Playing like Jerry Garcia is cool — but what about thinking like Jerry Garcia? In this video, you’ll get the 7 biggest lessons from Jerry Garcia about how to be creative, musical, and happy!
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Jerry Garcia was, without a doubt, one of the most influential guitarists in the 20th century. Countless guitarists have copied the way he plays, which is all fine and good. But what about copying the way Jerry thought about music?
On this episode of Acoustic Tuesday, I’m sharing with you the 7 takeaways from Jerry Garcia’s career. I’ll include interviews from the man himself, interviews from other musicians talking about Jerry Garcia, and some of his own off-camera thoughts and musings.
In addition to diving into the beautiful mind of Jerry Garcia, I want to share with you the incredible story of one guitar geek traveling the world with her guitar.
Last but not least, I’ve got a few YouTube series you definitely need to check out.
As always, you can catch Acoustic Tuesday at 10 am every Tuesday in these four places:
Keystone Palo Alto – Jerry Garcia Band- “My Funny Valentine”
Tony,
Listening to your piece about seven takeaways from the playing and career of Jerry Garcia, I was boldly reminded of how similar the 7 ideas were to the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey (1989). Covey talks about: 1. self-awareness and self-appreciation; (is that not about fun) 2. having the end in mind as an imaginative tool; (technique vs playing) 3. being courageous through will-power (break limits); 4. think successfully for all involved – (meditational growth); 5. listen first to understand, then act (be patient – play the long game); 6. communicate with friends to create synergy with others; (fan appreciation); 7. always take time to: Sharpen the saw – be a student. Each of Covey’s seven habits feels very close to the seven takeaways from Jerry Garcia. What do y’all think?
“Summertime” from the “Pizza Tapes” extended version
Jerry Garcia is 1 of my favorite 3 musicians. Paul McCartney & John Lennon are the other two. Just too many Jerry Quotes or Dead songs to pick Just one. But, 05-77 Barton Hall entire show is just tooooo GOOD. Jerry & the Dead at there very Best in my humble opinion.
Tony, if you like the sound of Church Street Blues, pick up a copy of the album ‘Folksinger’ by Muddy Waters. It’s the “livest” recording I’ve ever heard. You can almost smell the booze on Willie Dixon’s breath.
BTW, how do you like the ‘Hawks’ new goalie, Lankenin (sp?). Seems like a good one to me. Offense is much improved this year too, especially the power play (which has gone from awful to very good) with some young guys.
OK, OK, I know it’s not called Hat Trick Tuesday…
Great aspiring lessons from Jerry Garcia’s thoughts on music and playing. Very enjoyable Acoustic life episode. Too many choices
I’ll pick ” Easy Wind (Live at the Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY 2/21/1971)” on the 50th Anniversary Working Man’s Dead release.
Hey Tony. My favorite Jerry quote- “ there are no wrong notes.” He offered this when being challenged by a journalist after a so-so show. I found it incredibly liberating. Just go for it!
Eyes of the World. 5/7/77 Great message, snappy, and amazing licks.
https://youtu.be/IDcWCfvl5lI
You can find every live show, +2500+ on Archive.org
7/31/82 Scalet Begonias>Fire On The Mountain the transition is amazing
Seriously? A single choice? Can’t be done.
Here’s a good one: Candyman, 4/10/87 UIC Pavilion
Whole show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTtPMSbl5SQ
I will have to get back to you on a best song, I just checked and I have over 8000 tracks of Jerry with the Dead and others.
I do like the many riffs of Eyes of the World, (Emaj 7 vamp), and the Eleven- (11/8 time signature.)
People forget that the early attraction was Pigpen (Ron McKernan) who played harp, piano, and a little guitar as well, and really took command of the stage.
Do yourself a favor and check out some of Jerry’s tracks with others, Including The Pizza Tapes with Tony Rice and David Grisman ( as mentioned above).Old and in the Way,, Also Grateful Dawg, Been all around this world, and and So what? with Grisman ,The Jerry Gaarcia Band, Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band, Legion of Mary, New Riders of the Purple sage, Howard Wales, Merle Saunders, and even the earlier bluegrass stuff with Sleepy Hollow Hog Stompers, Hart Valley Drifters, The Wildwood Boys (jerry honing his banjo skills) , Thunder Mountain Tub Thumpers, Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions.
Jerry had the ability to take you directly to the three ring circus of life….He could be a lion and tiger act, a man launched out of a cannon, the high wire act, and the Ring master….Most of all , his playing brings in the clowns and is absolutely incredibly funny…Wow, he projected childhood on everyone…Love is powerful…
His bluegrass stuff….It took him back to a planet were all on the journey to reward…by the way, they never found that dudes body ! Remember OZ or Kansas that cat was the greatest….
Great wisdom from a great guitarist. Morning Dew always holds my attention.
1/27/86. Jerry Garcia / John Kahn ….Deep Elem Blues Some of the best acoustic guitar
Morning Dew- Barton Hall Cornell May 8 1977. “If we had any nerve at all, if we had any real balls as a society, or whatever you need, whatever quality you need, real character, we would make an effort to really address the wrongs in this society, righteously.” – Jerry Garcia
Howdy Tony and the TAC team. Thanks so much for your awesome material and vast and unique resources and insights:) How about an Acoustic Tuesday with a focus on Gram Parsons. I have been a long time fan of the Rolling Stones and Keith Richards and became intrigued about Gram via Keith Richards auto biography entitled “Life”. Thanks again and rock/geek on!
Strummingly yours, Edward Moore
Great episode! One of my favorite Jerry quotes is: “Formlessness and chaos lead to new forms. And new order. Closer to, probably, what the real order is. When you break down the old orders and the old forms and leave them broken and shattered, you suddenly find yourself a new space with new form and new order which are more like the way it is. More like the flow.”
As a long time deadhead & tape collector, I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite (or even a definitive list of favorites). But in the interest of saying something rather than nothing at all, a few that come to mind that are commercially available:
* Arabia on Jerry Garcia/David Grisman
* Dark Star (2/27/69) released on Live/Dead
* Truckin > Epilogue / Prelude > Morning Dew (5/26/72) edited release on Europe ’72 (or full segment on Europe ’72: The Complete Recordings Vol. 22)
* Jam > China Cat Sunflower > Mind Left Body Jam > I Know You Rider (6/26/74) released on Dick’s Picks Vol. 12
* Weather Report Suite > Jam > U.S. Blues (6/28/74) also released on Dick’s Picks Vol. 12
* Eyes of the World (10/19/74) or (3/29/90 with Branford Marsalis)
* Don’t Let Go (JGB 11/8/76) released on GarciaLive Vol. 7
I was at the LA Sports Arena shows that Branford played (he bailed on his Leno gig). Garcia and Weir also played with other jazz greats like Ornette Coleman and Johnny Johnson. Garcia tried to summon Coltraine in his musical meanderings. The thing about the Dead was that they took you waaaaay out there, but they always brought you back.
“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro” – Garcia