Rhythm: For every good guitar jam track online, there are tons of mediocre ones. One of the biggest reasons for this is that many of them lack an interesting rhythmic component. They consist of a simple power chord progression that really doesn't give you much to build your phrases/solos off of. Also, many of these jam tracks have the same rhythm the whole track. They don't even give you an opportunity to change your phrasing by presenting you with several rhythmic variations. When deciding how valuable a guitar jam track is, rhythmic complexity should be an important factor.
A unique melody is a crucial component of any jam track. Obviously, the point of guitar jam tracks is that they are devoid of a lead guitar track or at least have plenty of space over top of the guitar track(s) that is there for the player to construct their solos/musical phrases over. With this being said, having some sort of melody in the track is important. It allows the player to hear how what they are playing interacts with the nuances of the melody(s) of the track. Their improvisation can then consist of responses to this melody and not just phrases with no melodic context. The end result being a much more complex and interesting jam.
Length is a much bigger factor in determining the value of a guitar jam track then many people give it credit for. There is nothing more annoying then being in the middle of your best jam ever and having to stop because the track has ended. Yes, you can loop the track, but those that have been in this situation will understand what I mean when I say that it's not the same. An ideal length is between 3-5 minutes. That way it's not to short, but also not long enough that by the end you're relieved that it's over.
If you always pick jam tracks that are different then the style you usually play, you are giving yourself more opportunity to grow as a player. The reason for this is that they can force you to confront a key/mode/style you are not fully comfortable with and as a result you have to learn it. Not doing this is the reason you may be in a rut. The more you experience, the more tools you have when it comes to developing your own style. You may even come across a sound that you love but might never have found had you not done this.
A poorly recorded jam track is not worth much. If you can't hear the small nuances of the composition, you are wasting your time. Using jam tracks is supposed to be fun and help you learn, but the worse the recording is, the harder it is for you to do either. This also goes for the dynamics of the tracks and the effects of the instruments. The more detail you can hear from the track, the more you will hear when your playing is over top.
A unique melody is a crucial component of any jam track. Obviously, the point of guitar jam tracks is that they are devoid of a lead guitar track or at least have plenty of space over top of the guitar track(s) that is there for the player to construct their solos/musical phrases over. With this being said, having some sort of melody in the track is important. It allows the player to hear how what they are playing interacts with the nuances of the melody(s) of the track. Their improvisation can then consist of responses to this melody and not just phrases with no melodic context. The end result being a much more complex and interesting jam.
Length is a much bigger factor in determining the value of a guitar jam track then many people give it credit for. There is nothing more annoying then being in the middle of your best jam ever and having to stop because the track has ended. Yes, you can loop the track, but those that have been in this situation will understand what I mean when I say that it's not the same. An ideal length is between 3-5 minutes. That way it's not to short, but also not long enough that by the end you're relieved that it's over.
If you always pick jam tracks that are different then the style you usually play, you are giving yourself more opportunity to grow as a player. The reason for this is that they can force you to confront a key/mode/style you are not fully comfortable with and as a result you have to learn it. Not doing this is the reason you may be in a rut. The more you experience, the more tools you have when it comes to developing your own style. You may even come across a sound that you love but might never have found had you not done this.
A poorly recorded jam track is not worth much. If you can't hear the small nuances of the composition, you are wasting your time. Using jam tracks is supposed to be fun and help you learn, but the worse the recording is, the harder it is for you to do either. This also goes for the dynamics of the tracks and the effects of the instruments. The more detail you can hear from the track, the more you will hear when your playing is over top.
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