Ripple Explained - Grateful Dead

[drapesmatchrug]

i like his enthusiasm lol

[shorthopper88]

thanks

[roxtar10870]

How do you learn to play this song when Jerry probably never played it the same way twice?

[chewbac46]

@roxtar10870 ????? it's just the basic structure and techniques that jerry used during the song. take that structure, practice it, add your own style, and thats what its all about man. I'm sorry but your question is just a head scratcher, I mean really r u serious? TRY!! Just a little bit harder....

JDarks is the fuckin man, nobody comes close to producing the kind of Jerry Tabs he puts out there, and the videos are just icing on the cake, thank you sir thank you thank you

[roxtar10870]

@chewbac46 I have tried, and almost got it, but it seems like the song keeps changing every time I hear it.

[fensterchunster]

great

[zendishwasher2]

great work jd as always!

[Seishi41]

What is the 'different song' that he referred to at 2:50 when doing the D hammer on?

[RowdyRodimus]

Do you think 35 is too old to try to learn to play guitar? I've always wanted to but never had the time, now that I'm on disability I have the time, plus it might be good therapy for my hand (I'm on disability from a stroke that almost paralyzed my right side, but I can use my hand at about 75%)

[dennisbrd549]

@RowdyRodimus ........Its never to old to play guitar my friend, get yourself a guitar and enjoy it! whether your good or not, put your heart and soul into it and feel the music, its a beautiful thing.

[Seishi41]

@RowdyRodimus Go for it. I hope you enjoy playing guitar. It's good relaxation. You might notice that many of the best songs have simple chord patterns. How about mastering a couple then trying an open stage?

All the best and peace!

[greenroots]

@RowdyRodimus you're never too old to learn to play guitar. 

[daacrusher2001]

just got a Taylor...definitely gonna start working on this one...never really connected the chord shape and pentatonic in that way. Awesome new skill for me...thanks for posting this!

[MrPhotodoc]

U R DRUNK!

[hanso66]

good one....it i can already see how it will improve my playing in gereral.....it s good to be able to play pentatonic notes will playing chords ..specialy when your a one man band.....thanks for the post

[laurelfr1]

well, I happen to like this guy. whoever he is. And, I am trying to play it by ear on my keyboard and it seems to work well. This is an easy song to play....try it, I cant play guitar and I sure as he** a'int no expert on piano or keyboard, but I did make it work.

Who is this guy? I think I will ask him to be my friend...........yeah!!!!!!!

[donpedrossy]

great instruction,weel done.In memory of my friend Jerry.

And Yes,I,m a hippie.Still after all these years.

[Onbluewater]

Thank you for sharing the video.... I'll learn a song and be a little bit better guitar player...

[mccutty33]

jdarks you are the freakin man... so dang entertaining.... and helpful

[schnibsey]

This is great. Thanks for posting love the site too man, you should write a book bout your experiences way back when. Anyone tell you till now you look like Denis Hopper. Cool. Thanks again for taking your time to put this together.

[drobertson35]

hey man nice video, whats the penatonic scale you do in the begging with the hammer ons? or if you made it up can you give me a tab? its sweet

[nflarsen]

@drobertson35 its G maj pentatic or E minor; google box forms - their easy to remember b/c they look like basic chords in the root position. Notice that it looks like he's making a G chord

[rmeofiowa]

i thought you were doing an explination of the lyrics...........that speak to me a great song thanks

[sunshine0013]

fancy pants! =)

[jhb1232]

I've been taking guitar lessons for about a month and this is the first song I'm trying to learn. Hopefully, when I get it down it will sound like yours.

[CliffordBRASIL]

MUITO OBRIGADO (tank you) . No Brasil existem muitas pessoas que gostam de Grateful Dead. VIVA Jerry Garcia !!!!

[fedaykin21]

Sweet acoustic guitar sound.

[LydiaT1]

One word ...to a great song!.....AWESOME!!Thanks

[nocapper]

What a greta little lesson you have here. Good job and thanks.

[lilroofis]

this guy is the man

[retsofnalanosaj]

Haha, right on JDarks. Classic tune!! Thanks.

[bleedisaster]

Dude you fuckin rock! No offence man, but I appreciate older folks that are computer savvy, and especially former hippies who never sold out! I think I like you better than Nixie Pixel :-D

[zendishwasher2]

@bleedisaster never sold out and still paying the price! i wouldnt have it any other way. check out my stuff at zendishwasher1 and 2. have a great day.

[guilhermoso]

WOW!!! AMAZING!!! Nice job my friend!

[gordinhurox]

do you have tabs for this??

