Jam session help requested
So I went to my first blues Jam session. The music was varied, but some 12 bar blues. I had no business being there, but regardless I want to be able to play accompanyment next time in 2 weeks.
Most tabs I find are really more solo and I want to play with the band at some level. I working on level 3 if I could ever get that darn 3 draw bend down. Always goes 1 1/2 step which isn't going to win any level 3 awards. My goal is by the end of the year.
So is my best option to translate the bass lines to harmonica and play along with the bass player? They seem to have 1 bass guitar and 3-4 electric guitars. The bass guy also did drum for some songs, but most where just guitar. They were supper cool with me being there, so I feel like I could play along with a few songs next time.
I know some of the songs below are not strickly 12 bars blues, but I really need some human interaction right now. It feels like I cannot only play to myself in the basement using lesson tracks forever.
Of course they rarely said the key...
Songs they usually play
Road House Blues
Stormy Monday
House of the Rising Sun
Thrill is gone
Any help or references are appreciated. I will be researching my self.
rod
Bass lines can be tricky if what you play doesn't match up with the bass player or, just as likely, clashes with a guitar line.
If you can play chords in rhythm, and cover some part of the rhythm spectrum that isn't already covered, then you have another way to fit in.
Roadhouse Blues featured second position harp by John Sebastian (under the pseudonym Giovanni Pugliese), although Jim Morrison played the harp part live.
Thrill is Gone is in a minor key. Fourth position would give you chord notes you need, along with just the right scale, but that may be beyond your expertise at the moment. This is not a good candidate for second position, especially (but not only) if you haven't yet got the one-semitone bend on Draw 3.
Stormy Monday has a sophisticated chord progression that you can't track with pure chording. Hhowever, you can cover the bit just beore the V chord with Draw 3, Blow 4, Draw 4, Draw 4 bend.