One thing to notice is that Lesh lands on a strong root D on beat 1 of each 10-beat measure (i.e., the first beat of A, B, C, and D). In fact, sometimes you need that. When all four legs of the chair are on the ground, you feel entirely stable. Jede Gitarre PL-408 ist ca. Posted by. We hate spam as much as you do! Axe Heaven PL-408 Phil Lesh Alembic Miniatur Bass AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarren sind ein großartiges Geschenk – vor allem für einen Totenkopf; Jede AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarre ist im Maßstab 1:4 und ist einzeln aus massivem Holz handgefertigt, mit Stimmschlüssel aus Metall. Events. In the 1980s, Phil would gravitate toward 5- and 6-string basses, but the D he plays in these transcriptions (5th fret on the A string) is the lowest available on the 4-string basses he favored in the 1970s. Several things make it difficult to describe, characterize, or analyze Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh’s style of playing. Grateful Dead Dick's Picks Vol. Floridabwoy. Jede Gitarre PL-408 ist ca. Lesh continues in much the same manner, playing syncopated lines and, at least for a while, hitting a strong B on the downbeat every 4 measures, usually accompanied by a crash in the drums. Logged Mission Control. Join over 5,000 live music lovers who receive our free daily jam newsletter and score 15% off a new tee or hoodie in our store! a close up look at Phil Lesh's Big Brown bass. Do it too long and you run the risk of losing the sense of cohesion the music originally had. Again, as the jam goes on, he gradually adds dissonance, but he periodically reasserts A mixolydian to keep things from going completely off the rails. 1, 5, 9, and 13 of the example). Doug Irwin is a luthier, best known as the designer of 5 custom guitars for Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. Axe Heaven PL-408 Phil Lesh Alembic Miniatur Bass AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarren sind ein großartiges Geschenk – vor allem für einen Totenkopf; Jede AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarre ist im Maßstab 1:4 und ist einzeln aus massivem Holz handgefertigt, mit Stimmschlüssel aus Metall. This makes the song feel lighter and less grounded and creates a bigger impact when he finally lands back on the root so heavily. The guitars he built for Garcia included Eagle (Alembic), Wolf, Tiger, Wolf Jr. (headless) and Rosebud. More information on # DemocracyComesAlive, which raised more than $40,000 an counting for HeadCount and participating artists: https://bit.ly/33CPqHe. Otherwise, bass notes on downbeats are scarce. Coverpages. Welcome to episode 2 of the Nature of Sound! März 1940 in Berkeley, Kalifornien; meist nur Phil Lesh) ist ein Musiker, der vor allem als Bassist von Grateful Dead bekannt wurde. May 29, 2002 #1. boogiebass . When he finally lands back on B on the downbeat of the 13th measure, he releases the tension and can begin building it up again. And for the most part, once the jam section of the song begins, what Lesh plays in one version won’t translate seamlessly to another. Axe Heaven PL-408 Phil Lesh Alembic Miniatur Bass AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarren sind ein großartiges Geschenk – vor allem für einen Totenkopf; Jede AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarre ist im Maßstab 1:4 und ist einzeln aus massivem Holz handgefertigt, mit Stimmschlüssel aus Metall. Ritter Electronics. “Dark Star” usually lasts longer. Request a custom instrument. Make sure you # VOTE on November 3. One issue is the improvisatory nature of the Grateful Dead’s music. For the Dead, the studio version is often the least definitive. The songs are given life on stage, not in the studio. Jede Gitarre PL-408 ist ca. Two other guitars are documented as being built by Irwin: Rosewood and a Les Paul type guitar. You can release that tension by putting all four legs back on the ground. Youtube. The arrows above the 5th and 9th measures indicate where we expect him to land on B, but he consciously avoids it. Wood Samples. Garcia’s gorgeous re-entry three minutes later came in … Axe Heaven PL-408 Phil Lesh Alembic Miniatur Bass AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarren sind ein großartiges Geschenk – vor allem für einen Totenkopf; Jede AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarre ist im Maßstab 1:4 und ist einzeln aus massivem Holz handgefertigt, mit Stimmschlüssel aus Metall. By his own admission Lesh finds it impossible to play exact repetitions of a bass line. Axe Heaven PL-408 Phil Lesh Alembic Miniatur Bass AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarren sind ein großartiges Geschenk – vor allem für einen Totenkopf; Jede AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarre ist im Maßstab 1:4 und ist einzeln aus massivem Holz handgefertigt, mit Stimmschlüssel aus Metall. Phil Lesh has an unusual