically. enthusiastically.
Yeah bookending is important.
@@flyballhdeg9775 especially if it was really terrible and your ending is safeguarding their anticipation that the end is thankfully near.
Thanks for the advice.
No worries!
This is great advise. My experience is everyone is very chill and appreciates people coming out to play. Sometimes you’ll do great and occasionally it won’t go well. If it doesn’t, no big deal, learn from it and try again next week. If you are friendly with folks, ready to play when called, say thanks and basically don’t be a dick you will soon be getting called on to play with other people and having a blast.
Some great ideas there!
If you're at a blues jam with guitar pedals, you're at the wrong blues jam. :)
Haha, maybe! I admit it's fun to go straight to the amp with reverb, crank it and control with your volume knob on the guitar. You need a bit of 'space' though!
Nice. I think you covered it all.
Great tips!!
Thanks man!
Pretty much bang on, excellent advice.
Thank you!
Also, for soloing - a slow blues take 1 chorus, anything faster take 2 choruses (that's a good rule of thumb). If you don't overplay and they like you then you could get a better situation in the future and may be encouraged to play more once they know you.
Yep great points!
LOL I’ve played bass perfectly on blues songs in live shows, and these were songs that I’ve never heard in my entire life.
I "learnt bass"on a blues number today took me a massive 5 mins to get the part right😀
You are absolutely right for beginners about blues jam/free mic nights - just go along and watch first AND don't play your guitar/instrument. Get a feel for the venue setup and the level of musicality of the other players. You'll soon see who is good, who they think they are good AND who can play in front of strangers with confidence. And most importantly, playing with others. You can learn a lot by just watching and listening.
Jim is getting pretty cocky but whacking the drummer with his strat! LMAO
Yep, get scoping!
I can tell you now, it will NOT go 100% as you think it will go. So roll with it and have fun. I still have a lot to learn, like not stepping on everyone else in my excitement.
Yep, that's for sure!
Great video. Blessings brother.
Thanks, you too!
Um, just checking, but... Everyone else can see Jimi throwing in his two cents, right?
I sure hope so!
Really great, useful advice.
Glad it was helpful!
Great stuff, Tim…
I just subscribed!
By the way , Jimi got mad at you because he was getting tired of you playing Clapton! 😆🎸. So if you understand the cage system, you understand blues 145 and relative Miner sixth… And of course the Dominant 7th and the blues note, the flattened 5th… can’t you pretty much get there and jump into whatever they’re playing? Doug from Denver.
Thanks Doug! Yeah Big Jim gets mad at me, let him, that's his job! Re what you are saying, yes pretty much. There's lots of times people have got up and played stuff I'm not familiar with and I just need to jump in. That's where a good ear comes in handy! And a bit of theory to back it up. But yes, you are correct. Just depends on the tune really.
@@timdaleybluesguitar101 very good Tim, I just shared this with my friend Kevin who’s a great bass player and my friend Donny Dark, a guitarist that plays all over Denver from decades now… I become friends with him and he invite me over to jam out and it’s really helping. He gave me a big thumbs up on what I sent him and said that your approach was excellent to better understand.
Great video. Thank you.
Glad you liked it!
Thank Tim,great advice! however let me add I host jam nights with my trio,the bar fills up with jammers,and some are fantastic, but my beef is the bar sells over $1000 of beer and we get paid $200 divided by 3 guys.We have to stop letting bars take advantage of musicians!
Yeah, that's a good point. It's always been tough for musos. I certainly know what you mean!
Brilliant brilliant video
Ah big thanks!
Hangout to find-out. 🤤 Thanks for the useful tips. Cheers from Indonesia.
Cheers from the UK!
Let us all give a "Big" thumbs up for big Jim. 😂👍
Ah cheers from Big Jim!
I haven't been to a blues jam in years too busy playing paying gigs
Good on ya!
Outstanding!!!
Thank you! Cheers!
Practice with a looper pedal helps me a lot
I went to a jam that was clearly advertised as a “blues jam” and a lady showed up with a clarinet and her husband carried an accordion. It went downhill from there.
