Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Jerry Garcia Style Guitar Lesson – Grateful Dead Style Lead – EP196

Description

In this guitar lesson, I’ll break down several Jerry Garcia style licks and explain how to play them and where they come from. Jerry was really good at playing the chord changes (which means switching the scale to match whatever the chord was). I’ll show you how to change scales to match the chords by visualizing chord shapes and linking the licks you’ll be learning to those chord shapes.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  3. Duffy P says

    Thanks for this, Brian. If you are looking for a real challenge, you might consider trying to add a Weir style rhythm part as a supplement. What I really like about this is that its not a rote Garcia lead, but your take on Garcia, which adds another level. As I’ve said before, I’ve listened more to Garcia than any other musician, and he is my absolute favorite, so I am gonna enjoy this one.

  7. Robert J says

    Good lesson, but I feel like you’re flying through some of the parts. I know you ‘ve gotten some flak form the you tube boobs, but I really love your teaching style. i like your explanations of theories, and your patience in teaching some of the more intricate parts. I think this is what makes you one of the most valuable guitar teachers I’ve ever had. There are plenty of speed demons ready and willing to teach online, but I don’t learn from them. I’ve tried. The material I’ve learned form you over the last two years has increased my abilities exponentially. You have teaching magic, Sir. I don’t want to see it slip away because of internet trolls. I know it’s hard to please everybody, but I love the rambling, explaining and patient Brian. Just my two cents, Guitar Sensei. rock on.

    • Brian says

      Thanks for the feedback Robert. I’m not going to stop detailed explanations, just trying to be a little more concise with these. It’s always a hard thing to find the right balance and I feel like I’m pretty close at this point.

      • John V says

        Brian I’m going to agree with robert-j, don’t let a few wieners short it for the rest of us interested plus you basically explained and do provide a means without you even saying a word with the on-screen tab viewer, heck just for kicks can you do George Thorogood’s “Talk Too Much” guitar lesson.. That would be awesome!

      • Robert J says

        i think you’re very close with that balance. I’m a big fan of the 20+ minute 1st lesson. You have something very unique in your teaching style, and i would hate to see it lost to pressure from trolls. i’ll be right here learning the best I can. Thanks for listening.

      • gregjl01 says

        Hi Brian, I totally agree with these comments. As someone who has spent 20 years picking apart Jerry’s solos–Lonesome Prison Blues is what made me start playing guitar–it’s just plain difficult and your teaching style is perfect to get the sound and the “why” of what he’s doing. You are by far the best instructor I’ve ever had and this lesson made my day. Thank you for all that you do–please keep it up and, by all means, ramble away! …and do more Jerry;)

        • Behrouz F says

          I am not a frequent commentor, but i felt obliged to add my voice here

          I absolutely love the way you teah with details and occasional tangents and quick deviatopns into some lick or concept that is not of immediate focus to the piece you are doing

          It all is related and more often than not ot open eyes and ears to domthong else or a variation

  8. Steng says

    Nice one Brian! My playing has improved so much since joined as a premium dude last year. Love getting this homework every week, gives me a goal. You know what? I’m a muso right, but have never listened to the Grateful Dead – weird eh. So you’re helping me go off in other listening directions too. Cheers.

  9. Dietmar S says

    I really enjoy all of your lessons and I’m excited every friday when a new one comes out.
    I still have problems to find the pentatonic positions in relation to the key of the song I’m playing.
    How do you visualize the pentatonic boxes when you’re playing chords?
    Can you do a lesson about this, please?

    • Brian says

      Dietmar, just look at the pentatonic scale pattern 1 and where it is in relation to the major barre chord. If you notice the barre itself contains all of the notes of the minor pentatonic scale pattern 1. From there, you should be able to see that pattern

      • Dietmar S says

        That’s what I do – at least to memorize the patterns related to E- and A-barre chords (the root on the 6th or 5th string). And then I’m lost again when I’m playing an open chord. It’s not that I can’t to this at all, it’s just I wish I could do this intuitive, without thinking too much.

  12. Allan says

    Another great lesson Brian I had the pleasure of seeing the dead play live at festival round 72/73 played for nearly 3 hours in wet weather but what a concert.
    Dead Heads Unite. Lived in Australia for a while that’s where I think the term muso comes from they like to shorten everything.

