jam bands

[Conrad]

Anyone on here listen to jam bands like Panic, Phish, Gov. Mule, and of course The Dead?
I'm pretty much a beginner and mostly listen to Panic and was just wondering if anyone on here could give me some help when i get stuck learning certain songs. Thanks.

[GuitarDave]

If you're a beginner, I'd try learning a few Dead tunes first, as they tned to be the simplest out of all the bands you mentioned. There's a great site for Phish tab (http://www.redmedia.com/chords/index.shtml) and you can probably find similar sites for Panic or any other band on Google (just search for "Widespread Panic Tab), or whatever other band you're looking for.

I also think you'll find most people here happy to help you when you get stuck.

[Conrad]

I use the tab sites all the time, rukind.com, is the best dead tab site i've found. it has real audio samples with the tab and also has pink floyd, beatles, dylan, neil young, and a few more.
everydaycompanion.com has chords to all panic songs.
I just don't have a good enough ear to figure out parts that aren't tabbed out (hopefully some day i will).

[smfulla]

just wondering, but isn't the point of a jam band to be spontaneous???? So why try and learn tabs?

[GuitarDave]

Improv is indeed a large part of jamming, but the songs aren't made up entirely on the spot, they've got chords and solos that are often integral parts of the song, which are used as jumping off points for more spontaneous jams. smfulla's correct in that you need to learn to be spontaneous (I would start by learning all your scales and modes cold so you can solo up and down the neck and checking out the improv section here at cyberfret), but you can't launch into an epic 35 minute version of Dark Star if you don't know the chords or the neat little characteristic solo bits (or if you want to completely improv, you still need to know the key, which the tab can help you get)

[Conrad]

I'm just not good enough to improvise into a full length jam (only been playin' about a year and never had a lesson), so like Guitardave said, I can't stretch out. I just like trying the basic songs for now. I'm slowly picking up a little more theory. I just don't have any natural talent so its slow going.

[Terrapin]

improvisation only gets better with time, practice, and smart thinking. you have to truly understand each note you play, then you wlil be a great improviser.

[GTE]

I am really into Govt Mule, and theres a german southern rock site that has alot of the tabs for their songs as well as others, but youll have to search for it :)


If ya cant find it, e-mail me and ill find it for ya

[MR.MAN]

When you metioned jam bands you didn't mention the allman bothers.And the greatfull dead rock!!!!!!!!!!!! :cool: :cool: :cool:

[muchavo]

ive got to be a fan of the jam, ive seen the allmans and phish and love um both, awesome stuff

check out the rudolph family band (name?)

they are great too

[muchavo]

whoaa mr man

this thread is 2 years old, i was wondering why i never saw these guys before, way to rip out a relic

[bluesbreaker]

Are you thinking of Robert Randolph and the Family Band? Blues pedal steel guy?

[muchavo]

thats the one

[Killjoy_Anarchy]

I like the Dead, Phish, Gov't Mule, moe., Dave Matthews, Derek Trucks Band, and String Cheese Incident.

[Sleepy Aligator]

I've listened alot to most of those bands mentioned. Allman Brothers Band and Grateful Dead more than anything. I think the Dead will be always and forever remember as the gods of all jambands even though they were probably much more than that. They did also write great songs and record quite a few classic but underated studio albums. I mean listen to the difference between every studio album they released, they were always changing their style and never resting on what they had done before. That is great band that changes and evolves over the years. All the great bands have that if you listen to them when they started to when they finish they will always be in a totaly different place. But still the same at the core.

Difference with the Allmans to the dead was how with Garcia and Bob Weir one played lead and the other rhythm but try and copy Bob Weir's style of playing rhythm, it is very complicated and his chord progressions are very complex. Garcia's leads were so subtle but fast, the way he switched between finger and flatpicking and lead and rhythm and his use of arpeggio's to change the tempo and each solo was different, and the way he used the fretboard to float in and out and move into another piece leading the band with him.

With the Allmans Duane and Dickey Betts were both lead players, each taking the melody to new places then joining each other. Dickey usally would take the lead first and go somewhere, like asking Duane the question then he would always answer with something new for Dickey to match. Really incredable stuff.

I've been studying both these bands alot.

[DemoEtc]

I'm just not good enough to improvise into a full length jam (only been playin' about a year and never had a lesson), so like Guitardave said, I can't stretch out. I just like trying the basic songs for now. I'm slowly picking up a little more theory. I just don't have any natural talent so its slow going.

You haven't posted for a couple of years Conrad, but if you're reading this, 'natural talent' isn't all it's cracked up to be. :) An real interest in music, and a love for it, can cause a person to grow in it no matter what.

Hope you're still jamming, man :)

[jamstrat]

I've missed you guys! Especially you MUCHAVO!! I've been gone for so long, my damn internet got shut off, not enough cash to pay the bills. Hopefully I'll get it paid off soon.

On the topic of jam bands, I would highly recommend some Medeski Martin & Wood, some Robert Randolph and the Family band, some of Claypool's bands, and definitely pick up a copy of Umphrey's McGee Anchor Drops, ****en amazing album.

Well see you later, hopefuly sooner than later.