"jam bands"

[callen3615]

Ok, well last weekend I had my first really jam session with some guys my neighbor knew. I was told that there were these 3 guys that were amazing and I should go play with them. Well I get there and its just a bunch of stoners sitting around in this little house-like structure. Well we met and started to get ready have a good time.
Well I kinda let the guys know I was a newbie and didnt know much as far as music theory goes. I said if they just gave me some chords or a riff or something I could do that. BUT they said na were just gonna "jam". I was confused, I also just wanted to "jam". So the drummer starts a beat, the lead guitarist is standing beside a keyboard and his brother is holding a mic. The lead guitarist starts improvising on the keyboard, his brother starts rap/singing to the "music". I stood there for 12 minutes until they were done, I just stood there holding my guitar. Afterward the drummer said, "hey bud you looked kinda lost". I said yeah I was. So the lead guitarist said what do you know. So i started playing panama, I figured there was enuf stuff for everyone in that tune. The lead guitarist watched me play half way through the solo and said he didnt like that one. Then the lead guitarist picks up his sg and the bassist starts a riff and they just go with it again. After another 10 minute long song full of a 8 minute improv guitar solo and drum solo they stop and just laugh. Then he played about half of hysteria by muse, then tush by zztop. I also observed his improv solos and vocals on both of these songs.
I left after another reggie-ish song they made up complete with 2 solos and vocals all from the lead guitarist. This was my first experience with "organized" music.

Is all bandlike environments like this? I thought we would play actual songs.

[callen3615]

Sorry that was longer that I thought.

[newbieguitarmaker]

Bands feel more organized unless you guys are too lazy to write your own songs, that sounds like a kind of lame jam session though.

My first jam session when I first got my nice guitar (my american deluxe strat) was full of many solos and things like that. We played Sweet Home Alabama for like an hour since we had so many guitarists and so many solos haha.

They sound like wan kers haha, plus who doesn't like Panama? I'm not even a fan of Van Halen really but playing Panama? Count me in hahah

[callen3615]

Yeah panama rocks.

[ColinMmmmm]

Yeah I've had experiences like that. You just gotta get in there. I mean it's lame, but it seems like the kinda thing these dudes were into. Until recently, I didn't know much theory, so I'd just pick a few chords that kinda fit and go from there. The good thing is bands like that tend to play really slowly, so you've got time to think. Personally I prefer having a plan.

[Robstar]

Sounds like you are not ready for them and they are not ready for you.
This happens all the time in bands ,someone starts something and you have to jump right in.It's called improvisation. i have walked into many auditions where they will throw in something you have not heard before to see how you react and overcome.
specially if you are playing at a club and they have a special guest jump on stage during your set.You have to know how to follow and anticipate.I say go back there and try to play along it will make you a better musician. But if you didn't like it then forget about it and move on.

[Big Job]

I think that there are certian 'rules' to keep in mind when jamming with people. From the sounds of things they weren't that considerate of you. Off the top of my head here are some things that I keep in mind...

1) Start of simple. Dont go straight in trying to jam over giant steps. Think something easy.
2) To start with you might not, and they might not be aware of the tonal center of the song. Spend a little time working out what notes sound good and what notes dont.
3) I always try to let the rest of the people have a turn, know when to step back and let another guitar player have a turn.
4) Try and keep volume levels fairly decent.

But to answer your question, yes I have been into similar situations and I know how ****ty they feel. I therefore have learned when I jam with people not to make the same mistakes they did. Walking into a room with a group of people who can hardly link together 3 metallica riffs was lame. The best jam sessions that I have ever had was with a drummer, the other was with a girl who played acoustic - who knew what she was doing and the environment was controlled.

Chris