What ANY GUITARIST Can Learn From Phil Lesh
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- Опубліковано 4 гру 2022
- Check out what we can learn from the Grateful Dead's bassist, Phil Lesh and how we can apply it to our own guitar playing.
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👉 Dissecting The Dead: Learn your favorite Grateful Dead songs inside & out!
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The fact that Phil didn't play bass until Jerry asked him to shows just how talented he is.
Right?!? Its crazy how thats the beginning of his bass career.
Jerry: phil play this bass.
Phil: idk how
Jerry: youll figure it out i know you can
Also the fact that Jerry knew that Phil would be an incredible bassist also shows his musical intuition!
I love how Phil describes tapping into the "music that is always there..." Like the song says: "the music plays the band."
I love that. Phil says dark star is always out there we just need to tap into it
The Pride of Cucamonga
Phil and the double drums are what gave the Dead all their toe-tapping goodness. You can't help but bop your head when you hear them. He's very tuneful and Motown/Jamerson-esque, as well.
Put on a dead song and the same dance starts creeping out of me. Any bad day and a good bouncy Scarlet fire or playing gets me moving again.
I barely hear Phil at all.
My favorite years are 72-74 probably so nah , the two drummers worked but not allways
One of the most unique, melodic and distinct bass players who's ever been. A giant of a bass player who is tragically underrated on the instrument IMHO. And for all his melodic and harmonic abilities, when he was asked to keep a pocket he could lock it in.
I think you don’t know what “underrated” means.
@@clash1469 uh, I think I do know what underrated means...and I think I know that Phil is.
@@KhalDrogo76 Okay. Good times. Webster's dictionary is available online, just FYI.
Funny I feel the opposite that Phil is one of the most boring uninspiring bass players around as I never hear him.
When I was a new dead head, I could tell Phil was the secret ingredient. Awesome.
I’ve played bass since high school, back in the 70’s wasn’t a Dead fan so I missed out on Phil Lesh. About a year ago I was flipping through channels on satellite and heard this amazing bass work on a jam from the Dead. After that day, I’ve been listening to the Dead and really appreciate Phil’s approach. Yeah, Phil Lesh is the real deal and I really wish I’d have clued myself into his work earlier!
Great video, loved the level visual!
It’s never too late to get on the bus
"Put your ego aside. But that doesn't mean you have to put your individualism aside."
Thank you for this. So many people talk about "serving the song." But what they really seem to mean is "play something boring and predictable." Admittedly, it's a hard balance to serve the song while also playing something unique. But defaulting to something safe simply because you can't come up with something that's both good and interesting isn't mature playing, it's lazy.
At the same time, everyone knows how boring it is to listen to someone showing off. It's all about finding that ideal middle ground. And I agree with Phil Lesh that that's best achieved when you lose yourself in the music.
bass grate. Lesh Philling.
😂😂😂
Phil is so singilar in his playing. His playing is a big reason why for years I live in the Phil Zone.
it's funny because, as with a lot of bass players, his playing on many of their jams doesn't neccisarily stand out and hit you the way drums, vocals or a gutiar solo does on a first listen - but when you really start to listen to the music you can tell some of the incredible stuff he's doing that gives the song incredible layers, structure, backbone and groove. I've always loved the bass because in most bands its the most unsung part but it's truly a beautifully complex art.
Phil is a masterclass, even just the audio. I’ve learned so much about playing bass in a comfortable manner trying to mimic his style. He truly is one of the most underrated.
Big fan of your videos. I've learned a lot in the short time I've been watching them. Thanks for letting Phil sing. He's a wise man. Please keep doing what you do. All the best, brother.
it’s always a pleasure to get your perspectives and tips on these old friends of ours
What a nice, authentic video. Gratitude. Love u, Phil. Let it pass through...
thanks for posting. Fantastic insight fro Phil, and great advise from you.
Doing the lords work conveying and sharing these concepts. This should be required watch for all bands. Great video Jeff!
Longtime Grateful Dead fan here, and bass player, which I pursued after hearing and feeling Phil play live many times. I had the bass position in a band that covered most of the GD catalog in Seattle for several years. So this video caught my attention. This is very insightful, you shined much light from a great angle, with great comments from both Phil and yourself. I am in full agreement!
