Hello to all I am writing to see how others feel about this situation. I work with this guy probably 10 years younger than me I found out he plays guitar and has been since he was 15 and he is really good at playing. So I asked him if he wanted to get together and have a jam session he said sure but I am very nervous because I don’t have the skills that he does . I also don’t have a hole lot of songs under my belt like he does and I never played guitar with another guitarist.I am very nervous this is going to be a disaster. What are your thoughts on this situation.
Just have fun 
, the first time is a trial and it won’t go smoothly with no one if you’re not both reasonably good,*** agree on a song that you can play together****,talk laugh try something… it’s not like you’re playing in front of an audience 
and once you’ve told how long as you play and you are still in the beginning, there is nothing wrong with it and he will probably not get angry and breaking your guitar in two 
Remember, it’s just playing the guitar for fun, nothing more, nothing less…
Greetings
4 Likes
Nothing ventured, Nothing gained!
If I had that opportunity, I’d jump on that like a chicken on a june bug.
Don’t be hesitant imho.
2 Likes
I apologize for putting 2 posts up on your question, but my after thought I think was kinda relevant too.
A short story I heard this weekend. That didn’t work out.
Went over to my neighbors house last Fri.
Saw an acquaintance of mine via my neighbor. He kinda plays bass. At least he has a bass and a amp anyways.
Said he’d joined a band but it didn’t work out. I can believe this. He barely knows the notes of the open strings on the bass, no idea about scales. Pretty much no idea in general. Said he was having trouble playing with the band hitting the wrong notes. Imagine that.
Guess the last straw was when the band ask him to play in Cb.
Really, imho, kind of a trick question I thought. But that was the end of that effort for my acquaintance with the band.
I think he was disappointed but I hope he takes what happened with a grain of salt and goes somewhere in hopes of learning more so he can play with the band. Time will tell what he does with the rejection.
I thought it was a good opportunity for him. More opportunity than I’ve had.
And, at the very least he tried. Failed, but tried.
I have a saying for that scenario.
Your vastly better off if you’ve tried to do something and failed than if you tried to do nothing and succeeded.
5 Likes
Go for it Jeff, you have nothing to lose and so much to gain. The great Canadian ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky once said that “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take “.
1 Like
If you have the opportunity to play with someone else, 1000% take it! I know it can be scary, especially if the other person is really skilled, but please give it a shot.
When I first met Greg (the lead guitarist in my band) I had just hit 2 years on the guitar. Greg had been playing for a lot longer and I definitely had some of those similar thoughts run through my head. I took the chance and I’m so glad I did!
Our skills actually ended up balancing nicely. He’s great at improv and coming up with lead lines on the fly, which is not my strong suit. I’m better at rhythm and keeping everyone where they need to be. Now that we have been playing together as a band for a full year, I can say that I feel like my skill level has grown a lot more in a shorter window of time just by virtue of learning how to play with others. Please take the opportunity if you have it! You never know what might come of it 
5 Likes
Put any two guitarists in a room and one will be better than the other. Doesn’t matter. I recently listened to Josh Smith talking about this - when he is playing with someone better, he doesn’t reach for things he can’t do, he just focuses on what he can play.
If the boot was on the other foot and someone less experienced wanted to play with you, then I’m sure you’d be only too pleased to have fun and perhaps take the opportunity to pass on some skills or knowledge, and I’m sure this guys will feel like that too.
You’ll have a blast.
2 Likes
Just yesterday a friend came over to play a bit of guitar together. He as been playing since high school (more years than either of us can count) and he play in a cover band for many years after that. Needless to say he’s WAY better that I am.
We played together for a couple of hours. Sometimes it was his pick of the songs and sometimes I got to choose. I had a blast and can’t wait for the next time we get together.
I look at it this way, if it goes well and you’re both enjoying it then it will happen again. If it doesn’t go well and either or both of you say no more, then for the cost of an hour or two it’s no big deal and still more fun that mowing the lawn or watching the NFL.
Cheers,
Glen
1 Like
Always take the opportunity to play with a better musician!
1 Like
Yup gave him a call so we will be getting together and I will let you all know how it goes . Thanks for all the encouragement to all of you.
3 Likes
It’s normal that you are a bit nervous about this.
I think the key is: expectation management.
Be clear in what your level is and what you expect from the session yourself.
you want to jam and trade some backing versus lead lines? perhaps you could learn a few ideas from him. I’ve never met a guitarist who isn’t flattered by a mere question of interest and all people who I’ve asked, were willign to show me something 
Have fun but be clear in 2 ways what fun means and what you expect
1 Like
Seriously Jeff, just do it 
. I had a work colleague some years ago before I even started the JG journey and he played guitar, I didn’t really know more than that. So one day he says he’d come over and have a bit of a jam just some fun. I was most confident playing through Wish You Were Here and didn’t really have much else that I could play right through.
Anyway, we sat around and I started playing through the song and he just followed, improvised and ad-libbed wherever he felt like and it sounded great. He actually said that he’d never played that through with anyone and actually enjoyed it. We just played around with different things for a while and it was great few hours.
So it turned out that he’s actually a really good muso and played in a band. The whole family are musos 
.
Anyway, as long as you feel comfortable with him as a person, I reckon jump in and have some fun.
1 Like
Well, Jeff, you did ask your friend … 
Nike … what’s the worst that could happen ? … perhaps only one session ?
Have fun, and do post how you got on.
1 Like
Just go and show him how its done Jeff you might just be surprised my friend
1 Like
just have ago you may pick up some tips tell him you are a beginner and only know a few songs the experience will be good, I have never played with anyone else yet.
1 Like
That’s mean.
To OP: maybe you could agree on a list of songs you’d like to play so that you can prepare yourself better.
1 Like
@Jwaters Jeff. . .can’t add anything new here to what others have said above but just to say “Well done” for calling up.
It’s ALL experience, hopefully good, but you’ll be the one who takes away something positive from it just by how you respond to WHATEVER it is that happens.
As is popular to say in self help circles, "it isn’t always ‘the what’ that happens to you its how you respond to what happens to you that makes the difference!
Enjoy!! I’m sure you’re gonna have a blast. Jamming is FUN!
1 Like
I’m sure it will be a good experience, Jeff. Enjoy. Nothing to lose 
1 Like
Jeff…it’s not going to be a disaster…it’s going to be magical 
Be realistic and honest with him with what you can and can’t do, I’m sure he’s been there too and will understand. Be focussed on the music and just let the magic happen…
1 Like