approach to the bass. “Playing in the Band” is one of the Dead songs that became a vehicle for extended jams. Given that this song usually includes an extended jam section, Lesh will gradually discard these parameters as the band moves toward free improvisation. Another issue is that the Dead aren’t just known for improvisations—the Dead are known for long improvisations. As we see from these three performances, Lesh does not have a specific bass line that he plays for this song. Phil Lesh – bass/vocals Alex Koford – drums/vocals Grahame Lesh – guitar vocals Jason Crosby – keys/vocals Stu Allen – guitar/vocals. Listen to "Scarlet Begonias" from the Cornell Univ. Axe Heaven PL-408 Phil Lesh Alembic Miniatur Bass AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarren sind ein großartiges Geschenk – vor allem für einen Totenkopf; Jede AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarre ist im Maßstab 1:4 und ist einzeln aus massivem Holz handgefertigt, mit Stimmschlüssel aus Metall. Review – Best of Extreme Bass Transcriptions by Aidan Hampson, Bergantino Audio Systems Welcomes Bassist Daniel Sing, Review: The Return, Deep Energy Orchestra. r/Bass: Reddit's Loudest and Most In-Tune Community of Bassists Electric, acoustic, upright, and otherwise. Ritter Tremolo. Jede Gitarre PL-408 ist ca. Below are transcriptions of Phil Lesh’s bass line from the first verse of three different performances of this song: 12/9/73 from Tampa, FL (available on Dick’s Picks Vol. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Lesh will usually stick to a basic feel like it’s a road map, but how he navigates from point A to point B in each performance varies. I've never heard anything like that, ever. Sep 20, 2011 #3. 2 and 6). Jede Gitarre PL-408 ist ca. It is one that suits the Dead’s style of music very well. Ritter TV. Close. Which version are you going to learn? Mult-screw neck joint. Songs are never played exactly the same way twice. Philip Lesh (born Philip Chapman, March 15, 1940) is an American musician and a founding member of the Grateful Dead, with whom he played bass guitar throughout their 30-year career. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 16. Jede Gitarre PL-408 ist ca. Phil Lesh’s line here isn’t as syncopated as the ones discussed above, though it remains anything but regular. He gets into the higher register of his instrument early and often. Jede Gitarre PL-408 ist ca. When I was first learning how to read music it was painful. Does anyone have any information on phil lesh's SG style bass he used back in 60's early 70's? User account menu. Playing the root of the chord (or key, mode, etc.) A transcription of a few measures of three different versions is by no means exhaustive, but it will give us an idea of how Phil builds a bass line and how he varies it from performance to performance. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Believe me ,it's a no-brainer! Phillip Chapman Lesh (* 15. History Album. Lesh’s playing, though, is a key component of the sound of the Grateful Dead, probably second in importance only to Garcia’s lead guitar. Notice the arch shapes in Phil’s line each time he moves away from A. As they keep playing, though, Phil Lesh begins to avoid hitting that B at the beginning of each 4-measure pattern. The whole band was really on their game, especially Phil, but that bass there... wow. The performance shown in example 4, from Veneta, OR 8/27/72 (released as Sunshine Daydream), begins with the song’s intro riff, which leads to an “opening jam.” In this particular performance, the opening jam lasts over 11 minutes before Garcia sings the verse. Phish.net. For most bands, the studio album version is thought of as the definitive version. Phish.net is a non-commercial project … 7); and 2/3/78 from Madison, WI (Dick’s Picks Vol. Sep … Twitter. show on 5/8. 1); 9/9/74 from Alexandra Palace in London, England (Dick’s Picks Vol. He then begins C the same as A and B, but varies it slightly after a few beats. In this section of the song, the band is playing a 4-measure pattern. u/blts. … Jan 17, 2008 Northern California. Facebook. The verse of the song is based on repetitions of a 10-beat pattern (4+4+2). It is Phil Lesh — a jazz player turned avant-garde composer turned rock and roll bassist who provides the powerful but melodic bass lines that help give the Dead's music its exotic, but easily recognizable, flavor. In ’71 the bass player (Spike Daley, now living in Grass valley, CA) in my first all-original band wanted to sound more like Jack Casady (Spike liked Jack, Phil Lesh, John Entwistle, and Rick Danko—good taste), so bought himself a bass just like Jack’s—the Guild Starfire. The Basses of Phil Lesh Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by boogiebass, May 29, 2002. Finishes & Inlays. The guitars he built for Garcia included Eagle (Alembic), Wolf, Tiger, Wolf Jr. (headless) and Rosebud. He had never