joining jam sessions and open guitar night locally.

[randomguy]

Hi,

How are you? 

I wanted to get real world experience playing at open guitar night.  Like bluegrass, big band guitar.   Do you know where is a good place to start to participate in Jam sessions in NYC?  Started to get back into the swing of things agains...lol

[jasn]

Greetings @randomguy.  Can't help you with spoecifics, livong on CApe COd, but I'll ask if you've tried the app or website called Meetup?

Edited July 19, 2024 by jasn

[randomguy]

Thanks @jasn Cape Cod is nice been there a while back.  Martha's Vineyard was cool

[DianeB]

@randomguy  Here's just a handful of what turned up.

[randomguy]

Thank you @DianeB for taking the time to find these resources.  I feel the universe will send the right players my way.  I'm just going to enjoy the journey. I just saw this reply. I looked through your meetup.com's link. 

 I decided to subscribe to Youtube premium and listen and learn from Segovia and other styled guitarists.  By studying tape I will learn how I naturally learn audio/visual/kinesthetic at the same time.

A side note . I just learned all the fret board in general and the  c notes 11 of them in my 20 fret guitar in particular. 

Do you think anyone will find it helpful?

 

[DianeB]

I'm not sure I understand your question. What matters is whether what you're learning is helpful to you. Of course, learning all the notes on the fretboard is a valuable skill — in general — but even that is not necessary for playing satisfying music for yourself or with others. By the way, jams come in many variations. You might have to visit several before finding one that suits your taste. I wish you good hunting.

[randomguy]

I have to move out of my comfort level to explore playing in jam sessions. I have to find something that suits me. Thanks for the personal insight. 

 

Edited July 21, 2024 by randomguy
Grammar

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

I’ve been to 2 different jams near me. 
as I posted here in this forum

one “should “ have been good , but a) I wasn’t really ready as I should have been and b) they were self centred only concerned about where their solo would be 

so it made me sound worse than I was.

the other was a music store school jam night where I worked with an instructor cleaning up my playing 

so when it came time for jam night, my guitar teacher took to drums the other teacher that ran jam night took to bass and another guy they asked to join in as a band

they played ‘with me’ not against me 

and “we” killed it.

so very positive 

most jam nights will be rock based.

if you’ve decided to start studying Segovia you’re going to find it a lot harder to find a classical jam

NeilES335 found a jazz jam he sat in with but even that’s a tough fit without practicing with the jam group before, which doesn’t happen 

Edited July 21, 2024 by Eracer_Team-DougH

[randomguy]

cool! I haven't really found a niche. just playing around with guitar ideas. I'm Working hard or hardly working. 

[Six String]

Hi, I haven't been around in quite some time but was once a very active participant here.  The comments here got me thinking, and my advice to you would get in a group that is easy for you to participate in, (Travel distance/suitable schedule, etc)  regardless of if they play the exact music you want to play.  It's good to have some pressure to learn and improve even if it's not the songs you'd pick yourself.

This pretty much describes my current situation.  I'm in a jam group that plays a lot of songs that are not my cup of tea, but they also play some I like/suggested.  I sometimes wish I was in a working band situation again, but there was a lot of pressure when I was doing that, as I was the least experienced/skilled player and really tried hard not to make an ass of myself when we had a gig.  Much less stress with just a jam group, but there is enough so you focus.  We may soon step up to do some local open mic's and I think that will provide even more focus.

Anyway, once you're in a group, there is no telling who you might meet or what direction it might lead you. Getting out there is the first and most important thing.

[randomguy]

Good points all. It’s not as easy as it sounds. Here I go. 

Edited August 2, 2024 by randomguy