Grateful Dead Song Camp

Build your repertoire and technique by playing classic Grateful Dead songs in this online guitar workshop with Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers—founding editor of Acoustic Guitar magazine, leader of Dead to the Core, and author of a best-selling video series teaching acoustic arrangements of Dead songs.

Grateful Dead Song Camp 2026

January 13 to February 3
Four Tuesdays, 8–9 pm ET, on Zoom

Registration info

There’s no better—and more fun—way to improve as a guitarist than learning great songs. And there’s a goldmine of great songs to learn from in the Grateful Dead songbook, which spans the realms of rock, folk, blues, country, and more.

“Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers sure can play the music—listen to his ‘Stella Blue’ and you’ll know what I mean. Better still, he can teach it.”
—Dennis McNally, author, A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead

At Grateful Dead Song Camp, you’ll dig into one new song each week. Not only will you learn how to play the song, but we’ll explore different arranging options (chord voicings, picking styles, capo positions, alternate tunings) and talk about special features of the composition (chord progression, form, melody).

For each song, we’ll start with a simple, accessible arrangement and progress into ways to add depth and variety to the sound with embellishments, riffs, and solo breaks inspired by the Dead’s collective sound.

Lyric/chord charts and tab are provided for each song, and meeting videos are archived for later review or in case you aren’t able to attend the live session.

Lessons are designed for advanced beginners (familiar with basic open chords, able to accompany songs) and intermediates on up. Pick or fingerstyle players are welcome.

See below for more about song selections.

Questions? Email me.

About the teacher

*Performing with Garcia’s Wolf guitar in 2017.*

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers has combined his twin passions for words and music into a multifaceted career as a musician, author, and teacher. He is a grand prize winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, the founding editor of Acoustic Guitar magazine, and author of The Complete Singer-Songwriter, Beyond Strumming, and a Homespun video series teaching Grateful Dead songs for acoustic guitar.

Rodgers grew up playing the music of the Grateful Dead and leads the acoustic collective Dead to the Core. He interviewed both Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir in depth about their guitar and songwriting styles, and draws on insights from those conversations to capture the soul of these timeless songs.

Feedback on previous workshops

“Jeffrey has breathed new life into some of my favorite songs with his creative arrangements for solo acoustic guitar. I really enjoyed learning some new tricks in alternate tunings.”

—D. Brett

“Jeff’s love of music and creating single-guitar arrangements of songs comes through very clearly, and he explains things simply and concisely so anyone can follow along.”

—David Hodge, Guitar Noise (more)

Song selections

I have an extensive repertoire of Grateful Dead arrangements. Here are some favorites we might cover—all are songs I have not taught in previous camps. I want to know what you want to learn, so when you register, I’ll ask for your votes and suggestions.

As people register, I’ll update the camp playlist with the songs that have gotten the most votes on top.

Black Muddy River
Eyes of the World
Fire on the Mountain
Looks Like Rain (DADGAD)
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo
The Music Never Stopped
New Speedway Boogie (dropped D)
Ramble on Rose
Shakedown Street (dropped D)
Ship of Fools
Sugaree (dropped D)
Tennessee Jed
Truckin’
U.S. Blues
Uncle John’s Band

Registration

Grateful Dead Song Camp costs $95 for the four one-hour sessions plus complete charts and access to the replay recordings. Patreon members on active paid tiers save $10. Gift registrations are available—provide details when you register.

Many of the accompaniment techniques we’ll use are covered in depth in the books/videos Beyond Strumming and Dynamic Guitar. Order either or both along with your registration and get free shipping within the U.S.

Sign me up!