And then I would live off that money and play music for as long as I could. : Wikipedia : Charles Lloyd & The Marvels, Funky Kings, The All Star Band, Watkins Family Hour, Works Progress Administration : | Greg Leisz Greg Leisz played some really nice parts on her new CD "Illustrated Songs" but I did not see this listed among his credits. She made one record before that, at least. I really had no idea it would become what it became. Bill Frisell "Good Dog, Happy Man" lotsa Leisz. The first couple minutes of this track display how well these two musicians can create soundscapes within songs. I really liked that project. Why am I going there? I had no idea. I played a lot of different kinds of guitars on that record. I dont know who actually made it. I never really tried to emulate a pop star. s-10 sierra crown gearless 3 x4 - Regal RD45 - fender hotrod deluxe. Hes the one that knew me. Leisz is no stranger to rock n' roll, and always has the ability to add grit and bite to songs. But I love that record. Hang down your head, Tom Dooley/Poor boy, youre bound to die. That was like, Wow. And when I started playing guitar, I knew those melodies from hearing them on the radio. And although I've already owned six different lap steels, I have yet to get my Bakelite Rick. The record came out and you cant even hear what I played. That was the first time I worked with him. With good reason -- the man's resum is daunting, boasting spots with Joni Mitchell, Sheryl Crow, Read Full Biography Overview Biography Discography Songs Credits Related Share on facebook twitter tumblr Credits Its a song called Moonlight Motel. Its the last song on the record. I spent a lot of hours in country bars learning how to play, but my musical background has always been very wide. It has a deep, full body sound, with amazing resonance. I cant really believe it myself. I think that happened when she was on tour with Neil Young. These five tunings for 6 string lap steel guitar are great starting points for anyone just beginning the lap steel adventure: C6 - C E G A C E - The C6 tuning is by far the most common modern tuning for solid body lap steel guitars. I started meeting people that came out of almost the punk era in the Eighties. #raylamontange. She set me straight and said, Im not going to tell you anything. I got to be there and play with three of my idols. With his ability to add texture to the music, and unconventional sonic expressions to the music, his playing feels like putting the final piece into a puzzle. You probably know the history. The earliest Hawaiian lap steel tuning was open A low bass, E-A-E-A-C-E. Today, most open tunings for lap steel guitar fall into 3 primary categories: He came back and I said, Want to hear it? He goes, Later, but Ive got another song. And then they put on this Gene Clark song Through the Morning, Through the Night. I did that and I just put it together with the engineer. She was taking parts off and replacing them. 2007 Asher hand built Teardrop commemorative Weissenborn lap steel, s/n# 308, 1 of 8 hand crafted in this series, solid African mahogany top, back and sides, custom Cedar Creek hardshell case included. We did a video where Jackson is getting a heart transplant. Honestly, though, I hardly play it as I've been really focusing on C6 (and E6). I heard this, and could not get that steel guitar sound out of my head. Shes fantastic. I basically was just playing music with my friends. Getting to all the great records hes played on would have resulted in an interview longer than Infinite Jest and the uncut edition of Stephen Kings The Stand combined. Theres nothing like the beautiful sound of harmonized sixths played on the pedal steel tabs that display the major scale harmonized in sixths. I just went in and overdubbed on one song. He was great. They were referencing a lot of what they thought of as Seventies music, and using it. Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46, Our mailing address is: If you think about that era, I was in the mid-Sixties conundrum generation where you had a generation gap and a draft. Leisz's ability to add whatever a track needs always feels natural and timeless at the same time. [Editors note: Leisz does, in fact, play on the Pretty Woman version of the song.]. Copyright 2023 Penske Business Media, LLC. Yeah. I didnt meet him. Put your index finger on top of the bar, which helps you guide and control it. This is going back to her second album. Versatile and musically accommodating, Greg shapes up many tracks with his pedal steel playing. Enjoy weekend savings on Fender, Gretsch, and more. Greg Leisz - lap steel guitar & electric guitar Gary Novak - drums Written by Mai Leisz & Greg Leisz Engineered by Kevin Smith Recorded at Groove Masters Studio in Santa Monica, CA Mixed by Alan Hertz Mastered by Joe Gastwirt. In 1989, he played on k.d. They did all that stuff in Nashville. Anyway, it was great for me. And then I was like, Wow, I can actually play this stuff. When I look at Discogs and AllMusic, I go, I forgot about this record and that record But for me, its the breadth of the stuff that Im most proud of, not necessarily the number.. I was able to play a lot of different kinds of music. I think hed become aware of my