Jerry was the master and creating tension and release. He could take a melody or lead line and make you feel like you're taking a journey to the top of a mountain and about to fall off the edge, only to find yourself flying not falling. I'm a big fan of his playing. Thanks for the lesson.
Anyone who thinks Garcia's playing is "pedestrian" or "boring" doesn't have working ears. Just because he didn't rely on gimmicky bullshit like finger tapping or use extensive modulation/distortion doesn't mean his playing is in any way run of the mill. He thought of himself as a piece of the music, not an ego-driven soloist who played on top of it, which is literally what playing with a group should be. He knew when to step up, and he knew when to step back. Besides that rant, great lesson!
jerry knew how to take a big hollow box of wood with steel ( or nickel) strings attached to it and create beautiful melody that could lend itself to so many genres of music. he could do so much with a simple clean guitar sound and i think that's a quality that's almost forgotten about
Yeah, Jerry never wanted to be bigger than the song; he wanted to be a part of it. He had chops, too. He could rip a nasty blues solo, but that was not his style. They were a melodic band (for the most part) and Jerry's soloing was meant to fit into the framework of the mood of the song, which he did splendidly...But, not everyone likes licorice, ya know...
Could not have said it any better James Falconi...Garcia knew how to weave clean melodies with his keyboard players too ...especially Brent Mydland ,Melvin Seals ,and Merle Saunders...the man was an inspiration a truly gifted musician
This is a dead on demo on Jerry's style I can hear at least 10 dead songs with this Garcia style of scales...Jack straw I heard right away...thank you my friend for this valuable lesson...love the well explained vid.
Thank you for showing, Jerry Garcia style!! And to everybody I can deeply deeply deeply recommend listen to Jerry Garcia album "So What" . "Boring" is the very least word i would use!!.
I learned so much from the just the first 5 minutes alone of this video. I love the analogy of thinking of it as new "words" that you start to use in your everyday conversations. Awesome video Brian.
It's curious to me how Jerry creates so much emotion from people. I guess you either love him or you don't. I am a deadhead fro 40 years now so I guess I love him. Never have I heard live a more emoting singer and guitarist. Pure soul!!! For the dude who said "pedestrian" well, move on brother and be kind. Brian.....great beard!!!
I trust that this is for me a good introduction to Grateful Dead guitar, since I was asking some random guy with a guitar only a couple days ago about whether he knows any "Dead" songs. I'm interested in first knowing their songs then learning to play them, since I know the Jerry Garcia led band were a really famous classic rock group.
Hey Ato, yes you could think of this as a sampling of the way that Jerry might approach lead. He's obviously got a lot more to him than just this 30 seconds... but it gives you a feel for the way he approaches lead. Playing the chord changes, and playing patterns.
I can certainly understand not being a big fan of the Dead, as I didn't get it for many years either, but even when I didn't "get it", I never would've called Jerry or the band boring or overrated or whatever. Any rational person would realize that someone who inspired so many must be doing something right whether you dig it or not.
Goid Lesson ~ Is there a Part 2 to this video? When you went to the A chord. Was it the same scales? Are these modes? What about chord phrases & arpeggios? Part 2 Please 🙏
A Mixolydian is the D maj scale, not G. However, playing a G maj scale over an A maj chord produces a pretty interesting sound as i've just discovered.. this is actually A dorian, which contains a flat 3rd and thus would normally be played over an A minor chord, but playing G maj scale over an A maj chord gives a kind of "blues mixolydian" effect, which can be enhanced with some chromatics.
sure. but it's also important to understand that both mr garcia and brian became so proficient at mixolydian soloing that it ultimately morphed into Mix-O-LLLoaded mode jamming !!!! hence this material is Tosh.0 level 'don't try this at home, kids!' stuff, proceed with caution. and respect ...
What a great lesson, thank you for sharing these gems from Gerry Garcia's lead playing. Would it be safe to say that Garcia was a modal lead player or is that over-analyzing things? I feel like he uses the mixolydian mode a lot, which is the fifth degree of the major scale. What do you think?
