Jamming is one of the reasons why you wanted to learn the guitar, isn’t it?

Jamming is one of those things that can seem intimidating, especially for beginners. But it doesn’t have to be! When you play with others, you develop your musicianship, regardless of your skill level. So, besides being super fun, jamming is also one of the best exercises you can ever do!

In this lesson, we’ll explore how and why you should get jamming with fellow players, and we’ll check out some common mistakes you should avoid. Let’s start with them!

Jamming for Beginners - 3 Mistakes to Avoid!

Jamming is fun, and once you get into it - it happens pretty naturally. But you should do a few things to make sure you don’t get frustrated or stuck in your first jamming sessions. Here are three common mistakes you should avoid:

Mistake #1 - Not Getting Prepared!

One thing that seems to catch new players up is not being prepared. This doesn’t mean more practice or skills, but getting ready for that specific session with your jam buddy.

Before you and your buddy meet up, discuss some tunes or ideas you’d like to work through. Then, practice your part as much as you can on your own so that once you’re with your buddy, you two can just focus on the collaboration aspect.

Keep reading to learn more tips about getting ready for a jam session!

Mistake #2 - Not Paying Attention.

Another thing you’ll have to get used to is listening to another guitar player! Suddenly, there’s more than one instrument for you to pay attention to, and music is just as much about active listening as it is about playing.

What are you listening for? Well, of course, you want to make sure you’re both playing in time, lining up the beats, and keeping your tempo as steady as possible. Also, if something sounds a little wonky or if the two parts don’t really sound great together at a certain point, you can always go back and fix it. In fact, you should! Conversely, if you hear something you really love, make a note of it and maybe build off that sound.

Mistake #3 - Playing The Same Thing.

A common mistake involves trying to play the exact same thing as the other person. Music is about individual parts coming together to create a greater whole. It sounds pretty metaphorical, doesn’t it? :)

The purpose of bringing in a buddy for this isn’t so you two can just play the same thing simultaneously. It’s about creating! It’s about experimenting with sound and seeing what you can achieve together that would not have been possible on your own.

Now let’s take a look at some tips to help your jamming flows perfectly! Don’t miss out on the gold tip. ;)

6 Jamming Tips for Beginners

Tip #1 - Decide Songs In Advance!

You already know that you should prep things in advance for a specific jamming session. Deciding on a jam session setlist before the jam session is a massive time-saver, and it’ll help you know your friend’s playing style and musical preferences.

Before the session, try to find some common ground. Throw out a few songs you would like to work on, preferably ones you already play with confidence. In return, see what your jam buddy is tossing your way! Discuss why you love a particular song, artist, or style, and try to settle on some songs that will help both of you to learn something while still enjoying yourselves.

Once you’ve both settled on three, four, or five songs, work on them on your own before meeting with your buddy. Again, this will save time during the jam session because you won’t have to sit there figuring out your individual parts. The jam session is all about collaboration!

As you get more advanced, you’ll find jam buddies that you really vibe with, so this prep step won’t be as significant. For now, though, I highly recommend it!

💬 Up for meeting new friends? Check out the incredible JustinGuitar Community and learn with and from my guitar students! You’ll meet fantastic musicians from all over the world. :)

Tip #2 Gold Tip: Explore Your Guitar Capo!

Let’s say the two of you want to play the same chords in the song, but you want to make it a little more interesting than just two guitarists playing in unison. A great thing you can explore is one of you playing the open chords and the other playing the same ones further up the guitar neck using a capo.

If you’re unsure how to do this, spend some of your pre-jam prep time working out where those chords fall along the neck. It can really sound amazing once you get it right and add some depth to your playing.

⭐️ That’s a trick that we use in studios all the time, and it definitely should have a place in your jam session! Check out my Creative Capo lesson if you want to learn more about it. :)

Tip #3: Start Slow!

That’s an easy tip! :) When you first start jamming, I’d recommend that you and your buddy play a little slower than you usually do on your own. That’s because it’s pretty common to inadvertently start picking up the tempo, especially if you’re nervous or anxious at all. This will also give you time to really listen to the other guitarist, as your attention may feel divided before you get used to doing this.

Overall, just slow down, try to relax, and let the music take over!

Tip #4 - Learn & Teach.

What’s the best way to learn something? Teach it to someone else! That’s one of my favorite parts of being a musician. Sharing what I’ve learned with other musicians and learning from them in return is magical. But you’ve got to be open-minded and open-hearted here!

Back when I first started jamming with other people, I was fortunate enough to find more experienced musicians who were happy to help me out along the way. This has proven invaluable to me and my playing, so I’d encourage you to seek out similar experiences!

Remember, it’s a give-and-take. Be kind to your buddy! It’s all for the greater good of the music you’re creating together.

Tip # 5 - Share Solos

Speaking of giving and take, you don’t want to be that guy who hogs all of the solos! When you’re jamming with a buddy, it should be an enjoyable and beneficial experience for you both. That means taking turns throughout the session, with one of you on rhythm and the other on lead.

💡Typically, a good solo will go for four to six rounds of a 12-bar blues progression before swapping.

Even if the person you are jamming with is much better or worse than you, you’ve still got to let them have a go. Over time, it’ll pay off as you’ll both improve significantly!

I should mention that I actually really dig playing rhythm parts too. Not all the fun is in the solos! There’s plenty to experiment with and explore in rhythmic bits, and what you do there can impact the overall feel and tone of the song.

Another thing - if you’re into what your buddy’s playing, ask them about it! You’re there to learn from each other and create together. The better you understand what your buddy is doing, the better you can complement them. Of course, it never hurts to learn new styles and techniques and add them to your repertoire.

Tip #6 - Set Arrangements

Finally! Looking for songs arranged for two guitars is one thing I enjoyed as I got better at reading tab and notation. To start off, you can search online for different set arrangements to help you on the right track.

You’ll find loads of classical stuff, but there are also many Beatles arrangements and other pop, jazz, and folk songs. Not so much Blues and Rock, unfortunately. :) Just search for guitar duets or arranged for two guitars.

Don’t have a jam buddy? Check out JustinGuitar Jams! It feels like playing with a real band!