Acoustic Masterclass Series: David Cullen -- Grateful Guitar: Guitar TAB Book & CD

David Cullen's transcriptions capture the fingerstyle essence and improvisational spirit of these Grateful Dead classics without oversimplifying them. The included masterclass CD transforms this from a transcription book into a mentorship experience, with Cullen demonstrating exactly how to voice chords, navigate the tunings, and phrase each song idiomatically.

These ten songs shimmer with the unhurried, conversational quality of a master class held in a quiet room. Each arrangement breathes space into familiar melodies while honoring the harmonic sophistication and emotional restraint that define Grateful Dead musicianship.

Intermediate to advanced acoustic guitarists who want to expand beyond standard Grateful Dead covers into fingerstyle interpretations. This works well for players looking to deepen their understanding of how the Dead's arrangements evolved in unplugged contexts and for those developing their own arrangement and improvisation skills.

• Pay close attention to the alternate tunings Cullen uses on the CD; they're not arbitrary choices but essential to the voicings and resonance of each arrangement.
• Work through the masterclass before diving into the tab notation. Hearing Cullen articulate the approach to each song will accelerate your learning and help you internalize the phrasing and dynamics.
• Focus on the percussive elements and fingerstyle technique demonstrated on the recording; this book captures the notes but the CD teaches you the touch.
• Practice the arrangements slowly at first, bracketing out sections where transitions or chord changes feel awkward, then gradually increase tempo while maintaining clarity.

Use individual selections as recital repertoire at the intermediate to advanced level, or assign a full arrangement as a semester-long project for a serious private student. The masterclass structure also works as supplementary material in a guitar ensemble setting, where different players can tackle different songs and share what they've learned from Cullen's approach.

• Fingerstyle technique and right-hand independence
• Reading chord voicings in standard notation and tab simultaneously
• Navigating alternate guitar tunings
• Phrasing and dynamics in acoustic arrangements
• Learning arrangement and orchestration by studying a master's choices
• Transcription listening skills through the masterclass recordings