Great video. I’m a guitar player turned bassist for a Grateful Dead tribute band and I’ve tried to incorporate as much of Phil’s style as I can mimic but hearing some of these bass lines isolated is really enlightening.
All musicians should watch this video... the things Lesh says are extremely powerful and the comments form you/Jeff reinforce it... I have saved this video to my DRUMMING playlist... Exellent work Jeff & mega wisdom from Phil Lesh !
Phil Lesh is an absolute musical genius.
If you hone in on Phil's playing when listening to the Dead's live recordings, you can clearly hear that without him tying together the Rhythm, melody and harmony so perfectly, they would sound like a quite ordinary band. His playing elevates everything. Jerry would always play inside and around him, in such a way that makes it clear he was always listening very closely to what Phil was doing.
Phil 'er up!
Props, man - you’ve done your level best!
Awesome brother, great video,
Loved your perspective
Brilliant video great attention to details jeff you've helped me so much along my journey much love
Thanks, glad it was helpful
Good analysis! 👍
Thanks for showing us a real physical level to represent balance. I don't think I would've grasped the concept without it.
Glad it was helpful.
Great video!
Lesh is just the greatest. In fact, to paraphrase "He's not the best at what he does, he's the ONLY one who does what he does". I think the only guy on par with him is Jack Casady, though totally different in sound and approach. Of course, there is Jaco, but like Phil, he stands alone in his uniqueness and greatness.
And the lyrics! Robert Hunter. What a combo!
I love this series
just wanted to chime in to say the you backing tracks alone, are quite inspiring to jam along with. Itsjustv your random loop of crap. Dynamics, ebbs and flows original enough to really make it your own, with personality. just so good. I tell every one
I was lucky enough to see the dead close to 20 times. I saw dead & co 3 times and Phil & friends once. I gotta say the dead vibe was more prevalent just with Phil's bass alone than with the other 3 members in dead & co.
Agreed, Phil seems to carry it forward best.
Legend!!!!
Brilliant! The best explanation of the intangible mystery that is the beauty of music that connects with the listener. PS. Helps that is comes from this listener’s opinion that the Dead were the best of the best (and Phil probably it’s most articulate spokesman).
Most kind!
Phil has this cool ability to drop huge bombs all while just blending into the group. The embodiment really is the fact that you barely notice he's there unless he really wants you to. He's just walking the groove
It's like something Clapton said about liking to just settle back by the drummer, and just blend in. The interviewer interjected, " . . instead of being the guitar hero," to which an almost perplexed Eric replied, "That IS being a guitar hero."
I have to struggle to even hear Phil.
that's the beauty of the bass guitar in rock n roll. you don't necessarily notice it until you notice it and realize it's what gives the song layers and groove.
@@randysavage7392 Bands like Rush and Yes you really notice the bass. I am wondering if The Dead even have set bass lines or Phil just plays whatever every time.
@@Acujeremy good point, but even in those bands id argue the bass isn’t close to the standout part of the band. When I think rush the first thing I think is drums, with Yes it’s the keyboard. But you’re right, you can play the bass and make it stand out. Hell, royal blood is just a bass player and a drummer and it sounds better than 90% of modern rock bands
The Dead have so many unique time signatures and rhythm patterns. When I was out at gigs and jams, it was all about listening and timing..
When everyone is locked in as one...that's when the magic happens. I saw the Dead about 20 times... great video 🎶🎵
very cool. any idea where to watch this full Phil Lesh interview? cheers!
I completely connect with Phil's "phil"osophy , and even though I am not a big Dead fan, even growing up in Marin. I played violin, trumpet, guitar, and then bass in the high school jazz band at Terra Linda HS, and saw them in 1989 at the Shoreline 2 weeks before Brent OD'd. Alembic is the bass, and the tone is up to you as the player...
I have a prototype Modulus bass that is one of two... the other is owned by Phil Lesh... I need to bust that out more!
Phil can play using techniques that were almost never employed with the dead. Saw a new years run where bela fleck & the flecktones opened, and Viktor wooten was doing all sorts of flashy slapping. At one point in a dead song Phil proceeded to slap a run, shrug his shoulders a bit, and go back to providing exactly what was needed to complete the music being woven by the band.
Playing for the music vs playing for your ego
@@gratefulila9980 thats what made the dead work. they may have fallen into many of the sterotypical pitfalls of fame, but lack of ego and playing with each other is what made them endure. The massive amount of LSD they took probably helped with that.
