TOP 10 JERRY GARCIA GUITAR LICKS OF ALL TIME

[@JeffWilliamsGuitar]

What are some of YOUR favorite Jerry Garcia guitar licks or solos?

[@joeshafer6806]

11/11/73 second post chorus solo on eyes

[@thejamnasium6447]

every solo on Reckoning. any Cats Under the Stars solo. most of his work on any given Eyes of the World. any Gomorrah solo. haha yeah I can't really just pick a single one. like you said, Jerry's not a "lick" player. he's a master of phrasing, feel, melody, flow, etc. The best ever!

[@thejamnasium6447]

oh also Big River from One From the Vault.

[@sinane.y]

Every note he played between 72-74

[@Timlin937]

First two bars of the Mr. Charlie solo, Duesseldorf 72

[@martinspencer366]

What makes Jerrys playing so uplifting and mesmerising is his powerful sense of melody. One of the very greatest guitarists, wish he was still with us.

[@VixCrush]

Great stuff.... There is a great riff at the end of He's Gone at the Springfield Creamery 8/27/72.

[@DeadZeppelin822]

10/25/79 New Haven Connecticut in the estimated prophet jam around the 9:00 mark just before they go into Eyes, Jerry starts to play notes out of key. It sounds kinda off at first and It creates this really grotesque sounding moment as they change time signature and settle into key for Eyes of the world. Always blows my mind. Also 11/20/78 Cleveland music hall Playin in the Band into shakedown Street. The way Jerry sounds the shakedown alarm, collects the other band members, and sets the stage for shakedown at the very end of the PITB jam is one of my all time favorite moments

[@VixCrush]

10/16/79 Springfield, MA is a good 79 show.... Miracle>shakedown transition is nuts...

[@finetuning417]

I love studying BB'S BOX, but I wish some one would make a video on some of the boxes Jerry spent most of his time. Please create one!

[@bedroomheadroom8680]

Go to stich method and learn to follow the tonal center of the chord changes

[@deweypug]

This is great, I've seen so many of your videos, so thanks! I think many of Garcia's riffs are so creative - but Weir with Garcia really wove a tapestry of sound that will not soon be duplicated.

[@dedhippi]

thanks Jeff. there are a few Jerry moments that come to my mind (you'll know 'em when you hear 'em). NFA 2.14.70 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZnLkHqLnsd2btU from 4:20-4:40 Dancing in the Streets 5.22.77 kzbin.info/www/bejne/epa7lq14fcl9b5Y from 8:10-9:00 Hard to Handle 4.29.71 kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5CTnHqpqN-jpdU from 7:40-8:00 The Other One 5.2.70 kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooClaotseqqYrNE from 10:50-13:00 I could go on and on...

[@tubularbill]

Love the channel!

[@kendrickjim23]

Jerry’s best licks are riffs. But his best solos are beyond licks. I, personally, think Jerry was at his best when playing with the vocal melody. Which is not very jam bandy. I love that you included the ‘91 JGB I Shall be Released. The part you highlighted is great but the build around the melody throughout all the solos is what makes it great. Same with the Senor from the same release or the Peggy-O from WVA 1978. His ability to transcend simple blues-esque riffs is what made him great. He, ironically, was labeled as a noodler but I don’t think you could find a more melody-conscious player.

[@Gypsyboy932]

Thanks. Jerry was a gift from God.

[@sisutoska4910]

I agree except for the god part. Jerry was the best!

[@markbaum9615]

ummmmm...Jerry was God

[@nataliezementbeisser1492]

We all are..

[@sethmoniz915]

Solid list vid Jeff hope the algorithm picks this up for yah.

[@evanhaddad1960]

You've got great taste, Jeff. Really admire your work.

[@joeprod1]

Great list. I was hoping to hear the Bertha lick starting at “I had to move” or the intro to Brown Eyed Women, a couple of my favorites.