[WhitneyJiblet]

thank you♥

[OswaldvonWolkenstein]

wow -- chill out -- if you want to play guitar -- just play. All this stuff will be easy in time.

[volcom1551]

agreed...starting with the simple hammer-on/ pull-off stuff darks is talking about solid advice and can be alot of fun once you get it down

[shiftymerchant]

It's this kind of thing that makes me want to give up. OH it's so simple your fingers stay right here and only move inches, I consider myself to be insanely coordinated with my hands and arms, but not fingers, but then again I can't play guitar I suck out loud. Im only trying to waste my time.

[snapcult]

Fretting on a guitar involves a tendon that runs across the hand and chances are good you've never done any other activities that use this tendon, give it time...

[AsystemDown]

so, finger pussi more, and jerk off less..

sorry, i couldnt help that, but your new to guitar? respond and ill send you some of my own tabs owuld be better for begginers

[Tycho114]

Really, relax. Everybody who can now play was once where you are. Learning an instrument takes time, practice, patience and the willingness to forgive yourself for not getting it immediately.

Using a teacher helps too.

[whillop]

Don't feel bad , this guy fucks up ALOT !

[shiftymerchant]

Hey thanxs, I kind of gave up for a little while, im not done though I just don't think im quite there yet and I wanted to try to explore other things a little. I think I may be better suited for piano all I know is im sick of just being a great singer and rave type dancer and am trying to expand.

[TheFrozenLads]

It is a fact overlooked by many a guitar player that sucking out loud is a crime we are all guilty of in the beginning. There are no exceptions. We get better...if we keep playing.

[zendishwasher2]

@TheFrozenLads practise makes perfect. no matter the art. talent will only take you so far.

[rgandy23]

r u a dead head?

[Madgollumfan360]

Demonstrated, maybe. Explained? Bwahahahaha!

[aodessey]

its actually pretty easy to follow

[letitgrow11]

"so lets go" : )  indeed !!

[PageandPlant4Life]

thanks for the lesson. i consider myself a decent guitar player, but this would've taken me a while to figure out if it weren't for this.

[deadhead0567]

really great video! i was on your site looking at the tab, and it's not quite complete... do you think you could tab the rest of the intro?

[blablablaROCKIT]

hey man i really like your stuff and ya helped me out a bunch tryn to learn it

[folkrockm14]

jay this is the first vid i ever watched from you and you taught me how to play ripple.thanks man.keep the vids posted

[eagles131313]

great job on the teaching and i dont even have a guitar

[toryst478]

"Ooop, different song" lol that's priceless!

Excellent teacher!!

[attprepaid2000]

nice instructional video. good work

[shawboy12]

2:56 it starts

[bean45cc]

favorite Dead song, love it!

[jamminjed69]

I am avid dead fan and this is a great help for (me) a beginner guitarist thats been playing for years. I love your tape up the camera idea! Whoever said this guy sucks needs to go back to where they came from! My goal is to make it to terrapin station.

[stevedrumsspace]

this is a pretty easy song to play, if you cant figure it out from this, maybe you should try playing something else, good luck

[incongra]

I just put new strings on my guitar and I wanted to hear "Ripple" because it is a great song for tuning up. Thats how I found you, Mr. Darks. Thanks for posting this.

[bigfig1900]

Thanks for posting this. It helped out a lot.

[alligator1972]

how come i cant listen to any of the audio files that you have placed on the tab site

[BrockCole1967]

this video didnt help me at all. u suck at explaining dude.

[dp11issosweet]

basically if this video an audio track his tab page his OTHER ripple video and your ear arent enough, you suck at learning.

[flukedoos]

You suck at learning and appreciating JDarks good efforts. Truly, you can't be a Grateful Dead fan!

[stevedrumsspace]

this is a pretty easy song,if you cant pick it up from this, maybe you should try playing a different thing. maybe the drums ?

good luck

[TerrapinFlyer2]

i would love to have the voice and talent at guitar that jerry has..unfortunatly i was never old enough to see him live=[ but he is still an inspiration to me

[Mhikeal]

Are any of you even old enough to have seen Jerry perform live? Yes, Jerry had a unique style and to mimic it perfectly, you'd probably have to start by severing your middle finger on your right hand at the second knuckle. To sing like him, you need only drink battery acid. =P

[folkrockm14]

im sick of all of u bastards comparing people, i dont want everybody too be good, not everybody plays as good as blood,sweat,and tearsso stop comparing mother fuckers.this guy plays fair.

[jombus1]

SING

[tommytheboy14]

Great vid, BUT nobody is better than the MAN!

[Texasredfish5114]

5*s here nice job thankyou!!