I've been noticing how nicely the lydian dominant and altered scale mixes with mixolydian. I think Jerry did it alot but more adding the notes as chromatic slurs
Hey Richard, I think it's important to not let scales overwhelm you.. just start by learning the minor pentatonic scale - which is the same pattern as the major pentatonic scale. Only 5 notes but you can do a lot with it. (I offer a Blues Lead Course at ActiveMelody.com that teaches the 5 patterns of the pentatonic scale) Then if you add 2 notes to it, it is transformed to the major scale (do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti..) - you can play just about anything once you understand the full major scale and the natural minor scale.
Practice practice practice. Jer and most guitarist that make you feel something are entrenched in the theory of the instrument. It's not all about feeling it is also about knowing what scales mix with what chords and what modes to use to create said feeling. Otherwise everything starts to sound the same . Cheers
A lot of idiot remarks here Brian ,people who obviously don't play an instrument...youve got it right ...if someone doesn't hear Garcia in this clip, they don't have a clue and by the way Duane Allman was mostly slide guitar and box scales ( blues minor pentatonic)
Kelly Mcgrath You sure you aren't thinking of Dickey Betts? Only asking because he's right, Duane Allman is known almost exclusively for his slide playing. In my [humble] opinion, if you're going to compare this playing to the Allman Brothers, then Dickey Betts is a far more accurate comparison. That being said, I don't quite understand the criticism, be it respectful or constructive, it just seems inaccurate. I think he's doing a great job at emulating Jerry.
OK... Everyone that thinks of Duane as mostly slide... You could not be more off. Duane was one of the most expressive lead players of all time. So much of the lead guitar in the Allman Brothers music is Duane. Most of Whippin' Post is Duane. A lot of You don't Love Me is Duane. The second lead in ELizabeth Reed(after the organ) is Duane. The first solo on Stormy Monday, which is, maybe, the most soulful, expressive blues you will ever hear is Duane. The first solo in Blue Sky is Duane. Duane was phenomenal on lead guitar. He was so much more than the best slide guitar player ever. I think you should all go back and listen to what Duane could do on LEAD!!!!!!
keith rovere if you are a life long jerry fan and you don't hear at least 10 jerry signature licks how do you tune your guitar?...its so clear that Brian has a grip on Jerry's style
Jerry was the master and creating tension and release. He could take a melody or lead line and make you feel like you're taking a journey to the top of a mountain and about to fall off the edge, only to find yourself flying not falling. I'm a big fan of his playing. Thanks for the lesson.
well said :)
Active Melody I asked you some weeks ago for a Jerry Garcia Lesson. Thanx a lot for making one. Great! {~}:-D
you bet :)
buddhamus aaW
W
Anyone who thinks Garcia's playing is "pedestrian" or "boring" doesn't have working ears. Just because he didn't rely on gimmicky bullshit like finger tapping or use extensive modulation/distortion doesn't mean his playing is in any way run of the mill. He thought of himself as a piece of the music, not an ego-driven soloist who played on top of it, which is literally what playing with a group should be. He knew when to step up, and he knew when to step back. Besides that rant, great lesson!
jerry knew how to take a big hollow box of wood with steel ( or nickel) strings attached to it and create beautiful melody that could lend itself to so many genres of music. he could do so much with a simple clean guitar sound and i think that's a quality that's almost forgotten about
Yeah, Jerry never wanted to be bigger than the song; he wanted to be a part of it. He had chops, too. He could rip a nasty blues solo, but that was not his style. They were a melodic band (for the most part) and Jerry's soloing was meant to fit into the framework of the mood of the song, which he did splendidly...But, not everyone likes licorice, ya know...
Could not have said it any better James Falconi...Garcia knew how to weave clean melodies with his keyboard players too ...especially Brent Mydland ,Melvin Seals ,and Merle Saunders...the man was an inspiration a truly gifted musician
People who think Jerry was boring are complete shit heads.
Amen to that , you need to understand music to a certain level to appreciate Jerry’s work.
Jerry style through and through. Well done! More Jerry, please!
This is a dead on demo on Jerry's style I can hear at least 10 dead songs with this Garcia style of scales...Jack straw I heard right away...thank you my friend for this valuable lesson...love the well explained vid.
Thank you for showing, Jerry Garcia style!! And to everybody I can deeply deeply deeply recommend listen to Jerry Garcia album "So What" . "Boring" is the very least word i would use!!.
I learned so much from the just the first 5 minutes alone of this video. I love the analogy of thinking of it as new "words" that you start to use in your everyday conversations. Awesome video Brian.
