That's great!

What tunes did you play?

When you've been to the jam, be sure to let us know what was played.

How many tunes can you start?

Doesn't matter if you can lead them, most OT jams I've been in are pretty quick to catch on and jump in. Also there are times someone says "Anybody remember how to start Tune I Can't Remember?" and someone eventually remembers and everyone piles in. 

Have fun, remember to breathe if you're feeling tense while playing. Play on, son, play on.

I loved it when I lived in L.A. and was able to find a jam maybe three or sometimes even four times a week. You really gain flexibility and an ear when you must play with so many different people.

quote:

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Originally posted by ChickenMan

When you've been to the jam, be sure to let us know what was played.

How many tunes can you start?

Doesn't matter if you can lead them, most OT jams I've been in are pretty quick to catch on and jump in. Also there are times someone says "Anybody remember how to start Tune I Can't Remember?" and someone eventually remembers and everyone piles in. 

Have fun, remember to breathe if you're feeling tense while playing. Play on, son, play on.

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YES!!! Breathe!! So important. Not just in fiddling but in life. 

I probably won't be starting any but I think I'll have on what I know. I sent the coordinator of the jam my list of tunes. He said I'd be in good shape and I'd pick up some new ones so that's cool. I may record some of this too. Def taking my camera to snap some pics. 

Bring a digital recorder or use your phone to record the tunes!

For sure record and if you're like me, make note of tunes that jump out at you and learn them later. I have been known to keep track of all tunes played (I like lists). One year at Clifftop (8-9 days) I played just over 200 individual tunes and 180 some another year. I didn't know and or even heard many of them before then.

quote:

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Originally posted by Erockin

So this past September I celebrated 2 years of playing fiddle. This coming Sunday, I got invited to a legit OT jam with legit OT pickers!
I won't disclose their names until afterwards incase they are on here...lol. I don't want to discourage anyone...lol

But seriously, I'm super excited. A couple fiddles, couple banjos , guitars and bass.
A few bluegrass jams I've went to, I only took the fiddle so I was forced to participate...Sunday may be different...lol.

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Let the fun begin!!!!.. One good way to get into jams is to HOST one..!!  Just sayin'...

quote:

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Originally posted by Erockin

quote:

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Originally posted by ChickenMan

Have fun, remember to breathe if you're feeling tense while playing. Play on, son, play on.

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YES!!! Breathe!! So important. Not just in fiddling but in life. 

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LOL!!!!      yeap

I used to grunt a lot while playing. Hopefully, I'm past that now.  

quote:

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Originally posted by tonyelder

quote:

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Originally posted by Erockin

quote:

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Originally posted by ChickenMan

Have fun, remember to breathe if you're feeling tense while playing. Play on, son, play on.

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YES!!! Breathe!! So important. Not just in fiddling but in life. 

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LOL!!!!      yeap

I used to grunt a lot while playing. Hopefully, I'm past that now.  

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My first (and only) teacher did that a occasionally. I move my mouth some if I'm concentrating too much; someone says it was like John Hartford did. I equate it to guitar face, which every guitar player has to some degree. Back in my rockstar days, I tended to moved my mouth like I was taking/singing to myself when I was soloing.

For sure. Thanks for all the suggestions and reminders.

It's a big deal only because all of the jams I've been to, which were mostly acoustic or loose bluegrass, this will actually get me into another gear. Def going to make a list and star the ones I wanna focus on. On hosting, I know enough old time players that I could essentially set one up. I'd be more comfortable with another fiddle that could lead the tunes more. This will def happen at some point.

Enjoy!!! :-D

( I am too shy to ever start a jam or a house session…but I do lead sets happily…musically confident / socially shy, I realized. You are lucky that you aren’t shy! :-)

Take in the whole experience; it's not just about the notes you play.

As far as starting or leading tunes, that can be quite intimidating worry for novices to carry the tune. It's generally not a requirement. You can ask someone else to lead the tune you want to play... just play in their shadow.

I would suggest bringing the guitar or bass as well. Playing good solid backup can be great way to ease into good OT jams as more active participation. Still paying attention to the melody, listening closer to style, interaction, rhythmic nuances, details. Helps to try silently humming along with the tunes. Can help in learning/absorbing and familiarity with their repertoire and style.

quote:

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Originally posted by TuneWeaver

Let the fun begin!!!!.. One good way to get into jams is to HOST one..!!  Just sayin'...

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Hosting a jam doesn't require being the lead fiddler, or vocalist, or able to lead tunes more. Just that you can get others that can to show up. It also really helps to have a solid backup rhythm player(s) show up.

