British guitarist reacts to Jerry Garcia's TOTAL tonal control!
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- čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
- Tonight I'm looking at the late great Jerry Garcia and his variation in playing style to totally control his guitar's sound and dynamic!
Original video - • Grateful Dead - Deal (...
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I miss Jerry so much. I can't believe it's close to 30 years, now. He's been gone, just shy of the total length of time the band was together. The best time of my life, to this day. I can still remember certain shows, like was just there.. Those shows were everything, to me. RIP!!
We all do. Try to appreciate all the good times he provided us with.
I wish I had that in my memories. I've seen some great bands and gigs but I was born in 88. I remember discovering GD, then sadly learning I was maybe 10 years too late by that time. What a great man and maestro in music.
His imagination was next to unlimited. He could play warm, strange, sweet, avant garde, folksy and always playful. Jerry was one of a kind.
Watching you smiling as Jerry jams was the highlight of my day brother. This music has helped me get through the darkest of times.
☺
I loved watching your reaction! How familiar with Jerry's music were you before this?
Jerry brought so much joy to the world. For me along with countless millions of others.
Garcia was the son of a band leader and was well-versed in theory. But beyond the technique and theory, what I always liked was his expressiveness. There was always feeling in his playing and you always felt he was talking to you directly through his guitar. That’s pretty rare, and I think it’s why so many people are devoted.
As I kick around in my mind that question "just which group is the best of the American bands?" The answer every time is, "Yeah, it's the Grateful Dead!"
Robert Horn amen
Same
It is yeah. Yep.
Way out ahead for me
Robert Horn And The Dead embodied the American spirit more than any band before them or after. Many of their tunes are uniquely American and tell stories about different parts or the country and our culture.
I just can't help but to smile whenever I hear Jerry sing and play.
Haven't truly gotten into it yet, but, I now have the 4 (?) disc JERRY BEFORE THE DEAD cd package. Gonna listen to Jerry sing and play with nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile...;
I had to get up and dance.
Zee Man If you haven’t gotten into Jerry that isn’t the album for you my friend
? If I haven't gotten into Jerry? What? I typed that I haven't gotten into THE 4-DISC JERRY BEFORE THE DEAD yet. People are busy. Read whole comments dude
@@zeeman3684 I knew what you meant.
Thanks for this. Garcia was an outstanding musician, who is sadly often misunderstood, as well as one who was even more sadly greatly damaged by his own pain. When I read criticism of Jerry's, and the Dead's music, often I'm puzzled by the broad dislike (and in fairness often puzzled by some of the die hard fans fawning over some performances which were quite dire - Ive been to several of those in my life and they were sad to hear.). I think people often fail to realize a few things. 1) Garcia had a tremendous gift for melody; not just as a songwriter, but as an improvisor. A big part of his approach to soloing, was in line with what a Jazz musician would do: which is to rely heavily on embellishment and development of a tune's melodic material in his improvisations. A net result of this was, as the host of the channel pointed out, that the harmony is clearly illustrate during a solo 2) He was not a guitarist who wrote out his solos and came to concerts with them scripted. And I don't write that as a criticism of musicians who do that. It's a valid, and respect worthy approach. However, it's not what Garcia's playing was about. Now, with any musician who approaches soloing in such a largely (but clearly not COMPLETELY) spontaneous way, you're going to have moments of both brilliance and of, well, less than brilliance. With the Dead, virtually every performance that they every did, is pretty easily available to listen to. So you can have as good of a chance of hearing Jerry as a sublime soloist, as you do of him marginally avoiding a train wreck. This performance, from my experience, was slightly above average. Certainly solid, but not at the top of his output. Now, if you think brilliant soloists like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, et al, didn't have their share of mediocre and crappy solos during their brilliant careers, then I have a bridge connecting San Fran to Oakland that I'd like to offer you on sale... Lastly, I often get the sense that people hear the Dead's music colored by the prejudices of what they perceived the Dead's "scene" to be. And let me be clear, there is plenty to be critical of in that scene. However, though nobody is obligated to like any music, I can not believe an honest listener could listen to the output of Garcia and Hunter and think that's it's just some vapid hippy music. Like them or not, these are cleverly crafted songs, with lyrics of deceptive depth. Songs, which frankly impress me more now than when I was a kid running to their shows
Yeah sometimes it's hard for some people to listen without prejudice.
David-thank you for one of the most intelligent analyses I've heard of Jerry's playing- he was also an incredible banjo and pedal steel player...
Very well said man. I would also just like to point out, something that the creator of the video did not mention, was that Jerry Garcia probably used finger-picking about 50% of the time compared to 50% of the time using a pick. He perfected a technique of instantly slipping the pick under his middle finger stub on his right hand. If some of you don't know, Jerry Garcia's middle finger on his right hand was chopped off in an accident when he was a child. So that should at least impress some of you. Also, consider that he was one hell of a banjo picker, and if any of you all out there play a banjo as I do and Jerry did, you will know that the middle finger on your right hand is quite important in Scruggs style banjo picking. I would also recommend to anybody reading this to check out Jerry ripping up the banjo. Just thought I'd add my two cents in there .peace everybody.
