Fred Garvin

I have some music background. I played Alto Saxophone for 3 years in Jr High and 1 year of Baritone  Saxophone for a year. I can sight read treble clef but my skills are a bit rusty. I'm picking it up again rather quickly. I remember a fair bit of music theory so I understand intervals, chords, scales, modes and keys. I played bass in a blues band for many years. I never took any lessons and played by ear, self taught by listening to songs and lots of practice. These days I don't really have the energy (or desire) for late nights in smokey clubs, even if they're not as smokey as they used to be. At least I don't smell like sweat, cigarettes and scotch anymore.

I'm working my way through L&M with an eye to playing solid Rhythm Guitar. I really enjoy just strumming along and coloring in a song. I listen mainly (99.999%) to jam bands, live recordings. Grateful Dead, Phish, Umphry's McGee, Widespread Panic, String Cheese Incident, etc. I've got more Dead than anything else. I probably have 180+ shows in my collection so far, focusing on 72-74, 77-78 and some bits of 68-70.

Guitar wise, I really pay attention to Bob Weir and what he's doing, how he's interacting with Jerry and what he's laying down for him.