Top 15 for open jams

[Bob Savage]

Looking for input on what you guys consider the top 15 must know covers for "open jams." Forget era although it may be good to stick with rock and "blues," what are the top 15 tunes that you expect others to know at an open jam?

 

[Badronald]

Crossroads

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Joe

Steve

 

[Racerxrated]

Let's see...Tush...Born to be Wild....You Really Got Me....ugh. I just threw up in my mouth.

 

[Zap]

Sunshine Of Your Love

 

[Bob Savage]

Let's see...Tush...Born to be Wild....You Really Got Me....ugh. I just threw up in my mouth.

I do realize my artistic integrity is mud by asking the question, nonetheless...

 

[ctoddrun]

Cocaine is simple enough to fake for anyone.

 

[Racerxrated]

Let's see...Tush...Born to be Wild....You Really Got Me....ugh. I just threw up in my mouth.

I do realize my artistic integrity is mud by asking the question, nonetheless...

Its not you....it's me. I'm admitting to playing these songs so much over the past 30 years in cover bands. And when I gig we still get requests for them. Roadhouse Blues...Mustang Sally....God I could just keep going. Ugh. But hey its what they want to hear right??

 

[Bob Savage]

Its not you....it's me. I'm admitting to playing these songs so much over the past 30 years in cover bands. And when I gig we still get requests for them. Roadhouse Blues...Mustang Sally....God I could just keep going. Ugh. But hey its what they want to hear right??

I've played them 0 times in the last 30 years so I can see your point.

The question wasn't actually what drunks in bars like to hear, it's more along the lines of when a group of guitarist who have never met get together (with a rhythm section), what are the common tunes that generally everyone knows.

 

[John4021]

"Knockin on Heavens Door" for the win

 

[thunda]

Keep Your Hands to Yourself

Last Dance With Mary Jane

Simple Man

 

[skoora]

Call Of Ktulu

 

[zewango]

Last Train To Clarksville.

 

[gibson08]

Depends on lots of things but I would want to be prepared for some Stones, Hendrix, Allman Bros, SRV, Skynyrd, ZZ, Clapton,, tons of other stuff,, is this a new jam idea or something that already is going and you can go check it out before??

 

[Racerxrated]

Its not you....it's me. I'm admitting to playing these songs so much over the past 30 years in cover bands. And when I gig we still get requests for them. Roadhouse Blues...Mustang Sally....God I could just keep going. Ugh. But hey its what they want to hear right??

I've played them 0 times in the last 30 years so I can see your point.

The question wasn't actually what drunks in bars like to hear, it's more along the lines of when a group of guitarist who have never met get together (with a rhythm section), what are the common tunes that generally everyone knows.

I guess in this area, for a long time many of the working cover band guys could sit in with the next band the following weekend because the set lists were pretty sickly similar. So those tunes I mentioned are songs that I could jump up on stage here when they used to have open jam on Wed nights 5 years ago and everyone would know it. Much cooler to do some Queensryche or Rush but there's always ONE guy that doesn't know it. So mostly classic rock stuff works for open jams from my experience.

 

[JiMB]

SRV-Pride and Joy
Zep-Rock N Roll

 

[glassjaw7]

Beatles - come together?

 

[stdio]

Crazy Train, Back in Black.

 

[Badronald]

when a group of guitarist who have never met get together (with a rhythm section), what are the common tunes that generally everyone knows.

Hahahahahahaha! That's a good one.

 

[strungup]

I think you have had a few good suggestions already. Finding songs everyone knows is not really practical at least in my area. Rather than worrying about songs that everyone will know I would think in terms of songs that people could pick up on the spot. Song with only a few chords and a catchy riff, or song that are based on a simple blues progression. Songs most musicians could pick up by the end of the song. Plus most of those songs leave plenty of room to play over so you can get a feel for each other. It also helps to pick songs someone will probably be able to step up to a mic and know most of the words to already to add vocals. Anytime I have ever played with people the first time or tried to start a band it was nice having some easy songs ready to get things started. You could even print out some chord sheets with lyrics to start things off. There are plenty of songs that fit that description and a lot of them are crowd pleasers. If the get together works out you could always plan for more rewarding material the next time. Just my 2 cents.