Why Learning Guitar Is Good for Your Brain
March 27, 2026
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Learning to play “Big Railroad Blues”? Still looking for that signature chug?
While acoustic blues heavily influenced early rock and roll’s fiery electric guitar solos, riffs also became more simplified and more improvised as we got into the mid-twentieth century. While you can track down tabs for pretty much any song from Willie Johnson to Albert King, we dug into one of our favorites to teach you how to keep it grooving — while leaving enough space to weave those magical solos in and out. “Big Railroad Blues.”
There’s something to be said about a song that can sound like an honest acoustic folk song while also slamming through your speakers with 8 guitar tracks at once. Learning to navigate that space with blur will help you with more than just nailing this song — like all practice and every challenge, it’ll sharpen your skills.
Let’s talk about what to pay attention to as you learn to perform this iconic Grateful Dead staple the way they would.
If you only know this song from the Grateful Dead, you’re not alone. But it was actually first written back in the early 1900s by harmonica player Noah Lewis. Lewis was part of a group called Cannon’s Jug Stompers that played in Memphis around the same time as the legendary Lonnie Johnson. The original rendition is a jug band song with lyrics telling the story of a broken-hearted traveler.
Fast forward many decades later, and you end up with the “Big Railroad Blues,” the Grateful Dead version. By filtering Noah’s song through folk, blues, and traditional old-time music, you get the blueprint for a perfect rock-and-roll song.
Jerry Garcia loved this style of old-time music, and he played bluegrass in his pre-Dead days. This knowledge of the style meant he could both honor the source material while still taking big swings at the song itself.
Don’t skimp on the low end here! And make sure you’re focusing on playing with a “shuffle” feel. This basically means triplets played as eighth notes — you should be playing the first of the two notes longer than the second.
If you’re comfortable with your rhythm foundation, try adding those fancy pants transitions! Intermediate learners can add some flavor by walking from the E major chord to the A Major chord. Instead of jumping to the open A string, play the 4th fret of the E string (G#), then move to the open A string.
Should you learn to play “Big Railroad Blues” with a teacher, or can you learn on your own?
Truth be told, until the last few decades, aspiring guitarists like Jerry Garcia only had two options: super slow-speed tape recorders or in-person teachers. Learning to play “Big Railroad Blues” with the exact same intricate finger motions as Jerry Garcia requires a fair amount of trial and error.
If you take lessons from a local teacher, they will be able to see your hands and point out nuances that you may be missing while you are attempting to transition from an A chord to an E chord. A private teacher can help you work on palm muting the strings in real-time. But it can be difficult to find the time to commit to regular lessons if you have an unpredictable schedule. Also, private lessons can be expensive.
Learning with online guitar lessons gives you access to tools that aspiring guitarists could only dream of 30 years ago. Not only can you pause and rewind as much as you want (no more slow-speed tape recorders!), but most online lessons will have some kind of search function when you’re looking for free guitar lessons.
A lot of players like to search for free online guitar lessons first to see if they like that teacher’s style. The best part about searching for free guitar lessons online is that you can learn whenever you want, whether that’s at 3 a.m. or during your lunch break. You can practice rolling into those chord transitions like a professional.
While we could spend all day breaking down the intricate details of how to play the “Big Railroad Blues” guitar solo, we’re going to save you some time. There are a lot of cliché guitar solos out there that sound like they were lifted from Top Gun. Jerry Garcia did things his way. One of the hallmark traits of Garcia’s playing was his use of both the major and minor blues scales while emphasizing the chord tones as the changes occurred.
If the change lands on an A chord, try hitting the C# (major 3rd ) harder.
If the change goes to the B7, try emphasizing the D# or the A (7th).
Garcia was also known for using chromatic notes to connect his positions. Try slipping from the flat 3rd to the Major 3rd on the G string.
Also, pick attack is everything. Garcia often used a very heavy pick and kept his amp settings relatively clean. This means he had to attack each note with precision and intention.
Remember:
It’s tempting to play as many notes as possible in the time you’re given. While soloing is about showcasing your skills, part of what makes this guitar solo so awesome is how much he plays with the rhythm. Try creating space in your phrasing and listening to what the rhythm guitars have to say.
Want help staying productive with your guitar practice? Contact The Shred Shed and learn how we can help you reach your goals!
If you made it this far, you’re clearly passionate about learning how to play “Big Railroad Blues.” Here at The Shed Shed we specialize in helping advanced and intermediate guitar players learn how to play not just the cool riffs, but epic guitar solos. With Shred Shed’s online guitar lessons, you get access to the same high-end content you would pay a small fortune for in a physical studio in the comfort of your own home. Looking for free interactive online guitar lessons? We got you covered. Explore our site and subscribe to become the best guitarist you’ve always wanted to be.
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