We got together with another guitarist. What can we play together?

Question

Recently I met a great guy who also plays guitar. We became friends and decided to get together once in a while to jam. When the time came, we realized that we do not know what to do musically at our sessions.

We are both still learning, our level may be a little above a beginner. We know stuff like chords and scales, but how can we apply it ti dual playing? Where can we find tabs and noted for the two guitars? Maybe there is some set of exercises, that can speed up your learning if you have a jam-buddy?

I play acoustic folk guitar, he plays electric.

Answer 1

Since I can't edit answers, I'll post my own, but this builds on what others have written.

When you're at a relatively beginner level (as I am!), you're not gonna be whipping out amazing solos or harmonies. Go for the basics - pick a chord progression (the classic I-IV-V never hurts), and just both strum or pick along to it. Hopefully you can fall into a standard rhythm. As Håvard mentioned, have fun and communicate.

Once you're both playing the same chord progression together and not messing up, have one of the players try a "solo". Don't worry about it being amazing - I can't remember where I heard this advice, but playing on a single string can sound amazing, especially with another person backing you up with the chords. If you know chords and scales, you should be able to play along the scale that matches the chords you're playing, and that's often enough. Don't worry about messing up a note here and there, just keep playing, and when your solo time is done, go back to the chords and let the other person have a go.

After a while, switch up the chords you've chosen.

Lastly, don't be afraid to sing along, even if it's just nonsense, or lyrics from another song, or lyrics about how you can't think of any new lyrics. Some of my greatest laughs while jamming have been over lyrics like "I have no idea what to say next, so I'll just ohhh oh oh ohhhh oh ohhh"!

Answer 2

You can't go wrong with learning to play 12-bar blues. Pretty much every guitarist anywhere knows how to play the blues, at least to some degree, so when you meet another guitarist for the first time, you can almost always just sit down and jam.

Both you and your buddy should learn to play both rhythm and solo, and trade back and forth. You'll both progress quickly if you keep at it.

Answer 3

Rythm (four quarter note by chord) :

Am Dm E7 Am Dm Am E7 Am

Solo : Minor pentatonic in A ;D

Answer 4

In my view, what makes playing together good has a lot in common with what makes human relations good.

If you're playing for the joy of it, the key that will make it stay fun is to find a common musical ground. Sit down, pick bands and songs that you both like, and get chords/tabs/notes for those songs. Learn the songs, improve by utilizing the strengths of each of you as a guitar player.

If you're playing to learn, a good approach could be to teach each other things one knows better than the other. Also, learn new techniques, songs, etc., and present what you've learned to your partner.

There are a lot of social dynamics involved in playing together, so be sure to communicate well. Praise and critique each other sensitively.

More important than anything, don't forget to have fun!

Answer 5

I think the best thing you could possibly do; is pick a song which you both like and is within your comfort zone to learn; and play that.

Whether you play this note for note, or make it your own, it will get you playing together, do a couple of these and you will start to get to know each others styles of playing. Pretty soon you will be jamming 'off the cuff' as it were.

If you want to start doing 'off the cuff' right away; then some standard chord progressions is a good place to start.