Help with Impromptu Jam

[mgeorge]

A few of my friends and I have been getting together to jam. Here is a list of what we play, followed by their favorite musicial artist or style so that you can get any idea of what they like to play.

Friend "A" - Bass, electric guitar, a little piano. (The Beatles)
Friend "B" - Acoustic guitar, harmonica, congas (DMB)
Friend "C" - Saxophone (DMB, Miles Davis, Braddigan)
Myself - Piano, acoustic guitar. (Eric Clapton, pretty much blues)


We love to get together and play, but it often gets a little tough to get things going. It often falls on my shoulders to come up with what to play. This being said, I have been looking for some stuff for us to play the next time we get together.

We all sort of have our own style, which sometimes collide. So, I thought maybe I could ask you guys what are some ideas I could bring to the group. I'd ask for any suggestions, such as specific songs you think would mesh the four instruments together well, or specific riffs that all could pick up quickly and run with. For consideration, "B" has only been playing his guitar for about a year. Also, the set-up normally runs as such: A on bass, B on acoustic, C on his sax, and I play my acoustic or sit at the piano.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and if my above requests are too general let me know and I will try to narrow it down.

Thanks in advance.

- Max

[tdowe99]

You should play some bluesy jam with a bunch of open chords for your B friend... just do a rotating chord progression and let the experienced people solo, and your friend can keep the rhythm.

[Play_Like_Fonz]

whenever we get together and jam some one just starts playing something and we all just jump in, maybe its cuz we've been playing with eachother for over four years and can read one another really well tho. Ya, id say just play some blues riffs and see what progresses from that.

[Dancing Ants]

I would recommend just some simple chords...A,C,D,E,G,F,Bm, etc.. and just make up a little tune..nothing fancy, then build on it. let your inexperienced friend play rythmn, and let the others solo.

[DreamingTree34]

Bass & Drums are key, tell that kid to play congas instead of guitar, then you have bass, percussion, sax and you on guitar and piano....if he's a solid percussionist then you should be set....Then I'd try and play some more simple stuff to begin, some easier chord progressions...like Counting Crows would sound good with that, DMB, etc. Do a run down of all the songs each of you know, i mean EVERY song, then go from there, if the majority of you knwo a certain song then teach the ones that don't know it. My friend and I play have a guitar/hand percussion setup> I play acoustic as well, but I'd rather play drums. So if you're friend wants to be the guitar player I don't knwow hat to tell you