Jambuster? Tips for choosing the right songs for a jam…

You are going to a jam and really want to play one of your favorite songs. It comes to your turn to lead a song and you are ready to go. You start to play the song and everyone gives you that deer in the headlights look. What happened? You called a Jambuster.

It happens to everyone. So how do you avoid it? After all, the goal of every jam is for everyone to have fun and feel comfortable playing. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a song.

• Keep it simple: Choose songs with two or three chords and not too many quick changes. This allows folks who may not know the song to easily catch on and play. 
• Avoid odd keys: Picking songs in keys such as F# or Ab are difficult for some players. While guitars and banjos can use capos, other instruments can not. This can make it difficult to play in uncommon keys. Stick to G, C, D, A. Note for singers, if you want to sing a song in F# because that is a good key for your voice. Give it a try in G or F. 
• Avoid complex forms: Songs with complex forms such a verse, chorus, and bridge all with different chord progressions can be confusing and difficult for folks to catch on.

To sum up, keep your song choices simple. There are hundreds of common two and three chord songs out there. Pick a few and have a great time at the jam!

Bruce Thompson is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, a certified Wernick Method Instructor and teaches classes at Caffè Lena in Saratoga Springs. He also runs a guided jam for those new to bluegrass at the Monthly ABL Meetings.