Starting and Ending a Tune
One of the most important things you can learn at a jam session is how to start and end a tune confidently. You don’t need to know every possible option right away. Just have a clear plan and communicate it to the band.

Counting Off the Tune
Be prepared to count off your song and establish the tempo for the band. Typically, you’ll give a two-measure count-off.

For a song in 4/4, you might say:

“1… 2… 1, 2, 3, 4!”

Your count-off should give everyone a clear sense of the tempo and feel of the tune. This takes a little practice, particularly with songs that have pickup notes. Practice counting off along with recordings so that you can learn how the count-off connects to the beginning of the melody.

Drummers: When someone else is counting off the tune, let their count establish the tempo. Don’t play or keep time while they count off—just use your voice. Once the tune begins, you’ll take over from there!

How Will the Tune Begin?
Songs can start in lots of different ways. Before you count off, make sure you have a clear idea of how you’d like the tune to begin. If you’re not sure, it’s completely fine to discuss it with the house band first.

Some common possibilities include:

  • The melody starts immediately. Count it off and go directly into the melody.
  • A rhythm-section vamp. The rhythm section establishes a groove or harmonic pattern before the melody enters.
  • An improvised introduction. A soloist or the rhythm section plays an improvised intro, chorus, or partial chorus before the melody begins.
  • A specific introduction from a recording. Some tunes have a familiar intro that is part of the way the song is commonly performed. If you want to use one of these, make sure the band knows which version you’re thinking of!
  • If you’re leading the tune, take the lead and communicate clearly. A quick conversation or gesture before you start can prevent a lot of confusion.

How Will the Tune End?
Tunes can also end in many different ways. Listening to recordings of the songs you play is one of the best ways to become familiar with the possibilities. As you gain experience, you’ll naturally pick up more of these conventions.

For now, don’t worry about knowing every type of ending. Have a plan, listen to the band, and go with the flow.

Some common endings include:

  • “Basie” or “A-Train” ending: A familiar jazz ending involving a repeated rhythmic figure and a final chord. Search for examples of these endings in recordings of Count Basie and Take the A Train to hear how they work.
  • Held note or short final note: The band simply plays the final note or chord and lets it end naturally.
  • Tag: The final few bars of the tune are repeated one or more times before the final ending.
  • Specific ending or coda: Some recordings have a particular ending that is considered part of the arrangement. If you’re planning to use one, make sure everyone knows what you’re doing.
  • If you’re the person carrying the melody, you often have an important role in signaling the ending. Listen to the other musicians, make eye contact, and confidently lead the group toward the ending you’ve planned.

And remember: a jam session is a place to learn these skills! You don’t have to know every convention before your first session. Listen to experienced musicians, pay attention to how they start and end tunes, and try incorporating what you hear the next time you play.