How to Jam at the Bean Blossom Blues Fest

(800) 783-7996

BEAN BLOSSOM

(317) 861-9444

September 7 - 10, 2006

BLUES FEST

Bean Blossom, Indiana

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CAMPING AT THE BEAN IS THE WAY TO GO

There's no better way to experience the Bean than to camp at it. The smell of bacon frying on Coleman stoves, the fantastic campfire jams, the fellow music lovers you'll meet, it's all part of it. Click here for campsite reservation info.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF JAMMING

Everyone has talent; what's rare is the courage to follow that talent to the dark place where it leads. At the Bean Blossom Blues Fest you'll have plenty of opportunity "to follow that talent"! The only rules: show courtesy and respect to everyone - especially those with whom you're jamming. Don't try to be a superstar - jamming is about being a good supporting actor. When it's your turn to take a solo or a lead, close your eyes and give it all you've got. Let the music set you free and follow your heart - you might be surprised where it takes you! The rest of the time be sensitive to what others are doing. For example, most music does NOT call for a harmonica to be playing all the time. Harmonica players - just stop playing when the guitar player is soloing - stay out of his way and he'll be your friend. Know when to be silent, know when to wail. Work to create feelings and emotions that match the music. Speed notes are often not as impressive as a well placed, well executed single note. Follow your heart on all these things - you'll have a blast - and the other folks will love having you there!

NO AMPLIFIED MUSIC EXCEPT...

We tried to allow amplification at the campsites, but amplified jams immediately evolve into battles to determine who can be loudest. This TOTALLY disruptes the breath taking sweetness of the famous Bean Blossom campfire jams. Amplified music knocks out any acoustic jam within 100 yards, and we cannot and will not allow that throughout the park. If you would like to jam amplified, you can hang-out at campsites 220 thru 222. Only those 2 sites will be permitted to host amplified music AND only until 1:30am. After 1:30am there'll be no amplified music allowed anywhere in the park. The "No Amplified Unless on Stage or at sites 220 - 222" rule will be enforced this year.

A NOTE TO HARMONICA PLAYERS

Knowing what key of harmonica you need for the music being played seems to be a challenge for beginning harp players. The guitar player usually chooses the key. If you can't tell what key he's in by watching his finger positions or by listening, just ask - he was supposed to tell you in the first place! The next challenge for beginners is understanding that most jamming is done on the harmonica while playing in cross harp, or second position. Click here for a straight harp to cross harp conversion chart.

A NOTE TO GUITAR PLAYERS

We need you! Due to the fact that the Bean is hosted by Bushman Music Works - a harmonica company with thousands of loyal Bushman fans - there'll be a ton of harp players at the fest looking for guitar, ukulele, banjo and mandolin players. Be ready to crank out a lot of 12 bar blues using the old I-IV-V chord progression. Lots of harp players don't know how to tell which key you're in by reading your fingering positions, and even fewer can tell a key just by listening, so just before you start a new song or jam session shout out the key you're going to be in.

(800) 783-7996	BEAN BLOSSOM	(317) 861-9444
September 7 - 10, 2006	BLUES FEST	Bean Blossom, Indiana
Home	Tickets	General Info
CAMPING AT THE BEAN IS THE WAY TO GO
There's no better way to experience the Bean than to camp at it. The smell of bacon frying on Coleman stoves, the fantastic campfire jams, the fellow music lovers you'll meet, it's all part of it. Click here for campsite reservation info.
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF JAMMING
Everyone has talent; what's rare is the courage to follow that talent to the dark place where it leads. At the Bean Blossom Blues Fest you'll have plenty of opportunity "to follow that talent"! The only rules: show courtesy and respect to everyone - especially those with whom you're jamming. Don't try to be a superstar - jamming is about being a good supporting actor. When it's your turn to take a solo or a lead, close your eyes and give it all you've got. Let the music set you free and follow your heart - you might be surprised where it takes you! The rest of the time be sensitive to what others are doing. For example, most music does NOT call for a harmonica to be playing all the time. Harmonica players - just stop playing when the guitar player is soloing - stay out of his way and he'll be your friend. Know when to be silent, know when to wail. Work to create feelings and emotions that match the music. Speed notes are often not as impressive as a well placed, well executed single note. Follow your heart on all these things - you'll have a blast - and the other folks will love having you there!
NO AMPLIFIED MUSIC EXCEPT...
We tried to allow amplification at the campsites, but amplified jams immediately evolve into battles to determine who can be loudest. This TOTALLY disruptes the breath taking sweetness of the famous Bean Blossom campfire jams. Amplified music knocks out any acoustic jam within 100 yards, and we cannot and will not allow that throughout the park. If you would like to jam amplified, you can hang-out at campsites 220 thru 222. Only those 2 sites will be permitted to host amplified music AND only until 1:30am. After 1:30am there'll be no amplified music allowed anywhere in the park. The "No Amplified Unless on Stage or at sites 220 - 222" rule will be enforced this year.
A NOTE TO HARMONICA PLAYERS
Knowing what key of harmonica you need for the music being played seems to be a challenge for beginning harp players. The guitar player usually chooses the key. If you can't tell what key he's in by watching his finger positions or by listening, just ask - he was supposed to tell you in the first place! The next challenge for beginners is understanding that most jamming is done on the harmonica while playing in cross harp, or second position. Click here for a straight harp to cross harp conversion chart.
A NOTE TO GUITAR PLAYERS
We need you! Due to the fact that the Bean is hosted by Bushman Music Works - a harmonica company with thousands of loyal Bushman fans - there'll be a ton of harp players at the fest looking for guitar, ukulele, banjo and mandolin players. Be ready to crank out a lot of 12 bar blues using the old I-IV-V chord progression. Lots of harp players don't know how to tell which key you're in by reading your fingering positions, and even fewer can tell a key just by listening, so just before you start a new song or jam session shout out the key you're going to be in.