Ive been playing over 30 years, heavily into blues for most of that but about 5 years ago focused entirely on Garcia. Been a dead head since high school but only took to seriously studying his playing and trying to replicate fairly recently. Anyway I have found one of the most helpful things, for me anyway, has been to zero in on the noodling. The in between songs stuff, etc. Jerry had a very unique approach, one that I seriously struggled with but through many, many hours of practice have begun to get a pretty good handle on it. For all the players out there, you know how you have those "go-to" licks whenever you first pick up the guitar. Like the stuff that just comes very naturally to you when you begin playing? If you really pay attention to Jerry noodling between songs and all the little licks he was always playing (Jerry was always, always picking something) you find a common theme that for me has provided a very solid base for how Jerry approached his playing and has helped me immensely! And in keeping with this train of thought have taught myself all the little Jerry fillers from when Bobby was fussing with his rig, i.e. Tico Tico, Funiculi Funicula, Addams Family etc. Anyway just curious if any other players out there have taken this same approach and curious to anyone elses thoughts. thanks. MK
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