[Harp-L] "I don't feel ready" to join a Jam (John F. Potts)

["eskeene@xxxxxxxx" <eskeene@xxxxxxxx>]

As multi-intrumentalist who's played lots of gigs and jams over the last forty-five years (I'm brand-new to harp-l, but you can look forward to lots of sordid and tawdry tales from my years in the biz) I have three pieces of advice:1. Learn (until it's practically coming out your pores) the 12-bar blues progression-almost all popular music written in the last century or so (with the possible exception of John Phillip Sousa) is partially based on it.2. Learn to bend the heck out of the tonic note, the third, and the fifth of whatever key you're in-there isn't just one note note at each of those slots, there's a huge continuum, and an almost limitless amount of variety of rhythmical variation you can give to them as well as variation in volume. Once you analyze a lot of solos, you'll be amazed how some of the "greats" can play milk one note when playing a solo-sometimes for an entire solo.3. Get experience (which is really what jamming is about). Start playing along with a simple, slow blues record until you're really familiar with it and can recognize that same progression when some guitarist or group is playing it and see if you can fit in with it. Playing with others is not about showing off your chops, it's just like a musical conversation where you participate by being sensitive to the overall vibe-be supportive when you can, be quiet when you should, and give your own opinion when asked. No one can fit in with EVERY type of music (although some come close) and even the best fail miserably on occasion.Cheers, emily
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