[vallo3838]

This is true talent that you have.vallo3838

[hal9ksrc]

Jdark u r awesome . . . I wanna be like u to whn I grow up and I am 56. Sincerely, when you play, it makes me cry, because you actually show us the essence of the most wonderful "Ripple". You are actually better then JG. We all know this and I am sure that Mr. Garcia smiles warmly upon you. Thank you so much for giving us your skill. You are h elping me be a better player and a better person. I love you and I only know you thru your vids!

[sushifool]

better than JG? NO!

[a1b2c3d4f3g4h5]

its physically impossible to be better at playing someone elses song than the original artist isn't?

[helloduo]

i would disagree with that statement completely, that's like saying that nothing can be improved, because the original person made it the best it will ever be.

[a1b2c3d4f3g4h5]

no, since the orginal artst created the song he plays it the best, becuase he made it. If you were to do the song better, it would be your version not his.

[flukedoos]

You obviously have never heard Jerry play any cover songs by Bob Dylan, Motown,etc

[mrkrinkle699]

JDarks, Hey think you can show me how to play he's gone I have pretty much got it, but in the begining is it s modified E chord, or is it a funny strumming method? Please get back if you can thanks! HAPPY BIRTHDAY Jerry!!! He would have been 66!

[jxtully]

hey can u send me the tabs........of these song

[romber58]

I love your teaching style,you talk to the pupil like a pal and a fellow musician.I have some dvds where the guy uses splitscreen so you can see both strumming and picking at once.anyway good work and thanks for your efforts.sincerely.romber

[Gingerjake2]

Funny you would say that - I was about ready to ask him to come & live at my house. I'm *relearning* guitar & this is the first time I've watched an instructional vid & been able to follow it after only two times watching. JDarks isn't trying to be BETTER than Jerry - he's trying to show players how to enjoy playing his tunes! Period. I think he's perfect at that. Love the camera taped to the mic idea...players eye view of your fingers. =)

Thanx JDark!!!

[sdingeswho]

Outstanding, JDarks --- this is *very* clear and easy to understand! You teach very well, and I liked the extra "embroidery" you were doing on "Ripple" toward the end :-).

[Carpfingers]

Great work, Drkst'r! Ripple is "glass case" quality art, and you present it fittingly. As a flatpicked "popular" recording, Ripple may have no equal (..at least here in CA) For me, #2 may be Lowell George's 'Willin', off the first album (..Lowell on acoustic w/ Ry Cooder on slide, slippin' in behind him!) Two songs of pure essence! Thanks.

[romber58]

Thankyou JDarKs,very much appreciated.

[Jabberwockey71]

Good job ,sounds great.Keep em coming please.

Peace 2 U...

[townkneeboy]

I want to be like you when I grow up...an I'm 25!

[Webendowed]

Thanks, JD, I like the way you take some time to show the process....I just bought a 12 string electric/acoustic Washburn....not played in close to 15 years, but am getting back into it.. your vids as well as others on youtube, like fret killer, marcelo and Jack Hico are inspiration to me...Thank You and keep em' coming :)  Chris

[happyjack80]

do more lesson vids like this, that angle makes it so much easier, you just watch and learn, its so much easier that way

[Gingerjake2]

I already commented here before, but I agree with you. The players eye view of fingers & fretboard makes so much more sense for someone learning! I picked this up (sorta) after only two times watching. I can't say that about other teaching vids.

[wayabb]

Dude, you are the man!!!

[richstem99]

Thanks brother!!!!!!!!!

[ShudeBwerkin]

this guy rocks

[magicdog200]

great stuff, thanks

[BamKazam]

hey man , where did you learn all these songs?

[campergrrl]

wow, i don't even play, but i think after watchin' dennis maybe i'll pick up my old man's guitar and start...thanks!

[anastasio1218]

wow man, you are very tight! nice chops haha

[olmusiclover]

Aloha and Mahalo... Very new to Utube and I been spendin' four or more hours a day exploring the unbelievably rich pop and country music stuff available. My tastes are pretty wide ranging - most of my hunt has been for Merle Haggard and Emmylou Harris and Waylon Jennings and early Dire Straits and Pink Floyd etc. Haven't played anything since high school about 60 years ago - you make me want to go get a good axe before its too late...

[thesureshot12]

Hey man, thanks so much for taking the time out to make these videos... they're always on point!

[lausdomin]

Hey man, thank you for so selflessly showing/explaining this sweet picking.

Signed: a 75-yr old Head

[Wiggles2000]

not here to learn the song, but good job on the video. not my usual style of playing so i actually learned a bit just from watching this. i'm really interested in learning a bit of bluegrass style improv. and the dead are genius's in this field.

cheers

[skifan153]

RIP Jerry

[dazedANDtruckin]

thanks

good video

take care

[1thinsoul2]

The more dexterious among us will also recognize that as a poorly played pentatonic, and inaccurate instruction on Ripple.Close, but no cigar.....Not bad, not great, and good enough to enlighten.

