Grateful Dead

Grateful Dead lives in the middle ground — 27 moderate songs that balance intensity with control. 11 quiet anchors and 1 song where they let go completely.

The character of Grateful Dead

Across the 39 Grateful Dead songs we've measured, intensity averages 45/100 — right around the catalog average (46/100).

They run from Brokedown Palace (the calmest here, 12) to Playing in the Band (the most charged, 74), with layered textures most common and a mix of the expected and the surprising. It spans 1967–1993.

The widest dynamic swing belongs to Playing in the Band.

6.1

Avg Intensity

Songs Decoded

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The songs that hit hardest

Playing in the Band intense

layered texture · moderate changes · DR 9 · 1972

The controlled burn

Cold Rain and Snow moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1967

Morning Dew moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1967

China Cat Sunflower moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1969

Dark Star moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1969

St. Stephen moderate

layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7 · 1969

Casey Jones moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1970

Truckin' moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1970

Bertha moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1971

Me and My Uncle moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1971

Wharf Rat moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1971

Cassidy moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1972

I Know You Rider moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1972

Jack Straw moderate

layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7 · 1972

Mexicali Blues moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1972

Sugaree moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1972

Eyes of the World moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1973

Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleoo moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1973

Deal moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1974

Scarlet Begonias moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1974

Shakedown Street moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1974

Franklin's Tower moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1975

Estimated Prophet moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1977

Samson and Delilah moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1977

Terrapin Station moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1977

Fire on the Mountain moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1978

Alabama Getaway moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 7 · 1980

Loser moderate

layered texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1993

The quiet ones

Box of Rain safe

smooth texture · none changes · DR 4 · 1970

Brokedown Palace safe

smooth texture · none changes · DR 3 · 1970

Friend of the Devil safe

smooth texture · none changes · DR 4 · 1970

Ripple safe

smooth texture · none changes · DR 5 · 1970

Sugar Magnolia safe

smooth texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1970

Uncle John's Band safe

smooth texture · mild changes · DR 4 · 1970

He's Gone safe

smooth texture · mild changes · DR 4 · 1972

Crazy Fingers safe

smooth texture · none changes · DR 5 · 1975

Lost Sailor safe

layered texture · mild changes · DR 5 · 1979

Althea safe

smooth texture · none changes · DR 4 · 1980

Touch of Grey safe

smooth texture · mild changes · DR 6 · 1987

Frequently asked about Grateful Dead

Answered from our measurements of every song above.

What is the most intense Grateful Dead song?

Of the 39 Grateful Dead songs we've measured, “Playing in the Band” scores highest at 74/100 for intensity — computed from its dynamic range, texture, sudden changes and tempo.

What is the calmest Grateful Dead song?

“Brokedown Palace” measures gentlest at 12/100. It runs 75 BPM. The songs here span 12–74 on our 0–100 intensity scale.

How intense is Grateful Dead overall?

Grateful Dead averages 45/100 intensity across 39 measured songs — right at our 46/100 catalog average.

What is the average tempo of Grateful Dead?

The Grateful Dead songs we've measured average about 121 BPM — upbeat.

Which Grateful Dead songs are calm enough for background listening?

These measure in our gentlest band (steady level, no sudden shifts): “Brokedown Palace”, “Box of Rain”, “Althea”, “He's Gone”.

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