Play Like Phil Lesh

Coward Of Reali · #1 11-22-2004, 05:50 PM

Anyone know anything about his technique?
What scales he played? Any theory being applied here?

Jherrera · #2 11-23-2004, 06:16 PM

I am a deadhead and a bass player therefore I idolize Phil Lesh (and golden calfs but thats a diffrent story.) I would do anything to be able to play his songs the way he does but for that you need to be.. Phil Lesh. My bass teacher is into jambands and he agrees that while you can learn to play what he plays for a song its not the same and never will be. The only thing I cna say is learn ALL the modes. He bounces around from one to the other as if there are no tommorows. This man studied Music Theory before he picked up a bass so he had it all he knew what sounded intresting, right, and wrong and it helped that he tended to have a head full of acid often. Oh and if your jamming make sure you have a damn good rhythm guitarist and a drummer (or two) who can fill the music up without being loud and obnoxius. Phil could do what he did because Bobby, Bill and Mickey kept everything tight. Phil played what i've heard refered to as "Lead Bass" and that doesn't tend to fly when you, a drummer, and a guitarist are the only ones playing. I love phil and hes my biggest influence but I've learned that I won't be able to do what he is and my "style" is a hybrid of what phil does and more traditional bass playing. P.S. complete off subject, get the stella blue august 1st 1994 (jerrys birthday) its avaialbe at archives.org. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT

Lewis7789 · #3 11-24-2004, 11:15 PM

My band Caribou Foot is a "jam band" and we play a couple of Dead tunes (Check out my sig!). All I know is he used to play Alembics and now a Modulus with a pick. He does know his theory and plays everywhere on the neck. I tend to make the Dead tunes groove more though.

Good luck with your tone.

Jherrera · #4 11-25-2004, 02:04 PM

I listened to some of your caribou foot stuff, i really like it. good job. the rising is a sick song.

Lewis7789 · #5 11-25-2004, 04:12 PM

Thanks for checking out the site and listening. However, the site needs new music uploaded badly, I didn't join the band untill July 1st. But I'll tell the old bassist you said good job. We hand out free cd's at our shows and people usually look at us crazy, "Free?!". You figure it onlys costs 20 cents to make a disc, why not hand them out for free. There are plenty of money hungry bands out there, we're not one of them. We even play out for free, we just love music.

Thanks again!

Coward Of Reali · #6 01-04-2005, 04:08 PM

thanks for the responses. Any one know what scales he likes to use are?

plsh · #7 01-09-2005, 08:35 AM

Try this http://dozin.com/phil/lesh.htm
I haven't read it for a while but theres some good info on the main page(dozin.com) there's a link to the Yahoo"gearheads" discussion group a gear discussion for heads.

By the way there's supposedly a new book coming out in april I think written by Phil Lesh "Searching for the sound:My life in the grateful dead" http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=2N62MYKN3RPBV

DaBassman · #8 01-09-2005, 09:51 AM

Where can you find that handbook he mentions in the article?? Anyone know?
Thanks