[Harp-L] Re: begginner question about blues jams

[larryboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

csaba wrote:

Hi,

this is my first post here: I usually try to find my answers on the web without
bugging list members, but this time, my question is so basic that everybody
thinks that everybody knows the answer, I guess.
>>>>>>>>

Welcome.  Its about time you posted something. :^)
>>>>>>>>

I'm a beginner player, I started to play roughly a year ago, completely by
myself. Some time ago I learnt about some local blues jams, so I went to one of
them. My original (naive) idea about a jam was that it would be similar to a
"jam along" CD: a band plays some backtrack and harp players improvise over it.
Of course I learnt that this was completely incorrect.
>>>>>>>>

Not entirely incorrect. Often times jams are run this way.
>>>>>>>>

However I still don't quite know what a jam is really and how to prepare for
one.  It looks like there is a house band, they play a set and then some other
folks will go up the stage and play some songs.
>>>>>>>

Jams take many forms.  The house band playing a set, followed by other musician
is very typical.  Another form is the "open mic" form.  At an open mic, you
might play solo, you can play anything you want.  But I think you are
interested in blues jams.  One way to prepare is to play along with jam track
CD's.  These usually have the basic blues progressions on them and you are the
only soloist.  They are good for getting yourself familiar with basic blues
forms.
>>>>>>>

I think if I wanted to play (I don't, because I'm not good enough for that), I
should ask the leader of the houseband, as I can see that other guys talk to
him.
>>>>>>

There should be a sign up sheet.  The leader of the house band or the host of
the jam uses it to call up players, in turn.  When he/she does this they usually
talk with th eperson coming up to see what they have in mind.
>>>>>>>

But once you get on stage, then what? How do you find out what to play with some
strangers? Do you always play based on real, published songs, or sometimes you
make a complete improvisation?  It looks to me that they always play known
songs (e.g. as they often have lyrics), but I don't know any of them. If I can
recognize one song a night, I'm happy!
>>>>>>>>

This is where the magic happens (sometimes).  A group of strangers have to find
a song they all know.  This usually leads to a lowest common denominator blues.
 Sonny Boy's "Help Me", Muddy's "Hoochie Choochie Man", "Mustang Sally", "Messin
with the Kid", "Sweet Home Chicago".  If the group of musician know each other
a little bit (from previous jams) they might launch into some basic progression
and just peal off solos.
>>>>>>>>>

Maybe they play songs in which there is no harp and I know mostly harmonica
based music. I saw a harp player only once. They played 5 songs, I didn't know
any of them.
>>>>>>>>

Harp can be played in ANY song, whether it was in the recorded version or not.
>>>>>>>>

So from this, it looks to be a good idea to learn some common blues jam songs,
but what are they? I think I know a lot of Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson
II, Paul Butterfield, Sonny Terry songs, and the most famous songs by other harp
players, but it seems that this jam favors other songs.
>>>>>>>>>

These are good harp players to emulate.  See suggested songs above. One thing
I've found is the more harp centric the song, the less likely the guitarists
will know it.  Over time, you need to develop an ability to explain the song in
terms of the key and chord progressions.  You could always default to "It goes
like this"
>>>>>>>>>

You guys on the list are long-time jammers, if you find yourselves in a town on
an evening and you find out about a blues jam, you just go there and you'll find
your way. Unlike me, who is quite lost. Some time, I will want to be an active
participant of a jam, I WANT TO DO MY HOMEWORK, but what is the assignment?
>>>>>>>>>

The assignment is practice with Jam Track CD's, practice with known blues songs
like those suggested above.  When you do get up in a jam, keep it simple. You
might consider laying back, punctuate vocal lines, play horn lines, keep a
rythym going.  When its your turn the solo, take off.  Singing is always a plus
at jams.
>>>>>>>>

Now go out and jam and write to us about how it went.

Best Regards to All,

Larry Boy Pratt
www.parkhousejam.com




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