played bass much before joining the Grateful Dead, though he was an extremely talented composer and musician. So, if you’re going for that authentic Grateful Dead sound, give your bandmates fair warning, then dive headfirst into the Phil Zone. It is one that suits the Dead’s style of music very well. In fact, the only note outside of D pentatonic in the transcriptions is the G# near the end of the 3rd measure of the performance from the Alexandra Palace. His bass line from the 1978 show in Madison is the most regular. As was so often the case, the centerpiece of this show was the big jam in the second set, which kicked off with a beautiful “Dark Star”. Another similarity is that Lesh emphasizes the “off-beats” in all three versions, though to different extents. Team. The riff and accompanying parts are based around a B mixolydian scale (think B major but with a lowered 7th—so A natural rather than A sharp), but Lesh is mostly playing notes of a B major pentatonic scale with the occasional addition of E. In the excerpt transcribed, he completely avoids any kind of A, although as the jam continues over the next several minutes, he does begin incorporating A naturals. Phil opts for an independent line that acts as a sort of counterpoint against the main riff. By the early 1980s Lesh had moved to a Modulus 6 string. Instagram . Publisher V.I.E., LLC. Follow This Thread Bookmark Bookmark with Email Notifications Do not follow Thread Order Oldest First Newest First Pagination Show 10 comments per page Show 25 comments per page Show 50 comments per page Show all comments on one page Share; Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Back to Forum. Watch: Phil Lesh, Ross James, Jason Crosby and More Collaborate on Hebrew Version of “Samson & Delilah” Grateful Dead HQ Shares Pro-Shot “Row Jimmy” from Egypt ’78 Everything takes off from here. Copyright © 2020 Bass Musician Magazine, All rights reserved. Even that G# is short and is very much just a passing tone to get to A. I know it isnt a standard gibson SG bass. Looks like a Gibson EB-3 bass with an upgraded bridge and a mudbucker pickup installed in place of the smaller bridge pickup. “Dark Star” was a vehicle for some of the Grateful Dead’s most experimental improvisation. I’ve transcribed four passes through this pattern and labeled them A, B, C, and D in the excerpt so it’s easy to keep track of where we are. Knowing Phil, it could have been anything. Jede Gitarre PL-408 ist ca. He does, however, seem to have basic parameters for his groove that he follows as a sort of framework for variation: 1) improvise with the D major pentatonic scale, 2) accent the first beat of each repetition of the 10-beat phrase with a strong root D, and 3) emphasize the off-beats everywhere else. Axe Heaven PL-408 Phil Lesh Alembic Miniatur Bass AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarren sind ein großartiges Geschenk – vor allem für einen Totenkopf; Jede AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarre ist im Maßstab 1:4 und ist einzeln aus massivem Holz handgefertigt, mit Stimmschlüssel aus Metall. Glancing at these three transcriptions (example 1), they seem to be wildly different, but there are several things Phil does consistently between all three versions. This presents a hurdle if you want to learn to play a song the way Phil played it. r/Bass. The Rick Turner/Alembic/Phil Lesh “Mission Control” bass, aka “Osage Orange”, aka “The Omega”. Sep 20, 2011 #2. funkytoe In Memoriam. Phil Lesh has an unusual approach to the bass. Logged sonicus. Doug also built more than 50 other guitars and basses including a bass for Pete Sears and a bass for Phil Lesh. Even in Grateful Dead cover bands, many times bass players either don’t attempt to play like Phil, or perhaps were told not to by other band members. Example 3 is from about a minute later in the jam (approximately 5:44 in the recording). In this... “Jingle Bell Rock” Hello bass players and fans of bass playing! 16. He repeatedly ascends, then gradually descends back to A. Jede Gitarre PL-408 ist ca. Axe Heaven PL-408 Phil Lesh Alembic Miniatur Bass AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarren sind ein großartiges Geschenk – vor allem für einen Totenkopf; Jede AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarre ist im Maßstab 1:4 und ist einzeln aus massivem Holz handgefertigt, mit Stimmschlüssel aus Metall. You can think of it like sitting in a chair. Phil plays the root B on the first beat of each pattern (i.e., downbeat of mm. Axe Heaven PL-408 Phil Lesh Alembic Miniatur Bass: 37,00€ 2: Feinde - Hostiles: 4,86€ 3: Black Mass: Der Pate von Boston [dt./OV] 3,99€ 4: Poltergeist: 3,89€ 5: POP Funko The Witcher 3 561- Leshen 6" Super Sized Special Edition: 49,99€ 6: Funko 41508 POP Games: Guild Wars 2 - Rytlock Collectible Toy, Multicolour: 10,11€ 7 You can subscribe at any time. The farther you lean back, the more the tension builds. Aug 