Beginner Do I have to memorize songs to play in jam session?

[AlonW]

I am not good with playing from memory. I need sheet music. Do I need to bring a music stand and ask the musicians to allow me to use it? Or just try to wing it without music?

 

[Woodpad]

Every jam location has different habits, Just ask.
You don't need to know the song, but it helps a lot when you can sing it.

Also some songs have sudden ends.

 

[thomsax]

I don't know when it comes to jammin Cal/USA. You just give sign or the jam leader ask you to join? I have never read or on a jam. And often played song for the first ..... I just play at Blues and Rock jam so it's pretty easy stuff.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Ideally yes (learn it) but if the jam session is used to beginners then maybe OK to read. As above. If nobody else is then it's not a great look and you'd probably feel uncomfortable doing it.

I can see a jam in LA on our calendar list, so you could just ask them here via DM

I am not good with playing from memory.

This is a skill that is probably one of the biggest and most important though. Purely learning a tune when you do it "properly" is incredibly useful for aural and improved skills. By properly I mean not parrot fashion but analysing the melodic line to aid memorisation, e.g. "bar 3 is the same as bar 1 but up a 3rd"

 

[AlonW]

Ideally yes (learn it) but if the jam session is used to beginners then maybe OK to read. As above. If nobody else is then it's not a great look and you'd probably feel uncomfortable doing it.

I can see a jam in LA on our calendar list, so you could just ask them here via DM


This is a skill that is probably one of the biggest and most important though. Purely learning a tune when you do it "properly" is incredibly useful for aural and improved skills. By properly I mean not parrot fashion but analysing the melodic line to aid memorisation, e.g. "bar 3 is the same as bar 1 but up a 3rd"

I am warming up to playing with sheet music. I'm pretty sure I can make my way through "Misty" without music but that's it so far!

 

[Nick Wyver]

I use dots. I don't know any jazz standards from memory. No one seems to mind.

 

[Pete Effamy]

I use dots. I don't know any jazz standards from memory. No one seems to mind.

Yeah, who cares! It’s about what you play - or should be.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Yeah, who cares! It’s about what you play - or should be.

It all depends. Many years ago I had a band doing a regular Sunday lunchtime gig on the Kings Rd in Chelsea. It wasn't advertised as a jam or open mic session, yet towards the end of the gig we were very welcoming to anyone sitting in, beginners to or whatever. But it was expected that they just called a tune and a key (standard) and we started. No sheet music or music stands it would just have been "wrong" because there was an audience who wanted to see a show albeit just a Sunday lunch gig.

If a jam session is all people with music stands it's for them, not the audience so you might as well just do it in a rehearsal room.

I just think music stands should be avoided if possible and if practical.

 

[Pete Effamy]

I just think music stands should be avoided if possible and if practical.

Yes. I don’t disagree with practicality. But I hate the “rules” feel about it all. Frankly, if someone stepped up and used music, and played like Chet Baker, Desmond .. whomever - they should be applauded.

Long story short - find a nice group of people and join in.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Frankly, if someone stepped up and used music, and played like Chet Baker, Desmond .. whomever - they should be applauded.

I disagree given the situation I mentioned.

 

[Pete Effamy]

I disagree given the situation I mentioned.

For me, it’s about the music itself. Why is music read by musicians not a show?

 

[Pete Thomas]

Why is music read by musicians not a show?

Beats me. Some can be but so often is not. Maybe because for me as a performer a big part can be eye contact with the audience. Or the way I move or engage with the rest of the band or audience. I can’t do that while reading a part.

 

[Pete Effamy]

Beats me. Maybe because when I perform a big part can be eye contact with the audience. Of the way I move or engage with the rest of the band. I can’t do that while reading a part,

I can.

 

[wakyct]

If a jam session is all people with music stands it's for them, not the audience so you might as well just do it in a rehearsal room.

This is what I've experienced as well. I've only played at a jam in a rehearsal room. Most everyone uses sheet music at least for reference. Any jam in a club where I've been there as a listener almost no one uses sheet music.