  13. Dug says

    I would like to agree with Robert-J.
    Your explanations of music theory and why you are doing certain things is what makes Brian the best guitar teacher on the Interwebs!
    – Gampa Dug

  14. sunburst says

    Really looks like this is going to be fun! Never was huge Dead fan but always liked it better than todays pop music lol.. and these certainly sound exactly like his signature licks. This will help me learn some dead solos, thanks for another great lesson!

  18. sunburst says

    yes the last measure the flatted 7th in the major scale ( mixolydian sounds dissonant ) great way to practice this modal scale up and down the neck in this key of A tune.. also like to verify playing major scale interval and you explained starting off the 4 chord than to the root/ key A chord and so the G is a flatted 7 so what progression is this? .. can’t be a 4 1 7 progression .. ii’m gonna have feet up on the desk for this one lol

    • sunburst says

      I mean we have a D A G chord progression ,,easy rhythm .. key of A starting off with the D four chord than to the one A chord and counting up the intervals in major gives it a G with the mixolydian otherwise in plain major interval it be a G# or Ab ..either way, never heard of a 417 progression.. guess i should know this and be sure to find out.

      • Brian says

        I would describe it as a 1, 4, 5 chord progression that starts on the 4 if I were communicating this off the cuff to a band. That way everyone quickly gets that it’s a standard / predictable chord structure, just starting with the 4 chord. If I were writing it out, I’d put 4, 1, 4, 1, 5, 1 (repeat)

        As for that G chord, think of that as the 4 chord for the D (weird I know)… in essence, that’s what’s happening. You’re switching keys in that one instance and playing the 4 chord for the D … so it’s just a passing chord (transitional chord) that gets you back to the D. You could leave that chord out if you were winging it and still fit in with the progression if you played it the way I outlined above. You’d quickly notice that the band is throwing in that transitional chord and start playing it too after a couple of passes.

        Hope that helps.

  22. Anton D says

    Thanks for the lesson, Brian. I am surprised anybody carps about your teaching style. I think you it very well.
    Can’t say I like the Grateful Dead at all, even with Garcia playing but I did love his playing with David Grisman, which is extremely melodic and most inventive. In fact I never listened to the Dead until hearing Garcia perform with Grisman.

  23. sunburst says

    Brian.. This morning realized I OVERLOOKED the E major lol.. my bad, I knew it should have been a 145 easy major chord progression,, you explained the 4 chord and it stuck in my head,,Last night started this and instead of figuring it out ,I posted too soon.. i see now the E above the pdf tab sheet now ..anyway this morning really having a blast with this incredible lesson! ty much!

  24. JMTster says

    This is one I could have benefitted from a slow rhythm track, but guess I’ll just have to get up to speed. To echo others, keep teaching your style, Brian. Speaking for myself, I get frustrated when realizing I’m just “parroting” a Jam without knowing why and how to use it practically. Do your thing. There’s plenty of online sources for those who want to follow close ups of a guy jamming and try to mirror it. Be well and thanks always! 40 years of messing w guitars and finally feel I can play a bit.

  25. sunburst says

    Okay very good lesson in theory for me anyway, still thinking about this but acknowledge your reply,, very interesting that the 4 is a passing chord and going to verify this as a 4 1 4 1 5 progression.. And yes still weird seeing and listening to the mixolydian interval G off the Key of A major scale.. very interesting because the E major chord..( the 5 chord in this major progression in key of A major scale) so counting the intervals as you mentioned flattening the 7th for mixolydian gets that G passing tone/chord. At least this so far is my understanding! thanks again, great lesson, really enjoying it much today! great jamtrack too!

  26. sunburst says

    Okay Brian, you really done it! I started this lesson last night and with all due respect..hoping to play along if not tonight the next day or so..this has to be one of my favorites of favorites I added.. Would have never thought this amazing Jerry Garcia lesson could thrill me as much..thank you..time to take a break! I been at it all morning into afternoon! Finally had to go along with your slow walk through!!!! otherwise ,I know I couldn’t get where I got thus far into this wonderful lesson! cheers!