[@michaelshearer3559]

I shall be Released lick is priceless, thanks so much for sharing! Great work

[@scottenglert4083]

Cool list Jeff - I really dig your signature lick series - I've learned a lot from those ! I'm sort of a serial beginner but the few flashes I get where I think "that sounded kinda like Jerry !" are when I do chromatic pull-offs - they really are such a signature of his sound... Favorite solo (too long to be a riff or lick I'd say) - doesn't get much attention I don't think, but main solo from Throwin' Stones is amazing to me... I don't have any live versions that stand out in particular but the studio version is just all over the place and seems like it's over 3 or 4 different times but just ends up going into a different phrase each time - it's nearly an instrumental song of its own... I love it.

[@samkirby3775]

Jerry can make me cry and so can you. Great job!

[@JeffWilliamsGuitar]

Thanks so much!

[@ricky4214]

i wonder if Jerry knew about this crazy legacy he left behind. I don't think he could have known because you have to give it up for youtube for being out there where all of this content of his can be compiled and we have access to and its an absolute blessing, and all the communities like this one can be created....every once in a while it crosses my mind what a gift youtube is because otherwise all this content and communities would not have a home

[@dedhippi]

I think Jerry said at some point that and Im paraphrasing... "once we play it... it's yours..."

[@MrFie27]

Mission in the Rain..JGB..9/3/89 Jerry lulls you to sleep in the first part and then builds the tension and lets it rip.

[@Michaeloftheland]

Man I love your videos dude. So happy I found you.

[@lloydabrams5241]

Tiger Rose, from the robert Hunter record, super melodic

[@johnnelson8612]

Friend of the Devil from the Dead Set record (Radio City Music Hall 1980) really does it for me. It was the first time I heard the slow-tempo version of the song and the whole solo, how it starts out very mellow and builds to a beautiful crescendo…WOW!

[@jonibottari9467]

I agree. I think his solo on the slow versions of FOTD are the shit. It definitely separates the boys from the men, or the girls from the women. It’s masterful.

[@persiphonehellecat]

I was there 7th row right in front of Jerry. Halloween night. Dressed as a gypsy. It was our pre-wedding night. Save Jerry's Kids!

[@Jeff-S]

Most unbelievable lick. Brown eyed women 03-10-81 MSG at (59:36-59:40) to hear it in context (59:29-59:50) but the whole solo is amazing. Being released now for pre-order 07/22 w/ much better sound. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qp_am5SJn81_psU @Jeff Williams Guitar, you used another lick in this video from the same show. I was there and had a copy on cassette shortly after. One of the best.

[@jeffwilson6297]

I'm pretty sure Jerry used a Mutron envelope filter on Fire on the Mountain and Estimated Prophet instead of an auto-wah.

[@streetvan1997]

We need tabs! Or I do. I’m a 25 year amateur who just picks a guitar up for fun every few days. I absolutely love when Jerry plays those fast rocking chords like in the Sugaree from DP3. But trying to figure out what chord patterns are being used on the upper strings is tough for me. Even to learn that trick Jerry did would be great for me. Course i would love to be able to play lead even this well as shown in the video. But clips are very short. I never see people posting videos of an entire solo lead section Jerry did because really it’s just so tough.

[@waynegram8907]

JEFF WILLIAMS, in the late 70s Jerry Garcia Band live concerts you should listen to a lot of them because Garcia does a technique which note sure of the name of it because he will either END the phrase on the chord tone 3rd or b7th or 6ths which the next following chord the 3rd becomes the b7th of the next following chord and the previous b7th chord tone becomes the 3rd of the next following chord or the 6th chord tone of the previous chord becomes the 5th chord tone of the next following chord. I'm not sure what this technique is called but Garcia does this very often which is a jazz voicing leading technique but it creates this push pull effect. Try making a YT lesson about how Garcia does this because its a major part of his playing.

[@connordios1105]

that a rosewood fretboard you got on your strat? thats my tonewood of choice for fingerboards also- (also play a fender strat) havent tried ebony though

[@NealMiskinMusic]

When I think of Garcia licks I think of Saint Stephen and Birdsong. More like melodic hooks than licks I suppose, but Garcia was a melodic player so that's what really stands out for me.

[@jordanrobinson8030]

Great video, Jeff. I have an interesting request I wanted to share. Could you make a video on Jerry's playing for "Space"? I'm interested in learning about what scales/patterns he uses, especially the really weird and scary sounding stuff. Is the band even using a key or is it all random? Thank you :)

[@thejamnasium6447]

that Sugaree from Dick's Picks 3 is my favorite Sugaree ever

[@douglasennis7291]

Lick after Phil's bass solo at start of Eyes Madison Wisconsin 73'

[@VixCrush]

The Here Comes Sunshine in that show is stellar also.. In fact that is just a great show all around..

