Jam etiquette and how to get invited back!
Whether a jam consists of fully improvised music or cover songs, there are some rules of etiquette that musicians should follow that will ensure a better experience for the players and their audiences.
Story by Dale Titus
Rule One: Be Invited to Stay - Not Asked to Leave
Nothing ruins the positive vibes of a jam quicker than a musician getting on stage and playing over everyone else. If you are given a solo, try to be respectful of the other musicians and the audience by not overstaying your welcome. If other players have soloed before you in the song you are jamming on, try to match the length of your solo to how long they played. It is better to be cheered on to keep soloing than to look up during your solo and see the other musicians playing Candy Crush on their phones!
Rule Two: Be the Frame – Not the Painting
Most instrumental jam sessions will involve a rotation of soloists which gives each person the chance to step into the spotlight and shine for a moment. One way to make sure you get invited back to the next jam session is to do your absolute best to support each soloist with your bass lines. One exercise that I like to do when supporting a soloist is to play a sonic “opposites attract” game. If the soloist plays in the upper register, I make sure my bass line is in a lower register. If the soloist then moves down to a lower register I move my bass line up. Likewise, if a musician plays a very harmonically complex solo then I stick to mostly roots. In short, I try to make sure my bass line does not get in the way of what the soloist is trying to express.
When it comes to intensity of a solo, I do NOT play the opposite game. If the soloist brings the dynamics way down, I make sure I match him or her. When a musician builds the intensity up to a face-melting level I do the same. Nothing would be worse than NOT matching the intensity level of a soloist.
Rule Three: Don’t Start the Race in a Car with Flat Tires
This one should be a no-brainer, but do not get up to jam if you know there is an issue with your bass or any other gear you want to use that night. Nothing will kill a vibe faster than a nasty buzzing sound or having your bass cut in and out. Before heading to the venue for the jam take a quick moment and test out the gear you are planning to bring with you.
On a side note, if you are going to jam night to sit in on a few tunes, and you are not the house bassist for the night, resist the urge to bring all your pedals, three basses, and a framed photo of your favorite bassist to set on the amp head. When called to the stage you should be able to plug in and be ready to play in less than a minute.
Rule Four: Be Sure You are at the Right Place
If you remember just one thing from this article, make it this: Do not confuse a jam session for an open mic night. If you are invited up to the stage to jam that is not the time to whip out your 20-minute solo bass, freeform jazz odyssey. An open mic night is the place to do that. A jam night is a communal event – the perfect time to play well with others.
There are so many benefits to taking part in jam sessions. When I was a student at the Bass Institute of Technology I learned as much, if not more, from the afterhours jam sessions as I did in any classroom. Not only did I have a lot of fun and was able to transform theoretical knowledge into practical application, but I also made lifelong friendships.
Lastly, if you are having difficulty finding a jam session in your area, consider hosting one yourself! All you need is a large enough room and some very forgiving neighbors!
GO GET YOUR JAM ON!