And there you have it.
The "Old and in the Way" recordings are the first place to go to hear Jerry on banjo. A bluegrass supergroup steeped in tradition!
Jerry's ability to play leads using the changing chords underneath, instead of just playing "over" the changes with endless pentatonics was ahead of his time. Using the chord changes to create improvised melodies that flow creatively in a lead is fundamental to good jazz players. Jerry, while playing in a kind of "rockabilly" band, was actually introducing jazz elements to rock lead playing ... a pioneer in his day.
Wasn't his dad a jazz musician? Maybe the trumpet?
Any good lead player follows the chord changes. Otherwise it can just sound like noodling and not as musical. This skill is what a lot of people need to learn to take their lead playing to that next level. But yes, jerry is a master for sure.
I love Jerry’s playing so much. Especially in the late 80s. If I could listen to one guitar player ever again, it would be Jerry ❤️
RIP Jerry Garcia. You will always be loved.
Chord tones. That’s what separates the men from the boys. Doesn’t have to be fancy...just play to the harmony.
Few rock guitarists do this, and Jerry was one of the best.
I feel so fortunate to have seen the GD during their last peak before Brent OD’d. After that they really started to slip, but that old soul still came shining through Jerry’s music until the last note, warts and all.
It was as real and as human as it gets.
Thanks for the great video.
No problem!
And his phrasing - he had such a knack for weaving those melodies, often either mimicking the actual or close to the melody, with either a 'call and response' sensibility or just in ways that a phrase naturally hearkened to what preceded it or was about to come. He once said each note had an 'emotional impact' and so not surprisingly was able convey his emotional intent so effortlessly. It seemed like every note he played in one way or another was gold.
Jerry at his best was virtually untouchable to me, a masterful musician who oozed soul and creativity.
Jerry's 'well' runs about as deep as any player in history. He rarely if ever repeated a riff, phrase or solo unless it was part of the structure or foundation of the song itself. Even 24 years after his death more and more deadheads are being indoctrinated everyday. Quite a testament to the phenomenon of the Grateful Dead. They have given more jambands their inspiration or platform than any other musical entity by far. They are the musical sun which has given birth to a thousand stars...
Recall the Days that STILL are to Come...
Thank you for this Phil!
You just fell into a rabbit hole, mate.
😂
Take me with you. lol
Goes to show you don't ever know...
i see what u did there
7:36 dude can't help but smile at that lick. That's Garcia! Tearing it up!
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Twotontessie
That’s Jerry alright always puts a smile on my face.
Hey I wanted to say thank you for being a person that's around my age, and actually sees the magic of the grateful dead. I want to emphasize that i'ts not just Jerry creating the magic, but it's the whole band being in tune with each other, that creates the wonderful music. I've played and studied guitar for 22 years. and I can tell you to this day I still get amazed listening to random Dead shows. I would love to talk to you about music and guitar!
Cool! No problem!
Jerry was in such of a league of his own and so unique to tonally that any guitarist not familiar with him listening for the first time can’t help but be enthralled.
I think the difference was that unlike 99% of rock guitarists, Garcia actually played over the changes instead of just using minor pentatonic all night long. He soloed over rock tunes with a jazz approach but rock and bluegrass vocabulary.
most guitarist, actually all guitarst i've seen have that weird guitar face when trying to hit certain notes, while all the times i've seen Jerry play, I don't ever remember him making that guitar face. also my uncle always tells me, oh there a millions of people who can play guitar like jerry, and I say ok then show me where they're at, because i do not know anyone who can play the guitar like jerry.
Most guitar players I know can't stand his playing. You know... the he's just noodling around...
I think he was a musical genius.
I think no one I've heard can touch him, including all of the guitar players what was left of the Dead ever had after him.
Jimmie Herring was pretty good.
Don't get me wrong I think several other guitar players are great. Jerry has always touched a place way deep down inside for me.
People who think he's just noodling around would be pretty surprised if they transcribed his solos. He took chances and made mistakes. But he also used all 12 notes at his discretion, developed his phrases, and generally tried to tell a story in his solos.
A fun exercise is to be in a band and bring them a Dead tune to learn. Most of the time you get about 30 seconds in and its clear its not going to happen, and not because its too noodlie. If it isn't something like I Know You Rider its likely to be out of their comfort zone.
I'm actually in that situation right now and the song is The Deal.
Quick band of work mates for a work function.
Almost every other chord has something out of the main key which is confusing for the other guitar player.
One thing people miss about Jerry's "soloing" is that he is reacting in real time to whatever weird chords Bob Weir is playing, or the shifting sands of Phil Lesh's bass lines, or the echo of his own notes as they bounce off or achieve resonance with the room and audience.
I think most guitarists want a nice solid predictable bass and drums so they can rip off some nice lines. Except for a few years between 71-74, The Grateful Dead were constitutionally incapable of providing such a solid base for Garcia. In truth, I think Garcia was quite comfortable negotiating the chaos, which occassionally paid off in unique and thrilling performances, or epic train wrecks, or boring noodling. Either way, it wasn't a SHOW... it was real.