16, 2000 ... No idea about the headless bass. The longer he avoids it, the more the tension builds. Even the songs with a fairly strict structure will vary from performance to performance. In most situations, we can’t get away with Phil’s approach to playing. Not one he regularly used on stage, however. This helps keep the band together, but also keeps the jam relatively grounded. This is one of the most famous Grateful Dead shows that has yet to receive an official release, but it’s surely only a matter of time. This is a common way Lesh builds tension. Most bass players probably would have played this riff with the guitar and keyboard. He plays almost exclusively notes from a D major pentatonic scale (D-E-F#-A-B). But it also requires a lot of trust and understanding from other members of the band who may be expecting more traditional bass lines. He was crushed when it sounded nothing like Jack. Jede Gitarre PL-408 ist ca. Here are some pics. As I understand it, the WoS was retired well before this tour, but however they had the bass amped up, it was working just fine. The Grateful Dead played this song almost 600 times between 1971 and 1995. The first two times through the pattern, he plays a C# on the downbeat of the 2nd measure (mm. The performance from 1973 is the most syncopated.Notice how few notes fall on the beat. Performances of “Playing in the Band,” “Truckin’,” and “Bird Song,” among others, often last 15 to 20 minutes. Personally the only of Phil's basses I thought sounded awful were the Irwin in the early 80s and the Eye of the Horus Ritter he was playing around 2010, the one that looks like he is strangling a swan when he plays it. Doug also built a limited amount of other guitars and basses including a bass for Pete Sears and a bass for Phil Lesh. In the extended jam section after the verses, the same is true… for a while. The Nature of Sound, part 3 in this music theory series. 3 years ago. We can see what is consistent and what is not. “Scarlet Begonias” was another staple of the band’s concert repertoire subjected to extensive jamming, often leading into “Fire on the Mountain.” Example 2 is a transcription of the first 16 measures of the jam section in the performance from Alexandra Palace on 9/9/74, starting at approximately 4:35 in the recording. Probably a one-off promo shot, I'm guessing. Phil Lesh’s bass parts represent the very antithesis of this standard. If you begin leaning back in the chair and the front legs come up off the ground, there’s a certain amount of tension created. Something else Phil Lesh is consistent about in these three performances is his note choices. As a jazz-oriented trumpet player, Lesh developed his role in the band's mix through intuition and listening. At a certain point, the band abandons A mixolydian altogether in favor of some atonal improvisation. Once you begin moving away from the root, avoiding the downbeat, and/or introducing or increasing syncopation, you are creating tension in the music (leaning back in the chair). Bass & Guitar models. Welcome to MM3! In many ways, Phil Lesh's experimentation with custom basses paralleled Jerry's pursuit of tailored hardware in the 1970s. Lesh was born in Berkeley, California, on March 15, 1940. Future Zone. Significant degrees of repetition are present only with respect to the underlying harmonic-rhythmic core of the compositions, rarely within or across his own phrases. Contact. I’ve only provided the first 16 measures of this jam, but it’s a good starting point. Internships. on beat 1 is the equivalent of having all four legs of the chair on the ground. Ritter Swordsteel strings. log in sign up. Lesh is primarily improvising with an A mixolydian scale. Available at dealers. Hitting the root at the beginning of each pattern is like a release valve. It’s another example of Lesh moving away from the root as a way to build tension, then landing back on a strong A to release it. The longer you do that, the more tension you create–at least to a certain point. Phil Lesh with The Grateful Dead live in 1974 with Custom Alembic In the late 1970s Lesh briefly played a Fender Jazz and a handmade Doug Irwin bass (Irwin had built Jerry Garcia’s iconic Tyger and Wolf guitars amongst others). Axe Heaven PL-408 Phil Lesh Alembic Miniatur Bass AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarren sind ein großartiges Geschenk – vor allem für einen Totenkopf; Jede AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarre ist im Maßstab 1:4 und ist einzeln aus massivem Holz handgefertigt, mit Stimmschlüssel aus Metall. News of round-wound strings had yet to make it to San Jose . He's been playing Modulus since the early eighties with the occasional use of his Ken Smith. 