Wooten doesn't slap to be flashy. He's one of the most melodic bassists ever. I love Phil, but he's no Wooten.
@@JohnSmith-xd4zd Correction: Wooten is no Lesh. If you want to talk soul AND technique, there is only one: Jaco. But that's the point: both Jaco and Phil did what no one else did...they were the pioneers. Still are. Always will be.
Nice
Thanks for the basketball example.. I absolutely love music and absolutely love basketball. I take “ball is life” very seriously and apply those principles to almost everything 😂
Jerry said many times that Phil wouldn’t play what Jerry wanted. Then Jerry would say that Phil was playing into the groove of the music and the people and the atmosphere, or rather into the “Phil Zone.” “Boy did it work out man” Jerry would say.
I saw Phil once live and was immediately convinced that he is one of the best bass players I will have ever witnessed live. Might have been the summer of 2006 in Illinois at some festival.
BEST BASS PLAYER IN HISTORY. IF PEOPLE HAD AN EAR THEY WOULD KNOW>
It was a toss up for me between Phil, Jack Casady, Jack Bruce, Entwistle and Berry Oakley (rock idiom. Yep, Berry Oakley). After much hemming and hawing, uh, uh, Phil.
I like how during the franklins track he leaves space every other snare hit rather than just adding a note
From the title I thought this was going to be a lesson in drinking Heineken. Lol
I've made some guitar/bass/drums backing tracks of Dead songs, and since I'm not really a bass player I usually just wing it with the bass part rather than figuring out exactly what Phil played. I just emphasize the root and toss in a third, fifth or an octave here and there. The result is functional at best - not terrible, but totally unlike the Dead. Of course my tone is nothing like Phil's, but the way he plays - his note choices - make him so unique and difficult to imitate. Even when I determine exactly which notes he is playing and then play those notes it doesn't sound very close.
Kuminga with the Trae!
My favorite thing about Phil is that he’s not in a band with John Mayor
What recording of "Fire On The Mountain" is that playing at the end please?
It actually wasn't The Dead at all... just a clip from one of my backing tracks: ua-cam.com/video/65utuszrMV4/v-deo.html
@3:39 - No words, just listen...
Great video. Love to hear from Phil. But the basketball clip should have been the Celtics.
I know I should've, I'm a Celtics fan too.
"Help on the Way" is a song he stands out in.
Music never stops too :)
The Phil Zone!!!
I learned to watch my liver from Phil.
GS have been at times the GD of the NBA for sure ✌
I'm a Celtics fan so it's hard for me to admit it, but yeah, GS has definitely been a special team in recent years!
@@JeffWilliamsGuitar ha my vision is getting so bad I thought that was a clip of the warriors . Time for glasses ...Great videos by the way ✌
No it was GS. I'm from Boston so it was hard for me not to put a Celtics clip, but had to go the bay area! But also to drill the 'team mentality' that GS recently has had. I've never seen a team pass so much and so well!
@@JeffWilliamsGuitar I remember a 2008 team that knew how to play . They were phenomenal! Rando with the Celtics was my favorite player to watch at any point , there was just something about the way he facilitated those great players . Man that was my favorite lineup I've ever watched . The bench was crazy . I will never forget that season .
@@JeffWilliamsGuitar I've heard that Bobby is such a huge Warriors fan that if the dubs have a big game when he's booked for a gig he'll have a monitor on the side of the stage that he can check in on while he jams, which, as a warriors fan, is absolutely legendary to me. It makes me so happy that the dead are bay area to their core, absolute hometown heroes for us
oh also, he was on Stupodity, Stugotz's podcast (a sports podcaster/massive deadhead who is on the dan le batard show, massive sports show formally on ESPN) and Bob gave an incredible breakdown of what Jimmy Garropolo did wrong during the Niners playeoff run and was speculating on how Trey Lane could improve the offense because opposing defenses would have to impose a QB spy and it would open up the middle for Kittle - it was hilarious, he literally turned from hippy guitar icon to NFL analyst. Dude knows his bay area sports.
The Grateful Dead had a collective consciousness when they were on.
What guitar is that? It’s gorgeous
Thanks. It's a B&G little sister crossroads. Made for a good prop in the video since I didn't play it once! haha
@@JeffWilliamsGuitar thanks so much, definitely going to ask Santa for one next year. Something about the P90s and slotted headstock on a hollow body is so cool!
whats that guitar you have?