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Saul Gewddman: There were peaks in the band. 72-74, 77-78 & 87-91. I'll take 77 all day long! There were lots of great shows during 79-83 as well.
That's what is Grate about the Dead. So many veins of Gold running through their career. Even 93 had some spectacular moments.
Wings of Pegasus, Saul Gewddman, KlondikeG I have to agree that jerry would play off of weir, and many do not give enough credit to Weir and how good bob is at playing rhythm guitar. also the band would feed off the energy of the crowd especially Weir in the 80's, and then jerry would be feeling good because of bob and the crowd, then bobby would play a certain way which jerry would start playing off of it, and these shows the band would just have everyone's focus towards them, and these shows would even pull people out of bad trips. Then people forget about 93, they had some great shows that year and also that's when Days Between came out which was a great song and if Jerry stayed off the dope that would of been one of the top dead songs. 72-74 were good, 74 i think is when weather report came out but after that year they went on break and were not the same until maybe 77 through 78. 79 i think is when Jerry started to dabble with the dragon and lost his voice around 81. I think he started to relearn how to sing because of how his voice changed back in mid to late 81. Also he was doing coke and dope in the early 80's and some of the shows he gave the majority of the songs to Weir in the first set because his voice was cracking so bad do to the coke, then the 2nd set he get right and have a better voice. but I think the shows in 72, 77, and 89 were their best years by far, and I would go with 89 if i had to pick do to the fact they had way more songs to play and also because of brent, but Phil in 76-79 would drop some major bass and the band was on fire some of those shows in the late 70's
Jerry went so far as to say in an interview that they had no idea what the others were going to play. The results were magical or a trainwreck, though later in they seemed better able to narrowly avert disaster. Fun times!
It would be more accurate to say that they are reacting to him. He's the one with the map, and he's always just a bit ahead of everyone except Mickey, who plays ahead more than the rest. On a solo like the one in "Deal" which is over known chords over a known quantity of time he's playing hundreds of notes and really probably only listening to Mickey and Billy and everyone else is just hanging drapes around that.
Yesss! Big dead fan. I firmly believe there is as least one Grateful Dead song somewhere in their catalog that everyone would enjoy. Jerry is very underrated as a guitarist imo
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It's called 'Ripple'
william white amen!
Cr0sseyed&painless Agreed..im no Dead fan but Box of Raon gets me everytime
Listen, I love your dog.
Have always loved Jerry’s tone. Remember when first heard Jerry play Eyes of the World. Blew me away as a metal kid. Love the Dead but my joy is the Jerry Garcia Band.
Cool!
JGB has THE tone !
Great analysis. Garcia was masterful at building tension in a song and then relieving it with beautiful melodic or sometimes screaming solos. Rhythm guitarist Bob Weir provided endless variations on the theme being played. Thanks.
No problem!
There is a great documentary about Bob Weir, who IMHO is the greatest rhythm guitarist ever. "The Other One" - give it a look!
Admittedly or not . . I think I just witnessed someone become a bit of a Dead Head
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It was a pleasure to see how much you were enjoying his playing.
Garcia’s playing often manages to be at once complex and joyful.
Astute comments on his tone control.
If you're not ahead, you're behind...
D.J. Solara it happens, did you see how he smiled and smiled more and smiled more until you felt that he got it, i have turned a lot of people onto the the grateful dead and anyone who wouldnt completely dismiss and/or disregard the music has come back and thanked me they were and still are a tour de life even the new incarnation with john mayer.... g.d. music is the joi de vivre to our souls as dead heads and if you havnt listened you could at least give it an honest shot there is something there in that universe that plays to everyone
Getting someone into the Dead is the greatest feeling in the world.
Garcia is today, probably my favorite guitarist. He just does so many things so right.
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Wow, do I miss Dead shows! Jerry"s playing always reminded me of fine aged whiskey. The buzz is clean, slow, steady but oh so fun. I deeply appreciate you doing a breakdown on Jerry's singing and playing. Sadly, The Grateful Dead are over looked in 99.9% of music CZcams channels. Love it!
Jerry's one of my favorite guitarists of all time. Love his playing.
Very very refreshing to see a guitarist who isn't a dead fan actually give credit where credit is due. It took me many years to become the man I am today who can appreciate any GOOD guitarist!! No matter what style of music you play. This isn't the first time I've seen this gentleman talk about other guitarists I really enjoy and he seems to be able to pick up on the good techniques or tones plus it's obvious he knows his stuff. One thing I tend to loathe is a musician with a grand case of snobbery and a 50 ton ego on top. I respect this musician immensely just for having an open mind and knowing talent of all types and styles. For that he can count on me being a subscriber to this channel because I'm now genuinely interested in finding out what his thoughts are.