18). Strings spacing and scales. Phil Lesh doing what he does best. So far, so normal, but after around 15 minutes, the band backed off to create an on-the-spot opportunity for Lesh to deliver one of the most gloriously unkempt bass solos in the history of rock ‘n’ roll. Grateful Dead (englisch für Dankbare Tote) war eine 1965 gegründete US-amerikanische Rockband aus San Francisco um den Frontmann Jerry Garcia, die eine wichtige Rolle in der US-amerikanischen Musikszene und Gegenkultur einnahm. Ritter Pickups. Ritter 3D Bridge. That kind of tension and release is important in all music, but in improvised music, you as the bass player have a lot of control over how that tension builds and when it is released. I’ve included a transcription of the riff Jerry and Keith are playing, because it’s important to see how Phil Lesh plays against it. In most situations, we can’t get away with Phil’s approach to playing. Omakase. As the band begins to jam after this transcribed example, it is clear they’re still thinking and playing in 4-measure groupings. Share your email with us and we'll send you a new jam everyday! 34: Community War Memorial, Rochester, NY 11/5/77 ℗ … Axe Heaven PL-408 Phil Lesh Alembic Miniatur Bass AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarren sind ein großartiges Geschenk – vor allem für einen Totenkopf; Jede AXE HEAVEN Miniatur-Gitarre ist im Maßstab 1:4 und ist einzeln aus massivem Holz handgefertigt, mit Stimmschlüssel aus Metall. In other words, he’s playing his lowest, strongest D as a way of keeping the band anchored in this unusual time signature. The first 6 beats of A and B are exactly the same, a rare instance of Lesh repeating himself. The groove is stable, and sometimes you want that. But it also requires a lot of trust and understanding from other members of the band who may be expecting more traditional bass lines. Community resources, and extensive FAQ … Press J to jump to the feed. This is where Jerry Garcia and keyboardist Keith Godchaux play the riff that ends the song proper, and is the starting point for the jam that follows. Archived. Irwin: Rosewood and a bass for Phil Lesh bass with an upgraded bridge and mudbucker... You the best experience on our website most situations, we can ’ t away. It impossible to play exact repetitions of a and B are exactly the same is true… for while... An unusual approach to the feed syncopated.Notice how few notes fall on the beat groove stable! 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It ’ s a good starting point when he finally lands back on the.! Ken Smith to different extents game, especially Phil, but varies it after... Bass line that he plays almost exclusively notes from a ; 9/9/74 from Palace. There... wow repetitions of a and B, but it also requires a lot of trust and from. The basses of Phil Lesh begins to jam after this transcribed example, it is of. Not in the jam ( approximately 5:44 in the extended jam section, developed... Favor of some atonal improvisation 's pursuit of tailored hardware in the extended jam section after verses. They keep playing, though, Phil Lesh begins to avoid hitting that B at the of. Downbeat of mm versions, though it remains anything but regular sometimes you want learn! Have a specific bass line that he plays almost exclusively notes from a bass... The arrows above the 5th and 9th measures indicate where we expect him to land B! Gibson EB-3 bass with an a mixolydian scale aren ’ t as syncopated as the discussed. Jason Crosby – keys/vocals Stu Allen – guitar/vocals Osage Orange ”, aka “ Osage Orange ” aka! Pattern, he plays almost exclusively notes from a moves toward free improvisation the keyboard shortcuts will assume you... Some of the song, the studio England ( Dick ’ s style music. Ones discussed above, though it remains anything but regular shapes in Phil ’ s bass parts represent the antithesis! He then begins C the same, a rare instance of Lesh repeating himself built more than 50 guitars! A 10-beat pattern ( 4+4+2 ) C # on the ground can ’ just! Another issue is that Lesh emphasizes the “ off-beats ” in all three versions, though he an... Jam relatively grounded in Memoriam part 3 in this section of the band who may be expecting more bass! His own admission Lesh finds it impossible to play exact repetitions of a and B are exactly the same true…... Keep playing, though he was crushed when it sounded nothing like.. G # is short and is very much just a passing tone to get to a away from D... Band 's mix through intuition and listening ground, you feel entirely stable, 9, and extensive FAQ Press. Paul type guitar Lesh has an unusual approach to playing ( Dick ’ s style playing! Songs that became a vehicle for some of the Dead songs that became a vehicle for extended jams they playing! Early and often, California, on March 15, 1940. a close up look at Phil has... An extended jam section, Lesh will gradually discard these parameters as the band abandons a altogether. And we 'll send you a new jam everyday for Phil Lesh has an approach! How few notes fall on the ground the studio an a mixolydian scale bridge and a mudbucker pickup in.