dwa79
Verified buyer
11/13/23
Jam night primer…I’m ready!
Blues Jam Survival Guide
115 Tips, 75 Essential Licks and 43 Rhythm Patters You Must Know
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About this course
Research and surveys say that glossophobia, more commonly known as the fear of public speaking, ranks as the #1 phobia ahead of death, spiders, heights and dozens of other common fears. The researchers obviously haven’t polled a lot of musicians because nothing strikes fear in the heart of a practicing guitar player more than jumping up on the stage and performing at their local blues jam.
A quick Google will reveal hundreds of books, courses and seminars for conquering the fear of public speaking, but you’ll find very little that prepares you or helps you overcome the fear of participating in a public blues jam. And that’s precisely why we asked Jeff Scheetz to research and author The Blues Jam Survival Guide for TrueFire members and students.
Producer, recording artist and instructor extraordinaire, Scheetz has an extensive background as founder and leader of several highly popular blues and blues-rock jam bands. One of the most sought after instructors by students and professionals alike, Scheetz is eminently qualified to guide your blues jam aspirations.
The Blues Jam Survival Guide is packed with 115 tips, 75 essential licks, 43 practice rhythm tracks, and tons of other valuable insight designed for the practicing guitarist who is biting at the bit to jump up on stage at the jam but just can’t pull the trigger for fear of not being prepared. Even if you’ve overcome your “stage fright” but just can’t seem to kick it in to high gear at the jam, The Blues Jam Survival Guide will provide that “breakthrough” you’ve been hoping for.
Scheetz goes way beyond just preparing you mentally and logistically; The Blues Jam Survival Guide also includes dozens of essential blues rhythm patterns that you will need to know, a big bagful of go-to blues licks that will always work for you, and sound advice for other musical situations that you will definitely encounter and need to deal with at the jam.
The Blues Jam Survival Guide also features a variety of seasoned blues jam players and leaders who were gracious enough to share their insight and tips for the players new to jam sessions. Jeff has them perform examples of what to do and more importantly, what NOT to do at the jam. These segments are the proverbial “pictures worth a thousand words.” Scheetz ices the Survival Guide cake with complete breakdowns of the 7 essential blues song structures and grooves that you MUST know before taking the stage at any blues jam.
Here are just a few of the topics that Scheetz and his crew of master jammers cover and demonstrate in The Blues Jam Survival Guide:
>> The Right Attitude Goes a Long Way
>> Playing the Inevitable 12/8 Slow Blues
>> Chord Variations You Must Know
>> G Blues Licks You Can Use Anywhere
>> Watch Out For That V Chord!
>> Pay Attention or Pay the Penalty
>> Playing Too Loud (Or Too Softly)
>> The Good Ole Texas Shuffle
>> Pick Your Songs Carefully
>> Practice Standing Up!
>> Slow Shuffle: Safe Bet!
>> No-Fail E Blues Licks
>> Communication Breakdown
>> Crowd Pleasing Rhumba Blues
>> Mix In Those Mixolydians
>> Follow the Rules of the Jam
>> Boogie Woogie: Keep It Straight!
>> Playing With a Vocalist
>> B Minor Blues Grooves
>> Harmonic Minor; Yes You Can!
>> Signing Up with the Jam Host
>> Funk Grooves You Can Use
>> Playing with Other Guitarists
>> Your Best Friend: Guide Tones
>> Playing With a Harp Cat
>> Can’t Go Wrong with Bubble Parts
>> Exercise Killer Tone Control
>> Rhythmic Feels and Forms
>> Overplaying: THE Big No No!
>> Go-To Licks: Fits All Sizes
>> Getting Lost? No Worries
>> Dorian: The ONE Other Scale
>> Dealing with Stage Fright
>> Blues Faces You MUST Make
The Blues Jam Survival Guide covers all of the nuances of preparing for, participating in, and performing at blues jams in a manner that the jam host, the other players, and the audience will respond to favorably and positively. Put your time in with this Survival Guide and you can bank on developing a monster blues bag and overcoming any and all phobias you might have about jumping on the stage and playing your heart out.
A quick Google will reveal hundreds of books, courses and seminars for conquering the fear of public speaking, but you’ll find very little that prepares you or helps you overcome the fear of participating in a public blues jam. And that’s precisely why we asked Jeff Scheetz to research and author The Blues Jam Survival Guide for TrueFire members and students.
Producer, recording artist and instructor extraordinaire, Scheetz has an extensive background as founder and leader of several highly popular blues and blues-rock jam bands. One of the most sought after instructors by students and professionals alike, Scheetz is eminently qualified to guide your blues jam aspirations.
