Grateful Dead Music Forum

Has anyone figured out the riff Bob does in the intro/first verse?


This isn't on the album version or some 70's live versions (where they go right into the A-G-E progession) but it's definitely there by 1980 (see Dead Set) and later.


Thanks

Maybe this is what your looking for jhc, maybe not. This is off the top of my head. They started playing this with the first verse being entirely over E at some point, maybe the time frame you're alluding to. Then to B for "My number one occupation...". Then to the normal A, G... progression.

Bobby's intro goes something like this:

---E----------------------D--E
E-------------------------------
B-----------8-------------------
G--9-9p-7-----9---9p-7----7--9--
D---------9------------9--7--9--
A-------------------------------
E-------------------------------

You can play it on th 10th and 12th frets also but I prefer it here.

While we're at it here's my take on Jerry's lick:

Kinda follows the lyric melody.

--E
E-----------------------------------------
B------------8----------------------------
G----7-9-9-7---9---9p-7---7-7--9----------
D--9--------------------9--------9p-7>5---
A-----------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------

He would then bridge back up to the beginning with another lick that often varied quite a bit.

All this is E blues pentatonic.

Hope this helps.
Bill

Billbbill wrote:Maybe this is what your looking for jhc, maybe not. This is off the top of my head. They started playing this with the first verse being entirely over E at some point, maybe the time frame you're alluding to. Then to B for "My number one occupation...". Then to the normal A, G... progression.

Bobby's intro goes something like this:

---E----------------------D--E
E-------------------------------
B-----------8-------------------
G--9-9p-7-----9---9p-7----7--9--
D---------9------------9--7--9--
A-------------------------------
E-------------------------------

You can play it on th 10th and 12th frets also but I prefer it here.

While we're at here's my take on Jerry's lick:

Kinda follows the lyric melody.

--E
E-----------------------------------------
B------------8----------------------------
G----7-9-9-7---9---9p-7---7-7--9----------
D--9--------------------9--------9p-7>5---
A-----------------------------------------
E-----------------------------------------

He would then bridge back up to the beginning with another lick that often varied quite a bit.

All this is E blues pentatonic.

Hope this helps.
Bill

Fantastic! That's exactly what I was talking about. Do you use a slide for any part of it?

Bobby uses a slide on his lead and various other spots. If my recollection serves me, he'll use slide on the chord part of the intro and pick out the notes.

I don't play much slide. I haven't dabled very often. Little red rooster and a few others. One of these days.

I was just checking out this thread and wanted to state that this is how I do Bob's intro. I don't believe I've ever seen Bob play that lick up that high on the fretboard.


E|-------------------------------
B|-------------------------------
G|--------------------------7/9--
D|--0h1--2--2p1-----2/4--2--7/9--
A|---------------3---------------
E|-------------------------------

Hey Dozin,
What I tabbed above was from my head. I haven't watched Bob, video or otherwise, for position on this nor have I ever really sat down with this via audio. So I'll certainly defer to you on that.

But I can't seem to get your tab to 'sound' right. Did you post correctly?

Specifically the 2p1 on the D and the 3 on the A got me confused.

To my ear the 2p1 should maybe be 2p0? and the 3 should be a 2?

Confirm if I'm thoroughly lost or you got a typo, please.

my mistake the 3 should of been a 2, oops.
and yes you can do the 2p0


E|-------------------------------
B|-------------------------------
G|--------------------------7/9--
D|--0h1--2--2p1-----2/4--2--7/9--
A|---------------2---------------
E|-------------------------------

I just did what I should have from the get go. Um, listened to it.

I still got it slightly diff than you but my initial post is most certainly an octave high.

I still can't vouch for position though I bet you're right.

E|-------------------------------
B|-------------------------------
G|---------0-----7-9--
D|--2po0-----2---7-9--
A|-------2-----------------------
E|-------------------------------

I learned it this way from a show. But it's not the usual one he does. It's close and he's done it from time to time but I think the others posted are likely his more common into...
The most notable thing is the G in mine (and Billbill's) vs. C# in Dozin's.

I've now listened to a few versions and cannot figure out which is which. From all I can tell the version where they start out on an A chord he definitely hits a G but version where they start out on an E chord I hear it both ways.

Maybe it's my ears...

Well I guess that's the final word. How can you debate bob intro's with the guy with the Bobby Avatar? ;->

Your's happens to be pretty close to Ed's in the tab section btw. For some reason I hadn't even checked there until today.

Billbbill wrote:Well I guess that's the final word. How can you debate bob intro's with the guy with the Bobby Avatar? ;->

Hahaha - well put!

Bill,

Your tab up there is right on.

I think Bobby also drops this riff before it at the top of the beat.

1 and a
E|-------------
B|-------------
G|-------------
D|----- 0h2-----
A|-------------
E|--0----------

and gosh darnit fingerpick it!

I love going back to these post asking myself wath is that!? That's not how I play it lol

but this is

E|-------------------------------
B|--------------------------------3/5
G|--------------------------------2/4
D|--0h2--2--2p0-----2/4--2---------
A|----------------2---------------
E|-0------------------------------


I don't even know what that is that I tab out on that first post