Your First Jam Session: What to Expect and What to Bring
You’ve found some musicians, arranged a time and booked a rehearsal room. Now comes the exciting bit: actually playing together!
Whether you’re picking up an instrument after twenty years away, joining a new group or playing with other musicians for the very first time, that first jam session can feel a little daunting.
What should you bring? Will you know the songs? What happens if you make a mistake? And what if everybody else is better than you?
First things first: relax.
A jam session isn’t an exam, and nobody should expect perfection. It’s simply an opportunity to get together with people who enjoy music and see what happens when you start playing.
Here are a few tips to help make your first jam an enjoyable one.
1. Have a Chat Beforehand
A little preparation can make a big difference.
Before the session, have a quick conversation with the other musicians about what you’re planning to play.
Is it an informal jam where you’ll make things up as you go along? Or are you getting together to play a few familiar songs?
If it’s the latter, agree on three or four songs beforehand so everybody has a chance to practise.
You might also want to check what instruments people are bringing, how long the session will last and whether there are any rehearsal room costs.
Nothing complicated. Just enough information to avoid turning up expecting a relaxed blues jam and discovering everybody else has prepared a two-hour progressive rock masterpiece.
2. What Should You Bring?
You don’t need to arrive with half a music shop in the back of your car, but a few essentials will make life easier.
Here’s a handy checklist.
The essentials
- Your instrument, preferably in working order!
- Instrument leads and any necessary power supplies
- Spare strings, picks or other small accessories
- A tuner
- Drumsticks, if you’re the drummer
- Any music, chord charts or song notes you’ve agreed to use
- Your phone, with the rehearsal address and contact details
- A bottle of water
Worth considering
- A guitar or bass strap
- Spare batteries for active instruments or equipment
- An extension lead, if appropriate for your setup
- Earplugs designed for musicians
- A music stand
- A small notebook for song ideas and arrangements
If you’re using a rehearsal studio, check what’s included before you leave home.
Many studios provide drum kits, amplifiers and microphones, but don’t assume everything will be there. Drummers may still need their own cymbals, snare drum or pedals, depending on the venue.
And if you’re bringing your own amplifier, make sure there’s somewhere sensible to plug it in.
3. Arrive a Little Early
Nobody expects military precision, but turning up a few minutes early is always appreciated.
It gives you time to find the rehearsal room, unload your equipment, get set up and introduce yourself properly.
If you’re running late, send a quick message.
Remember, other musicians may have travelled some distance or paid for rehearsal space.
Being reliable makes a good first impression, even before you’ve played a note.
4. Don’t Worry About Being the Best Musician in the Room
This is probably the biggest concern for anyone attending their first jam.
What if everybody else is brilliant?
What if you forget the chords?
What if your fingers suddenly decide they’ve never played a guitar before?
It happens to the best of us.
You might have practised a song perfectly at home, only to find it feels completely different when a drummer starts playing behind you.
That’s normal.
Playing with other musicians is a skill in itself, and it takes a little time to get comfortable.
Nobody needs to be a virtuoso. What matters is being willing to listen, learn and enjoy the experience.
And if you’re unsure about something, just ask.
Most musicians would much rather explain a chord change than watch somebody struggle through an entire song.
5. Start With Something Simple
There’s no need to begin with the most complicated song in your repertoire.
Pick something everybody knows, preferably with a straightforward structure and a good groove.
A familiar blues progression, a classic rock ‘n’ roll number or an easy three-chord song can be a great place to start.
Once everyone settles in, you can try something more adventurous.
If you’re improvising, agree on the key, basic chord progression and who’s going to take the lead.
And don’t be afraid to stop and start again.
It’s a jam session, not a live television broadcast.
6. Listen as Much as You Play
One of the biggest differences between playing at home and playing in a group is learning to listen to everybody else.
It’s tempting to concentrate entirely on your own instrument, especially when you’re nervous.
But the magic happens when musicians start responding to one another.
If you’re playing bass, listen to the drummer.
If you’re playing guitar or keyboards, leave some space for the vocals or other instruments.
If you’re the drummer, pay attention to the tempo and the overall feel of the song.
And remember, louder doesn’t necessarily mean better.
A good band isn’t made up of five people all trying to be heard above everybody else.
Sometimes knowing when not to play is just as important.
7. Keep the Volume Sensible
We all enjoy turning up the volume occasionally, but a rehearsal room can become very loud very quickly.
Start at a comfortable level and adjust things together.
Make sure singers can hear themselves, and avoid the familiar situation where the guitarist turns up, followed by the bassist, followed by the drummer playing harder, followed by everybody wondering why they can’t hear anything.
Musician’s earplugs are well worth considering, particularly if you plan to rehearse regularly.
You want to enjoy making music for years to come, so look after your hearing.
8. Take Breaks and Have a Laugh
A good jam session shouldn’t feel like hard work from beginning to end.
Take a short break, have a drink of water and chat about how things are going.
This is also a chance to get to know the people behind the instruments.
You might discover shared musical interests, favourite gigs or some wonderfully embarrassing stories about bands you played in years ago.
And if somebody plays a spectacularly wrong note, don’t worry.
A bit of laughter can be a great way to break the ice.
Just make sure the humour is friendly and nobody feels singled out.
9. What If Things Don’t Quite Click?
Not every jam session will be a musical revelation.
Perhaps you’re interested in different styles, your experience levels don’t quite match or the chemistry simply isn’t there.
That’s fine.
You haven’t wasted your time. You’ve met some musicians, gained a little experience and learned something about what you’re looking for.
Be polite, thank everybody for the session and don’t feel obliged to commit to another rehearsal if it isn’t right for you.
There are plenty of other musicians out there.
And sometimes the person who isn’t quite right for your band might know somebody who is.
10. What Happens After the Jam?
If you’ve enjoyed the session, say so!
Have a quick chat before everybody leaves and find out whether they’d like to meet again.
You might want to agree on a few songs to learn for next time, arrange another rehearsal or exchange ideas about the direction you’d like to take.
Don’t feel you have to make any big decisions straight away.
There’s no need to choose a band name, organise a photoshoot or start planning a world tour after one afternoon together.
Although there’s nothing wrong with dreaming a little!
Sometimes the best musical partnerships develop naturally over several sessions.
Remember Why You’re There
It’s easy to get caught up worrying about equipment, technique, experience and whether you’re good enough.
But try to remember why you wanted to play music with other people in the first place.
Because it’s fun.
Because there’s something special about hearing a song come together.
Because playing with other musicians can be far more rewarding than practising alone.
And because you never know where that first jam might lead.
It could be the beginning of a new band, a few local gigs or simply a regular get-together with some good friends.
All of those are great outcomes.
Ready to Give It a Go?
If you’ve been thinking about joining a jam session but haven’t quite found the confidence, perhaps now’s the time.
You don’t need to be the best player in town. You don’t need expensive equipment or decades of experience.
You just need an instrument, a little enthusiasm and some people who enjoy the same kind of music.
And that’s exactly what Up For A Jam is here to help you find.
Find people. Start a band. Play some gigs.