Rules

This place is jazz oriented and designed for small bands of 7 members or less. An intimate trio|duo should also be possible here. You are welcome to play along here!

It is common to have sheet music at hand, e.g. RealBook Online Realbook, iRealPro or Online Chords. Please use songs in standard keys or tell us if not.

This server will always use the latest Jamulus version (with patches). The patches serve to enforce the moderation and the live stream ability.

Please also use the latest client version and familiarize yourself with the software in advance (especially with MUTE and SOLO functions and volume).

The server is located in Frankfurt am Main / Germany, near the DE-CIX (one of the largest internet nodes in the world) and can be reached from many places in Europe with good latency.

Jamulus is a new way to make music online. However, it doesn’t work without rules! These rules are just emerging in use. If in doubt, it should be handled like in a virtual jazz club.

Some rules (and pointers) to make sure everyone can enjoy this place

Jam session rules

• Do not take on a jam session. Come quietly and at least wait until the current piece is over before playing.
• Use the Chat Window Tool to read and write. At least upon entry. Remember that we cannot always answer immediately, so be patient.
• Give us your name, your country, your city (where you are currently playing from) and your instrument that we can refer to.
• Take into account if someone is already playing a certain function (e.g. bass, drums). You can’t play than.
• you are more welcome to play, if you are playing a missing instrument (to fill up a compleat band).
• If you are joining a JazzWeCan-Session you should be willing to play (with an instrument that fits). If you only want to listen check the live-stream.
• If you want to play a piece (e.g. checking the key, chord progression etc.) you can do this in the MUTE state. The others are then not disturbed. Jamulus shows with a clear red bar that we are currently not hearing you.
• Don’t play with high latency. When the total delay display (a colored LED in the settings window) is yellow or red, you cannot play here. If in doubt, ask the other players or the moderator. Green stands for 45 milliseconds (ms) or less and is fine:

Latency can be practiced. Experienced online musicians can usually cope with higher latencies. It also matters whether an important rhythmic function (bass, drums) is affected. The moderator and the existing band decide whether your latency is accepted or not.

• Use good hardware (sound interface, internet connection). Use small buffer sizes like 64 or smaller.

• Use headphones to prevent FEEDBACK if this can occur.

• If at all possible, only hear the mixed sound of Jamulus. If not, everyone else will be slowed down, especially with higher latency and the groove will suffer.

• Connect the computer directly to the internet router with a cable. Do not use WiFi!

• Do not play with an internal sound card with hardware latency. This has the same effect as the network latency. But Jamulus cannot see this.

• Please adjust your volume yourself well in advance. Loud sounds should clearly go into the yellow slider area of ​​the Jamulus controls, but not turn red. Only in an emergency should we (the existing band members) have to re-adjust you or even turn you off. This is annoying and often difficult while playing.

• If in doubt, ask with a microphone or use the chat.

• Try to communicate in English. German is also possible (the server and the operator is German) if everyone agrees.

• In general, please be kind and respectful.

The moderator can remove individual musicians from the server for a certain period of time!

These many rules apply especially when the musicians don't already know each other. Otherwise exceptions are of course possible.

Jam session modes

JazzWeCan sometimes offers moderated sessions, similar to the jam sessions in a real jazz club. Further information under Modes.