All this marmalade stuff? More thread spread than thread creep?

John in Brisbane.

As another one who has only been playing instrumental session relatively recently, I do know what you mean.

As a singer/guitar/rhythm player you tend to be used to more flexible informal gatherings. Some of the melody players do seem to understand that it is possible for very skilled players to play along and add to songs or tunes, that they are not familiar with, or ones that are totally new to them. I have been amazed and delighted, on occasions when this has happened with a song of mine that I knew to be unknown to the player. It is rare for this to happen and it is more often that it becomes a bit of a struggle and again the best players know that they do not have play all the time, but generally it is not expected in song based sessions, that every note of the tune be known before a contribution is made.

The best instrumental sessions are the ones that are less rigid and it is hopeful that you do indicate that you have found better ones, recently.