The Steel Guitar Forum

Very nice retrospective on Jerry's playing, with complete (?) discography and cool rehearsal video from NRPS.

http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/bl ... eel-guitar

Love me some Garcia...thanks,Jim!

Say what you want...another one who bought us some time...

Jerry's the guy who got me started on pedal steel. Unfortunately, after nine years of boinking around on the thing, I'm still getting started. The strange thing is that playing the pedal steel has made my guitar and mandolin playing so much better...Go figure. My goal is to get, at least, as good a Jerry. Jerry may not have been technically the greatest steel player, but he always found "the song within the song".
And, Steve, I have always loved your playing with Mike Beck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xnuDW9qjmQ
Duncan

Cool. Thanks Jim.

Thanks,Duncan!I love Mike Beck's music...it is an honor to get to work with him anytime.

WAY WAY COOL!!!!!

WAY WAY COOL!!!!!

Mickey, you could just say "Way, Way, Way, Way Cool"

Very cool.
It's nice that the Jerry bashing seems to have cooled down here. I remember when many folks would really go to town putting him down, even on the memorial posts after he died. It's nice to see people lightening up and giving him the respect he deserves.

JG definately had an identifiable technique that I happen to like. The tone Jerry was drawing in the first clip posted was great tone in my opinion, if that means anything.
By the way, I learned the solo to "Teach Your Children' the first time I heard it on the radio. I must also include and say I learned Paul Franklin's solo on "It's So Nice to Be With You" by Gallery first time I heard it.
I was fortunate enough to have had a teacher/mentor (my dad) with an open mind and perception of a public accepted way of playing pedal steel guitar that was not limited to a single genre.
Obviously, Nashville chose my direction of genre and again, I was fortunate enough to have been influenced by the best recordings of the growth era by masters of the instrument, as well as having the good fortune of hanging out with them as a 10 year old child. Some 42 years later and I still apply what I soaked up back then.
Pedal steel guitar is still the most unique, mysterious, complex and beautiful instrument of all.
Steve Hinson, you are also a jewel with an open mind and you sounded great tonite on the Opry. So glad we're friends!

Some of those songs listed at 'No Depression' he's not the main focal point, but I would like to know the effects he's using.
BTW: I probably couldn't play a single lick of Garcia. I'm too new at this.
I would really like to be able to handle some of the the NRPS though.

Thanks for your friendship,Tommy...and your sense of humor...you are THE MAN.

I thought that clip was great,too...loved his tone...

wow, an endorsement of Jerry's playing by Tommy White!
That should tamp down some of the Jerry bashing around here.
I concur with what Tommy said.,,,
yeah, old Jerry wasn't a great steel player, but he knew it, and said so more than once. however, he did have a nice style, he did have a nice sound, and he used the steel playing ability he did have to great effect.
The guy was a bonafide great musician and played alongside the best, and made them sound good.. he wasn't a great banjo player either, but just listen to Old and in the Way.. Simply classic.
I will always love Jerry's steel sound.. Unlike many other much better players, his sound and style were instantly recognizable.. Made you smile too... bob

From the link Jim gave us at the beginning of this thread.. This quote sums it up perfectly!...

"Nashville pedal steel players consider Garcia’s playing mediocre. But sometimes, technical prowess doesn’t make for the best music. Jerry Garcia was an improviser. His playing was intuitive. He was truly one of a kind. He transcended this instrument and made listeners FEEL! He took us to new frontiers, and he still takes us on auditory adventures every time he plucks a note on this instrument he spun into gold."

I see a kid in the store playing guitar that can barely navigate a 1,4,5 but he does something I've never heard before because he has no preconceived idea of how he's heard it before. This is true creation of music. Having played for many years I always seem to fall back on traditional licks and progressions that cloud my mind when I should let it flow from the heart. It is a difficult thing to do. But I know it when I hear it. Sneaky Pete,Jerry Garcia,Buddy Cage,Rusty Young, John Call,Al Perkins,Bobby Black and others were not considered with the Nashville players but they had a lot to say. Love the Nashville players also.