Thanks Tony!
good for you....I was fortunate (I guess) to grow up in SF and see the Dead a bunch of times, however it always bothered me that people categorized him as merely a spaced hippie who noodled....sheeesh, like you, I don´t have to like the band to respect the player...conversely, it bothered me when Garcia was off yet if you mentioned that to hardcore fans that he did not play as well as he was capable, they would crush you with homerism...objectivity is a good thing...Garcia somehow bridged the gap between Bill Monroe and say Orenette Coleman and was one of the most universally admired guitar players ever...if someone slags Garcia as a musician then I know he is not much in the know about the guitar as an instrument
Can't really talk about the greatness of Jerry without recognizing the solid foundation laid down by Bob Weir. Seriously underrated rhythm guitarist.
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Phil holds the whole thing together, including Bill&Micky.
Are you kidding me? How many times have we heard/seen Jerry doing his thing, jamming away for minutes straight, slowly but intricately building up to something beautiful, and right when he's about to hit the crescendo, Bob Weir is too lost to follow what's going on so he doesn't switch up the rhythm at the right time which makes Jerry have to jam out some filler solo/scale a few more measure until Bob's ready and knows what to do next. It throws off the flow of the song and he kind of leans way too hard on Jerry's playing to get him out of trouble. Then again, Garcia's grasp and understanding of music theory was unrivaled and Weir simply couldn't hold a candle to the level Jerry was on. Bob Weir didn't have as much to do with the Dead's success as everyone thinks/says.
Bobby is a great rhythm player but you CAN speak of Jerry’s greatness independently of him. I call your attention to the JGB.
Bob Weir is the luckiest man in the history of music. If you think for one second he would have had a career if not for coming of age with Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh as his mentors you are crazy.
I miss Jerry every day. And the band was so locked in here. 89 was a great year.
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Jerry gives his heart & soul into all he sings. His last show no matter what some say & being right that he was in a bad place he could still give you those moments that could bring you to tears or smile ear to ear. I swear that So Many Roads & Black Muddy then Box which he wasnt lead on but were prophetic as he knew he just knew. Miss you Pappa Bear,
While I've never really been a Dead fan, I gotta admit that they seem to be an often overlooked band for their technical playing. When everyone in the band was focused, they could really deliver a great show. This video seems to have captured a focused moment and they really sound great.
I've always thought that the Dead and the Allman Brothers were the best of the original "jam bands". Both groups had the ability to stretch out in the middle of a song and just ride the music to wherever it took them that night...
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I am sure it won't surprise you to learn that the Dead & the Allman Brothers played many shows together during the first 10 years of the Dead's career. And there were times when assorted Allman band members joined the Dead on stage. Sadly there are few surviving quality recordings of those shows. 2-11-70 is a decent one but, due to equipment snafus and other variables, the recording is a little lacking. Still worth checking out though. Cheers!!
allman bros arent even in the same building as the dead...rolling stone tries to make them out as better or as good
Allman Bros were solid, dense, and had a more choreographed sound than the Dead. The G Dead occupied various and very unique spaces and landscapes that few musicians on the planet knew even existed. The Dead were far more nuanced than AB and could take their music out to space while the ABs were punchier and stayed in a more blues lane. The Dead explored past present and future and then there the lyrics too.
Hi Paul Simmons
jerry garcia was as good as any lead player ever born, so melodic
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I don’t think there’s anyone more melodic than Jerry
Gilmore. By faaaaaaaar
@@dontbeavictim David Gilmour is a fucking god
his playing left me cold.
really enjoying your videos as of late, and Garcia just happens to be my favorite guitar player, so thanks for this.
a couple of nerdy things: I think often we forget that Garcia first found his fluidity by learning bluegrass music and picking on banjo, and I think that plays out a lot in his approach to guitar soloing, lots of single notes, fast runs, arpeggios etc. Also, when he did use a pick he liked heavy picks, again it's back to the hands and how to use em. he was a master and I think in many ways underrated because he comes with that Deadhead stigma (although I am proud to be one :) )
Thanks!
I really love it that you can not help but smile so much at it.
😂
Some great music and playing style here. Jerry is a legend.
Your smile during the solo towards the end of the video says it all
😂👍
Thanks for the video! Appreciate your thoughtful and positive approach. Would love to hear you do more videos on Jerry (as I'm sure you know, his sound and the sound of the band changed a lot throughout their 30 yr career). Cheers!
Man, I miss Jerry! He had such a great supporting cast, especially Bobby and Phil, that it freed him up to go wherever he wanted, knowing those guys had his back and could lead him back if need be. I had a friend who called his playing (soloing) "the most wonderful, improvisational noodling ever"! We joked about that for years.........Jerry gone "cosmic noodling"
There is some very thought out points in what this guy said an he knows what hes talking about. There is also a lot of well stated points in the comments so thank you for that. I am reading some though that are so critical an ridiculous. The Dead are one of the greatest bands that have ever embarked on this road of life an those who have never been in front of 100,000 fans night to night dont got a bit of judgement to put on anyone. They are solid a.f. an I only wish he could have stuck around a little longer in this world.
Amen!
Truth
Great read on Jerry as a rhythm player. Your analysis before the first solo is nuts on. Your reaction to things you like Is great
Thanks!
