Mark Johnson in "Boating Up the Sandy" thread says, "I have included a tab here marked as the "jam" version that follows the versions I've heard played at jams and festivals, and is a relatively stripped down banjo arrangement."
I've been thinking a bit how the banjo sounds best in a jam situation. I know "best" is relative to different ears and different situations. Different situations would include how many banjos and fiddles are playing, what tune is being played, the playing skills of the players, how fast the tune is flying, etc. I lean toward simpler banjo in a more than a 3-4 person jam. To me too many banjo notes get lost in the wall of sound emanating from a jam, but that might just be my ears. I have heard other banjo players try too hard to match the fiddler note for note, more or less to my ears, and I think the strong point of a banjo in a jam situation suffers - the rhythm. I feel good about my playing if I can just match the rhythm, not step on the fiddlers musical toes, and contribute to the overall sound. If I can't keep up with the speed of the tune or am unfamiliar with it, I pull way back on the banjo, even quitting playing. It seems like my "flexible/adaptable" musical skills are always just out of my reach too much of the time, especially picking up an unfamiliar tune on the fly.
What are your thoughts/clues about playing the banjo in a jam? Banjered