Mostly, rather than own musical skills; it's about that there is a local desire of others to play/jam; skills and putting in time of coordinating, organizing, connecting; to set it up. Finding or having the space, getting others with similar desires to show up. Ability to get word out, use social media. Finding a what day/time/place that works best for others; though probably don't overthink it. Initially can seem like lot of work, but as do it, find what works or not, and gets easier, and build more of network.

Often it is just "build it and they will come" concept; as desire exists, other musicians would probably show up, but don't want to take time to set it up.

Smaller house sessions, picking party, are a good way to start... just invite a few folks for social gathering, tunes and perhaps food (food is good enticement).

I QUIT!!!

Nah. Let's just say I didn't even play a note on the fiddle. I got it out, I set it down, and that's where it stayed. Even my guitar for that matter. Got it out, tuned it, set it down and there it remained. I was surrounded by some great players...holy smokes. Two luthiers for that matter. I heard the fiddles warming up and thought, "nope, not tonight." But I saw an upright calling my name. It was another guy's bass and he offered me and I excepted. We started out in D and for the next 2 hours, I was along for the ride. I felt bad because I kept offering him the bass back but I knew I wasn't attempting the fiddle. 2 of the 6 players I knew but still, this was the real deal. Here is what we played. Pardon the titles...I asked after every song, "now what song was that?" lol.

Julianne Johnson
Rag Time Annie
Ducks on the Millpond
Sarah Armstrong
Sally Ann
Winder Slide
Molly Put the Kettle On
5 Miles From Town
Snake River Reel
Old Grimes
Sadie at the Back Door
Lilly Of the Valley
Paddy Won't You Drink Some Cider
Indian Ate a Woodchuck
Rock the Cradle Joe
Sam Hill
Leake County Two Step
Oh Josieo
Waynesboro
Lost Girl
Moon Behind the Hill
PA Paddy on the Turnpike...

Then I had to go. Wow. Thankful to Mike Landis for the bass loan. He's a fine banjo and guitar picker too so that worked out. The average was 3 fiddles, some times 4. Other times, there were no guitars...lol. Thing is, I've heard some of these tunes, most I have not. They all were happy with me...quite surprised in fact. Glad I could hang but wow.

Sounds you were invited to a strong jam!! Please don’t quit. :-).
You are innately musical and you can trust in that!

I have a second instrument (guitar) that has never even seen the light of day at a session and probably never will, LOL. As of now I could only play in a beginner session where they have the chords written out above the notes...

And hopefully you had a fun time on bass!  :-D

quote:

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Originally posted by NCnotes

Sounds you were invited to a strong jam!! Please don’t quit. :-).
You are innately musical and you can trust in that!

I have a second instrument (guitar) that has never seen the light of day at a session and probably never will, LOL. As of now I could only play in a beginner session where they have the chords written out above the notes!

And hopefully you had a fun time on bass :-D

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I had so much fun. Wished I had the bass I'm used to but it was def fun. This bass had synthetic guts which are cool but super floppy! It was truly amazing to hear the recall of these players. Not going to lie, I was nervous...lol. They were there to pick, not to show a newb how to play fiddle. It just wasn't time yet. 

There are probably some more laid-back jams around…
you will hear on the grapevine…

Around here our sessions run the gamut from …
the learning session (sheet music, stands, and folks playing slowww and learning their instrument. This jam is actually the most social, nice and welcoming. My music friends are mostly from here.)
to the intermediate jams (no dots, everybody playing fairly common tunes at a decent clip, discussion of sets and tunes and keys is common)
to the serious jams (led by music teachers or gigging players, with other pro players dropping in…people have played for decades…the speed is blazing and the tunes can be obscure…less chitchat and tune names are like, forgotten LOL).

( I sat in one of the advanced jams once and I was sitting next to Clay Buckner LOL…
I did not play much, but what a treat!).

quote:

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Originally posted by NCnotes

There are probably some more laid-back jams around…
you will hear on the grapevine…

Around here our sessions run the gamut from …
the learning session (sheet music, stands, and folks playing slowww and learning their instrument. This jam is actually the most social, nice and welcoming. My music friends are mostly from here.)
to the intermediate jams (no dots, everybody playing fairly common tunes at a decent clip, discussion of sets and tunes and keys is common)
to the serious jams (led by music teachers or gigging players, with other pro players dropping in…people have played for decades…the speed is blazing and the tunes can be obscure…less chitchat and tune names are like, forgotten LOL).

( I sat in one of the advanced jams once and I was sitting next to Clay Buckner LOL…
I did not play much, but what a treat! Edit to add: He came a bit late, and he could either sit next to me or the bodhran player so maybe I was the lesser of two evils LOL. But that bodhran player was sooo good, best I've ever heard. )

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Ha!