It's a B&G little sister crossroads. And in this video a great prop! Check out one of my other videos if you wanna hear what it sounds like.
Why hold the guitar if you didn’t play a note?
In my opinion, the Grateful Dead's approach to playing music as an emsemble was more closely related to Dixieland than any other singular American music form. And while rhythmically, most bassists lean and concentrate on the backbeat, Phil was coming from classical counterpoint. To him, as a bassist, playing with the melody was more important than playing with the rhythm. Not to say that he didn't, but to say where he was coming from.
People don't seem to talk about that enough, Dead grafted Dixieland ensemble approach & loose/tight feeling to pop music styles from 100+ years of music. The Band also did this but in a very different way.
He plays the bass like a lead guitar
How about the fact he plays in a lot of half whole and eighth notes. Always moving. How about the fact that he listens to others. Or how about the fact he has perfect pitch. Or my lord so much to learn. his equipment. He rarely lets notes hang. He hits them and stops them fast. Never really open ringing unless dropping bombs that bust our chest open.
Easier- listening to who Phil learned from: Jamerson, Mingus,Lafaro and Carter.
They guy is a master but what does that tell us. Start at 1 and learn classical music. ummmm too late for me. I want more. More. PHIL BOMBS. Bass player that solos the entire time. And he cuts through. Its the best.
What did we just learn? I know Phil well as a bass player and I have no idea what you saying
"LET PHIL SING, LET PHIL SING...."
Boy was that a mistake.
@@allanfifield8256 lol. Did you ever actually make it to a "Dead Show" and hear the crowd begging and chanting to let Phil sing "Box of Rain"? Let's just say it's a tradition.
@@infiniteuniverse9528 100+ shows (There is a sort of Deadhead seniority system based on show count.) I chanted with everyone else.
@@allanfifield8256 So what was the mistake? Chanting "Let Phil sing"? Or allowing Phil to sing one song (Box of Rain) after his throat surgery?
A: ............that cocaine is a hellava drug?
Jerry was more of a player that played on the one and allowed the listener to hear the rhythm of the chord changes. Phil rarely played on the one, he was melodic and rarely synced up with the kick drum or played a phrase over and over like traditional bass players. Bobby chirping like a bird in the background. This is why dead and Co are unlistenable to me.These elements along with Bill and Mickey are the Grateful Dead. Anything else is an attempt at being a cover band, which cannot be done.
I'm of the opinion that Dead and Co should have Phil and Oteil both playing bass and that Mayer should lick a shard of crystal LSD
Bobby should get on kratom lol
I would never let him in my band. Plays too many notes.
Man thats a shame im sure hes missing out
@@herbythechef7624 Fine! He can join, but he has to promise to cut back on the notes.
Even though I have seen 98 Dead shows up until 1995 and being a total Deadhead, I find Phil one of the least inspiring bass players out there. I rarely notice his bass playing and find it just gets lost in the mix and I can never quite tell what it is he is doing.
Lesson to learn from Grateful Dead. Leave Drugs alone!
Grateful Dead’s two drummers were their achilles heel. Neither was what I would call a real drummer. Rather, they did the last thing any band needs by just lamely copying each other sloppily. To this day, I can’t understand why the rest of the band went along with this mistake. That big mess of feeble drumming, more than anything else, hurt the sound and feel of the Grateful Dead.
The band was down to one drummer from sometime in '71 I believe, till around "74. Listen to Europe '72 or watch ' Sunshine Daydream' (the Aug '72 Veneta, OR benefit concert). Only Bill Kreutzmann on drums during this period. Nice and clean, great drumming.
That's a different take. It was those drummers that allowed Phil to do his own thing
I agree about the copying sometimes but when billy does the beat and mickey does the fills it really works
completely disagree but that's an interesting take. I'll concede that it gets a bit busy in some jams but when its clicking (which IMO is most of the time) its so beautiful to see Billy hammer the beat and Mickey rail crazy fills in perfect harmony.
Billy was better by himself as a pure drummer.
Phil is a trash bass player, just lucky to be Jerry’s friend even though Jerry ended up hating him.
Why do you say this ?
@@steamrollerpaul2340 😂
someone's never been to a phil lesh and friends show