Great Analysis Phil!!! This video makes me a bit sad (and grateful at the same time). I am fortunate enough to have lived during Jerry's time on earth and seen 113 shows between '82-'95. For that I am Grateful. I am sad because after watching your smiles/reactions to Jerry's work, I keep thinking you would of LOVED to see Jerry live. (Especially his Solo work). AWESOME analysis. Awesome video. Need to subscribe and watch more of your stuff. Cheers!
Cool! No problem!
Damn that's a seriously Lucky 113 #NFA ⚡️🌹⚡️
The Dead always put me in my happy place. Was introduced to Terrapin Station in college and it’s still my go to for chilling out! Great vid.. thanks man!
Cool! No problem!
Hearing Terrapin Station for the first time when I was fourteen (I’m 54) is what grabbed me.
Kevin Downey cool.. there’s definitely something special about Terrapin Station!
Terrapin Station was my first album too and I was 14...3 years later I was on tour for 5 years
Seeing you smile at Jerrys playing is what its partly all about.
I love watching people light up and smile when they hear Jerry play a solo. If you really want to smile, analyze "Help on the Way"
Thanks!
Great breakdown. You just earned a fan. He was/is magical. You never knew where he would go show to show. He has so many solos that leave you in awe. So many. So many roads to ease my soul.
Thank you. You summed up Jerry's style in a way ,I , as an old drummer , never understood. I never understood why he was so good, and not "flashy", like most players of the early 70"s. Been a Deadhead all my adult life, your point about how "easy" Jerry was to listen to, was spot on.
In the early to mid 70"s we could confuse one lead players solo's with another, on the radio, but Jerry's style was instantly recognizable, even if we never heard the rest of the song or band.
I enjoyed your expert analysis, in helping me understand why so many of us loved his music. Thanks again, your very good at what you do...continued success with your channel, and cheers, thumbs up.
Thanks!
Furd Felmer hi I just want to comment on what you said it is so true Fil is great at what he does, my god I've told him I've never heard anybody gives such a brilliant analogy ever! I said I've been trying to explain to non deadheads like what goes down at Dead shows how Jerry carries you through ....well you know you know what I mean, anyway Fil's not even a deadhead i assume and he explained it better than us deadheads. Lol looks like you're a dead head now Fil! "The Fil Zone" haha 😂 okay thank you mr. Filmer for letting me intrude but deadheads never feel intruded oh my God I just noticed my phone when I'm speaking into it typed out your last name Fil-mer. Classic ✌
Love seeing young people, especially non Americans, appreciate Jerry for the incredible Artist he is.
Great video! ‘77 was when the whole band was on fire
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Hi it kyson daddy this guy liked your comment😀😀😀😀😀😀
69-77 was when the whole band was on fire
Charles Ryan* 68 *
89 too. Idk what the hell happened, but they just went the hell off in 89. Jerry was healthy. He wasn't in H at the time. Was still happy tp be alive after the diabetic coma. Everybody was clicking. It was like Jerry and Brent were one. They were constantly trading leads. Not my favorite year, but they were on fire.
No one put notes together like Jerry. his combinations are befuddling to me as I have tried to learn them. it's not just scales, it's a way of placing notes tonally that no one else seems to have done.. this is what makes him an original and a master also. It's not just the sound but the the way the notes are combined that enable you to recognize his playing.
jerry is a master !
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Jerry is the gift that keeps on giving! You’re either a Head or behind
I am 60 years old and first saw the Dead in 1973. Caught them many times thru the 70's and 80's and was never disappointed. Jerry (and the rest of the band) were one of the original's. The world became much poorer when he passed. Thnx for a trip down memory lane.
Awesome! No problem!
I love that you talk of him as if he's still in the present. Great channel!
Really nice analysis of Jerry’s playing. When I saw him play, it struck me how he would turn a knob up or down, maybe flick a switch here and there, for subtle changes. But the coolest thing was the way he played with his fingers, and would rest the pick between his stub and second finger.
He would finger pick through part of a song and then he could pull out the pick for a different sound. During the song “They Love Each Other” , he would use the pick on the low E while plucking the B and high E with his fingers. Then return the pick back to its resting place. As they say he had tone
In his fingers.
Yeah it's his own way of doing it, and it's good!
Yes. I agree. Jerry has he most soothing vocals I can recall. I have come to love your show. 💔 ❤️🩹
I absolutely love his rambling freestyle.
Clean... Flowing.... Up and down the fretboard... Greatful dead. Lyrics .. Simple.. We the people style.. Plus the tailgate partying started couple days before the dead arrive for thier gig... And those tailgate partying was amazing ... All the gurllllll ... Tie die t shirts... Dead head... Brotherrrrrrr..
The people who disliked this don't know which button to hit for astonished by awesomely, innovation provoking, American gems like this. Thank you. Love ❤ The Grateful Dead!
The Fat Man Rocked
I seen the Dead on their first tour in 1967, I'm still smiling from that day, and I've seen a lot of the great ones, Buddy Holly, (3 day before the plane crash 1959) Jimmy Page with the Yardbird, Jimi, Jeff Beck, Alvin Lee, Mike Bloomfield, pluss many great blues men, like John Lee Hooker, Paul Buterfield/Mike Bloomfield (I mentioned Mike Bloomfield again, give a Listen to East West album/song its all good), Eric Clapton with Cream, and many more..but Jerry could and would play anything, and just make you smile.. what a long strange trip its been !!!! thanx for this posting !!!
