Uncle John's Band

by Grateful Dead
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Lyrics

Well, the (G)first days are the hard est days; don’t you (C)wor ry an y (G)more.

’Cause when (Gsus)life (G)looks like Eas y Street, there is (C)dan ger at your (G)door.

(Am)Think this through with me;

(C)Let me know your mind.

(C)Whoa, oh, what (D)I want to know

is are you (G)kind?

me?

It’s a (G)buck danc er’s choice hard my friend; bet ter (C)take ry my a (G)dvice.

’Cause You (Gsus)know (G)all the rules by now and the (C)fire ger from the (G)ice.

(Am)Will you come with me?

(C)Won’t you come with me?

(C)Whoa, oh, what (D)I want to know:

will you come (G)with me?

It’s a

God damn, well, I de clare,

(Am)have you (G)seen (Am)the (D)like?

Their (C)walls are built of can non balls; their (G)mot to is: “Don’t tread on me.”

(G)Come hear Un cle John’s (C)Band (Am)play ing (G)to the (D)tide.

(C)Come with me or go a lone, he’s (G)come to (D)take his (C)chil dren (D6)home.

It’s the same sto ry the crow told me, it’s the (C)on ly one he (G)knows.

Like the morn ing a sun you come and I (C)like the wind you (G)go.

(Am)Ain’t no time to hate,

(C)bare ly time to wait.

(C)Whoa, oh, what (D)I (G)want to know:

where (D)does the (G)time go?

the I live in a sil ver mine and I (C)call it Beg gar’s (G)Tomb.

I the got me a vi o lin and I (C)beg you call the (G)tune.

(Am)An y bod y’s choice,

(C)I can hear your voice.

(C)Whoa, oh, what (D)I (G)want to know:

how (D)does the (G)song go?

(G)Come Come hear Un cle John’s (C)Band (Am)by the (G)riv er (D)side.

(C)Got on some things to talk a bout he’s (G)here be (D)side the (C)ris ing (D6)tide.

(G)Come Come hear Un cle John’s (C)Band (Am)play ing (G)to the (D)tide.

(C)Come on a long or go a lone, he’s (G)come to (D)take his (C)chil ing (D6)tide.

dren home.

(C)Whoa, oh, what I want to know:

how does the (G)song go?

Come hear Un cle John’s (C)Band (Am)by the (G)riv (C5)er (D)side.

(C)Got some things to talk a bout

(C)here be side the ris ing tide.

Come hear Un cle John’s Band (Am)play ing (G)to (C5)the (D)tide.

(C)Come on a long or go a lone, he’s (G)come to (D)take his (C)chil dren (D)home.

Da da da da da da,

Da da da da da da,

da da da da da (Dsus2)da.

Uncle John's Band — Falling Notes Piano Tutorial

2 people have learned this song

Watch "Uncle John's Band" by Grateful Dead in falling notes style — like Synthesia. Color-coded notes fall onto the keyboard in real time. Practice left hand, right hand, or both. Key of G, 112 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “Uncle John's Band

Can I learn "Uncle John's Band" with falling notes like Synthesia?
Yes — Falling Notes mode shows colored note shapes dropping onto a virtual keyboard, the same visual style as Synthesia or piano-tile games. Each note's column matches the piano key you press. Works for "Uncle John's Band" with hands-separate practice in G at 112 BPM.
What key is "Uncle John's Band" by Grateful Dead played in?
Uncle John's Band is arranged in the key of G on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Uncle John's Band"?
The arrangement plays at 112 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Uncle John's Band" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "Uncle John's Band"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Uncle John's Band"?
"Uncle John's Band" was originally performed by Grateful Dead. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Uncle John's Band"?
This arrangement uses 10 chords: Am, C, Cpow, D, D6, Dm7, Dsus2, Em, +2 more.
What other songs by Grateful Dead can I play here?
Try "THE MUSIC NEVER STOPPED", "SUGAR MAGNOLIA", "BOX OF RAIN". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can I practice left and right hand separately for "Uncle John's Band"?
Yes! Our Top Down mode lets you isolate the left hand (bass clef), right hand (treble clef), or play both together. This makes it easy to master "Uncle John's Band" one hand at a time before combining them.
What is falling notes style for "Uncle John's Band"?
Falling notes (also known as Synthesia or piano waterfall) shows color-coded rectangles falling from the top of the screen onto a virtual keyboard. Each note's position matches the piano key you need to press. "Uncle John's Band" is in the key of G at 112 BPM.

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