Someone in the circle calls a song and names the key. Then the whole circle waits. One player plays a short phrase, and the singer starts on the beat after it. That phrase is the kick-off.
A kick-off is the intro. It tells every player three things: the key, the tempo, and the moment the song starts. This guide explains who plays it, what to play, and how to give the cue.
What a kick-off does
A bluegrass jam has no conductor and no count-in. The kick-off replaces both.
The key comes first. The kick-off is played in the key of the song, so everyone hears it before they play a note. A player who is unsure of the key can listen to the kick-off and find the root chord.
The tempo comes second. Whatever speed the kick-off player picks is the speed of the song. The singer, the banjo, and the bass all lock to it.
The entry comes third. The kick-off ends, and the next sound is the singer or the full band. Everyone knows when to come in because the phrase has a clear last beat.
Who plays it
The person who calls the song usually kicks it off, or points to a player who will. Any lead instrument can do it. Guitar players kick off many vocal songs. Banjo, mandolin, and fiddle players kick off others. The best choice is the player who knows the song and can set a tempo the singer can handle.
If you call a song and want someone else to play the kick-off, say so when you name the key. How to call a song in a bluegrass jam covers that step.
What to play
Many kick-offs use the last two measures of the tune or the chorus. That phrase already ends on the home chord, so it leads straight into the first line. In 4/4 time, two measures is eight beats. The kick-off ends, and the singer comes in on the next downbeat.
Guitar players have a stock kick-off for songs in G. It is a short bass run on the low strings that lands on the G chord. Players call it the G run. Lester Flatt made it a signature of bluegrass guitar, and some players call it the Flatt run. Learn it in G first. Then move it to the other keys you see most. What keys bluegrass jams use lists those keys.
For a fiddle tune, the kick-off is often simpler. The player who calls the tune starts the melody, and the others join in as they find the key. Some fiddle tunes have a two-measure kick-off, and some do not. Ask before the tune if you are not sure.
A kick-off does not need to be fancy. A plain, steady phrase at the right tempo does the job. A fancy phrase at the wrong tempo breaks the song.
Steps for giving a kick-off
1. Name the song and the key. Say both out loud. “Angel Band in G” gives the circle what it needs.
2. Set the tempo in your head. Think of the song at the speed the singer wants. Tap your foot at that speed before you play. Four taps is enough.
3. Make eye contact. Look at the singer, then at the banjo and bass players. A nod tells them you are about to start.
4. Play the phrase at the tempo you set. Keep the rhythm steady. Do not rush the last two beats.
5. Stop on the last beat. Leave room for the singer to start. Playing past the end of the phrase steps on the first word.
6. Play backup. After the kick-off, drop to rhythm or soft backup behind the singer. How to take a break in a bluegrass jam explains when the lead role comes back to you.
What to do when you do not kick off
Listen to the phrase. Find the key and the speed. Start playing when the singer starts, or on the downbeat after the kick-off ends.
Do not play along with the kick-off if you do not know it. Two players on different phrases blur the key and the tempo for everyone else.
If the tempo seems too fast or too slow for the singer, the singer can ask the kick-off player to change it before the next song. Raising a hand or saying “a little slower, please” works. Most players take the request well.
Common problems
The kick-off is too fast. Nerves push the tempo up. Count four slow taps before you play. Many players speed up between the tap and the first note, so start at a speed a little under the one you want.
The kick-off is in the wrong key. This happens when the caller says one key and the kick-off player hears another. The player can stop and restart. Say “let’s try that again.” Nobody minds a restart at the start of a song.
The kick-off has no clear end. The circle does not know when to come in. End on the root chord, hold the last note for a beat, and stop.
The singer cannot hear the beat. Guitar and bass carry the beat in a jam. Strum a little louder through the kick-off, then pull back when the singer starts.
How to practice a kick-off at home
Pick a public domain song you know well, such as “Angel Band.” Choose a key. Play the last two measures of the chorus at a slow, steady tempo. Use a metronome set to the speed you want. Count four clicks, play the phrase, and stop. Then sing the first line right after it.
Repeat in G, then C, then D. Those three keys come up at most jams. Record yourself. Listen for a rushed last beat or a phrase that runs past eight beats.
Once the phrase is steady, practice at a faster tempo and a slower tempo. Real jams use both, and the singer picks the speed. For more on how a full circle runs, read the bluegrass jam.