He transcended this instrument and made listeners FEEL! He took us to new frontiers, and he still takes us on auditory adventures every time he plucks a note on this instrument he spun into gold."

I've often wondered were the steel would have gone had the early rock players been more accomplished. Suppose they played as well as Lloyd or Tom Brumley. Most were guitars players that took up steel.To each his own. But to me the above posted clips sounds like Jerry was trying to copy Lloyd Green and Tom Brumley, just name two. And just wasn't quite there.

He took us to new frontiers

Surely you don't mean musically? As in breaking new ground with his playing ability and knowledge of the instrument??

I know I'll get flamed for this. But ole Jerry sounded like a student to me.Sorry that's just my opinion. If you think he played better than Emmons. That's cool. That's your opinion and it counts as much as mine.

bb

Well, not that my post needs disecting but, my mention of Paul Franklin and Jerry Garcia in the same paragraph was to point out, I listened to every steel guitar performance I could when I was learning to play over 40 years ago. No matter who was doing the playing. I would suggest a beginning pedal steel enthusiast do the same for so many reasons.

Well said Tommy,

I think the same holds true for Robert Randolph who is such a monster in music today with the young generation.

Hopefully he will inspire a new crop of players to pick up the instrument and carry it on to the next level.

I have so many friends who still love Jerry after 30 plus years, he has been a real friend of the Steel Guitar and he has helped to bring it to a wider audience that may not have heard it otherwise.

Bobby Boggs wrote:I've often wondered were the steel would have gone had the early rock players been more accomplished. Suppose they played as well as Lloyd or Tom Brumley.

I would say that Garcia was the exception among the 'early rock players' in being quite new at the instrument by the time he started performing and recording on it. But the big movers and shakers in country rock were Lloyd Green, JayDee Maness, Rusty Young, Bobby Black, Buddy Cage, Red Rhodes, Neil Flanz. ALL MONSTERS, Bobby, ALL MONSTERS.

Point taken Tommy. I was just writing from the hip. Should have taken some time to digest before posting. No disrespect intended to anyone. It just caught me off guard at first reading. I'm used to hearing the names Emmons, Franklin, Weldon,Lloyd etc etc the same sentence.

I edited to hopefully help keep things on topic.

Jim you make a good point. I was young then. Just seems to me the records that sold the most. Or at least were played the most on main stream Pop Rock radio. Were with the less experienced guitar players turned steelers. Examples, Teach and Fire On the Mountain.

EDITED. To say. I apologize for my first post. Not because I'm not a fan of Jerry's steel playing. But my post drifted of topic.And is the kind of post that leads to even more topic drift. I would just edit it out. But I've already been quoted. The topic is not about country rock steelers in general. The thread is of course about Jerry Garcia.

Again. My sincere apologies.

bb

I still listen to Teach Your Children and marvel at how well Jerry plays, even though he's inexperienced. He definitely had an impact on me. I bought and started playing pedal steel, and discovered all the great players because of Jerry. I just flat love The Steel Guitar!!!!

Hey Jim, on the video of the NRPS rehearsal it looks like Jerry's playing an Emmons. I'd always associated him with the ZB Steel and the great tone on Teach Your Children. This one's not as bright sounding.........Thanks for the post....JH in Va.

thanks for the post,Jerry introduced the pedal steel guitar to me when I saw him with Dylan in 1987 and a couple other dead shows later. Garcia opened the door for me and only then was I able to slowly cross over and dig into country with those nashville cats. If it wasn't for Jerry,Ben Kieth,and David Lindley out here on the west coast then I might not even be playing steel today.

This inspired me to dig up this New Riders of the Purple Sage performance at the Fillmore East in New York City on April 28, 1971. Jerry Garcia plays pedal steel throughout.

Besides the rather weak vocals, it definitely displays Garcia's strengths and weaknesses on pedal steel.