I wished I would have recorded some but I was pretty pumped and by the end, I was probably annoying but I did take your alls advice on making a list.

Did they play anything you knew? 

Just play the fiddle, they all were beginners once and won't hold it against you. As you know from being in the BG world, there's always someone "better" than you, but in OT there's little to no competition so no need to worry about playing clams once and awhile. You play along quietly and eventually the tune starts playing itself.

Now, get out there and make some noise!

Oh and they are mostly tunes, not songs, but that's just semantics 

quote:

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Originally posted by alaskafiddler

Take in the whole experience; it's not just about the notes you play.

As far as starting or leading tunes, that can be quite intimidating worry for novices to carry the tune. It's generally not a requirement. You can ask someone else to lead the tune you want to play... just play in their shadow.

I would suggest bringing the guitar or bass as well. Playing good solid backup can be great way to ease into good OT jams as more active participation. Still paying attention to the melody, listening closer to style, interaction, rhythmic nuances, details. Helps to try silently humming along with the tunes. Can help in learning/absorbing and familiarity with their repertoire and style.

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I didn't see this in time but glad great minds think alike :)

quote:

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Originally posted by Erockin

quote:

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Originally posted by alaskafiddler

Take in the whole experience; it's not just about the notes you play.

As far as starting or leading tunes, that can be quite intimidating worry for novices to carry the tune. It's generally not a requirement. You can ask someone else to lead the tune you want to play... just play in their shadow.

I would suggest bringing the guitar or bass as well. Playing good solid backup can be great way to ease into good OT jams as more active participation. Still paying attention to the melody, listening closer to style, interaction, rhythmic nuances, details. Helps to try silently humming along with the tunes. Can help in learning/absorbing and familiarity with their repertoire and style.

---

I didn't see this in time but glad great minds think alike :)

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As George will tell you... Tony hardly ever brought his fiddle out at our weekly jam at McGinnley's Pub.  Same reason - a good number of very good fiddlers. Just a few guitar players (all good) and I ended up playing mandolin most of the time.  I did bring it out at another weekly jam - so I did get my "fix" each week. 

Reason. I figured the mandolin is tuned the same as the fiddle (standard) and I didn't know the tunes that well my first year or so. I was the only mandolin player in a good size group of accomplished players. And these folks knew a gazillion tunes.  Great learning experience. Worked out well for me. Win win.

I still play most all of the tunes i learned back then.  This is a good place to say "Thanks George!"  ...and all the other folks.  Especially Mike - he always insisted I play his 1924 F2 instead of my new LM700. I will say - it sounded 1000 times better. Thanks Mike. 

quote:

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Originally posted by tonyelder

quote:

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Originally posted by Erockin

quote:

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Originally posted by alaskafiddler

Take in the whole experience; it's not just about the notes you play.

As far as starting or leading tunes, that can be quite intimidating worry for novices to carry the tune. It's generally not a requirement. You can ask someone else to lead the tune you want to play... just play in their shadow.

I would suggest bringing the guitar or bass as well. Playing good solid backup can be great way to ease into good OT jams as more active participation. Still paying attention to the melody, listening closer to style, interaction, rhythmic nuances, details. Helps to try silently humming along with the tunes. Can help in learning/absorbing and familiarity with their repertoire and style.

---

I didn't see this in time but glad great minds think alike :)

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As George will tell you... Tony hardly ever brought his fiddle out at our weekly jam at McGinnley's Pub.  Same reason - a good number of very good fiddlers. Just a few guitar players (all good) and I ended up playing mandolin most of the time.  I did bring it out at another weekly jam - so I did get my "fix" each week. 

Reason. I figured the mandolin is tuned the same as the fiddle (standard) and I didn't know the tunes that well my first year or so. I was the only mandolin player in a good size group of accomplished players. And these folks knew a gazillion tunes.  Great learning experience. Worked out well for me. Win win.

I still play most all of the tunes i learned back then.  This is a good place to say "Thanks George!"  ...and all the other folks.  Especially Mike - he always insisted I play his 1924 F2 instead of my new LM700. I will say - it sounded 1000 times better. Thanks Mike. 

 

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That's a great insight on your experience! I considered taking my mandolin for that reason. Also, I can pick out melody's faster now on the mandolin and then later transfer it to the fiddle. But the main reason I didn't take it was, like in bluegrass, some instruments aren't always welcomed or should I say, encourage? Not in a bad way. To me, I don't look at boundaries when "Jamming" but I try to respect others, especially strangers. I've hosted 100's of jams and there is that feeling when you have a hot bluegrass group of pickers and in walks a guy with a snare drum...lol. Trust me, the right person can blend a snare right in and drive the train. But not everyone might be that open.  I've seen and heard, dulcimers, mandolins, flutes, bodhran etc...But I think these guys had all intentions on OT OT. The one gentleman who did bring a mandolin played it with a strum, no picking. Looking back, it was pretty surreal. The only advice I didn't take was recording it. Maybe next time if there is one? The phone woulda worked but I didn't want to put anyone on the spot however, these guys had no issue with shredding right from the get go. Bit for real, I'd love to set up multiple mics and do some true recording. 