playing on a couple of other records, especially this K.D. I saw her on Saturday Night Live. I had played a very little bit on a record [2010s Clapton] three years before when Doyle Bramhall brought me into the studio to meet Eric. Leisz is no stranger to rock n roll, and always has the ability to add grit and bite to songs. We went in the studio to make another record and the band broke apart during the dramas of making the second record. There was some kind of a connection made. But with the Daft Punk project, everything that band does seems to be very important. Specifications We recorded that song with Don Heffington on drums and Greg Cohen on bass. I didnt even have a business card. You wouldnt know it was Daft Punk, but its got pedal steel all through it. Search He had Phoebe come in and be in the video. This track is beautiful and Leiszs pedal steel comes in almost right away. You can do anything you want. He asked me to come to Chicago and I was there. "A lot of people that I've worked with, you think they're going to be intimidating, but they're so good at making you feel comfortable," says Greg Leisz. Great for diving into single note playing possibilities and runs on the tuning. He just came in and said, Im going to go out. I was like, Thats an unusual thing, to play on two different Albums of the Year two years in a row. Not only that, the year that Daft Punk won, I played at the Grammys. Greg Leisz is prolific, to say the least. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . But I spent a couple of summers working as a forest ranger in Idaho and fighting fires. A couple of months later, a box came to my house and it had a banjo in it. I was also on Where Have All the Cowboys Gone, which was pretty big too. He was inspired to pick up the pedal steel after hearing Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Buddy Emmons. Im looking at your credits and theres a 10-year gap after the Funky Kings and before you start racking up a ton of credits. It is very versatile and there is a lot of learning material available online. Weve been doing live streaming shows from the Bay Area. The 100 Best Albums of 2022. Ron called me and said, I just want you to know I used your pedal steel in this Jeep commercial. Playpedalsteel.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'playpedalsteel_com-large-leaderboard-1','ezslot_8',176,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-playpedalsteel_com-large-leaderboard-1-0');report this ad, Pedal Steel Fretboards (Info, Functions, Types), Pedal Steel Guitar in Nashville (Shows, Players, Info), Pedal Steel on Todays Music Scene: A Hidden Gem, 9 Best Pedal Steel Guitars (That Sound AMAZING). It was just basically recorded in a bedroom. Hed heard me play pedal steel, but he didnt know I had blues knowledge that went deep. And she got Roy Bittan. Four years later, I worked with her again on Taming the Tiger. I wish I had been his best friend in high school. I was doing Gloria or something. All recordings used a Boss RV-5 set on hall reverb, a Fender black face Vibro-Champ amp and a Shure SM-57 mic. Please check the fields highlighted in red. You get very disillusioned about that being a possibility, but you still keep doing it. The experience was great. His playing on this track sits well in the mix with a tone that hooks the listener. She was living in Nashville and he was in Los Angeles. It kicks off that album and its beautiful. Im not going to try and edit what you do.. 148 South Cloverdale Blvd. Odelay was interesting because he was working with the Dust Brothers. Greg's toured or recorded with Dave Alvin . Although this track has Leisz on lap steel, I couldnt help but include it! Greg Leisz is a songwriter, sideman, and producer who pays guitar, dobro, mandolin, lap steel and pedal steel guitar. His tone (on recent recordings) is, in my opinion, the best you will find in the world. Leiszs tone is crystal clear on this one, and is captivating. I keep a Strat copy with a Nut Riser and strung with 11's tuned to Open E for gritty Lap steel Blues. And then Paul Carrack. She came in and she was real sweet. your profile | join | preferences | help | search. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time Their collaboration led to Leisz producing several of Alvin's albums, including King of California, Black Jack David, Ashgrove, and West of the West. Leisz's playing has appeared throughout the years on recordings by Aaron Neville, Alison Krauss, Amos Lee, Beck, Bill Frisell, Black Crowes, Bon Iver, Bruce Cockburn, Bruce Springsteen, Cass McCombs, Chuck Prophet, Daft Punk, Dave Alvin, Eagles, Emmylou Harris, Eric Clapton, Glenn Frey, Grant Lee Buffalo, Haim, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, John Fogerty, John Mayer, John Stewart, Joni Mitchell, k.d. For the next eighteen years he toured with Lang and recorded with her, including her album Ingenue. In a successful session and side-man career that's spanned over 40 years, the diversity of music Greg's played on is pretty incredible. I worked on a bunch of stuff with her, including a bunch of stuff that was never released when she got dropped from Warner Bros. To jump ahead, youre on Right on Time on Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. It