Nuggets Series #7 - Surviving a Jam

This mini series for the guitar consists of  four sessions. Each session is essentially independent but there is a flow to the sessions. This session focuses on the essentials needed to survive a jam in terms of knowledge and how to apply it through practice regimes. Armed with this knowledge and its application you should feel more at ease joining a jam become more creative within it.

Ultimately the session is about helping you to become a more well-rounded musician; while still having fun and learning to expressing yourself imaginatively.

You can purchase just this session or ALL sessions for a 25% discount.

What we’ll be covering

This series looks at fundamentals for playing great guitar and making you a better musician. So far in this series we have covered

  • Starting to Solo
  • The CAGED system – triads

The materials for this session are still available to buy on request by email.

The remainder of this series will be focusing on:

  • Surviving a Jam
  • Groovy fingerpicking

All of the above subjects are, by their very nature, wide and deep. This session focuses on the knowledge you need to feel comfortable when joining a jam session, playing along more confidently with others during it and teasing a little more creativity as you go. This knowledge and its application has so many benefits:

  1. Chords: open basic chords and barre chords (movable). Be able to play different chords in different keys around the fretboard. Understand chord progressions commonly used in various styles of music (e.g., I-IV-V in blues).
  2. Scales and Soloing: be comfortable with basic scales: pentatonic and the major scale. Practice basic soloing techniques such as bends, slides, and vibrato. Understand how to use scales to improvise over chord progressions.
  3. Rhythm Playing: develop a strong sense of rhythm and timing. Practice strumming patterns and rhythmic variations. Understand how to accompany other musicians effectively by providing a solid rhythm foundation.
  4. Ear Training: train your ear to recognise chord changes and melodies. Practice playing by ear and improvising over backing tracks or other musicians’ playing.
  5. Knowledge of Music Theory: understand basic music theory concepts such as keys, intervals, and chord construction. Know how to apply music theory to practical guitar playing, such as understanding chord progressions and scale relationships.

There are lots of other issues relating to working within the group and communicating clearly as well as equipment set-up.

By honing these skills and knowledge areas, you’ll be well-prepared to participate in and enjoy a jam session with other musicians. Remember to approach the experience with an open mind, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn and grow as a musician.

Each session will focus on a specific facets which are core to the subject and go into the detail of the techniques and know-how that underpin them. We’ll delve into practical exercises for honing the techniques and improving the understanding and application of knowledge.

It’s always best to attend live rather than just buying the materials.

This mini-course of 4 sessions is a sequential series, so you will get much more out of it by committing to all 4 sessions (recommended and it has a 25% discounted price).

As usual, the session comes with support PDFs as well as Zoom recording of the live session.

 

Materials

  • Lesson PDF.
  • Any backing tracks used will also be made available.
  • A Zoom recording of the complete live session.

And maybe even some bonus materials for live attendees only.

 

Who’s this session suitable for?

High beginner to intermediate players. Even players who are relatively new to the guitar will get some great ideas and approaches from the sessions.

 

Home practice

The session is approx. 60 minutes long; don’t expect to master everything during the session. The tutor will go through all the key parts, demonstrating them and discussing the associated techniques and know-how.

The real work is done by you afterwards. Armed with the materials (PDFs, backing tracks and video  recording), you’ll have all the tools to work on things at your own pace.

 

Online: Live Attendance v ‘Just Materials’?

It’s always best to attend live. Obviously there are certain occasions when players just can’t make it live – this is where our ‘just the materials‘ option comes into its own. BUT we much prefer players to be online with us.  WHY?

Live keeps the whole thing real.

With a live group present, the tutor is not just following a script and sticking to prescribed subject matter. During a live course, the tutor’s alternative explanations, off-the-cuff little gems and general commentary are where the magic and insights lie.

Your actual presence means you’re able to quiz, prod and ultimately shape the lesson to be of real practical value to everyone. You can ask your own question(s) there and then! We’ve found over the years that if someone gets stumped early on in a course their interest can just drop (even worse if you’re just catching up using the video recording). If you’re thinking a specific question you’ll not be alone; it’s always best to ask.

Live means a more dynamic and interesting course.

You can tweak proceedings in real time, remove that misundertanding or mental block, slow down a particular section and go into more detail, ask for something to be explained in a different way, encourage the tutor to discuss peripheral but essential issues, home in on bad habits and seek practical exercises to fix them, get an answer to an aspect of ‘theory’ that’s troubling you, etc. If you’re not there then this is less likely to happen.

 

Booking a place and buying options

When you book you’ll have two options:

1. You want to join this live Zoom session.

You’ll receive the joining instructions on the day. Being live, you’ll be able to put your own questions directly to the tutor during the session. Choose option 1, This live lesson and materials.

2. Maybe you’d like to attend but can’t make it on this occasion?

You can buy the materials and receive them after the session (i.e. lesson PDF(s) and access to a Zoom recording of the live session). Choose option 2, Materials only. We often provide bonus materials for live attendance-only.

3. Buy all four sessions up-front for a 25% discount  (RECOMMENDED)

As with option 1, you’ll receive the joining instructions on the day.

Full Course Overview

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    Prices

     
    Full Fee
    1. Live attendance and materials for this session
    £20
    2. Materials only for this session - can't attend
    £20
    3. All four sessions (discounted)
    £60

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    Bookings are no longer available for this event.