(not political) Any Lefty's on here? Boy, that's a trip watching a lefty if you're a righty. So not only did he have super powers, it was also backwards hahaha. 

Happy Hump Day! :)

I'm basically a lefty, but it didn't take long at all for me to adjust to playing stringed instruments right-handed. Is it because my first instrument was the piano, an instrument absolutely impossible to play 'upside-down?'

In a related question, how many of you lefties suffered (or might still suffer) through insults from right handers as to the choice of your primary hand? I'm tellin' ya, it's a tough world out there...

quote:

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Originally posted by Erockin

quote:

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Originally posted by tonyelder

quote:

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Originally posted by Erockin

quote:

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Originally posted by alaskafiddler

Take in the whole experience; it's not just about the notes you play.

As far as starting or leading tunes, that can be quite intimidating worry for novices to carry the tune. It's generally not a requirement. You can ask someone else to lead the tune you want to play... just play in their shadow.

I would suggest bringing the guitar or bass as well. Playing good solid backup can be great way to ease into good OT jams as more active participation. Still paying attention to the melody, listening closer to style, interaction, rhythmic nuances, details. Helps to try silently humming along with the tunes. Can help in learning/absorbing and familiarity with their repertoire and style.

---

I didn't see this in time but glad great minds think alike :)

---

As George will tell you... Tony hardly ever brought his fiddle out at our weekly jam at McGinnley's Pub.  Same reason - a good number of very good fiddlers. Just a few guitar players (all good) and I ended up playing mandolin most of the time.  I did bring it out at another weekly jam - so I did get my "fix" each week. 

Reason. I figured the mandolin is tuned the same as the fiddle (standard) and I didn't know the tunes that well my first year or so. I was the only mandolin player in a good size group of accomplished players. And these folks knew a gazillion tunes.  Great learning experience. Worked out well for me. Win win.

I still play most all of the tunes i learned back then.  This is a good place to say "Thanks George!"  ...and all the other folks.  Especially Mike - he always insisted I play his 1924 F2 instead of my new LM700. I will say - it sounded 1000 times better. Thanks Mike. 

 

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That's a great insight on your experience! I considered taking my mandolin for that reason. Also, I can pick out melody's faster now on the mandolin and then later transfer it to the fiddle. But the main reason I didn't take it was, like in bluegrass, some instruments aren't always welcomed or should I say, encourage? Not in a bad way. To me, I don't look at boundaries when "Jamming" but I try to respect others, especially strangers. I've hosted 100's of jams and there is that feeling when you have a hot bluegrass group of pickers and in walks a guy with a snare drum...lol. Trust me, the right person can blend a snare right in and drive the train. But not everyone might be that open.  I've seen and heard, dulcimers, mandolins, flutes, bodhran etc...But I think these guys had all intentions on OT OT. The one gentleman who did bring a mandolin played it with a strum, no picking. Looking back, it was pretty surreal. The only advice I didn't take was recording it. Maybe next time if there is one? The phone woulda worked but I didn't want to put anyone on the spot however, these guys had no issue with shredding right from the get go. Bit for real, I'd love to set up multiple mics and do some true recording. 

(not political) Any Lefty's on here? Boy, that's a trip watching a lefty if you're a righty. So not only did he have super powers, it was also backwards hahaha. 

Happy Hump Day! :)

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hmmmm....  not saying you are wrong about this group of players, but in my experience a mandolin has always been welcome. I know you are aware of how many active, well known, professional OT groups there are that include mandolin. I would be surprised if the players in the session were that accomplished and wouldn't welcome (even encourage) a mandolin to join in the session.  I apologize if this sounds offensive - I'm certainly not trying to be - but I'm curious:  Did you ask?  ...or just assume it wouldn't be welcomed?  If you only assumed, then take it next time and ask if they would be put off if you played one. Perhaps explain you reasons for wanting to play it. Assurances that you will work hard not to be disruptive while learning new tunes. (I still do that.) You might be surprised. And use the opportunity to get permission from the group to record the session.

Sounds like you have stumbled into a real opportunity to learn and make new friends. A great place to be!  ...good of you to recognize the need to be sensitive to where you "fit in".