sort of became an avenue to make a living by expanding my vocabulary as a guitar player. Hed been with her for a pretty long time. They just had me improvise on it. Free Shipping if you live in the North American US - email me directly for shipping everywhere else. Pedal-Steel Guitarist Greg Leisz on His Years With Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, and Daft Punk, Neil Young Sets Release Date for Vintage Seventies Bootlegs, Kiley Dean Began As Britney Spears Backup Singer. How did you feel when you first heard the record and realized theyd used that much of your work? In the studio, usually David used Valco instruments. I dont think the one I play on was in Pretty Woman. I asked her if she had any ideas for the song when we started. Private Messages I grew up in a family where I didnt have older brothers or sisters. I did a little bit of that. Every one of the past 30 years has been that busy in the studio, and hes still found time to tour with the likes of Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Eric Clapton, K.D. Girlfriend is a classic My absolute favorite steel player. The people that you meet and have a connection with, suddenly theres another connection later on. 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It was actually just one day. ], Note: Messages not explicitly copyrighted are in the Public Domain. I think I played the dobro. Hundreds of pages of practice, instruction, and reference materials for E9 pedal steel. The pedal steel has an uncanny ability to add so much to any recording, especially one that features a singer-songwriter with an acoustic guitar. Youre on Safe and Sound with Taylor Swift and Civil Wars. I didnt know much about Roxette and it was just that day. I already knew it and I came out of the Sixties and had a folkie background and could understand that stuff. We met the day I got the studio. While Greg ranges widely stylistically, he can also play excellent straight-ahead country style, as on some of his work with Rosie Flores. He has an uncanny ability to always connect with the listeners ears. Getting Started (C6th Hawaiian Tabs)Hawaiian Steel Guitar. Once I got to the point where I could hang out in bars, I used to go to country bars. Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46, The greatest musical hands in the world, now on CD! Thats another one of those random things. Its pretty interesting. They were like, Shes gone off the tracks, she fired her producer. I think they were surprised. It was. Youre touring with Bob Weir now. Powered by Infopop www.infopop.com 2000 In 1975, he toured with John Stewart (formerly of The Kingston Trio). She also never really toured again after 1998. He toured in 2013 as a member of Eric Clapton's band, in 2015 as a member of Jackson Browne's band, and again in 2017. Theres one song where you can really hear how its cut up and moved in the track. My understanding is he uses a '66 bolt-on push/pull for most of his studio work. The ring and pinky fingers always rest on the strings behind the bar . Playpedalsteel.com also participates in affiliate programs with CJ, PartnerStack, and other sites. Running on Empty was done on the A Rickenbacker. It was really a drag that she didnt continue after that because she didnt get enough people didnt really appreciate that last album. [This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 30 November 2003 at 06:55 AM. Ive worked a lot with him. Diagrams that display the minor pentatonic scale notes on the E9 fretboard. I sometimes just took day factory jobs in Orange County. Youre on Becks song Sissyneck from Odelay. He didnt introduce anyone. It was amazing to be onstage with him every night. I guess they could have learned it from the version we did. She decided she wanted to go play some live shows. I never really liked the Grateful Dead, and now Im in Bobs band the Wolf Brothers with Don Was. When I ordered my Williams, Bob Rudolph told me that he uses S-12 Extended E9th tuning. He said, Im not sure what songs Im going to do. After the band broke up, he became a popular musician both in the studio and on the road. I missed that whole era. Its got a great honky-tonk sound, and Leisz shows how at home he feels playing pedal steel in a more traditional context too. Right on Nate! Starting the early 1990s, he worked often with Matthew Sweet, played on Sweet's album Girlfriend and toured with him. Alot of T-Bone Burnett records have Greg playing steel. http://archive.guitarplayer.com/archive/artists/frisell.shtml. I learned how to play it and Ive now played it on a couple of records. It was the same thing that drew me to the electric guitar. He is one of my favorites. Pedal Steel Guitar: Why Its So Hard To Play, Pedal Steel Guitar WEIGHT (Lighter vs. Join Use these diagrams as a reference tool, or memorization aid for your practice and playing. Thats someone I met many years earlier when he played in Ace in the Seventies. Youve been really busy recently. from $995.00 $1,773.00 Sale SOLD 2022 Electro Hawaiian Model 1 Lap Steel Custom $3,900.00 Sold Out Sale 2022-2023 Asher Electro Hawaiian Junior Lap Steel Trans Cherry with Gig Bag! I havent really been hunkered down as much in the last couple of months, particularly since Ive been vaccinated. She was very focused, so it was great working with her. He said, OK, Im going to do a Hop Wilson song where I can feature you. That was a big deal for me since when we actually did go on tour, I just played utility. Log in, Steel Guitar Forum LLCPO Box 237Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA. I dont know how else to describe how I feel. