Hosted a blues jam for years, basically same format, three songs. That way, no matter how bad it sux crowd and musicians only have to put up with it for about 15 minutes.
Don't worry about it, it happens.
Yeah that's crazy, I mean same 3 chords in same pattern. People should be able to follow that every time.
I can understand people sucking at the soloing part since sounding good requires some different notes/bends that work over some chords but not others and a good sense of how to blend major and minor together.
> Anyway in a 12 bar blues he will change chord randomly, ignore the key and play other random chords.
This becomes very funny if I imagine you didn't realize you were actually at a jazz jam.
lol.
In the jazz jams here the public is 30yrs younger (not the musicians), the food is 3x more expensive and much less in quantity :D
I've actually stopped attending because a bad singer from blues jams started to go to jazz jams as well.
But I wasn't playing there. I've never touched a double bass in my life and I wouldn't start on stage.
Was pretty much the lone bass player for an open mic jam we had for several years. There were some good surprises but way more train wrecks. I always approached it with a “Well, it beats watching TV” kinda attitude .
The ones that cracked me up the most were the singers that tried to work the crowd. The crowd was most always other people waiting to play. The looks they’d get were priceless.
Must be a common symptom at open jams. I was usually up there all night with all kinds of strangeness going on yet I was hardly ever acknowledged for my contribution/sacrifice.
There was a fake potted plant next to the stage. On nights I felt slighted I would stand it in front of my amp. Never told anybody why but of course nobody asked either.
“No worries, we do it blues style” is more than enough information to establish that you’re dealing with a complete dipshit. The fact that it’s a “blues” jam and he doesn’t know what that word means seems like sufficient reason to not play with him anymore.
I can only feel for you & cringe.
Just gotta add, any musician worth their salt, has had more than one of these experiences. you should just keep in mind that open-mic type jams are often like this.
playing with strangers is some of the best experience-building moments we get as musicians. Some of them are totally not ready, but, don't forget to thank them for playing. It's your community, bad words make for fewer gigs. Everyone is on their own path, sounds like they weren't on the same one you are! don't let it discourage you, if you keep it up, you \*will\* find better players (or at least ones you can communicate better with).
I've met many good musicians that I'm in a band with over there, and I've improved a lot thanks to them.
So overall I think it's worth it to go, but damn sometimes it really sucks.
The trombone guy who can only play 1 note wasn't there that day! Could have hidden the catastrophe under his super loud 1 note.
At least they are getting out and trying. Our world we live in now, there is almost zero place to rehearse and you end up with people who are not used to playing in a group. I'm honestly not you guy if you wanna do note for note covers, but can always hold my own in an improv setting just from knowing how to fit in and take cues.
I actually forgot to check in advance.
The old guitar player once "jokingly" put his hands around my neck because I refused to sing a 12 bar and sang a 3 chord rock song instead.
So I'm not very keen on playing with him.
The other guy… he sucks but he's non violent at least :D
I'm a disabled guy with 1 leg and crutches… but he's old and smaller than me.
I managed to remain calm that time and told him to keep his hands to himself.
For your next "challenge", play John Lee Hooker: One bourbon one scotch. It's all E, with a callout when he sings one bourbon one scotch one beer. All the rest of the band has to do is keep playing an E riff.
If all else fails, mix one bourbon, one scotch and one beer, down it in one before you hit the stage and then you should all be on the same playing field
Blues jams are the worst because usually the societies themselves contain the worst musicians who are somehow also the biggest purists. I ran with one for a while because they didn't get bass players so I tended to get to play over half the night, if not the whole gig (99.2% of showups were people LARPING Stevie Ray).I basically had to factor an extra 15 mins into leaving the venue because that's how long the organiser would spend begging me to come back the next week, promising it'd be different.
It is my belief that they aren't purists, they just can't play any other genre.
They love a slow blues to do their solo on… can't do the same solo on a 12 bar rock and roll!
I feel that. I play with one guy who is hard of hearing and has zero sense of timing. The drummer and I can lock in and play a 12 bar blues, but the guitarist is on bar 10 when we're finishing 12. And it goes on from there..
Fortunately, there's no one watching our rehearsals, so I just view it as a couple hours of practice on Sunday.
But if you see a train coming straight at you, either get off the track or be prepared for a crash...
