Grateful Dead Music Forum

I very much agree with strummin about learning from the studio version. Whether you like it or not (I like it), it is executed in the way it was intended. The Dead sometimes seemed to be hacking through that part of the tune when they played it live. There are times when the Dead changed up parts of tunes as they got used to playing it live, but it's always good to get the structure of the tune together before you start messing with it.

Tennessee Jedi wrote:I dont have Wake of the Flood

Yeah that is a good idea S6
I can borrow it

Psst, here's some math for ya:
TJ + acoustic guitar + http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au2GcNgolRg = PERFECT RJ

Well I'm glad to hear most everyone is challenged by this tune (Row Jimmy) and it's not only me...

This is a tune that everyone in the band needs to be crystal clear on how to play the instrumental verses. I think that is why it is easy to get screwed up. We'll need to spend some time rehearsing it before playing it live again. Not one you can pull out of the hat after years of not playing it (at least not for me).

strumminsix wrote: Try this
A 234 12
G 234
D 2
A 234

In my mind (without guitar in hand or listening to the song) this is how I belive the solo goes:
A / / (FYI - this equals 6 beats)
G / D /
A
Bm A G
D / / (then the stacatto turn around ADDAD - 4 beats)

mijknahs wrote:

strumminsix wrote: Try this
A 234 12
G 234
D 2
A 234

In my mind (without guitar in hand or listening to the song) this is how I belive the solo goes:
A / / (FYI - this equals 6 beats)
G / D /
A
Bm A G
D / / (then the stacatto turn around ADDAD - 4 beats)

Listen to the studio. That's a short D and longer A.

strumminsix wrote:

mijknahs wrote:

strumminsix wrote: Try this
A 234 12
G 234
D 2
A 234

In my mind (without guitar in hand or listening to the song) this is how I belive the solo goes:
A / / (FYI - this equals 6 beats)
G / D /
A
Bm A G
D / / (then the stacatto turn around ADDAD - 4 beats)

Listen to the studio. That's a short D and longer A.

I've "grown up" listening to the 80's versions of that tune and I definitely hear the short "D" and longer "A" during the verse but during the solo it's less apparent. Almost like they don't play anything between the "D" and "A" or do a longer "D" and shorter "A".

http://ia700400.us.archive.org/30/items ... 06_vbr.mp3

Not a big deal really since this is not the part that gets messed up usually. It's finding the "1" again after the 5 "D"s at the end of the second part that is tough.

Tennessee Jedi wrote:

Grateful Dad wrote: A for both beats in measure four.
Bm for the first beat in measure five, A for the second beat in measure five.
G for the first beat in measure six, D for the second beat in measure six.
D for both measures seven and eight, repeat.

Pay close attention to the rythym at the end of measure six going into measures seven and eight. This is where people seem to get hung up with the counting, don't rush it...let the "two time roll".

Yeah thats where I get out of time !

During the solo there's an extra beat or two on A at the end of the normal progression. It's odd and kind of awkward but that's how they did it. Although, they also had a hard time keeping that together. Jerry hit it every time but everybody else would have a hard time with it.

myoung6923 wrote:

Tennessee Jedi wrote:

Grateful Dad wrote: A for both beats in measure four.
Bm for the first beat in measure five, A for the second beat in measure five.
G for the first beat in measure six, D for the second beat in measure six.
D for both measures seven and eight, repeat.

Pay close attention to the rythym at the end of measure six going into measures seven and eight. This is where people seem to get hung up with the counting, don't rush it...let the "two time roll".

Yeah thats where I get out of time !

During the solo there's an extra beat or two on A at the end of the normal progression. It's odd and kind of awkward but that's how they did it. Although, they also had a hard time keeping that together. Jerry hit it every time but everybody else would have a hard time with it.

It goes Bm A G then 10 beats on the D then to the A and the vocals come in. where are you hearing extra A?

I know live Jerry gave a pause and hung on the A for a couple beats... Is that what you are talking about?

I just checked out two good Row Jimmy versions and the July 4, 1989 Buffalo solo is same as studio version:

A A A A - A A G G
G G D D - A A A A
Bm Bm A A - G G D D
D D D D - D D D D (repeat)

The hitch is the rythym for the seventh and eighth measures of the D chord.

I put the accents in bold:

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

Grateful Dad wrote:I just checked out two good Row Jimmy versions and the July 4, 1989 Buffalo solo is same as studio version:

A A A A - A A G G
G G D D - A A A A
Bm Bm A A - G G D D
D D D D - D D D D

Yes! And you can clearly hear Phil keep the first Ds short!
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1989-0 ... 771.flac16

I have to give a lot of credit to Bobby for being the master of rockin' the slow tunes over the past few years. I remember a lot of people complaining that Rat Dog would play things soooo slooow, but Bobby was just really milking those tunes to get them to just shine musically. Even during the furthur winter tour 2010 - maybe in Bethlehem at lehigh univ. - they kicked into a Tom thumb blues encore and Bobby motioned to Jk to slow it down a bit - Like play less man - let those chords just sustain for a while - some really beautiful stuff

Perhaps check out some of the interpretations Bobby laid down with rat dog - even furthur rockin' the slowness - or pretty much any show from 1976 for some reason - which may have to do more w the preferred downer during that time

If you dont have a metronome get one and practice with it. It may seem boring at first but you can find lots of creative ways to use it. I usually set mine so that its clicking on the 2 and 4, I think that has really helped my sense of timing.

Also, tempo is really a group effort. Everyone needs to be aware of not rushing, not dragging etc..but most of all you need a bass player that is good at staying on top of the tempo, and a drummer that is able to do the same. If you don't have either of those two you may as well forget about it.

As far as Row Jimmy goes, it is hands down my favorite dead song, for some reason though it is the one song out of their repertoire that gives me the most problems.

glocke12 wrote:If you dont have a metronome get one and practice with it. It may seem boring at first but you can find lots of creative ways to use it. I usually set mine so that its clicking on the 2 and 4, I think that has really helped my sense of timing.

I tried it a few times but I could never find a metronome that kept good time and didn't skip beats . . . it must be the metronome 'cause it can't be me

j/k - If you don't like playing to a click make a little drum loop to play with - I use loops in Logic and they're great practice

Ok - tried it for the 1st time @ Sundays' Jam
Dont think I'm gonna be posting THAT one

Pretty good for us though ( well until I started with the slide solo's )
Took us a couple of pass's to find a " common way to go " but was very fun