I may be the olny one who ever asked for this!

James Davis · Post by **James Davis** » 10 Jul 2005 5:21 pm

I was hopeing for some help on a song I really love.It is a song written by Jerry Garcia called The Wheel.It is on his solo recording titled Garcia.There is so much pedal steel working on that recording.But I am still to new to the P.S.G.So if someone has heard of it or may even could listen to it, to tell what he is doing to get me started I would be in their debt.You may remember his P.S.G. playing on the 70's song of Crosby,Stills Nash's,song Teach Your Children.I have learned the tab for that song from this site's links.thanks

Steve Hitsman · Post by **Steve Hitsman** » 10 Jul 2005 5:38 pm

James,

There's some of us here who dig Garcia but I think we all admit he wasn't much of a steel player. If you mess with it a little you'll probably be able to figure it out for yourself.

James Davis · Post by **James Davis** » 11 Jul 2005 7:25 am

I do like to listen to and see Jerry play slide on guitar too.Is there any way to get a copy of these old albums in book form?

Pete Burak · Post by **Pete Burak** » 11 Jul 2005 7:46 am

James, Great tune!... and a good one to get used to playing steel to.
Jerry is basically playing some simple A and B pedal stuff.
I think the song is in G, in which case you could go to the 10th fret, and with the B pedal held down, pluck the 4th string E, followed quickly by plucking the 5th string and rocking onto the A pedal while the string rings. He will hit the 1st string and repeat that first lick sometimes too.
With A and B down at the 10th fret, hit the 4th string, then hit the 5th string and release the A pedal while it rings, and complete the lick by hitting strings 6, 7, 6, or 6, 8, 6 (or just hit string 6 and rock off and on the B pedal).
There are some nice 12 fret slides, too. The song starts with a slide from the 10th fret with A and B down, to the 3rd fret open (try it with strings 3, 4, 5, or 4, 5, 6).
Towards the end, he rocks on and off of the A and B pedals at the open G chord at the 15th fret, then slides back to G (with A and B down) at the 12th fret.
This is basically a 3 chord song (G, F, and C). The quick F/C/G change (near the end of each verse) can be played with F=A+F levers at the 4th fret, C=A+B pedals at the 3rd fret, G=open at the 3rd fret (this can be done 12 frets higher, also).
I think if you try some of this stuff while playing along, you will find this song to be a great intro to E9th A+B pedal mashing, at a nice tempo.
Making a chord chart for the song, and associating pedal/lever positions with the chords, would be a great help. Let me know if you need help with that.
Hope this helps,

Pete B.
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Pete Burak on 11 July 2005 at 02:50 PM.]</p></FONT>

Joy Wofford · Post by **Joy Wofford** » 11 Jul 2005 8:00 am

Hi. You might find this interesting....or this other one...good luck
http://www.insomni.net/jerryecard-sep/
http://www.bluemountain.ws/bookinfo.htm

Steve Geis · Post by **Steve Geis** » 11 Jul 2005 9:05 am

Good job, Pete! Your approach/explanation is much like the way I sometimes explain. Sort of like, "...here's a road map,...now go hunt a little bit & you'll find it!" Not that there is anything wrong with TAB; just that sometimes if you can get pointed in the right direction, finding the way/lick on your own becomes more ingraved on your memory. Especailly for the newer guys! So KUDOS to you Pete! This will probably learn more from your explanation than 30 tabs. Regards, Steve

James Davis · Post by **James Davis** » 11 Jul 2005 10:44 am

Thanks Pete!I will try what your suggesting.when I first got this sho bud.I was hearing Jerry's steel playing in my musicsl mind. You know teach your children.I am a G.D.fan and have been able to switch over most all of the chord I know on my guitar over to P.S.G.I realize a new way to get around on the two necks well now.I am really trying hard to put the triads together for the chords I know on guitar to P.S.G.If I could make a chart of the relationship between these two inst's.How the open G looks on both necks at once.Guitar and P.S.G.At this point I can grab most any of the books I have collected.And play chords to any of the arrangements there in them.Only been playing about two years now.any and all help is welcome

John Lockney · Post by **John Lockney** » 13 Jul 2005 8:49 am

I'm pretty sure the Wheel is in "C" but the suggestions about A&B pedal look good.

That first solo album has been re-issued on CD with three additional versions of the Wheel.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0007OQ6RK/qid=1121272655/sr=2-2/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_2/002-8228717-2876847

"Study for the Wheel" is just banging around on 6-string, "alternate take 2" is just banging around on piano, but "alternate take 1" has a single pedal steel track and might give you some ideas to work with. The regular album verison may be hard to transcribe or figure out partly because it sounds like multiple tracks in (glorious) stereo.

James Davis · Post by **James Davis** » 13 Jul 2005 9:53 am

My ears are well tuned to a six string.but listining to two P.S.G's at the same time is a wonderous sound.Hard for me to seperate the two tracks.but I know this songs there for me to take apart and learn.who else is a Garcia fan among us?I do have the recent CD.of the Wheel.I have gone through all the tabs on Ricky and Jeff's clips and tabs.and here so many ways to get around on the P.S.G.I learn a new lick everyday.They do the best job there.Where? if any, do other tab site for P.S.G. out there on the net?I am still hungry for more knowlege.I will never stop learning all things pedal steel.thanks for the info! James.

Craig Villalon · Post by **Craig Villalon** » 22 Jul 2005 8:21 am

I too am a Dead fan, in fact the Workingmans Dead album and American Beauty are some of my favorites and they certainly influenced my desire to learn the steel. Yes, despite the inane debates about Jerry's skill on the steel he was more of a guitar player but he helped spread the steel into the rock scene. The band i am in currently plays Franklins Tower, Deal and we do a killer version of Brokedown Palace. We have gotten requests to do The Wheel so will probably introduce it into our songlist soon. As suggested, getting to know the basic progression as you know isnt overwhelming and then fill in as you see fit...i dont think you have to learn any of this dead stuff note per note but the breakdown offered to you in these postings should be most helpful...As a dead fan you know they Never play anything the same note for note...so dont get too hung up on that just put yourself into it once you get the changes down. The version i have used specifically for the steel is from the internet...Guitar Tab Universe>Grateful Dead>The Wheel 1. The other Dead songs i pulled from their songbooks. Good Luck!!