As a relative newbie, I’d be interested in hearing what people consider “standard” jamming songs that everyone needs to know. At a recent jam at Ben’s camp, I realized I have not learned songs (yet) that every advanced player seemed to know well and it would help me and others to have a list of generally recognized standards so we could prioritize our practice time to focus specifically on those songs. Thanks.
“Standard” jamming songs
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FWIW- Here’s a list of “bluegrass jamming standards” complied by Peter Wernick.
Like any such list, there’s always a few songs that were missed and a few songs that make you wonder why it’s on the list.
Bluegrass Jam Favorites.pdf (258.6 KB)
And don’t let the sheer number of songs discourage you. Many of them are in the same key with the same chord progression & similar melodies.
Learn the ones you like & people will be willing to hum a few bars so you can fake the rest.
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Hi @rmkpub Richard, Is there a “Standard List” ? I just focus on the tunes I like. Maybe this is something @BanjoBen can answer. Since you reference Ben’s Cabin Camp there is a suggested study list that Ben put’s out prior to students camp. @Mark_Rocka maybe able to furnish you with the list since he was active in preparation of the early camp list
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Let’s take a moment to name our “top” or most common 10. Here are mine (very quickly)…list could change tomorrow:
Blackberry Blossom
Red Haired Boy
Salt Creek
Bury Me Beneath the Willow
Lonesome Road Blues
Whiskey Before Breakfast
On and On (one example of many of this type)
Blue Ridge Cabin Home
Old Joe Clark
Nine Pound Hammer
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Ben’s list is a great first 10. Building on it:
Cripple Creek
Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Old Home Place
I’ll Fly Away
I Saw the Light
Looking forward to other additions, because I really need to build my standards repertoire.
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I would add.
Worried Man Blues
Old Spinning Wheel
Little Darling Pal of Mine
John Hardy
John Henry
Old Smokey
Fireball Mail
St Annes Reel
Over in the Gloryland
Black Mountain Rag
Keep on the Sunnyside
Life is like a mountain railroad
Long Journey Home - Two Dollar Bill
Wabash Cannonball
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Turkey in the Straw
Pain in my heart
That should keep you busy for a while.
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I think the top 10 I’ve jammed (with the people I normally jam with) would be something like:
Big Spike Hammer
Talking to Myself
Walking Shoes
Chalk Up Another One
Somehow Tonight
Blue Ridge Cabin Home
Clinch Mountain Backstep
Badly Bent
Sittin’ Alone in the Moonlight
One Tear
But practicing alone I tend to choose different songs… all depends on what I’ve been listening to and thinking about that day.
Some of the ones I tend to go back to are Cold On the Shoulder, Blue Railroad Train, Old Train, Nine Pound Hammer, Go My Way, Leather Britches (Kenny Smith style), John Hardy, Freeborn Man, Salt Creek, Big Country, Big Mon…
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It’s true ben puts out a list of 4 or 5 songs which I did learn (altho not at 200 bpm), but that jam hardly played any of those. However, everyone’s list here has been very helpful, and clearly there’s alot to learn so I’d better get to work …… er, I mean get to fun!
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Clinch Mountain Backstep
Salt Creek
Nine Pound Hammer
I’ll Fly Away
Blue Ridge Cabin Home
Love of the Mountains
I Saw the Light
Red Haired Boy
Etc
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Most heard around here:
Clinch Mtn Backstep
Working man blues
9 lb hammer
John Hardy
Little Maggie
Big Spike Hammer
Somehow Tonight
On & On
Cherokee shuffle
Bill Cheatum
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Rolling in my Sweet Baby’s Arms
Got to travel on
I’ll Fly Away
You are my Sunshine
Will the circle
Old Joe Clark
New River Train
Worried Man Blues
Mamma Don’t Allow
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I wonder how hard it would be to create a Spotify play list of these songs.
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Earls Breakdown
Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Dooley
There is a time
Pig in a Pen
Burry me Beneath the willow
Salt Creek
Cripple Creek
9lb hammer
Big Spike Hammer
Red Haired Boy
Old Joe Clark
Whiskey Before Breakfast
I’ll Fly Away
Over in the Gloryland
Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Ballad of jed Clampett
These are the ones I’ve heard/played at jams the most, also (just depends) it might pay to know Country Road and Wagon Wheel
Here it is. I tried to pick the most quintessential recordings (there’s a lot of Flatt and Scruggs!) though some of these fiddle tunes are so common nobody really records them. 
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Wow! That’s awesome! Thanks MM!
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Here is a spotify playlist of 2 chord songs…
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Does this mean I have to get Spotify? Nahh…
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Dude Spotify is the best by FAR!!