Grateful Dead Music Forum

I've noticed that many Jerry players do this chord using their pinky for the partial barre of the 2,3,4 stings instead of the ring finger. Other than "this is the way Jerry did it", are there any other advantages to doing it this way?

It's just a form to have your fingers positioned in for ease of leading to the next chord and the arpeggios on the way etc. Sometimes he would also use the first finger for the partial and put his 3rd finger on the A string two frets up. Another positioning for ease to the arpeggios and next chord as well as adding that note on the A string for some mids/fullness if he needed depending on the song.
Of course he had this freedom due to his awesome band mates!