[@athuronyi]

I maintain that the most-recognizable and most-heard Jerry Garcia riff is not a guitar riff, and does not even appear within a Grateful Dead or JGB song. Have you guessed yet? I’m talking about the steel guitar part on ‘Teach Your Children’.

[@mr.k905]

The most recognizable Jerry lick (not riff!) is this single notes chromatic stuff he kept doing.

[@jacksonbauer5199]

For the most part I am okay with the list. I’m shocked The Eleven didn’t make it though… I just turned 47, my Dad is a lifelong DeadHead and I still have fond memories of listening to bootlegs instead of nursery rhymes. I saw the Dead for the first time in 1985, two nights in Hampton which I remember so clearly because I got to miss school for a couple days. I think it was like mid to late march (I was 10 so cut me some slack) and then again the next month closer to home in Philadelphia (my dad was an English professor at Penn and even had an entire semester devoted to Hunter/Garcia/Weir/Etc. lyrics). It kind became our thing for the next decade (my mom was an attorney and absolutely despised the Dead and their music LMFAO), we saw like 10-12 shows a year together until ‘95. I couldn’t make it back home for the 2nd East coast of 1995 and that was that. I am just so fucking happy that there are people far younger than me who get what this is about and are willing to spread the gospel and keep it alive in perpetuity. I apologize for the lengthy comment, this one hit me.

[@BCBlue]

West L.A. Fadeaway is just so good. Sugaree is still my favorite.

[@jrkoosh]

Peggy O from 5-5-77 New haven. Very vocal

[@TCshore1]

Great im an old timer I loved going to JGB shows , smaller venues 100% Jerry ( Sorry Bob)

[@fox0357]

Would've been great if you could've had tab to teach us the lick

[@I-apologize-in-advance]

Deep Elem from Oregon St Pen

[@VixCrush]

Good choice.

[@glennwiltsee7405]

I've specified that Sugaree 5/22/77 will be the background music of my funeral

[@caseylm100]

Peggy o solo from Vegas 1994 is brilliant. Not a lick but just a well played solol

[@Rogwatford]

The start of Turn On The Bright Lights.

[@williamwelshjr.7704]

Such a great album…👍And the 2nd one Antics as well…

[@StarDarkAshes]

You can’t really even narrow Gary’s lines down to 💯 licks/riffs. There are so many.

[@RandomVelocity]

I think he used an envelope filter for that wah like sound.

[@VixCrush]

He had a Mutron pedal...

[@StarDarkAshes]

Who is Gary Garcia?

[@oliverchapman51177]

to tell sweet lies

[@oliverchapman51177]

It’s the entire neck

[@A.R.00]

A bit perplexed by the choices… but whatever.

[@NicholasVarchenko]

Dude first off, you can cut out 98% of the talking that you're doing in between licks. Nobody gives a shit, they just want to hear the instrumentals. Then, if you really wanna hear the best Jerry licks of all time, check out the original line-up of the JGB from July-Dec. 1975! There has never been a greater pairing of musicians in Garcia's career than the pairing of himself with pianist, Nicky Hopkins. They were so un-fucking-believable together. They ate off each other musically like no one else before or since.. The musical conversations between Garcia and Hopkins in the second half of 1975 contain the greatest Jerry Garcia guitar work that's out there!! Check it out for yourself!!!

[@nataliezementbeisser1492]

Best? In order to know the best you need to hear every single concert he played. We are talking about over 4000 shows with JGB and Grateful Dead, so...?

[@detourmore470]

🤦‍♂️

[@nataliezementbeisser1492]

@@detourmore470 it is a joke. Sorry

[@notsure1135]

I don’t get this band at all. It must be a yank thing. I prefer Jefferson Airplane.

[@tommyseibel7902]

For me he is a overrated pentatonic Hippie, nothing special

[@nathanielbrewster7238]

Could you do one of these for trey

[@JeffWilliamsGuitar]

That's a great idea