What you need to do is work on phrasing, meaning how you're going to blend the notes you play together.

You can make your lick go
Tada tada tada
or tadatadatada
or TADAtadaTADA
Etc... With the SAME rythm and note, just changing articulation (or phrasing)

Legato was used extensively by Jerry GARCIA, meaning you don't pick every note you play. You achieve a more fluid sound thanks to this technique...