The Blues Jam Survival Guide is packed with 115 tips, 75 essential licks, 43 practice rhythm tracks, and tons of other valuable insight designed for the practicing guitarist who is biting at the bit to jump up on stage at the jam but just can’t pull the trigger for fear of not being prepared. Even if you’ve overcome your “stage fright” but just can’t seem to kick it in to high gear at the jam, The Blues Jam Survival Guide will provide that “breakthrough” you’ve been hoping for.
Scheetz goes way beyond just preparing you mentally and logistically; The Blues Jam Survival Guide also includes dozens of essential blues rhythm patterns that you will need to know, a big bagful of go-to blues licks that will always work for you, and sound advice for other musical situations that you will definitely encounter and need to deal with at the jam.
The Blues Jam Survival Guide also features a variety of seasoned blues jam players and leaders who were gracious enough to share their insight and tips for the players new to jam sessions. Jeff has them perform examples of what to do and more importantly, what NOT to do at the jam. These segments are the proverbial “pictures worth a thousand words.” Scheetz ices the Survival Guide cake with complete breakdowns of the 7 essential blues song structures and grooves that you MUST know before taking the stage at any blues jam.
Here are just a few of the topics that Scheetz and his crew of master jammers cover and demonstrate in The Blues Jam Survival Guide:
>> The Right Attitude Goes a Long Way
>> Playing the Inevitable 12/8 Slow Blues
>> Chord Variations You Must Know
>> G Blues Licks You Can Use Anywhere
>> Watch Out For That V Chord!
>> Pay Attention or Pay the Penalty
>> Playing Too Loud (Or Too Softly)
>> The Good Ole Texas Shuffle
>> Pick Your Songs Carefully
>> Practice Standing Up!
>> Slow Shuffle: Safe Bet!
>> No-Fail E Blues Licks
>> Communication Breakdown
>> Crowd Pleasing Rhumba Blues
>> Mix In Those Mixolydians
>> Follow the Rules of the Jam
>> Boogie Woogie: Keep It Straight!
>> Playing With a Vocalist
>> B Minor Blues Grooves
>> Harmonic Minor; Yes You Can!
>> Signing Up with the Jam Host
>> Funk Grooves You Can Use
>> Playing with Other Guitarists
>> Your Best Friend: Guide Tones
>> Playing With a Harp Cat
>> Can’t Go Wrong with Bubble Parts
>> Exercise Killer Tone Control
>> Rhythmic Feels and Forms
>> Overplaying: THE Big No No!
>> Go-To Licks: Fits All Sizes
>> Getting Lost? No Worries
>> Dorian: The ONE Other Scale
>> Dealing with Stage Fright
>> Blues Faces You MUST Make
The Blues Jam Survival Guide covers all of the nuances of preparing for, participating in, and performing at blues jams in a manner that the jam host, the other players, and the audience will respond to favorably and positively. Put your time in with this Survival Guide and you can bank on developing a monster blues bag and overcoming any and all phobias you might have about jumping on the stage and playing your heart out.
What you'll learn
- Create simple bubble parts using root and fifth
- How to use guide tones in funk rhythm playing
- Simplify playing appropriately in jam situations
- Creating effective rhythm parts for jam sessions
- Understanding when and why to play sparse rhythm parts
Release date: 04/20/2010 • 3h 52m runtime
Sample lessons
How To Play the Inevitable 12/8 Slow Blues Like a Pro
Introduction
More Essential G Blues Licks
Examples
Pay Attention or You Just Might Pay the Penalty
Tip 2
Follow the Rules of the Jam
Tip 4
What's included
69 lessons • 23 charts • 7 Jam Tracks
Blues Jam Survival Guide
ll of my knowledge on the subject, but I also researched and talked with many, many hosts of jams, as well as the folks who get up and do the jamming to really get to the essence of what is the most sure path to jamming excellence. We called this the Blues Jam Survival Guide, because I really think this is all the information you need to be a confident jammer and successfully survive any jam night. Some of the things that I teach in this course: I break down 7 essential grooves you NEED to know at any jam night: Texas shuffle, Slow 12/8 blues, Rhumba blues, Boogie Woogie, Slow shuffle, minor blues, Funk blues. Not only do you get the basics of these grooves but you will also learn 45 different chord variations, embellishments and substitutions to spice them up. There are also 75 licks and riffs including 25 go to licks that will be great for any blues situation. Licks are covered from 7 different scales: Minor pentatonic, Dorian, Mixolydian, Major Pentatonic, Blues scale, Half Whole diminished, and the Harmonic minor. There is also an in depth look at Guide Tones to keep your playing fresh, and Bubble Parts that work over almost anything, and are great to know if you are unsure of a tune! There is some real "insider" stuff like what it means to start on the 5 chord, different rhythmic feels and controlling your sound from a place you might not think of.
