I go to a couple of mixed-up sessions/jams that are, um ... "low level" - to the point that I get frustrated with all the "Here's one I never really learned", "Here's one I heard on the radio today and I looked it up; I haven't had a chance to try it yet", and "I don't know what to play, but just give me five minutes to nose through my binder and scroll through my phone, I might find something I used to know, and then we'll noodle with it for another five minutes, and then we can play it" ..... However, they're good people, and those two mixed-up sessions/jams constitute the entirety of my social life, so I grin and bear it. And, to be fair, they do have their musical moments, from time to time ... !

Oh - and to answer your question:  sometimes I'll go over a tune or two ahead of time, or learn a tune that someone else plays, but I just wing it for the most part.  I usually choose from a small repertoire of simple tunes that have very basic chord structures, so that when five guitarists all insist on banging along, it doesn't get too crazy.

I often keep something in the back of my mind to play if I’m asked to solo. I will play something that I haven’t played for a few months at that particular session. If I know I have to be showy I’ll practice something before hand. If I’m asked to lead off a set I’ll keep 3 or 4 sets to suit the standard of musicianship that’s present in my mind.

 often crash on the tune sets because I'm accustomed to joining different tunes together than the locals, plus I move around in different circles. So if I change to something nobody knows I just play it single and once through. Then hopefully they join in on the next one. 

i always took the advice "practice at home, and play in publc", but things still go wrong. Always have one in the back of my mind that everyone knows to finish on. They'll join in with a sigh of relief !

Good heavens Scratch, we go to the same jam!
But it's like you said, it's better than hitting your hand with a hammer.
Hey, I even dropped my pick in my loner guitar, mid-song. Hysterical! The lady that puts it on, keeps an old Washburn for me to play. So all I have to bring is my fiddle.
I have to drive an hour, so I listen to radio or YouTube while I'm driving. That's my preparation.

Well, not entirely true. I prefer to play several hours a day. But I don't play fiddle exclusively.  I build song/tunes with whatever I need. Not touting my channel. It just shows the what & how.

There are exceptions, like "Brilliancy" (very unlikely to be played in a jam session), but generally American old time sessions don' t play medleys ("sets" in Irish) - just single tunes played for awhile.
I'm not much of a jammer, but I do play one yearly get together where we've played the same tunes in D for twenty years. My preparation is to make sure I have my D harmonica, regardless of what is says on the box, and tune my ukulele ahead of time. One of the foundational fiddlers passed away last month, and I'm thinking of taking a fiddle this year. My preparation will be to try and find my good fiberglass case. Its here somewhere.

OK I see that I am on the "overprepared end", hahaha!
I already have my sticky ready for tonight, haha, with 4 sets written out on it!
And wrote out the first measure of the new jig...
I'm a prepper.

( Martyjoe, yes - when you go to various different sessions it gets hard to remember who plays/knows what tunes! I sometimes find myself playing alone too, and will fast-forward to the next tune :-)

*edit to add: I tend to only lead a couple of sets, not four! but I like having options.

farmerjones, about the pick - whoops! :-D
haha, have done that but not yet in public!

"I had a 'crash' the other night at one of the higher level sessions..."

Been there, done that, at a somewhat high level session...a situation where I thought I was prepared, but the 2nd tune left my fingers temporarily... all down to nerves. You just have to keep getting back on the horse... :-)

NCnotes 'OK I see that I am on the "overprepared end", hahaha!' .... Well ... it doesn't sound like it, from what you relate in your initial post - more like you would be "overprepared" for a "lower level" session, but not for the one you're talking about.

Just so we are clear - Sessions = tradition Irish or Scottish sessions where tunes are played strictly per the accepted versions and 'sets' refer to 2-4 tunes strung together. Some Old Time get togethers also follow this format and rules.

Jams on the other hand are less structured and may be Old time, Bluegrass or basically open to 'Americana' (everything) tunes and songs.

I've only ever gone to one 'session' (O.T.), where all 15 people pulled out a tune book and played off the pages "Lets do # 27,14 and 2". Not my thing. No prep done - used the 2 sound receptors on my head to play the tunes. If thats your scene, yah, I'd make darn sure I knew the tunes cold and at tempos quicker then likely to be played.

Jams - I go to many different ones, some hard core bluegrass, some mixed genres. I might prep the night before, going over a few licks and runs, couple of double stop changes. All have fairly competent players who are just interested in making good music; no one is really into learning such and such tune from Blind Dead Billy Bob Thornapple. Once in a while I'll show the guys one of my own tunes, if they like it, it goes into the rotation, if not, well, oh well.

Yes I see lots of people singing out of song books and song sheets. Also having the phone scrolling down in front of them. I suppose we’re so used to it now that nobody pays attention anymore.

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Originally posted by NCnotes

farmerjones, about the pick - whoops! :-D
haha, have done that but not yet in public!

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Grand Ol Opry, comedian Gary Muledeer does this in a skit on stage. His gag is he's got like 5 pounds of guitar picks in his guitar. Someone should start a most embarrassing thread, bc this ain't even close. 

