Surviving the Bluegrass Jam 

3 years ago i started banjo by watching your videos, today im going to be practicing jamming with my friends. Thanks jim!

At around 11:35 I could smell the coffee in my grandma's house.I haven't been there in years. So excited to get back into bluegrass music. All my childhood memories are filled with it

Jams can be great. Jams can be horrible. And all points in between. Keep your expectations open. Be flexible. Be open to taking risks. But my best advice is to listen.

First couple jams I went to I hung back and listened and did some vamping. Figured out what songs were popular and then got better prepared for the next one.

Exactly right the way learned way back before the internet listening to bluegrass albums playing along over and over I learned all my playing by sound it’s the only way I can learn by ear only

Awesome thanks Jim! Doing a simple roll throughout allows you to focus on one variable at a time - being able to hear chord changes and not worry about if you’re doing the right roll

Thanks Jim, this is the kind of stuff I need. Helps to improve my confidence. You are a great teacher. Thanks again

Jim I think you are the best teacher I've been playing for 24 years now and I'm learning new stuff watching you . Thank you for the content !!!!!!

This is my 215th comment on this channel, and i'm still loving it! This is a fantastic lesson! But i know people, they dont hear the moment when it change the chord. The best thing is when you hear the moment a little bit before it comes..

Playing " back up " is the foundational to " jam circle i didnt know what off beat was for couple years ...now i breath off beat.

I just started Jamming. Best advice you gave is "The only way you're gonna do it is to do it"🤠

I've just started going back to my country music club near my home town and this video will help me so much, however, being the only banjo player may prove difficult but cant wait until the next meeting :)

Good evening Jim, thank you for your time

What a great lesson on how to train your ear quickly.

Current survival technique is ASAP As Simple As Possible quietly vamp, using the same chord shape.

Thanks for giving us 2 songs to practice chord changes to. This to me was one of the most helpful sessions. Learned tons of useful insights of chord changes that I have missed.

Thanks Jim. This is great information and experience you are passing on as well as confidence that we will OK. Looking forward to your next video. 😀

Love the vid Jim! I’ve missed the past couple of your live streams, but I’m notified for next time so there’s no missing!

Nice, this inspired me to make my own break for the old home place, it’s the fourth original break i’ve made. God bless you Jim!

Outstanding!!!!! This is really good stuff

Great video Jim! Thanks for sharing 😊

I went through your intro playlists and I'm moving on to the backup one now! Not at the jam sesh point but I'm excited for the advice!

Absolutely awesome, video. I am just learning the banjo and am very far from any jam session but thank you so much for explaining it so simply that someone like myself can understand it. So refreshing to see someone so talented and down to earth. God bless you.

Hi Jim! Thank you for posting your videos. Your advice, lessons, tips and time , are greatly appreciated! Have a blessed day!

I love these live sessions

Thanks as always a great help 👍

Great information !!

Thanks

Hey Jim, I've been watching your channel for a while and your teaching style really resonates with me. I wanted to thank you for helping me start learning the banjo cause I picked one up today! (Fresh outta highschool, in 1st year uni). I hope you are doing well and continue to do very well!

I picked for years, married, kids and jobs took front row, I'm older now and really rusty, but this video helped me more than anything else I have found in a long time, thanks for the simple explanations and examples, I have confidence I can get back to where I once was and go forward from there! Thank s for all you do Jim!

Thanks for these videos! I started learning from your videos a few years ago but unfortunately stopped after a few months. Now I'm picking it back up. My goal is to be able to reliably play rolling backup in a year so I can sit in for one song with the bluegrass band I'm hiring for my wedding next September. I played bass for many years so I know how to be a member of the rhythm section, but obviously I'm starting from square one with the banjo. Looking forward to coming back to this video when I'm up for it!

Thanks!

Good stuff!

Yes!!

I remember the Dillards saying to Andy Griffith in a jam to just hang on!

Aside from the topic, I learned a lot in general from this

More like this Jim! Great stuff! Perhaps in other common keys?

You are the best

No jams yet but this makes sense to me!

Jimbo you are the best teacher beyond a doubt I hope Princess is OK

I think it’s time for another toke.😂

Hey jim ,,,,, jam I've found the right handed piano buddy,,,,,, 👍😎

I wish you would make a tab of Have Nagila For sale

Have you ever done Rank Stranger? I've looked and can't find one😊

How do I know what finger roll to do? I'm still learning banjo. I was at the Earl Scruggs bluegrass festival and joined a jam session. I sat behind everyone so I wouldn't mess up everyone else. A song would start and I didn't know how to start. What finger roll? During one song I did an alternating thumb roll and I actually heard it with other banjos if I tuned everything out. So, finger rolls are my problem at the moment.

What banjo and guitar are those?

Jim, what kind of banjo do you have? I've been looking around, but I can't seem to find a banjo with 5 strings.

With all due respect Jim this is right handed hogwash. It is clear from your narrative that you and others also do not teach from day one with the end result in mind. That some how after learning chords and finger shapes the beginner will somehow magically be able to play with others. This is not so. I said right handed hogwash as you do not address the problematic issue of left handers playing in a jam session. If you were a serious “teacher” your success level would improve if you taught how to play with others on day one for a beginner, not down the road after much inappropriate practicing. Your point of view is singular not inclusive. Your viewers and you would benefit if you considered modifying your approach to instruction.

Thanks!