Opening chord

[shakedown_04092]

I used to know it ...can anyone help me out?

Is it a F7(#9)?

Somthin' like that....

[shakedown_04092]

Nope, nevermind...it's just a G7. I was just fingering it wrong.

[Crazy 9.5 Fingers]

I don't have a copy of the tune near me, but I am thinking since the song is a blues in G that the seriously intense altered chord at the top of the tune is built off the V chord or D if you will. Try a D7#9#11, sounds about right to me. Here is an attempt at posting the chord.

E---6-----
B---6-----
G---5-----
D---4-----
A---5-----
E----------

[tigerstrat]

I don't have a copy of the tune near me, but I am thinking since the song is a blues in G that the seriously intense altered chord at the top of the tune is built off the V chord or D if you will. Try a D7#9#11, sounds about right to me. Here is an attempt at posting the chord.

E---6-----
B---6-----
G---5-----
D---4-----
A---5-----
E----------

I always thought it was a D sharp-nine, a la "Purple Haze", etc.; I'll have to check out the sharp-eleven.

[ronster]

I vote for a G7 and don't forget to bend the crap out of it. Try using a C7 shape moved way up the neck (- 10 9 10 8 -). So what is a G7 hold the crap?

[strumminsix]

I don't have a copy of the tune near me, but I am thinking since the song is a blues in G that the seriously intense altered chord at the top of the tune is built off the V chord or D if you will. Try a D7#9#11, sounds about right to me. Here is an attempt at posting the chord.

E---6-----
B---6-----
G---5-----
D---4-----
A---5-----
E----------

I always thought it was a D sharp-nine, a la "Purple Haze", etc.; I'll have to check out the sharp-eleven.

Both sound right to me. I checked this against the version on my hard drive:
DP08
DP22
Fallout from Phil Zone
Grateful Dead (album)
Grateful Dead (album - live track)
Birth of the Dead

Can't tell which was right. Considering 3 midrange instrument come in at the same time I wouldn't be surprised if both were present by at least 1. But the "Hendrix chord" sounds more right to my ears and the one I use.

[ronster]

I agree, when you bend (sharpen) the strings on the G7 chord you get more or less the same sound as the funky D7+ chord that crazy9.5 posted

[zoooombiex]

Hmmm, I thought it was a polychord. I'll need to go listen to it again...

[Cmnaround]

This is yet another example of why it would be great if Phil would be kind enough to write a music theory book for us - explaining exact what is played - and more importantly - why - how it all ties together from a theory perspective. There is clearly something unique going on theory wise with the Dead's music and having Phil explain it would be a nice gift to us all.

[Octal]

This is yet another example of why it would be great if Phil would be kind enough to write a music theory book for us - explaining exact what is played - and more importantly - why - how it all ties together from a theory perspective. There is clearly something unique going on theory wise with the Dead's music and having Phil explain it would be a nice gift to us all.

I would read the whole thing nonstop without breaks for bathroom, eating, or sleeping.