Bless you, my brother. Appreciate the fine analysis of one of my favorite players.
"Going on the journey with the cords". Some of the best and most accurate words that I've possibly ever heard regarding music and Jerry. Cheers
There was a common saying "there is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert" which got fans relating their peak concert experience. No band played live to as many people before or since, they tours very long schedules and usually 3 performance per city, and half the audience traveled to 4-10 cities, attending every night. The reason was very well crafted songs played with artistic variations each time, 3 performances with completely different music per set. How many bands had 600 great original songs that fans would beg to be played. They limited each tour to about 200 songs but no set list. Any member of the band could decide on the next song by introducing a few notes of a song he suggested, a few bars later a couple more notes of the new song, and by the time the full band had keyed on the new song, many in the audience had figured it out and the band would intermix the current and next song melody in the most tasteful segues ever. The band did not like to record, they were a live band so the live shows featured, from the beginning, the best sound systems in the world, many times completely new designed that changed how concert sound was done. The famous Wall of Sound for example, or later the original research that John Myers did that lead to Myers Sound Systems, the premier systems today for concert halls and touring sound systems. They did record some great albums but there was nothing like the concert. If one wanted to hear recordings of 2 two able sets done live in relatively small venues over a couple nights checkout Dead Set for electric music and the next night all acoustic with Reckoning.
I lived near them in San Francisco in the 60s and moved up to Marin by 70, since SF was getting overrun with kids coming just for the drugs and rock&rock which sort of killed the scene. Many of us moved up to Marin and I had a recording studio there so got to know all the musicians who arrived into that different scene. I never recorded the band, but was doing major acts like Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder, Heart, Santana etc.....but the one band I attended live shows for no matter where was the Dead. My best musical memories were of those concerts and the variations on the themes of the songs. You would see many of the same people all 3 nights in cities a thousand miles apart. Promoters had no ad budgets...tickets were all sold out for many shows before locals even had a chance to hear there would be a concert series. I knew many bands and artists but Dead was a different level of personal attachment. Their music lives on with millions of tapes recording during the shows, which they encouraged much to the displeasure of their label, Capital. The band even made console aux outputs for tapers to plug into.
Once the dead were going to have 3 nights in NYC and I flew a group of producers and engineers out from California just to show them they were dismissing the band as a loose "hippy band" and they were impressed with the musicality and very well crafted songs. They were blown away with the best rhythm section in rock. Between Phil's classical training applied to bass and Mickey's depth of ethnic percussion and Bill' rock steady powerful locomotive of rock drumming together perfection, called the "rhythm devils".
But the heart of the band, was Jerry Garcia. In the early days, he plays somewhere live every night of the week, sitting with bluegrass bands, rock, Americana, anything.All the bands out of SF in the 60s were playing every night and of not at the music halls like Family Dog, Filmore, Avalon Ballroom, The Matrix, The Straight Theater, and Ark. And if there was not a show to play, they played on Speedway Meadows in the Golden Gate Park for free. The unique thing about the music scene in SF and Marin was that every band was unique. No one copied anyone else.
There was nothing like a Grateful Dead concert....
Nice!
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing!!!
Jerry knocked it out of the park so many times. 😀
Just stumbled upon this video and channel by accident. Glad I did though. Good job man🤘! Jerry was a master!
Thanks!
Welcome to my summer after college. I was at this show. I'm the guy going, "Wooooooo!!!!!".
Haha cool!
Jerry could really play! I was never a fan of the band at all but he can certainly play really well. As you said, very relaxed vocals.
Listen to his side work. Completely different. Listen to him LIVE
Jerry sucked in the studio. Live was another story
Listen to 70s Legion of Mary. Youd never think it was Jerry. But he was a coat of many colors
@@davegrabowski6123 Not True! Maybey some studio dead wasn't so hot, But Anthem of the sun...Groundbreaking and he sounds vibrant. Shady grove with David Grisman. All of that was his best studio stuff to me.
I’ve been listening to the Dead since 67 which is about the same time I bought my first guitar. Only managed to see them once, at Bickershaw in 72. They were outstanding. You should listed to Live Dead, recorded in 67, it’s a whole different sound, more edgy and experimental, but the tonality is still there. It’s the record that started me of on the never ending dead head road. Fifty years on I’m still listening to them, playing their records, learning their tunes. Whilst Garcia always takes the limelight as the lead player, I’ve as much admiration for Weir and Lesh. Lesh is probably the finest electric bass player there ever was.
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Man I miss Jerry ! So glad you did this . I've learned a lot of guitar from growing up listening to the Grateful Dead . Thank you so much ! PEACE
No problem!
Brian Olendorf yes u said it bro✌
Always had a soft spot for G. Dead. Granted, their jams could go on forever...and beyond, but under those heavy all colour acid clouds lurked some serious musical ability. Great choice and spot on comments!
