I’ve played risk like once. I think I lost to older brothers 
.
What are y'all up to?
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Well, I’m glad our game didn’t look exactly like that! 
that’s hilarious!
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Had to come share my latest jam experience. Last night I went to one of the longest running bluegrass jams in Houston. It’s put on by a guy named Chris Hirsch. Chris is a 3 time Texas banjo champion and tends to draw some pretty good players, which is one reason I’ve avoided his jam until now.
In the 2.5 hours that we played, only 3 songs were called that I had ever played. Some I had heard before, but most were new to me. Despite being a nervous wreck, I just kept hearing Ben’s voice from his “So You’re About to Jam” lesson saying “It’s the unfamiliar territory that teaches you the most.”
Using those words, I attempted SOME kind of break every time it was my turn. Honestly, most of the time I finished pretty happy with what I pulled off. In fact, I chose not to use a capo on one song we played in C (so REALLY scary) but I came up with something that I thought worked really well. When the song was over, Chris (the 3 time champ) laughed at me and said “I had to find something else to play. You took my break!” LOL!
I’ve never been more nervous at a jam, but I’ve also never had more fun at one, either. Thank you for those words of encouragement, @BanjoBen. They’re really helping.
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uh-oh
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uh-oh ?
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You’re gonna leave us, Why would you come to our jam when you could go to the best jam you’ve ever been to in your life?
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Well, for one, it’s south of the Galleria on 610. I don’t like driving to Tony’s jam in Cypress, and it’s closer with WAY less traffic.
We just need to find a good bass player. Right now I’m all in on improving my banjo skills, so playing bass feels like wasted opportunity.
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@Mark_Rocka Chris is a great guy. I’ve been to that jam a few times. I’ll look for you next time!
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I don’t know if I realized you were in Houston. That’s cool! Were you there this past Wednesday?
Our local jam in the Woodlands is on a break right now, so I’m thinking about trying to get back out there next Wednesday. It’s just soooo far to drive.
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Today, a friend of mine and I did “Unclouded Day” for a special at church. It went really well. Then, afterwards, I hit a few milestones… We were just jamming together, and we decided to play “Let Me Tell You About Jesus”. (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybq-K4VVMT0&pp=ygUpTGV0IG1lIHRlbGwgeW91IGFib3V0IGplc3VzIHRyYXZpcyBhbGx5b3A%3D)
First, I was able to play rolling backup well without even really thinking about it! I cannot thank @Michael_Mark enough for taking the time to help me with that! It has revolutionized my playing and opened whole new doors! Then, the guy I was playing with, kind of nodded to me to take a solo. I’ve never really been able to do that, but I was able to get out most of the melody!!! It was such a great afternoon!
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Nice job @CBoling! I’m on my way home from Bryan Sutton’s Blue Ridge Guitar Camp. Such an amazing weekend!
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That is such a great feeling! Big congrats to you! The hard work is paying off.
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Crappie is good eatin’ !
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Re: guitar camp:
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That’s incredible! 
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Anything is bound to be incredible when you have Julian “Just as good as Jake Workman” Lage in the room…
Right @Flatpickin_Libby?
No seriously, it was so much fun to watch Julian play bluegrass (and then talk about how he’s not good at it or something). When you bring in someone who hasn’t been subconsciously affected by playing bluegrass a ton, it makes for such wild breaks. It makes me wonder what our playing would be like if we focused on playing what we REALLY thought would sound good, vs. just what’s acceptable/customary.
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That which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops… 
He’s so unbelievable I can’t get over it. The guitar is just his voice for the joy of music that’s inside him. Ricky Skaggs said it best when he played on stage right after him - “He has a God given talent.”
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