Grateful Dead Music Forum

strummin'
do you play around in the chords at all, like little half-tone slides, hammers, etc?

I hear Bobby doin some interesting stuff, and I was hoping to get some more ideas.

For example, when I play the Emaj7, barred on the 4th fret, I hammer on and pull off the E on the b-string (basically making it an E chord). Then when playing the B (barred on the 7th), I throw in a Bsus4 every now and then and maybe a B6 before the transition back to the Emaj7. I think the B6 makes a nice transition back to the Emaj7 because it's esentially the same chord in a different position.

Yes, I do play slides and some hammers but few.
Nice call on the B6 I use an A6 during the intro jam!

During this tune I try to stay really tight on the beat.
Too often the band can fall apart here and the tune
can either slow down or lose the beat here so I play it safe.

I'm loving the bobby thread!

Here's how I saw Bertha go down at Hardly strictly (w/ the waybacks)

(/) Slide Up () Slide Down (h) Hammer On (p) Pull Off (b) Bend (r) Release (v) Vibrato

E|-----------------------------------
B|--8---8---8---8---8-----8----------
G|--7---7---9---7---7-----9----------
D|--9---9---10--9---9-----10---------
A|--10--10------10--10----x----------
E|------------------------8----------

CHORUS
E|----------------------------------------
B|--8---9---10--10--------8---8-----10----
G|--9---10--11--9---------7---9-----11----
D|--10--11--12--10--------9---10----12--
A|--------------0--------10--------------
E|---------------------------------------

E|--------------------5----------
B|--8---8---10--8-----5--8---8---
G|--9---7---11--9-----5--9---7---
D|--10--9---12--10----7--10--9---
A|--x---10-------------------10--
E|--8----------------------------
back to verse http://www.guitartabcreator.com]

My first try on tabcreator, so I hope you guys understand what i'm doing, add the rhythm and slides and etc where you deem necessary.

FOTM is one of the most exciting songs to play if you can really get inside of it and if the rhythm section is really gelling and dynamic. Sometimes, it's songs with lots of cool chord changes and structural complexities that are what bores me. I of course speak mostly from the JG perspective of things but I've definitely played epic versions of Fire as 2nd gun and never been bored.

thats an interesting point tigerstrat....some songs with many changes and chords can sometimes be less interesting - less musical room to maneuver and find grooves possibly? hmmm.... anyways, I dont see how you guys are calling fire on the mountain a boring song... are you kidding me? Fire is a song I never lose focus during..... I guess its all a matter of personal taste however

I'm really enjoying this topic. I love Bob's style and I actually tend to focus on his playing more than anyone else!!

There's a Dick's Pick, 24 I'm almost certain, that has some of the best "Bobby" I've heard. US Blues, BTW, Weather Report come to mind right away. I'd love to figure out what the hell Bobby's doin on that US Blues. Anyone out there heard it and have any helpful hints? Thanks!!

In US blues when they goto the D Bobby walks up to it like B>C#>D

I would kill to find out what the heck bob's playing on some of the early 70's He's Gones.He's playing some voicings that I can't figure out.

Shooster wrote:I would kill to find out what the heck bob's playing on some of the early 70's He's Gones.He's playing some voicings that I can't figure out.

Here's a riff I use with He's Gone

When playing those chords in the tab above, do you strum all 6 strings or just the top 4? I can never get those to sound good...don't know what I'm screwing up.

I just recently picked up the self titled Kingfish album on vinyl. There is this song on that album called "hypmotize". Don't believe Bobby penned this one, but the rythem guitar he plays on it is absolutly kick ass. Somewhat in the tradition of Eyes, but a great song nonetheless. The entire album is good, with some in your face guitar playing by Bobby.