Thanks!
HelgeKS spot on! That's what I told Fil too... That I never heard such a brilliant analogy ever!👌
One of my favorite ways to introduce an eager listener is to play the studio version of "Playin in the Band," then hunt down literally ANY live version on CZcams (or whatever) from '72 or '73 and start it at 3:30. Invariably that is when the song proper melts into fifteen, twenty minutes of improv. It always produces a fun reaction when the band finally finishes up!
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I'm glad you chose this one, they were really clicking... always love those years with Brent, the best keyboard/backing vocalist of all time
I'm glad you get it.
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The Dead were a "Dance Band".
Saw them a few times and as soon as the first note sounded, the crowd was a boppin' until the last note faded away.
I like to compare them to the "big bands" of the 40's and 50's.
Imagine Benny Goodman taking a 5 minute solo on the licorice stick
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I watched Jerry many times being a Dead head ; but one concert in particular back when he played a Stratocaster there were sparks flying off the fretboard he was on his game that night ...and everyone was blown out it was so good !
Cool!
They were well before my time, but my grandmother was a big fan of them and my mom was a full blown 'Dead Head' pretty much till I was born. So I've heard them my whole life. For the longest time I could recognize that they made some cool music, but I never exactly 'got' it. What The Dead were.
When I started playing a few different instruments I i finally understood what they were and began to really appreciate their sound.
I've been to/played at MANY different live shows, but nothing compared to their shows. Surprised my mom with a couple Dead & Co tickets 3 years ago and my jaw was basically on the ground the entire time. Unbelievable performers. I know it's not the same, but still. Wish I could've seen ole Jerry back in the day. Its alright though. I'm inspired to keep playing and loving music just from his recordings alone. He's a big influence on me.
I do HAVE to mention that during and after the show, my mom (Dead Head through and through) said they were unbelievable. That they had the same atmosphere as always. She was particularly blown away with John Mayer playing the 'Jerry role'.
Awesome, I always appreciate some Jerry love
as much as I enjoyed listening to Jerry, watching your eyes light up like a kid at Christmas.!
I have always thought of Jerry as a melodic player. He would color outside of the lines alot and always make it sound like it fit.
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what else is there beside melodies? Jerry was great in part because he took those melodies, broke them down, recreated them, and made them brand new again. lots of terrific guitar players around but for me, I'm not interested in much if I can't hear the medlody gets old fast.
Another great video Fil. RIP Jerry Garcia. He gave us a lot of great music.
Amen.
Thanks for pointing out that Jerry played the changes.Most people don't realize that about him.Another big part of his style which you touched upon is that he played touch sensitive meaning that some notes were more emphasized than others ie picked harder, even within a bar.And that 4 note pulloff from the pinky to the 1st finger was a big thing for him too.Nobody did that like him.Good imitators of him are close but no cigar.His rhythm playing was mighty fine too.A lot of guys have worked real hard to sound like him and i'm cool with that if that's what they want to do BUT there was only 1 Jerry Garcia.
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It's all in fingers and heart baby.. Jerry was blessed :)
As the years go by, more people are finding out just how skilled Jerry was, particularly when they try to reproduce it.
Much depth to Jerry's playing...time will bring his playing into focus...one listening ain't enough for his repertoire of any song...
i truly like the grateful dead, but i'm not a deadhead. in fact i've never seen them live. but i am a music nut, playing ,listening,reading and watching music. of all the interviews and any other kind of clip i've ever seen of Jerry, he comes across as one of the most humble, well spoken hippie/musician/poet/writer/ talents to come along in our short lives.
Jerry is my guitar hero. Nobody tops him for me. He Was a little bit of everything, and that made him uniquely himself. Not to mention, he’s missing his middle finger on his strumming hand.
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His missing finger is the one bit of Jerry legend I can't stand. He plays with a flat pick and the missing finger doesn't influence his playing at all.
Oliver Bradley Not true. He would hold the pick between his two fingers with the stub. He would do this thing where he’d move the pick back and forth from one side to the other depending on which finger he wanted to be the dominant one. It absolutely makes his technique different. His words, not mine. Jerry played with his fingers too. He Was a Banjo player first after all.
"Generally I use a Fender extra-heavy flat pick, which I sometimes palm when using my fingers. The way I hold the pick is a bit strange, I guess. I don’t hold it in the standard way, but more like you hold a pencil. I think Howard Roberts describes it as the scalpel technique. The motion is basically generated from the thumb and first finger rather than, say, the wrist or elbow." -Jerry
The pencil hold is the second most common pick hold in flat-picking. Again, the loss of his fingertip wasn't some incredible challenge he needed to overcome. This isn't Django using two fingers on his fretting hand. Jerry played beautifully and had a style that was unique but his missing fingertip wasn't the reason for his sound.
it was so cool to see you enjoying a song you'd never heard! thank you. love this review!!!
Thanks!
Free time, chore time, and driving are often spent listening and relaxing to the Dead. Lots of fanciful interplay like jazz musicians in their extended repetoire.