Haha, sounds an entertaining night! Comedy gold!
Could still work.
The Hendrix doll is quite funny 😂
Glad you think so!
Awesome sound, what amp is this in the backround? Greetings from germany
Thanks! Do you mean the Kool amp?
My tips: Groove is more important than notes, sloppy strumming adds nothing but clutter. Practise with a metronome on beats 2 and 4.
If the other guitarist is on neck pickup choose a different sound on your guitar and play a different part of the neck for contrast
Playing standard chords or barre chords across all six strings is often too full a sound muddying what the rhythm section is doing. Double stops allow more tonal space.
For the whole band: If someone suggests playing Cocaine make sure you have listened to Clapton's hit version. The amount of times I've heard everyone on stage drummers and bass players all playing the effing guitar riff throughout (with the exact same phrasing) is insane and makes it horribly one dimensional.
Have fun and if you're new don't feel you have to carry the whole tune all of the time. Silence is also a valuable contribution to an arrangement.
Less IS more!
Your first point is massively important! And some other great points as well. Nice one!
@@timdaleybluesguitar101 I agree, it's amazing what you can play on the same four notes on a solo with proper phrasing and on three notes with hammer ons on rhythm if you play with conviction and groove.
Very nice video. Makes a lot of sense. kg
Glad it was helpful!
Even better if one can sing and play rhythm confidently on the songs of your choice. Automatic, de-facto leader of the jam!
Yep true enough!
Well said that man! 😎
What if they play a Charlie Parker bebop blues like Billie’s Bounce with 16 chord changes in it?
You better be good! Or otherwise run!
I've been frequenting the same two open-mic blues jams for about twenty years and I can safely say that 99% of our guitarists don't "fail", whatever that means. Advanced guitarists or just-beginners all have a place at our jams. So you're not so good on guitar? At our jams nobody cares! All are welcome! In fact, most open mics I've been to are like that!
Well I'm glad they don't fail. And I agree, it's great to welcome everybody.
Tell me more about it 🙏
Learn songs (the whole song, including riffs, heads and other rhythm parts), learn how things are communicated on stage in blues bands, if at the mic and leading GIVE solos first, support other players and don't demand a spotlight. All works
Yep good points.
Tell you one thing about surviving a blues jam, be damn sure to talk with an accent like Tim Daley 🎸🔥
Haha! Sweet!
I used to love jam nights. Years ago. The players today are better players. Back then Stevie ray Vaughan thing was in. I’m sure it is to a point now. I remember seeing three piece ‘bee bop’ drums , bass, guitar. instrumental. To me it was early 60s jazz Montgomery west whatever? I dont know jazz but i wish I had that recorded. This was 20+ years ago. Sitting (right In front of guitarist) I didn’t recognize (one chord) he played. Serious . But that lil ‘three piece band’ took ‘entire audience TO SCHOOL that night. I’d seen bass player years before working at music store. Had no idea he played jazz like that. Nowdays some kid probably go up and play ‘40 ounce polyphia’. And the house band will know how to play it!
Yep still see a lot of SRV stuff at jam nights! And love a bit of Wes, wonderful stuff!
Where are these blues jams? I'm keen to try!
I'm in the UK, Shropshire, whereabouts are you?
Filling my guitar practice gap with watching your videos instead lol
Haha! Great stuff mate!
Don't drive home if you are over 10 pints. You will live to see the next battle.
Definitely not!
("I'd rather snort it") Ha ha, HILARIOUS!
Haha, thanks, I was quite proud of that one!
@@timdaleybluesguitar101 Fantastic!...you made me LOL for real.
What about playing some Pete Green ?
I've done a vid on Peter Green not long ago, check it out
@timdaleybluesguitar101 Great I will, brilliant channel by the way.
thank you for this i appreciate it. so, im going to hit you with this englishman. clapton is not a blues man cause he dont bring it home to church, ya dig. dig it!