Well, I go to a grass and gospel jam where old country occasionally arrives. I get to play some songs over and over and I get to follow the changes when a new song pops up. And when a capo aficionado gets creative I experience THOSE keys. All in all I don’t crash and burn as often as I stumble and grimace. The joy of fiddling or playing mandolin keeps me practicing as often as I may. And I usually have a set list or two hanging around my case, though the first line is printed next to the title and key. Play on friends.

Re Capo:
That’s when you feel around a bit for the tune and you’re like…
ok no problem…it’s in my favorite key, F-sharp!

GOod sesh tonight - and I saw that the flute player also brought a little notecard with her sets written on it…I am not the only prepper!

Short anecdote on capos and keys We have a lady singer at one BG jam, been going to for 5+ years every Tues. She sings everything in Bb, which was not my fav key. I used to sit out or not take breaks, to the point where it became a point of humor within the jam. One nite, my car water pump pooped the bed. You know she stayed with me til the towtruck showed up AND gave me a ride home, even though it was close to midnight. I was so grateful I told her she gets a whole year of me playing Bb tunes without any whining or complaints. Best thing ever happened to me, I practiced all my stuff in Bb daily until Bb was effortless. Scroll forward a year + 2 weeks, car again breaks down at the same Jam, and Heidi again stayed with me and gave me a ride home. She announced at the very next jam session that she was now going to start singing in G#, as a joke. I told the group "That's IT. I'm gettin' a new car!".

It really depends on the jam/session. For Old Time jams, since the tunes are generally so easy to pick up and they’re played one at a time and repeater any times, I don’t usually feel the need to prepare for them. If I was leading a jam and calling the majority of the tunes, though, I’d prepare several tunes to be sure I had things to draw from so that I didn’t make the other players provide all the tunes when I was supposed to lead. When I led a jam at one of the violin shops where I previously worked, I always made sure to have a few tunes in the popular keys ready to go before each jam.

When it comes to sessions, it’s a little different. Since sessions can be a lot stricter about things and the people are far less forgiving of mistakes, it’s often good to prepare. However, there are a couple sessions in my area that are far more relaxed and friendly, and for those sessions I don’t have to prepare. It’s ok if you don’t have a set and want to pass or if you play crossover tunes.

I don’t have time to practice properly nowadays with my repair work and family commitments, so I tend to go to playing opportunities where I can show up and play without having to prepare. When I get a gig, I prepare for it even if it’s low pressure.

wrench13 That brought a smile.

We have a weekly session on Monday night. I'll play the fiddle during the week a little - but far less than what I used to...

For a while now - I've been playing mandolin at the session instead of fiddle (long story). And the only time I play my mandolin is at the session on Monday night. Shame on me. So, there is little to no preparation ahead of time.

Works out ok - but it can get tricky. Yes, my mandolin is played in standard tuning - so you understand "tricky".

The key we are playing in our next jam is always announced in an email... I pick two or three tunes in the upcoming key and use them as busking tunes......

Wow, that’s very organized to announce the key!

I went with my prep sheet last time and didn’t use a single set off it. THere was a pause after we did a set of driving reels and these two slow dreamy modal jigs kind of rose up in me and I played ‘em. I don’t know where they came from but I didn’t even think. I love when we fall into the flow…talk breaks disappear, people stop asking names, the tunes are just rolling and rising up and nobody cares what the names are anymore…They were still playing when I left (at the 3-hr mark)! So much for ‘prep’, hmm.

Looks like I'm strictly a "low-level" jammer. I've never specifically prepped for a jam, and can't remember ever being in a jam...OT, BG, or country... where anyone gets upset over screw-ups and mistakes. I'd definitely be in trouble if they did, 'cause I'll take a shot at nearly anything and I'm quite familiar with the 'ol crash-n-burn.

These sessions and tighty-pants jams sound more like pseudo-performances and would bring on more stress than stress relief for me. I jam for fun and social engagement, not for the entertainment of hangers-on. Anything beyond that is band practice.

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Originally posted by NCnotes

Wow, that’s very organized to announce the key!

I went with my prep sheet last time and didn’t use a single set off it. THere was a pause after we did a set of driving reels and these two slow dreamy modal jigs kind of rose up in me and I played ‘em. I don’t know where they came from but I didn’t even think. I love when we fall into the flow…talk breaks disappear, people stop asking names, the tunes are just rolling and rising up and nobody cares what the names are anymore…They were still playing when I left (at the 3-hr mark)! So much for ‘prep’, hmm.

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The key moves along.. two weeks in C, two in D, two in A and two in G...It all started when we wanted to NOT skip C...

C!!! Are there enough tunes to fill the jam time! :-)

It's old-time. You only need three for a two-hour jam! :^)

"These sessions and tighty-pants jams sound more like pseudo-performances and would bring on more stress than stress relief for me. I jam for fun and social engagement, not for the entertainment of hangers-on. Anything beyond that is band practice."

Right said, Fred!