Cumming Music Jam
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Are you learning these skills?
If not, we can help.
There are skills that are necessary at any jam (bluegrass or otherwise) that you attend. At the Cumming Music Jam, we want to help you learn the skills needed to help you feel confident playing music with a group of people. If you need help, just ask.
These are absolute necessities!
- Tune your instrument (using a tuner), quicker the better. Check tuning often!
- Learn G, C, D, and A chords, fingering each string accurately, for clear sound (check by sounding each string individually, making sure it’s clear and not muted) Bass and fiddle players don’t make chords, but need to know which notes go with which chord.
- Switch smoothly between chords, with accurate fingering (with each switch, sound any problem string individually, making sure it’s clear, not muted). Practice these sequences:
- G-D-G (most common)
- G-C-G
- D-A-D
- C-D-C
- G-A-G
- Change chords without looking, cleanly and quickly
- Maintain a rhythm pattern while changing chords accurately
- Follow chord changes watching a guitar player
- Remember chord changes of a new song – which chords happen and when
- Anticipate chord changes, to make them at exactly the right time
- Sing a song while playing, with accurate chording and a consistent rhythm pattern
- Play and sing a song straight through with no pauses or hesitations
- Play and sing a song fluently from memory, not using a written version
If you feel like you need help with any of this, please let me know! I want to help!