Thanks for doing this tho.

[JDarks]

I think you meant "dexterous".  But thanks for the comment!

[1thinsoul2]

Ah geez man, my monitor is shot. BTW........Anyone ever tell you you remind them of Dennis Hopper?

[zoopenblop]

Holy crap! I thought the same thing!  Dennis Hopper rulez!

[1thinsoul2]

yeah he does............He's my fourth favorite hippy icon.

[bulbheadmyass]

Who are the first three?

[1thinsoul2]

Jerry, Jimmi & Janice.

Cool screen name..........Reminds me of mice elf.

Happy Thanksgiving.

:)

[darts02]

he is a combination of dennis hopper and eugene levy

[averill40]

this guys has been playin for a while.

[averill40]

your very lame man......

[Englandfb]

Thanks, how bout one for suger magnolia?

[mockturtle69420]

awsome thanks

[mbie202]

Man that camera angle was great.Huge help.Thanks alot.5*s.

[BeeBeeDill]

GReat JOB!!!!! I couldent really tell what string to play it was hard to see, IS there any way u could send me tabs? Well anything would help thanks!

[NymphOhh]

NARC!

[cjnoteboom]

gabor1225, why do you come to the site of a dead song and insult them. you need to find something better to do

[GaDeadhead72]

did i hear a DEAL in there....

[chriskarma]

thank you so very much sir!

[bigwnfan]

thanks.

what's a good reference for the "panatonic scale"? or is it "penatonic scale?"

[RGLJ]

hey, it's called the 'pentatonic' scale.

google it... you'll find enough!

cheers-ro

[warbly]

JDarks you are one cool mother scratcher. Thanks. I never in a million years could've figured out Ripple on my own.

[czgibson]

I love the way you do your videos! Really entertaining and informative, thank you.

[gratefulfest]

Dead Freaks...how are you?

[gratefulfest]

Beautiful

[butchdingo]

U R MY HERO

[pfeels]

Just what i was looking for, Thanks

[shaowbleak]

im not sure what that scale is. is there anyway you can tab it out?

[shaowbleak]

im not sure what the scale is. is there anyway you can tab it out?

[page141]

very generous of you sir, you are very kind

[locust73]

Thanks!

[downbeat420604]

nice

[downbeat420604]

if my words did glow

[monzaman86]

wow, i just played my first song on the guitar i just purchased. thanks jerry...

[danrapp]

I take exception to the thought that if you're not learning to play Ripple, then this video is tedious. I cant play a lick and I still enjoyed this very much!

[smn9ac]

No he said if you are not trying to learn ripple for the first time it will be tedious. This is a great lesson if you have never played it before. It is a great song to play along to.

[buyable]

Nice job, man.

[wertter905]

hey where can i get these tabs?

[djecak796]

Thanks Man Ill try to learn.

[jmtwg]

Excellent instruction and suggestions. I hope you decide to do more explanations. Thank you for this one.

[dp11issosweet]

haha "weve got a full studio.. so lets go"

[HEF77]

Bless your heart for the time you have given!

LONG LIVE THE DEAD!

HEF77

Woodstock, Ontario

[gpayton7890]

damn man, your a cool guy. great playing.

[stellian1972]

great lesson

[LDao]

It was very good, but has anyone told you that you look and sound just like Dennis Hopper?

[campbell166]

great stuff....thanks

[scottenrotten]

love the song

[burjazz]

Thanks D.

[freededude]

this helped me very much!! Thx for allways being there, man!!

[crashintodeez]

You're really helping me get better at the guitar man! Thanks alot!

[jeeakooma]

Nice work Dark, Jerry would be proud, and get a laugh! Keep the vid's coming, you have a (mostly) eager audience.

[mimpilagi]

yes this sucked

[JDarks]

Favorited 49 times. Over 3,00 views. I can't wait to do a good vid!

[dp11issosweet]

dark u r my idol, great personality cool interpretations of music, your the best...i cant believe this video sucked...mind boggling to me, btw..this is my favorite song first song i learned when i picked up the guitar, now ive mastered it with some of your ideas added....THANK YOU

[zdog636]

still working on it, thanks !

[dp11issosweet]

just wondering what you thought sucked about that so i can be sure not to emulate something that sucks so much it doesnt even deserve any explanation as to why it sucks

[evanader]

haha that sucked

[JDarks]

evanader, I can use all the help I can get. Send me your version!

[mimpilagi]

i`am scared you are right.

[rhye999]

cool