It's funny though, I've been to plenty of shows where the musicians are reading.

 

[Colin the Bear]

A jam session is jamming. You don't need to know a tune to jam along. Just harmonise and feel your way through it.

If the session you're interested in is too advanced, find a different session.

Go a couple of times without playing to find the level and meet the people there. They'll know more than us what's expected.

When you're happy, call a tune with a 12bar format in a sax friendly key. If you don't know the tune called, be part of the groove.

If there's a few wind instruments riff as a section.

It's a collaboration not a spotlight or a competition. A good jam session is a fun sharing experience.

If you want to showcase your solo playing maybe an open mic would suit better. One with a house band.

 

[PiccoloPirate]

As stated, go and check out the players, talk to them and ask questions.
Based on the tunes you posted, get Misty down with a metronome, without music and no embellishments, even if they say sheet music is okay.
No backing tracks or other music.
Once you have that, try and decide on what you will play if you get to solo.
Rehearse that and if you can write it down, do so.
This is a good goal to work towards.
If you have to read the music, you might as well read your solo as well.
Don't be afraid to ask for help as accomplished players, if they are, are usually kind and appreciate helping those who are to here to learn and not "annoy".
Playing in time is very important.
Wrong notes happen but tempo is
non-negotiable.

Have fun and remember, it takes disciplined practice to keep moving forward.
I wrote the above because I think you're up to the task.

 

[LostCircuits]

It's a learning experience that everybody has to go through. And every jam is different. You may get away with sheet music once or twice but I don't know how many times the tune was changed in the middle of the song to make it a medley and you don't want to be standing there leafing through the pages and when you get there, they already moved on to something different.

 

[skeller047]

I would think in LA they would expect you to know the tune. I used to have a steady gig in Oakland where there was a jam on Sunday afternoons - house band played a set then the floor was open. There were no fake or real books ever. But I haven’t been to a jam in years, so maybe the rules have changed.

@AlonW - pick a tune a week and learn it. Maybe ask at the jam you are considering what tunes are commonly played (except for Blue Bossa, guaranteed that one is in there…) But do this regardless. Try to find a good version on YouTube or Spotizonpple, and play the melody along with it once you get the first 8 bars down. Keep playing the melody through the solos. It will do wonders for your improvisation. It’s hard the first few, but it does get easier with time.

Regarding show biz - many Latin/Salsa bands have written charts for the horns and sometimes bass and keys. I was in a salsa band once where we had a six week stand at a club out of town (we had comped hotel rooms) and the club owner insisted we lose the stands in a week or we were fired. About 50 tunes in the book, with complicated horn parts. The horn section spent the first week in our hotel rooms doing sectionals. We kept the gig, but it was hard to do.

 

[Nick Wyver]

If you have to read the music, you might as well read your solo as well.

Really? Is that what you meant to say?

pick a tune a week and learn it.

I tried that for a while. After a few weeks I'd forget them.

 

[thomsax]

I am not good with playing from memory. I need sheet music. Do I need to bring a music stand and ask the musicians to allow me to use it? Or just try to wing it without music?

I organized blues and rock jam with a guitar player and pub/kafé owners. On the "stage" we had music stand and 2 instrument microphones. So we allowed players to bring their sheet music. For some players/singers it's important to have their sheet music and a music stand in front of them. It was important for us that the players/singers had a good time so they could join more jam.

As LostCircuits wrote "all every jam is differnt". Our jam was pretty well organized, not so bohemian. The players were recommend to be there one hour before the jam started. To say "Hi" and talked to the other musicians. The first thing a player did was to sign up. We wanted to know what he/she wanted to sing/play so the jam leader could prepare the band. Most of the songs were played in the original keys. The sign up was important. Most players came alone and was a little bit nervous. Good to meet a person that could answer their questions???

All players were told to have their instrument ready before the jam started (tuned and "warm-up") , so not too much time were spent on tuning on the stage.

This shows "one model" of a jam. On the country side of south Sweden, we can't be too picky and have blasé attitude. Not even when it comes to easy music like blues and rock & roll.