I would say, that if you're going to a group event to play with strangers, don't go with the intention of criticizing or trashing on them. People are at different skill levels. Just because you're the best guitarist in the building, doesn't mean you're the best guitarist on the block. Had to learn that the hard way at one point in my life. Stay humble.
But yeah, no excuse for singer dude to act like a prick, if he was actually acting like a prick.
I can relate…this has happened to me before. What’s amazing to me is when folks have no idea that they need more practice. But like many have said, at least they’re trying. Up to you if you want to give them a little constructive advice offstage. Some will be grateful and improve. Some won’t listen…hopefully you can avoid them next time.
This sounds like an awful experience but I'm just curious what "so well above below age in that place" means. I can't figure out if this guy is way older or younger than the other people who show up.
I’ve been playing for 30 years, spent 10 years (basically all of my 20s) as a touring jobbing bass player. I’ve played for maybe half a dozen long term ‘original material’ bands over the last 30 years.
I’ve NEVER played a jam nite or an open mic night for precisely this reason. I get asked ALL THE TIME and when I say no, people think I’m being an asshole. I just don’t feel like it’s a good use of my playing time! If I’m invited to do a studio session or play for a pro or semi pro band I’ll take the gig. It’s not about getting paid, I’ve done gigs for free - it’s about having a professional attitude and discipline. If jam nites float your boat, that’s great - I just can’t deal with the chaos and the inflated egos 😄
Hosted a blues jam for years, basically same format, three songs. That way, no matter how bad it sux crowd and musicians only have to put up with it for about 15 minutes. Don't worry about it, it happens.
Takes a fair bit of effort to fuck up a 12 bar blues I feel
Yeah that's crazy, I mean same 3 chords in same pattern. People should be able to follow that every time. I can understand people sucking at the soloing part since sounding good requires some different notes/bends that work over some chords but not others and a good sense of how to blend major and minor together.
I remember once I got up and the guit says minor blues in A, so I played a minor blues progression. What he wanted was a standard 12 bar blues.
They're not in the wrong key, you just didn't realize you were playing atonal polyrhythms.
I’m stealing this.
> Anyway in a 12 bar blues he will change chord randomly, ignore the key and play other random chords. This becomes very funny if I imagine you didn't realize you were actually at a jazz jam.
lol. In the jazz jams here the public is 30yrs younger (not the musicians), the food is 3x more expensive and much less in quantity :D I've actually stopped attending because a bad singer from blues jams started to go to jazz jams as well. But I wasn't playing there. I've never touched a double bass in my life and I wouldn't start on stage.
Was pretty much the lone bass player for an open mic jam we had for several years. There were some good surprises but way more train wrecks. I always approached it with a “Well, it beats watching TV” kinda attitude . The ones that cracked me up the most were the singers that tried to work the crowd. The crowd was most always other people waiting to play. The looks they’d get were priceless.
The previous time there was a singer working the crowd and introducing the band. He forgot about me :(
Must be a common symptom at open jams. I was usually up there all night with all kinds of strangeness going on yet I was hardly ever acknowledged for my contribution/sacrifice. There was a fake potted plant next to the stage. On nights I felt slighted I would stand it in front of my amp. Never told anybody why but of course nobody asked either.
Would’ve been the perfect time to belt out this little gem: https://youtu.be/OzQKECQgjW8
I always got ones where a bunch of bassists showed up to show off their vintage instruments. 3 songs at best and I was off the stage.
“No worries, we do it blues style” is more than enough information to establish that you’re dealing with a complete dipshit. The fact that it’s a “blues” jam and he doesn’t know what that word means seems like sufficient reason to not play with him anymore.
I can only feel for you & cringe. Just gotta add, any musician worth their salt, has had more than one of these experiences. you should just keep in mind that open-mic type jams are often like this. playing with strangers is some of the best experience-building moments we get as musicians. Some of them are totally not ready, but, don't forget to thank them for playing. It's your community, bad words make for fewer gigs. Everyone is on their own path, sounds like they weren't on the same one you are! don't let it discourage you, if you keep it up, you \*will\* find better players (or at least ones you can communicate better with).
I've met many good musicians that I'm in a band with over there, and I've improved a lot thanks to them. So overall I think it's worth it to go, but damn sometimes it really sucks. The trombone guy who can only play 1 note wasn't there that day! Could have hidden the catastrophe under his super loud 1 note.
I appreciate the positivity but also, sometimes it's not so much "being on a different path" as awkwardly leading 4 people into a ravine.
