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
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.
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 !
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.
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!
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.
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 !
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.
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.
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!
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
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😊🎸
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.
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 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
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!
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!
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. 👍
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 :-)
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!
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
I’ve been playing for years and soloing is shocking compared to other fabulous guitarists I Jam with! Frequently, (especially if I’m leading the song and singing), I’ll just hang back, play rhythm, and let the other harp, sax, guitar, key players have their solos and try to bring us all together as a band, maybe changing the tempo or bring the volume down to add more texture to the song we’re playing. Especially import is finishing the together - just like Tim said :-) I’ve come off jam night stages having never played with some of the other musicians before and people have asked how long we’re been playing together as a band :-) - that’s praise enough for me!
OK strange, I'll check that, don't think I've done much different from usual, but thanks. Got a new voice mic few months back, which is expensive but brilliant.
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
The best way to survive the blues jam is to play bass😅
Haha, that's cheating!
Few things cause a train wreck more than a bass player with no pocket.
😂 playing anything but guitar will get you on stage fast
Play drums 😂
lol
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!
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!
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.
Most excellent advice, thanks so much, couldn't have made more simple and stress free
You're very welcome!
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!
I scope out a new jam as a spectator the first time. Good video and advice, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
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 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.
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 like your little helper...keep up the good work
Ah cheers!
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!
Great video! Love Jimi’s advice!
Jimi should have his own segment
Haha, Big Jim is cool!
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!
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.
Solid advice Tim! Thanks !
Glad it was helpful!
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!
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!
Excellent tips!
All great tips thanks Tim
No problem 👍
Awesome sound, what amp is this in the backround? Greetings from germany
Thanks! Do you mean the Kool amp?
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.
Wow, this is a great video! Subscribed!
Thanks for the sub!
Great tips!!
Thanks man!
Great video. Thank you.
Glad you liked it!
Awesome advice M8 ! Would be great to see a similar video on negotiating a Fake Book . Cheers !
Outstanding!!!
Thank you! Cheers!
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!
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.
Brilliant brilliant video
Ah big thanks!
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
Filling my guitar practice gap with watching your videos instead lol
Haha! Great stuff mate!
Hangout to find-out. 🤤 Thanks for the useful tips. Cheers from Indonesia.
Cheers from the UK!
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! 😎
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!
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!
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!
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!
Tell me more about it 🙏
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!
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!
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 :-)
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.
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!
Where are these blues jams? I'm keen to try!
I'm in the UK, Shropshire, whereabouts are you?
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!
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!
Best way is to stay away from the blues jam night LOL
Nah, nah, nah, get in there!
You don’t go unless you want to play a solo.
I know what you mean but some folks are happy just to join in on a low level. It's all cool
I’ve been playing for years and soloing is shocking compared to other fabulous guitarists I Jam with! Frequently, (especially if I’m leading the song and singing), I’ll just hang back, play rhythm, and let the other harp, sax, guitar, key players have their solos and try to bring us all together as a band, maybe changing the tempo or bring the volume down to add more texture to the song we’re playing. Especially import is finishing the together - just like Tim said :-)
I’ve come off jam night stages having never played with some of the other musicians before and people have asked how long we’re been playing together as a band :-) - that’s praise enough for me!
Thats funny
Tim make Hextatonic lessons because Joe Bonamassa uses Hextatonic licks in his blues
Might well do one on Joe in the future
@@timdaleybluesguitar101 thanks
💗
Big Jim is wrong....I don't want "groupies"....I have a wonderful woman...
I want ROADIES!!!!!
Haha, Big Jim values his roadies, but he likes his groupies more!
@timdaleybluesguitar101 Lol....love your content Tim 👍
Great channel 👏
Ah thanks so much Jeff, means a lot!
If you need roadies at a blues jamm-in you may too good for all the beginners. Show off! lol
Why not both? 😄
How about.. what NOT to do at a blues Jam. lol
I can think of many things! And a few I've done!
Your guitar sound muddy today. Your voice is fine but.. oh whatever.
OK strange, I'll check that, don't think I've done much different from usual, but thanks. Got a new voice mic few months back, which is expensive but brilliant.
Awesome advice M8 ! Would be great to see a similar video on negotiating a Fake Book . Cheers !
Ah cheers! Like the idea!