How to Easily Create Fun Jams

By Rod Ferreira

Thursday, February 16th 2017

Whenever we pick up an instrument the starting process can be long and frustrating, but it does pay off when we first start to play some of our favorite tunes - even if we are able to only play the intro or main riff of a specific tune.

The next big rewarding step, on every students life, is to be able to create something, to be able to pick the instrument and just jam! So today we will show you a couple of ideas about that.

Lets start with an A major chord and an A major scale

A Major Chord: A C# E

E-- -- -0- -- -- -
B-- -- -2- -- -- -
G-- -- -2- -- -- -
D-- -- -2- -- -- -
A-- -- -0- -- -- -
E-- -- -x- -- -- -

A Major Scale: A B C# D E F# G#

E-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
B-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
G-- -2- -4- -6- -7- -9- -11- -13- -- -- -- -- --
D-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
A-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
E-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Start by playing the chord and then just play, randomly, the notes from the scale! No need to follow any order, just play the notes and see what you would like as the first note of a solo. Lets pick the note D as an example to take this further.

After we pick a starting note for our jam it might be interesting to move the chord shape to another spot on the fretboard in order to have more D’s around, for example:

E-- 9-- -- --10-- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
B-- 10-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
G-- 9-- -- -- -- -- -7-- -- -- -- -- --
D-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
A-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
E-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

And then we can think about playing the D note, highlight the A Chord - trying to perhaps find a different D note and moving back to the A.

E--10-- 9-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
B-- -- -- -- -10- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -
G-- -- -- -- -- -- -9- -7-- 6-- 4-- 2-- -
D-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -
A-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -
E-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -

And we can do that in any string!! Allowing us to achieve not only different sounds and different variations but really helping us to explore the scale all over the fretboard.

As soon as you feel comfortable about the A jam, pick a different chord and apply the same process! Then Mix them up for an extended jam session. As usual, if you have any questions or comments - please feel free to send me a message!

Rod Ferreira has been a guitar teacher for over ten years. Rod specializes in acousitc, electric, blues, and rock guitar. Sign up for a one-on-one lesson today!