Bluegrass Jams Canada

Bluegrass Jamming 101

Bluegrass Jamming 101

Jamnesia

It happens. You have practiced a song; nailed the vocals; perfected the chord changes; but it all fell apart at the jam. This is a bluegrass jam, not a performance. It’s ok.

Jam Etiquette

Pete Wernick from the bluegrass band “Hot Rize” pulled together this bluegrass jam basics / etiquette.

Jam Busters

Songs that break the flow and vibe are jam busters.

If it’s your turn to lead a song and you get blank stares when you describe the super complex chord progression or no one has ever heard the song you called… it’s a jam buster. Call for another song and keep the music flowing.

People and behaviors can also disrupt the flow of a good jam. Most times this comes back to good jam etiquette.

Nashville Number System

The Nashville Number System is a quick way to share a song’s chord progression among musicians.

Bluegrass Lyrics and Chords

Finding the Key you Sing In

Any song can be sung in any key.

Chords with lyrics are are usually created in the key of the original artist. If that is not in your vocal range, it will be difficult for you to sing the song. If you are flipping between singing high and low in a song, that’s likely the wrong key for you.

Changing the song’s key to fit your vocal range is easy. Transposing the key or use a capo to find a key where your low notes are not “gravelly” and your voice does not strain to sing the high notes. Simple. 🙂

Note: Fiddle tunes without singing are typically played in the key in which they were originally written.

Warm Up Your Voice

Other Useful Links

Questions?

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