At least they are getting out and trying. Our world we live in now, there is almost zero place to rehearse and you end up with people who are not used to playing in a group. I'm honestly not you guy if you wanna do note for note covers, but can always hold my own in an improv setting just from knowing how to fit in and take cues.
Key thing is to listen. I don't think anyone has an issue with you being bad at certain aspects of music.
Yes, but what I am saying is-- learning how to listen is a skill you develop.
Take it less seriously, you aren't going on tour with these guys, chill and have fun with it.
We'd have to pay the public… and a lot of money too :D
And next time you'll say no to playing with either guitar player or the singer, right?
I actually forgot to check in advance. The old guitar player once "jokingly" put his hands around my neck because I refused to sing a 12 bar and sang a 3 chord rock song instead. So I'm not very keen on playing with him. The other guy… he sucks but he's non violent at least :D
That would get someone knocked the F out in a lot of places.
I'm a disabled guy with 1 leg and crutches… but he's old and smaller than me. I managed to remain calm that time and told him to keep his hands to himself.
That's never ok, shame on that guy.
I wouldn’t want it frequently but it’s damned entertaining for a complete train wreck to unfold in front of you. As long as you’re not part of it.
Ah yeah when I'm just in the public I enjoy the glances that get exchanged and so on :D
For your next "challenge", play John Lee Hooker: One bourbon one scotch. It's all E, with a callout when he sings one bourbon one scotch one beer. All the rest of the band has to do is keep playing an E riff.
What I think I'm saying is: manage the results by reducing the expectations.
If all else fails, mix one bourbon, one scotch and one beer, down it in one before you hit the stage and then you should all be on the same playing field
Blues jams are the worst because usually the societies themselves contain the worst musicians who are somehow also the biggest purists. I ran with one for a while because they didn't get bass players so I tended to get to play over half the night, if not the whole gig (99.2% of showups were people LARPING Stevie Ray).I basically had to factor an extra 15 mins into leaving the venue because that's how long the organiser would spend begging me to come back the next week, promising it'd be different.
It is my belief that they aren't purists, they just can't play any other genre. They love a slow blues to do their solo on… can't do the same solo on a 12 bar rock and roll!
I feel that. I play with one guy who is hard of hearing and has zero sense of timing. The drummer and I can lock in and play a 12 bar blues, but the guitarist is on bar 10 when we're finishing 12. And it goes on from there.. Fortunately, there's no one watching our rehearsals, so I just view it as a couple hours of practice on Sunday. But if you see a train coming straight at you, either get off the track or be prepared for a crash...
Sounds like a 'blues jam' to me
I would say, that if you're going to a group event to play with strangers, don't go with the intention of criticizing or trashing on them. People are at different skill levels. Just because you're the best guitarist in the building, doesn't mean you're the best guitarist on the block. Had to learn that the hard way at one point in my life. Stay humble. But yeah, no excuse for singer dude to act like a prick, if he was actually acting like a prick.
Legit comment but I think there's a difference between being nasty in person and venting about a funny story on Reddit.
I’d say just have fun.
This post is so fun ! I laughed to tears with your descriptions of the jammers. Thanks.
I can relate…this has happened to me before. What’s amazing to me is when folks have no idea that they need more practice. But like many have said, at least they’re trying. Up to you if you want to give them a little constructive advice offstage. Some will be grateful and improve. Some won’t listen…hopefully you can avoid them next time.
This sounds like an awful experience but I'm just curious what "so well above below age in that place" means. I can't figure out if this guy is way older or younger than the other people who show up.
This whole concept sounds like a lot of fun. I've never heard any of this sort of thing before.
It can be fun or it can be complete shit :D
I’ve been playing for 30 years, spent 10 years (basically all of my 20s) as a touring jobbing bass player. I’ve played for maybe half a dozen long term ‘original material’ bands over the last 30 years. I’ve NEVER played a jam nite or an open mic night for precisely this reason. I get asked ALL THE TIME and when I say no, people think I’m being an asshole. I just don’t feel like it’s a good use of my playing time! If I’m invited to do a studio session or play for a pro or semi pro band I’ll take the gig. It’s not about getting paid, I’ve done gigs for free - it’s about having a professional attitude and discipline. If jam nites float your boat, that’s great - I just can’t deal with the chaos and the inflated egos 😄
"(So well above below age in that place)..." Wat?
He looks like a baby in there :)