I think Clapton divides a lot of people!
nah, the man is a wizard. im just saying, you know what im saying.
@@johnh.mitchell6519 I agree, he is amazing, but devisive all the same. I love his playing. All cool.
I guess you need to be prepared to phuckup, smile and keep moving forward.
Yep, alway moving forward!
'minor pentatonic over everything' lol. The jazz crowd have just spat their herbal tea out.
Haha, yep you get that a lot!
Im guilty of doing widdly widdly when by brain switches to 80’s sleaze rock on a blues progression😂
Easily done!
You may want to volunteer to sing a tune even if you’re just learning. That brings me to my #1 suggestion don’t step on the vocalist or soloist!
Yes, def don't step on anyone!
EVERYBODY should sing at least once in a while. Especially guitarists!
I like playing the blues, but I would never enter a blues contest because I’m not a blues guitarist.
There’s only one blues guitarist, who is even worth listening to, his name is Chris Cane.
He mixes jazz in with his blues, and it’s certainly not boring
Check out Robben Ford then - you'd like him too!
Love Robben, saw him last year.
Hendrix at the Isle of Wight. The little
pic you have of him in his concert dress. He performed red house that night and that performance was the greatest example of blues ever created! None will ever come close to that
Yep, super cool!
Open Jams are great fun
Just don’t have your backup Strats stolen from the bar while you’re up on stage playing with one of your favorite players , Andy Aledort.
🤦♂️
True Story
Was still great to jam with Andy.
Oh no that's terrible. Did you ever get it back?
My advice is respect the drummer and bassist .. give the key and style (boogie, shuffle, slow blues) .. Practice some rythum 1e barr because if your 2 guitars on stage. 👍
Deffo!
i ALWAYS fail ............its that 5/8 reggae turnaround that !@#$% me every time - that and my
mongolian scales and throat singing
Haha, likewise!
You Tube keeps screwing over on the content makers. Make sure you're still Subscribed. You tube removes content makers Subscribers all the time. I had to re-subscribe to several channels in 2024. Keep an eye out for that.
Thank you, much appreciated!
The most humiliating day of my life was auditioning for a blues band. They played Boom Boom in F!?!? WTF!?!?
Weird dude! F! No way!
I mainly watch these for Jimi's comments.
Ah brilliant to hear!
Jazz blues can be bit tricky, end turnaround, I guess most "rock" guys hack it thru
Love a bit of jazz blues but might be tricky for someone starting to do blues jams!
Survive! Jams are supposed to be fun not about surviving. Thankfully I've never been to one of the new survival jams.
Survive and thrive!
Going to your first or a new Jam can feel like survival, especially if you have follow the local SRV protégée - it can be daunting task. But you are right - once your up jamming, its all about the music and having fun :-)
Blues jams have almost disappeared in Michigan. A state that has the Blues bad .
Start one up!
If they say "backline provided", you'll know the organizer has provided the amps. If you bring your own amp, as some players do, don't set it louder than the backline amps. At one jam I attended, a guy came in with a 4x10 Fender amp and blasted everyone in the bar. Then he picked up his amp and left. Good riddance! I think it's polite to at least listen to the next set before you pick up and leave. Also, before you play, ask what key the song is in if the set leader hasn't already told you. And if you're leading the set, give the other players to solo if they want to. Don't hog all the solos!
Yep all good points! You've always got to be polite and humble.
What most don't realize is that blues is easy to play mediocre. Very difficult to play great. 🤔🤫
Brilliant!
then there's the geezer who 'does Crossroads in E' . .ha
No way!
Tim make Hextatonic lessons because Joe Bonamassa uses Hextatonic licks in his blues
Might well do one on Joe in the future
@@timdaleybluesguitar101 thanks
Yep, the best way to experience music is through fear, trepidation and paranoia. On no account must you be having fun and celebrating the fact that you’re just an enthusiastic amateur bonding with other inexpert enthusiasts. BTW, once you’ve taken on the whole Fear Of Humiliation attitude you’re almost a full blown American.