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Wish you could have seen him in person! It was magic
So glad to see someone make a Grateful Dead reaction, even though you clearly know who Jerry Garcia is, good analysis of Jerry playing. His use of scales to hit the chord tones over the changes is masterful
No problem!
RIP jerry one of the most underrated guitar players of all times by everyone but his peers " other musicans " and the fans
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I saw a lot of great bands back in the day, including the Beatles and the Stones. I love those two groups, but they were disappointing live. I saw the Dead multiple times and they were always fantastic live. Their groove just rolled out through the audience. I read somewhere that they hold the record in rock for live audience box office numbers. And of course that was just counting the people who paid, not the people who snuck in!
Cool!
Impressed that you get it. At the height of his powers, Garcia was a wizard. He had a magic touch that gave us all the times of our lives.
good stuff, JerrBear was and still IS the man! peace
I've been a fan of Jerry & the boys since I was 5 years old, when my 15 year old cousin moved in with us in early 1972. In June 1988, a friend of mine parked their airplane and she told Jerry & Bob Weir that I was a huge fan, so they left tickets and backstage passes at the will call window (read: best birthday present ever!). In June 1995 my father was at home, dying of cancer, and slipped into a coma. Because people in comas tend to be hypersensitive to sound, we dimmed the lights, spoke only in whispers, and we DJed his passing with his favorite music along with ours that expressed how we felt. Needless to say his U2 collection didn't make the cut, but one of the songs I played was Black Muddy Water from the In The Dark album. My pop passed away in the wee hours of June 29th, and while I was dealing with the grief and holding on to the music Jerry passed away, just six weeks later. I've never been so wrecked at the lost of a celebrity. Unfortunately my daughter didn't get to see Jerry play because she was just turning 5 at his passing, but she's since been to the Further Festival with performances from Phish and Rat Dog, and The Dead when they decided to regroup and keep playing along with many other concerts. Jerry Garcia was such an accomplished and well rounded musician with a great musical history; He was the son of a jazz clarinetist and Dixieland band leader, but had various side projects playing country and bluegrass as well. He was an accomplished artist that not only created the Deadie Bears, but also a line of men's ties, t-shirts, album cover art, as well as having full gallery showings. The band sponsored the 1996 Lithuanian Olympic basketball team after the fall of the Soviet Union. The team was wearing tie dye steal your face outfits when they took the podium for the bronze medal. My father's family is from Lithuania so that this was also something that gave me a great feeling of connection to the band. I'm surprised you didn't mention that he was missing two-thirds of his middle finger on his right hand, was a lefty that played right handed, also played piano, saxophone, banjo, and played the steel guitar on CSN&Y Teach Your Children.
no Stanley created the dancing bears, or as he called them the marching bears
I attended this show. Although I recall it generally being rather dreary, the one thing I remembered was Garcia's absolutely tearing up the second half of 'Deal' - as this indeed shows. It was like the lion in winter, because he had rarely been that aggressive for a long time.
once again fil your spot on with jerrys leads he plays the melody rather than a single key which i prefer greatly thanks again
I am 62 years old. If I understand you right, I was not wasting the last 78 years of my life acting like I did mind altering things, even though I didn't, and listened to the Grateful Dead? Thanks because now I can face my daughters and tell them I was not a waste in my life. Keep up the great videos.
No problem!
Interesting arithmetic Lawrence.
I love JJG, too. His playing had an unmatched lyrical quality. Charles Reich wrote a weird little book in the early 70s called "Garcia: Signposts to New Space" that has a really interesting technical/philosophical description by Jerry of his way of producing notes. I haven't read it in ages, but as I recall he tried to play "round" notes; each one, no matter how brief, should have a beginning, middle and end and the spaces between are just as important as the notes themselves...sumpn like that.
Yep, we can all testify to your daughters that all those years were not for naught.
(Though I don’t know how convincing we’d be to them).
Nik N Cip
Thanks for the reference. I’ll try hunting that odd little book down.
What got me the best about this video was the smile smile smile on your face because I have the same smile whenever I listen to Jerry.😎✌️☀️🌈🍄🐢🐻
just fyi - the song is named "deal" not "dead" ,ha ! nice observations otherwise
Lol! I thought you were joking so I re-watched it and can't believe I said dead! I have no idea how that happened! 😂
wingsofpegasus ha ha, yeah, no prob,
I figured you were just saying jerry is playing Dead. Like McCartney is playing Beatles.
Or McCa playing dead and his double playing Beatles. ;-)
Wait until The Dead come 'round....
Smoking deal!!! I love Jerry’s playing and tone, he was amazing! Nice video and comments on his playing, a lot of players don’t give him the credit he clearly deserves:) peace🕉
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Very good analysis if you want to hear more go listen to the 05/08/77 Cornell show especially both set closers, Dancing in the streets to close out the 1st and Morning Dew that closed out the 2nd. Both were phenomenal
Thanks!
5:25 - 6:25 is the best explanation I've ever heard, and simply put, as to what Jerry's actually doing that separates him from most other guitarists and gives his solos that feeling that your on a journey.