Thank you. Garcia is King.
what he said...
It's curious to me how Jerry creates so much emotion from people. I guess you either love him or you don't. I am a deadhead fro 40 years now so I guess I love him. Never have I heard live a more emoting singer and guitarist. Pure soul!!! For the dude who said "pedestrian" well, move on brother and be kind. Brian.....great beard!!!
MD Honze he definitely seems to polarize people. Fantastic musician. I wish I'd have gone to see the Dead play
@@activemelody Read Jerry's comments on Licorice.
I watched the first 40 seconds of this video 10 times. Awesome
Great lesson Brian. As always.
Great lesson man somehow it just opened something up I hadn't realized
Merl Saunders and Jerry Garcia that's great stuff!!
I trust that this is for me a good introduction to Grateful Dead guitar, since I was asking some random guy with a guitar only a couple days ago about whether he knows any "Dead" songs. I'm interested in first knowing their songs then learning to play them, since I know the Jerry Garcia led band were a really famous classic rock group.
Hey Ato, yes you could think of this as a sampling of the way that Jerry might approach lead. He's obviously got a lot more to him than just this 30 seconds... but it gives you a feel for the way he approaches lead. Playing the chord changes, and playing patterns.
Fantastic, Brian. Thanks so much for this.
Best hat yet!
Just stopped by to see if anyone could capture Jerry's unique style. You sound grate!
Wow, awesome lesson...
MOAR JERRY LESSONS!!!!
I can certainly understand not being a big fan of the Dead, as I didn't get it for many years either, but even when I didn't "get it", I never would've called Jerry or the band boring or overrated or whatever. Any rational person would realize that someone who inspired so many must be doing something right whether you dig it or not.
Tv brainwashes people very much.
Appreciate your comments in between the lesson, very insightful and not said enuf!
That tone though!!
That intro was siiiick
awesome man thanks
Great video! Thanks for creating this. the advice is spot on. i started a channel recently and appreciate the help!
Goid Lesson ~ Is there a Part 2 to this video? When you went to the A chord. Was it the same scales? Are these modes? What about chord phrases & arpeggios? Part 2 Please 🙏
yes, link in the description
MORE FROM LORD GARCIA PLEASE
holy shit you nailed it
Tangles up in Blue-ish. JGB song.
I understand that Jerry played mostly in Mixalodian mode, so instead of starting in an A scale over an A chord, wouldn’t it be a G scale over an A?
Absolutely. My thinking exactly.
A Mixolydian is the D maj scale, not G. However, playing a G maj scale over an A maj chord produces a pretty interesting sound as i've just discovered.. this is actually A dorian, which contains a flat 3rd and thus would normally be played over an A minor chord, but playing G maj scale over an A maj chord gives a kind of "blues mixolydian" effect, which can be enhanced with some chromatics.
sure. but it's also important to understand that both mr garcia and brian became so proficient at mixolydian soloing that it ultimately morphed into Mix-O-LLLoaded mode jamming !!!! hence this material is Tosh.0 level 'don't try this at home, kids!' stuff, proceed with caution. and respect ...
What a great lesson, thank you for sharing these gems from Gerry Garcia's lead playing. Would it be safe to say that Garcia was a modal lead player or is that over-analyzing things? I feel like he uses the mixolydian mode a lot, which is the fifth degree of the major scale. What do you think?
Sultan of mixolydian scales
I've been noticing how nicely the lydian dominant and altered scale mixes with mixolydian. I think Jerry did it alot but more adding the notes as chromatic slurs
Or was Jerry just noodling around and playing by ear with no mind to scales but how it sounded?
What is the amp settings...????
What's the title of the song in the intro of this video?
LoLEx sounds like They Love Each Other to me
Sounds like a combo of Dickey and Jerry
how do i learn all of those scales?
Hey Richard, I think it's important to not let scales overwhelm you.. just start by learning the minor pentatonic scale - which is the same pattern as the major pentatonic scale. Only 5 notes but you can do a lot with it. (I offer a Blues Lead Course at ActiveMelody.com that teaches the 5 patterns of the pentatonic scale) Then if you add 2 notes to it, it is transformed to the major scale (do, re, me, fa, so, la, ti..) - you can play just about anything once you understand the full major scale and the natural minor scale.