In addition to all of that, there are 8 different sections where we went to a blues club to a live jam and shot video of the band onstage! At the live jam I go over important concepts for each section and then you get to see the live band doing it the "wrong" way, and then the "right" way. This way YOU get to develop your ears and understand how it is supposed to sound. Then we sat down with these incredible players and seasoned jammers and got some great info on how to have a successful jam in 6 separate interview sections. There are over 115 "tips" on what you need to know to make your jam night experience the best it can be! Plus you get 43 jam tracks that you can use to hone your chops and practice all the stuff you are learning.
Special thanks go to these players who performed at the jam night and offered pearls of wisdom to help speed up your jam learning curve:
Gene
Hardage aka “Sarasota Slim”: guitar slinger-songwriter and self-avowed
Florida Cracker. His unique guitar and vocal style has made him a legend in the
blues world. From electric guitar to traditional dobro, and fingers to slide the
man is a master. You can hear his amazing style by visiting
www.sarasotaslim.com
Tommy
McCoy: a master of soloing in unique timing and a man with the voice of a
songbird, Tommy is an international recording artist/performer and has performed
and recorded with just about everybody and their brother from Stevie Ray Vaughn
to Commander Cody to Levon Helms, the list goes on and on. Tommy is also an
inventor of some cool musician-centric products including Microphome, check out
his website for more details
www.tommymccoyblues.com
Jerry
Bellman aka “Jer Ber”: harmonica player /bluesman is not only a monster blues
harp man but also a designer of very cool harp microphones including a design
made from old Harley Davidson light parts.
Wendy
Rich: is a multi-award winning Florida vocal legend and has performed with
many greats including touring with Janis Joplin's original band Big Brother and
The Holding Company. Wendy's gift for songwriting can be heard on her website
www.wendyrich.com
Branson
Welsh: is a young talent with an incredible ability to make a guitar scream the
blues. His talent has put him on stage with many local Florida legends as well
as a long list of international touring artists.
Bobby
Keller: toured and recorded with many Nashville legends before landing in Tampa
Bay as keyboardist for Wendy Rich's band and many other local bands. Bobby plays
B3 like a master and keeps up his chops as an organist for a local gospel church.
Jody
Young: bluesman; has played drums with many Chicago blues legends including
Jr. Wells and Buddy Guy. Put a guitar in his hands and a mic in front of him and
you will hear the blues in a way that only happens from years of experience and
a life of hardship - this man has the blues in his blood.
Bill
Arzt aka “Reverend Doctor Otis T. Sugarbear”: is one of the premier bass players
in the Tampa Bay area. Touring the state as the bassist for Sarasota Slim, and
many others, Bill has established himself as one of the most in-demand blues
bassists in the state of Florida.
Steve
Lasner aka “Red”: Red is an icon of the Blues Jam scene in the Tampa Bay
area, hosting the area's #1 Blues Jam event for 17 years. Having picked up the
guitar at the tender age of 6, Red is also an accomplished player having rubbed
elbows and performed with great and famous musicians including Buddy Miles, John
Sebastian, Derek Trucks, Robben Ford and many more. Red is also a TrueFire
educator and longtime Friend of the Fire. Learn more about Red and his TrueFire
instructional course,
Blues Expose'.
This is a course I feel will truly give you what you need to get up onstage and be the player that everyone likes to play with!
In addition to all of that, there are 8 different sections where we went to a blues club to a live jam and shot video of the band onstage! At the live jam I go over important concepts for each section and then you get to see the live band doing it the "wrong" way, and then the "right" way. This way YOU get to develop your ears and understand how it is supposed to sound. Then we sat down with these incredible players and seasoned jammers and got some great info on how to have a successful jam in 6 separate interview sections. There are over 115 "tips" on what you need to know to make your jam night experience the best it can be! Plus you get 43 jam tracks that you can use to hone your chops and practice all the stuff you are learning.
