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Great technique for jams that are maybe just a bit above our skill level. I think listening and playing backup chords really help and just sitting in on the sessions trains your mind to move a little faster. Although you may need to sit in a few sessions before you feel comfortable doing it, when it is your turn to lead a tune, don’t defer! Then set the tempo at your comfort level. It won’t hurt all those speed demons to play one correctly at a slower tempo!

Great question! I agree w/Jason’s and Rick’s responses. I started on the fiddle Feb. 7, 2022 and started w/FiddleHed on May 2, 2022. In Sept. 2022, I was invited to attend a local bluegrass jam (they’ve been doing this weekly jam for their 21st year now). But they don’t have many fiddle players, so they’ve been especially welcoming and supportive to me. For my first song, I picked “I’ll Fly Away” (in G), and I practiced w/the FiddleHed lesson and full playback and also Strum Machine. Pick a simple song you can learn to play solidly. In the jam, it will be received better if you play it at a slower tempo that you can play solidly rather than trying to play it faster, but you can’t hold the tempo and play the song solidly. They’ve all been there with starting so they understand! Then, when you’re not playing the melody, start by playing just the root note of the chord of the measure (you could use this time to “practice” quiet long bows). Or you can “chop” on the off beats (any mandolins there would be doing this). If you don’t know the song, try to listen to anyone there playing bass, the bass person is holding the chord, listen especially for what the bass is playing on the 1 and 3 beats of a 4 beat measure. I hope this helps! Don’t give up, keep trying w/it!!!