Introduction to the Off-Key Bluegrass Jam

Portland Oregon, hosted by Randy Black and Tony McCormick

 The Off-Key Jam is a place where people who are beginners or who have never really played with other people can jam at a level at which they feel comfortable.

Our Prime Directive is: No one is too crummy to play with us.

Our Goals are:To give people the chance to play music with others. To train you in proper bluegrass etiquette so you can play in other jams. For everyone to have fun. We're short on rules and long on nurturing and forgiveness. But here are some guidelines about the way we work. You'll pick it up pretty quickly.

The Circle: We gather in a circle and move clockwise. Each person has a chance to choose the next song from our song book. When your turn comes, you have three options:
  1. Lead the song: This means choosing a song, singing, and organizing the breaks. If you're unsure how to do this, we'll be happy to help.
  2. Choose a song and ask someone else to lead: If you have a song you'd like to play but don't want to sing or lead, one of us will be happy to take the lead.
  3. Pass: You're welcome to let the next person choose. Try to be ready when the song comes to you. We have an informal five-minute rule: If you choose a song that you'd like to teach us, we'll try for about five minutes. If we aren't grasping it by then, we'll move on. We encourage you to bring in copies of songs, especially if they have both lyrics and chords. 

Breaks: A break is when you take an instrumental solo during a song. We encourage people to take breaks. But you're also welcome to sit in the background and strum. 

Singing: We welcome singers, but we are a bluegrass jam and not a song circle. If you don't play an instrument or are looking for something folkier, you may be happier at something such as Artichoke Music's Saturday afternoon song circle. Sing on the chorus, but let the song's leader sing during the verses, unless the leader encourages other singers. And never sing during instrumental breaks. 

Communication: Pay attention. We talk more things out before songs than most jams, so please listen between songs. There are things that happen while we're playing. Try to look up toward the end of a verse or chorus. Keep an eye on the song's leader. Watch for the fiddler's foot; the raised leg that means the song is about over. Be sure to listen. If you can't hear the soloist, you're probably playing too loud. DON'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT PLAYING PERFECTLY. JUST ENJOY YOURSELF AND HAVE FUN! 

Here are some general bluegrass jam guidelines that'll help you play both here and at other jam sessions. Thanks to our friend Tim Dawdy from the Ridgefield beginner jam for passing these along. 

The Ten Jammandments 

  1. Thou Shalt Tune Thy Instrument - There are too many good, cheap tuners around not to do this. 
  2. Thou Shalt Listen - if you can't hear the lead instrument or vocalist, then consider yourself too loud. Don't sing along with the lead singer or sing during peoples' breaks. 
  3. Thou Shalt Pass - when handing off an instrumental solo, try to follow a pattern either clockwise or counter-clockwise. If you want to skip the next solo or pass it off to the next picker, be sure that the next person is aware of the handoff. Follow the guide below: Song Leader: Make eye contact with the player Player: Take a break or pass Song Leader: Move on to the next person 
  4. Thou Shalt Welcome Others - open up the circle if others want to join. The jam can not be too big if people are polite. Remember to listen and play softly. 
  5. Thou Shalt Share - Open the choice of songs to the pickers around the circle. Take turns. Don't monopolize the jam. Let the person whose turn it is, select the song and the key. 
  6. Thou Shalt Announce the Song Title and State the Key - once in a while a participant may suggest original material.This is OK as long as it is in character with the jam. 
  7. Thou Shalt Let Others Know When You Are Not Jamming - bands may sometimes be rehearsing and may need to exclude non-band members from jamming. If so, an explanation would be nice. 
  8. Thou Shalt Not Raid - don't interrupt an active jam by calling musicians away to begin another jam. 
  9. Thou Shalt Keepith Thy Rhythm Steadyith - Errors in rhythm are most difficult to overcome. Avoid adding or dropping beats. Play quietly if you can't keep up and pay attention. (refer to Jammandment 2) 
  10. Thou Shalt Not Speed - do not start a song too fast for the others to play. Once everyone has had a turn at the lead, then one may announce that the tempo is about to increase.