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I'm wondering, when you go to a jam, what is it that makes it good or bad? Is there a certain way to run a jam session and if so what is it.
Want some feedback. I have been at some that seem to be fun and smooth and others that get me thinking of going home and going to sleep. What about you guys?????

Guitargal

What makes it fun to me is playing with new people.
I like summer jams; bbq, lots of friends and new faces, open guitars = Fun.
No ego afternoon, just fellow musicians having a good time and tossing riffs and songs. You never know what you'll hear next. I miss that - I have no time anymore.
It sucks.

I don't know about what others look for.

When we play with new people, it's nice if they know the cover tunes or can slide through without playing out of key.

Otherwise I like it the best when people play together and no one has to be informed where we're going. Some people can play and just know where's it's been, where it is and where it will be. It stays melodic, with very few half step, chromatic changes.

In short when you play with the right people, it all sounds like 1 sound that was meant to be.

Really good players can play impromptu without losing their sh*t over minor deviations. They just keep their head and play along, listening to what everyone is doing.

I should also add that people that can listen actively and adjust on the fly have a real advantage over those than cannot.

I'd take a person who can play instinctively over a walking song book any day. AS you can teach anybody to play something set in stone, but you can't teach what doesn't exist until the moment of inspiration.
To me a walking song book is static. If something goes wrong and you drop a line, they get really upset generally. A more dynamic player will realize and be able to cover and go with the flow.

If you walk off the stage straight to the bathroom wipe both ends of your body off..not for men!! (sexchanges are optional)That would be an indication that it was the perfict jam..LOL

Well, I am new to the whole jamming thing. I have jammed twice. But what I notice is the perfect jam for me is when I have fun. If I am enjoying playing with the other person, then I enjoy it.

Especially if you are a musician and have compatibility with the other musicians. You need to get along and have the same musical interest, or at least some kind of similarity, if you do not it could wind up in a split band I would think. Once more though, I am not so experienced, so that is just a general observation of what I have been through.

Peace out and good luck, GuitarAnatomy.

Needle, that was funny but utterly gross. LOL

I was woundering if anyone would catch that

Lots of Guinness! (never fails to make a good jam)

confidential to Haystack ,
It sounds like you may be experiencing some kind of warped anal obsessive delusional withdrawal symptom , perhaps caused by to much time spent watching T.V. , as well as sitting "behind" your drums staring at Candy's arse. I would recommend a canoe trip with George. (don't forget to take along a case of Guinness and a couple of Parkers in case you see some pheasants). No charge for this psychological evaluation.

I'm Howlin' (really)

Chris, I agree that new people and fresh songs are a good element. I don't like just jammin the same stuff time after time after time.
Also Captain, I hope that I can get to the point where I know enough playing guitar to just play anything that is going on at the moment. Singing is a lot easier for me, but when it comes to playing I am jealous of all you guys that can just pick up and sense the melody and leads in songs at a great jam session. I love it! When I get lost I just kick back, maybe just do some singing and enjoy the talent around me. Got to love it!!!!! Jam on ~~~~~~~~~~

Guitargal

Lots of Guinness! (never fails to make a good jam)

confidential to Haystack ,
It sounds like you may be experiencing some kind of warped anal obsessive delusional withdrawal symptom , perhaps caused by to much time spent watching T.V. , as well as sitting "behind" your drums staring at Candy's arse. I would recommend a canoe trip with George. (don't forget to take along a case of Guinness and a couple of Parkers in case you see some pheasants). No charge for this psychological evaluation.

I'm Howlin' (really)

No way Howlin, Ill paddel my own canoe first!!

"OUCH" Candy's arse! That hurt!!

A good jam seasion starts with everyone just playing a song. Then one guy plays some new variations on the song, which give the song a different feel.
People start looking up from their instruments, and they pick up on the new stuff. And it sounds better.
LOTS of smiling going on, and people don't give a damn if they look like grinning idiots . . .
Everyone plays together, and then . . .
. . .
. . . all of a sudden, 'reality' seems to shift, and everything synchonizes terrifically. And you are all playing a GREAT song . . . no longer quite the original . . . Sometimes you get chills down your spine . . .
. . . at that point in time, there is NOTHING else you'd rather be doing . . .
At this point it's like the entire world is different . . .
The music is the greater reality - everything else is dream-like . . .
Everyone who left for the bathroom, or the refrigerator or what-not . . . they ALL come back in, find a comfortable spot, and get into the music. No one is talking, everyone is mesmorized by the music . . .
It's unreal; it's not a song, it's an event . . .
And it feels like the Gods themselves are listening in . . .
. . .
I live for those moments . . .
. . .
After a few minutes of this, someone says, "Hey! This sounds great! We ought to record it!"
He sets up the recorder & mics, adjusts the balances, does a sound check, and you start the song again . . .
. . . but, by then it's usually just a shadow of it's former self . . . it's never quite the same . . .

Isn't that the truth.

Plenty of good stuff, but never made it to the recording.. lol

"lost in the sauce"

Everyone on stage knows how to IMPROVISE WELL. Jam sessions are only as good as the level of creativity on stage. When the bass and drums are TIGHT it allows for the creative players to go off on whatever tangents they want because they know the structure of the song will not waiver. Good jams sessions can be a real pleasure. Bad jam sessions usually occur because the lead players are weak on improvisation and the leads start getting very repetetive. I've been involved with some real good jams and some REAL BAD jam sessions. I don't like hosting them as much as going to one and participating. I haven't been to a jam session in many years. Every once in a while at one of our shows we've had people come up and play with us (if I know who they are). Later...

My idea of a good jam session is not the amount of songs you fit into the session, but the quality of the tunes. When we first got the musicians together, the first session was to do a rough draft of the songs we all had in common... then from there on in, we took each song that we were definitely going to perform live and ripped it apart... we would critique each other on what we felt would help with the song as far as setting the effects, mids, bass and trebles... backup vocals... timing, etc... even if we only got through 3 or 4 songs in that session, you can be damn sure we would all take the critique and go home and do our homework for the week till next rehearsal and you'd be amazed at how tight the songs sounded by next rehearsal. You better have thick skin because be prepared for some harsh critique if you didn't do your homework! There were those that just wanted to jam...and then there were those that wanted to perfect. I lost quite a few members last year because they came in with the attitude that it was just for fun...Ummmm....no it isn't... the competition is waaaayyy fierce in the club scene and I don't wanna look like an idiot out there!!