The reason most guitar jam tracks are not great is that they don't have a cool rhythm. It's hard to build phrases/solos when the track is just a power chord progression. In many of these, the whole track has the exact same rhythm as well. You aren't even presented with an opportunity to change your phrasing because you aren't given any rhythmic variations. Clearly, rhythm is a key factor when evaluating a guitar jam track.
One of the key elements of a good guitar jam track is a well thought out melody. This melody can't take up all the musical space above the bass, but it should offer a more interesting upper voice to the track. The benefit of having a clear melody is that the player can hear the subtle interactions of their phrases with the melody. This can lead to a more interesting and fulfilling jam because there is a vocal quality to the leads. There is definite call and response characteristics and this puts what the guitarist is playing into more of a muscial context rather then just playing notes.
If you shoot for a jam track that is between three and five minutes in length, you will probably find that it is a comfortable length. If the track is to much shorter, you may be cut off early (a real annoyance), and any longer, you might find yourself wishing it would end. Length is important in a jam track and choosing one in this range may ensure you keep coming back to it. Don't think that looping a shorter one is the same either because the fact that the track ends, even for a few seconds, is very annoying and can contribute to a lot of unnecessary frustration.
The way to get out of the rut you may be in with your playing is to get out of your comfort zone. Look for jam tracks that are something different then you are used to. If you constantly put yourself in different musical settings where you are forced to expand your horizons, you will improve as a player. Even if you aren't in a rut, there is never a bad thing with trying something different. If you find a jam track that's interesting you should try it. Who knows, it may be one you keep coming back to and something you can give credit to when you develop your own style.
Sound Quality: The quality of the sound on the recording is a big factor in determining the value of a jam track. The reason being if you can't hear the nuances and subtleties of the playing, it means that the jam track is not particularly good. Obviously, you aren't going to be able to hear subtle details if there are none, but that in itself makes for not a very good track. You want the jam track to be as clear as possible. Both in its composition and its tone/the tones of the recordings. This will help ensure that you get the most out of it.
One of the key elements of a good guitar jam track is a well thought out melody. This melody can't take up all the musical space above the bass, but it should offer a more interesting upper voice to the track. The benefit of having a clear melody is that the player can hear the subtle interactions of their phrases with the melody. This can lead to a more interesting and fulfilling jam because there is a vocal quality to the leads. There is definite call and response characteristics and this puts what the guitarist is playing into more of a muscial context rather then just playing notes.
If you shoot for a jam track that is between three and five minutes in length, you will probably find that it is a comfortable length. If the track is to much shorter, you may be cut off early (a real annoyance), and any longer, you might find yourself wishing it would end. Length is important in a jam track and choosing one in this range may ensure you keep coming back to it. Don't think that looping a shorter one is the same either because the fact that the track ends, even for a few seconds, is very annoying and can contribute to a lot of unnecessary frustration.
The way to get out of the rut you may be in with your playing is to get out of your comfort zone. Look for jam tracks that are something different then you are used to. If you constantly put yourself in different musical settings where you are forced to expand your horizons, you will improve as a player. Even if you aren't in a rut, there is never a bad thing with trying something different. If you find a jam track that's interesting you should try it. Who knows, it may be one you keep coming back to and something you can give credit to when you develop your own style.
Sound Quality: The quality of the sound on the recording is a big factor in determining the value of a jam track. The reason being if you can't hear the nuances and subtleties of the playing, it means that the jam track is not particularly good. Obviously, you aren't going to be able to hear subtle details if there are none, but that in itself makes for not a very good track. You want the jam track to be as clear as possible. Both in its composition and its tone/the tones of the recordings. This will help ensure that you get the most out of it.
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