Bluegrass Jam Skills Checklist by Pete Wernick
[The first four are requirements of our jam camps, and the rest are goals of the camp in making you a skilled jammer. Note which skills you have and which you need work on.]
___ Tune your instrument (using a tuner), quicker the better. Remember to do it often.
___ Make chords, fingering each string accurately, for clear sound
(check by sounding each string individually, making sure it's clear and not muted)
___ Switch quickly between chord changes, with accurate fingering
(with each switch, sound each string individually, making sure it's clear, not muted)
G-D-G ___ (most important)
G-C-G ___
C-D-C ___
D-A-D ___
G-A-G ___
G-D-G ___ (most important)
G-C-G ___
C-D-C ___
D-A-D ___
G-A-G ___
___ Switch chords cleanly and quickly without looking
___ Follow chord changes watching another player
___ Remember chord changes - which chords happen and when
___ Anticipate chord changes, to make them right at the correct time
___ Sing a song and play chords accurately at the same time
___ Play and sing a song straight through with no pauses or hesitations
___ Play and sing a song fluently without needing to look at a written version
___ Lead a song. Skills include knowing how to introduce a song to the group
(give key and whether the chord progression is typical or unusual in some way, designate solos, when to end, etc.)
___ Fake an instrumental solo on the fly, melody not necessary, but following the chord changes.
___ Sing harmony
___ Know how to find jams and/or how to start one