Truckin'
Grateful Dead, 1970, from American Beauty. Solo by Jerry Garcia.
Truckin' is one of the Grateful Dead's best-known songs, and Jerry Garcia's lead gives it a loose, conversational feel. His solo is built from quick, rolling phrases that weave around the chord changes, drawing on country and blues vocabulary rather than heavy rock. His tone is clean and clear, with just enough bite to cut through the band. The song's closing section, a descending riff the band repeats and builds on, became a launching pad for long improvisations in concert. It is a good introduction to how Garcia thought melodically, rarely playing the same thing twice. Listen for how his lines interlock with Bob Weir's rhythm guitar, the two parts leaving space for each other rather than competing.
Truckin' by Grateful Dead is ranked #174 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Jerry Garcia and the song was released in 1970. It appears on 4 lists, placing as high as #78 (Bombay Lives (Substack)).
In our lists
- The 25 Greatest Jam Band Guitar Solos — #19
- Most Divisive — #15
- The Best Grateful Dead Guitar Solos — #15
Sources
- Bombay Lives (Substack): 100 Greatest Guitar Solos — #78
- Topito (now 10h26.com): Top 100 des plus grands solos de guitare de l'histoire (Benoit Floyd) — #78
- Guitar Tricks: 200 Best Guitar Solos of All Time — #135
- Digital Dream Door: 250 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos — #215
Who played the guitar solo on Truckin'?
Jerry Garcia played the solo on Grateful Dead's Truckin' (1970).
What guitar was used on the Truckin' solo?
A gibson sg, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does Truckin' rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#174 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 4 of them.