Beginner Bluegrass Jam Songs - Idaho Bluegrass Association

New Song Lists - Jan. to March

12/28/2021

Hi everyone,
Starting next week, the current beginner bluegrass jam will enter into a new phase, in which it is likely that certain songs played during the first half of the evening at the jam will be called in a wider variety of keys than what was the case during the initial phase of the jam (Sept. - Dec. 2021).

New Song Lists
Included in the attachments are two new song lists for the jam which are intended to replace the main list and additional songs list that we have used for the jam during the past four months.

The first list (titled 'Beginner Bluegrass Jam - Jan. - Mar. 15, 2022 - Main List') consists of 14 songs that were on the previous main song list, plus 6 songs that were on the previous additional songs list. This list of 20 songs is the list that we will play from for the first half of the evening.

Notice that, unlike on the previous main list, keys for songs that are sung at the jam (as distinguished from instrumentals) are placed in parentheses, just like on the additional songs lists. This is because, from now on, I will be welcoming others to lead the singing on songs played during the first half of the evening, and I will be expecting those who choose to do so to select the key that best suits their voice of the 8 keys that we make use of at the beginner jam: A, Bb, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The keys in parentheses simply refer to the keys that the songs will be played in when I am leading the singing on the songs. They are not intended to function as suggested keys for another person to lead the singing on the songs in, unless, of course, that person happens to have the same vocal range as me.

The second list (titled 'Beginner Bluegrass Jam - Jan. - Mar. 15 - Additional Songs') serves the same purpose as the previous Additional Songs list, namely, that when taken together with the Main List, this list is there to help to give a clearer idea of what kinds of songs are most appropriate to introduce into the beginner jam in its current phase.

Also included in the attachments is the Basic Chord Progressions handout that the song lists are keyed to, and Nashville Number System charts for converting the number names of chords to their letter names for the keys that songs are played in at the jam. No changes have been made to these handouts.