Special thanks go to these players who performed at the jam night and offered pearls of wisdom to help speed up your jam learning curve:
Gene
Hardage aka “Sarasota Slim”: guitar slinger-songwriter and self-avowed
Florida Cracker. His unique guitar and vocal style has made him a legend in the
blues world. From electric guitar to traditional dobro, and fingers to slide the
man is a master. You can hear his amazing style by visiting
www.sarasotaslim.comTommy
McCoy: a master of soloing in unique timing and a man with the voice of a
songbird, Tommy is an international recording artist/performer and has performed
and recorded with just about everybody and their brother from Stevie Ray Vaughn
to Commander Cody to Levon Helms, the list goes on and on. Tommy is also an
inventor of some cool musician-centric products including Microphome, check out
his website for more details
www.tommymccoyblues.comJerry
Bellman aka “Jer Ber”: harmonica player /bluesman is not only a monster blues
harp man but also a designer of very cool harp microphones including a design
made from old Harley Davidson light parts.Wendy
Rich: is a multi-award winning Florida vocal legend and has performed with
many greats including touring with Janis Joplin's original band Big Brother and
The Holding Company. Wendy's gift for songwriting can be heard on her website
www.wendyrich.comBranson
Welsh: is a young talent with an incredible ability to make a guitar scream the
blues. His talent has put him on stage with many local Florida legends as well
as a long list of international touring artists. Bobby
Keller: toured and recorded with many Nashville legends before landing in Tampa
Bay as keyboardist for Wendy Rich's band and many other local bands. Bobby plays
B3 like a master and keeps up his chops as an organist for a local gospel church.Jody
Young: bluesman; has played drums with many Chicago blues legends including
Jr. Wells and Buddy Guy. Put a guitar in his hands and a mic in front of him and
you will hear the blues in a way that only happens from years of experience and
a life of hardship - this man has the blues in his blood. Bill
Arzt aka “Reverend Doctor Otis T. Sugarbear”: is one of the premier bass players
in the Tampa Bay area. Touring the state as the bassist for Sarasota Slim, and
many others, Bill has established himself as one of the most in-demand blues
bassists in the state of Florida. Steve
Lasner aka “Red”: Red is an icon of the Blues Jam scene in the Tampa Bay
area, hosting the area's #1 Blues Jam event for 17 years. Having picked up the
guitar at the tender age of 6, Red is also an accomplished player having rubbed
elbows and performed with great and famous musicians including Buddy Miles, John
Sebastian, Derek Trucks, Robben Ford and many more. Red is also a TrueFire
educator and longtime Friend of the Fire. Learn more about Red and his TrueFire
instructional course,
Blues Expose'.
This is a course I feel will truly give you what you need to get up onstage and be the player that everyone likes to play with!
Bonus Backing Tracks
Please use the Extra Assets links below to download some extra backing tracks for you to jam over.
Projecting the Right Attitude at the Jam Goes a Long Way
Jam night etiquette is something everyone should be aware of. It is mostly simple things like having a good attitude, be prepared, paying attention, supporting the other jammers. These are simple little things that make a huge difference.
How To Play the Inevitable 12/8 Slow Blues Like a Pro
The slow blues is maybe the most common thing you are going to hear at a jam night. Mostly due to the fact that there are so many songs that use this format. So it is crucial to your jam night bag to have this down pat, and have some variations you can pull out and use.
12/8 Slow Blues - Part 2
When you hear someone doing these "sliding 6ths" it is instantly recognizable as the blues. There are so many versions of songs using this that it can come a bit mundane. So we'll spice it up with some chord variations and some rhythm variations. But just when you think this technique is not "cool" enough, just put on some SRV and you will see that it's not all about the particular technique, it is about how sincere you are when you do it!
12/8 Slow Blues - Part 3
One cool thing we can do is act like a keyboard player. OK, so that's not cool unless you have the skinny tie that looks like a little keyboard. But for our purpose, we can steal an idea from B3 players and hold down a drone or common note as we are switching chords. This gives it a really cool sustaining note feel.
LIVE! Chord Variations You MUST Know for the Jam
Keep it simple, but when you get a chance to "spice things up" a bit, knowing your neck really well can make your part really nice. Knowing your inversions, chord embellishments and substitutions etc will make your whole jam experience a lot more fun and really open up what you can play.
+ 62 more lessons
Reviews
24 results
Quark77
Verified buyer
09/11/22
Practical guide to jamming
A very practical guide to learn jamming along. Broad spectrum of concepts and methods. Event though the course is a bit older (limited video quality), the learnings here are timeless.
Starglazer
Verified buyer
07/13/22
Good Tittle
Jeff explains things very well.The progress of the method Is well done. A great teacher.
Uschmed
Verified buyer
03/08/22
Blues Jam Survival Guide
Just like Jeff's Street Theory for guitarists, this course is a treasure trove of information even if you do not go to Blues Jams. Definitely recommended.
TTelsog
Verified buyer
01/20/22
Next Steep
Just starting but very impressed, thoughtfully put together Experience shines through thanks Jeff
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