I love to play my guitar in jam sessions with other musicians. Not only is jamming fun, but the benefits of jam sessions are outstanding, especially when a guitarist jams with another guitarist.
What, you might ask, are the benefits you receive from playing your guitar with another guitar player? First and foremost, you will have the opportunity to learn new things from each other. Your fellow guitarist likely knows some songs and licks that you don't know and vice versa.
Acoustic Guitar
Then there is the matter of timing. Playing lead while another guitarist plays rhythm will help you to think more about timing and will help you to play your lead guitar breaks at a consistent, even pace. And playing rhythm while another guitarist plays lead will help you to be a stronger rhythm player.
Now I have to tell you, this one friend of mine that I jam with has the tendency, when he is playing back-up, to pick up speed as the song progresses. That's not really the way a song should be played, but it has challenged me to work on becoming a faster flatpicker. It would be similar to playing to a metronome that is automatically programmed to steadily increase from about 170 to 200 beats per minute during a five minute period. As you can imagine, by the end of the song, I'm working pretty hard!
If you sing, jamming with another guitarist who sings is a great way to work out harmony parts. There is nothing quite like two guitarists who compliment one another in both guitar playing and singing.
When you jam with other musicians, don't forget jamming etiquette. Don't hog all the lead breaks for yourself, but alternate them on an equal basis any other participants who play lead. When you play the rhythm back-up make sure you are not playing so loud as to obscure the notes of the person playing the lead break. For example, if you are playing rhythm acoustic guitar while another person plays lead acoustic guitar, remember that when you strike a chord of six strings, unless you use restraint, the chord can easily overpower the single notes of the person picking the lead.
For the guitarist, the benefits of jamming with other musicians, especially other guitarists, are great. Seize every opportunity you can to jam!
Copyright © 2008 Lee Griffith. All rights reserved.
Acoustic Guitar - Why Jam With Another Guitarist?
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