  29. blake d says

    very fun lesson of a band I was lucky enough to see if not remember in 1972.

    i seem to have settled in on trying to learn each weeks lesson and then going to prior lessons if I have time. by the way sometimes I wake up and my pointer finger is a bit sore – is this just pressing on the strings too hard or is it a normal part of learning and it will eventually go away? I don’t know how guitarists play for hours at a time.

    thanks again – these lessons are really helping me with something I always wanted to do but didn’t get a chance to focus on until relatively late in life ..

  31. Henry K says

    Great lesson! Although known primarily for his playing with the Grateful Dead, Jerry’s earliest influences include bluegrass and country. His later influences included Ray Charles, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Hank Ballard and other blues musicians. Among the first instruments he played were piano and banjo and later became an accomplished pedal steel player. He collaborated with many other musicians and groups but the Dead was perhaps the place where he felt he could make live music “on the fly” and challenge himself and his band mates. Each concert was a musical experiment where the result could be mediocre or more often sublime and unique. In my opinion, the Grateful Dead ‘scene’ often overshadowed the sophistication of the music that was being created on an almost nightly basis.

  32. fresnojohns says

    Thank you for a great lesson Brian. Jerry played pedal steel, 5-string banjo, and of course his custom made electric guitars. From the first album to the last
    you hit it out of the ball park. If I had not seen and heard you play this, I would have thought it was the Dead or Phish!!!!!!!!!! This lesson is killer. Maybe some Jorma from the Jefferson Airplane or John Cippolina from Quicksilver Messenger Service would be great lessons too. But I am showing my age. LOLOLOL

    Thanks, fresnojohns

    • anthonylambert says

      Hell yes!!!!!! I agree John Cippolina and/or Jorma Kaukonen lead lesson please, especially a “in the style of” Brian does so well. Fresnojohn I am 29 and those are two of my favorite guitarists, in fact Cippolina is why I started learning guitar (I think you and I have discussed him on the blog). The guitarists of that era that I enjoy incorporate a lot of modal scales giving them a liquid eastern blues flavor. I hear the statement often that the psychedelic guitarists of the 60s just played very loud fuzzy blues, while their is a bit of truth to that, I think it is only a small portion of what made those guys great……ie 13th Floor Elevators Stacey Sutherland with his non intrusive snake like fills, Cippolina w/ his fluid use of tremolo, Robbie Krieger w/ his flamenco flourishes and his unique modal jazz stylings (I could keep going on and on sry).

      ***Brian thanks for the fantastic lesson it is hard to find Jerry lessons where someone takes time to explain the theory and takes time to call out each note slowly. I am a visual learner and do not do well with tabs nor speed demon lessons, so thank you for all your hard work and effort you put into this!

  37. jabadead says

    Yo Brian……
    Muchos Gracias for the Jerry ditty………we will take all you have
    from this direction…….the melodic keys that Jerry played is one reason I finally picked
    up the geetar at 60 years of age……bring it on
    Cuenca, Ecuador

  38. blake d says

    in the first measure do you move your fingers up after the first three notes and then play the rest of the measure witout your pinkie – whether or not to do that caused me no end of trouble – jt is easier to do it if you move up but I find that it causes a pause thatscrews up mytiming. what is the betterway to play it or is it whateverfeels comfortable ? getting my fingering in order is sometimes a bitch

  39. Barefoot says

    I had a lot of fun learning this one the last couple weeks. Instead of hybrid picking I practiced up-strokes and got those parts down that way. Thanks SO much for this lesson, Brian!

  45. Benedikt says

    Hey man, this is hands down one of your best lessons. I am really interested on the patterns within the chord shapes especially in regards to the scales. Maybe you can create a lesson on that some day, This patterns if they come natural are beautiful!

  51. Matthew M says

    Great lesson. Really like the “how and why” context for all this. Exactly why I just signed up as a premium member. Now I’m going to listen to Bertha 5-26-77 and try (and fail) to apply it!

  53. Matthew M says

    So I was just in Athens GA for my oldest son’s frat’s “parents weekend.” His buddy was playing at a bar and playing some good GD songs for the parents, but he’s a huge Jerry fan. He did a really good job, but I actually thought back to this lesson as I was listening. to Bertha. Thinking, play changes and some chromatics, not just a scale to the root. Not that I’d get up there myself, so not one to judge at all, but brought me back to this lesson.

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