Practice practice practice. Jer and most guitarist that make you feel something are entrenched in the theory of the instrument. It's not all about feeling it is also about knowing what scales mix with what chords and what modes to use to create said feeling. Otherwise everything starts to sound the same . Cheers
A lot of idiot remarks here Brian ,people who obviously don't play an instrument...youve got it right ...if someone doesn't hear Garcia in this clip, they don't have a clue and by the way Duane Allman was mostly slide guitar and box scales ( blues minor pentatonic)
👍
I hear Jack Straw,one more Saturday night, Peggy-o,I'll take a melody, candy man,...anyother ears listening and finding anymore?
James J. Allen I sort of hear He Ain't Give You None at the beginning
Big railroad blues
New minglewood blues
TLEO?
Iko iko
Jerry was...such a strange term to me. I think of him as alive. Weir, I know.
Awesome vid!.....alway going to be haters...lol.
which solo are you playing? is this piece taken from a specific Dead song?
Not a specific song - just something I made up in the style of.
100x better than John Mayer both in technique and tone. Thanks for the video!
Totally agree...john Mayer is no jerry
@@JamesJAllen-sx5vn
This dude is no Mayer or Jerry.
James J. Allen Mayer isnt trying to be and that is incredibly refreshing. Who wants to hear ppl trying to be jerry?
@@staggerlee4979 how do you remain so humble at your level of achievement?
@@jimdiskin3760
Oh your sarcasm really crushed me. 😝
he looks handsome with his beard and I'm not gay . just saying
Vaiaumoe Salu
Yes u are
if I was part of Billy's club56 I woud
lol - thanks man (must... shave...beard)
pretty
Try and only cherry pick this stuff. You never wanna full out copy someone because it keeps you further from finding your own style and voice.
that sexy beard.
oh dear lord
I thought this was Marty 😒
Marty Schwartz is lame doing jerry
He neglects to mention the fee for watching part 2. Kind of deceptive
no offense.. but this still sounda like duane allman instead of jerry... it seems u need to throw in some claw hammer too i think
Duane Allman? Didn't hear that at all. Interesting. I think of Duane's stuff as being mostly slide.
Active Melody It did kind of have a Duane vibe too it :)
Kelly Mcgrath You sure you aren't thinking of Dickey Betts? Only asking because he's right, Duane Allman is known almost exclusively for his slide playing. In my [humble] opinion, if you're going to compare this playing to the Allman Brothers, then Dickey Betts is a far more accurate comparison.
That being said, I don't quite understand the criticism, be it respectful or constructive, it just seems inaccurate. I think he's doing a great job at emulating Jerry.
OK... Everyone that thinks of Duane as mostly slide... You could not be more off. Duane was one of the most expressive lead players of all time. So much of the lead guitar in the Allman Brothers music is Duane. Most of Whippin' Post is Duane. A lot of You don't Love Me is Duane. The second lead in ELizabeth Reed(after the organ) is Duane. The first solo on Stormy Monday, which is, maybe, the most soulful, expressive blues you will ever hear is Duane. The first solo in Blue Sky is Duane. Duane was phenomenal on lead guitar. He was so much more than the best slide guitar player ever. I think you should all go back and listen to what Duane could do on LEAD!!!!!!
Sorry but as a life long Jerry fan, I didn't hear Jerry in any of that. Good playing though
keith rovere if you are a life long jerry fan and you don't hear at least 10 jerry signature licks how do you tune your guitar?...its so clear that Brian has a grip on Jerry's style
do re mi fa so and then
11th 3rd string xy fret xy string GTFO!!!!
what happenede to good old TONES?
hate tutors with silly hats!!!
Brian is a great teacher. Try and get past the hat hating and learn music instead.
Aw man, ripping on my hat? I love that hat!
raymond will never soar with the eagles. he's too weighed down w hate to ever take flight ... who knows. perhaps he has changed his ways ...
Too much yapping, not enough ripping and I didn't hear anything that sounded like Jerry or a Dead tune.
U dumb
i think stagger lee dies in the end anyway. seems he was a mean and nasty sob behind the facade of that bouncy tune.
@@jimdiskin3760
Ooh! You really got me there clever sarcasm guy. 😝