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Tabs can be a great way to reference musical patterns and learn new playing ideas on the pedal steel guitar. Did certain pedal-steel albums influence you? Ive come full circle with him. Greg Leisz (born September 18, 1949) is an American guitarist, plays lap and pedal steel guitar, guitar, mandolin, bass and Dobro. He does some nice work on Jakob Dylan's "Women And Country". He showed me the song [River Runs Deep] and pulled out an acoustic guitar. Leiszs ability to add whatever a track needs always feels natural and timeless at the same time. Read More. Are you vaccinated? While Frisells guitar playing is unique and bends genres in its own right, Leisz complements this so well. Manage Settings Diagrams that display the major scale notes on the E9 fretboard. The lap steel guitar, also known as a Hawaiian guitar, is a type of steel guitar without pedals that is typically played with the instrument in a horizontal position across the performer's lap.Unlike the usual manner of playing a traditional acoustic guitar, in which the performer's fingertips press the strings against frets, the pitch of a steel guitar is changed by pressing a polished steel . That was amazing. Lindley's style led me to Greg Leisz, my greatest inspiration. T Bone wasnt even there to tell me it was good. Maybe we can have that guy in the band. You wouldnt think of Beck as an artist to employ pedal steel much, but when you hear the sonic space that Leisz fills within his music, its understandable why any musician would want to utilize him. February 21, 2023. mastering by Greg Calbi. Blues and Rock players tend to favor one of two tuning families: open G/open A, or open D/open E. I never ended up doing anything live with him. Around the 1:32 mark, Leiszs beautiful harmonics grace the listener in the higher frequencies. I especially love what came out of that. In 2010 and 2011, Leisz toured with Ray LaMontagne as a member of his backing band, The Pariah Dogs. I was listening to Jeff Beck and going, Shit, what is that? I was learning to play guitar while he was playing Bob Dylan songs. Bob [This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 26 November 2003 at 07:59 AM. I overdubbed on that. produced by Lee Townsend recording and mixing engineer: Judy Clapp. He was still married to her at that time. Custom pedal steel t-shirts, mugs, posters, and moredesigned in Asheville, NC. It wasnt much. Larry Klein bought me onto Turbulent Indigo. It was very quick. Great album. Facebook 0 Twitter LinkedIn 0 Reddit Tumblr. Brian recommend to her that maybe I should do it. I wanted to figure out how to make those sounds. This track kicks off strong with Leiszs pedal steel at the forefront. I havent been on a plane for about 14 months or something. In all the gigs we did together, he never sat at my instrument or ever let on that he was such an accomplished steel player. In the late Sixties when a lot of people were listening to harder rock, Led Zeppelin and things, I was listening to Jimmie Rodgers, old country music like Hank Williams, bluegrass music, and I was learning how to play that music, and I was learning with other musicians that were kind of turned on to that. But I played on a song with Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Kris Kristofferson. He met Jack Tempchin. Greg's playing on Bon Iver is some of my favorite steel playing of all. I just got contacted. I started teaching myself how to play out of these folk-music books, which basically had songs by the Kingston Trio and Burl Ives, like On Top of Old Smokey., When I heard Tom Dooley by the Kingston Trio, that totally hit me. The Steel Guitar Forum Lang record Ingnue. Gretsch Custom Shop Tour. I knew right then it was all up to me. I went back to Chicago and worked on that with James. There was a Judy Collins album called Who Knows Where the Time Goes. And it was a cool thing to get to do that. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. I also didnt have parents that thought it was a good idea. This is an invaluable ability for sessions, where the musician often has to hear and learn the music on the spot for the recording. This track features mostly acoustic guitar and vocals, and the pedal steel is so smooth. What happened in that time? I really do like what I played on that song. At first he said, Ill play a solo in the middle, and then you play a solo, and Ill play a solo. Eventually he said, I just want you you to play all the solos. It was amazing for me because I got to be featured. In 1987, Leisz began working with Dave Alvin (formerly of The Blasters). When I heard electric guitar on records, I wanted to play that. His idea was to have her do this thing with Civil Wars where they sang together. I taught myself how to play. Leisz has such a great melodic sense, and this song has it on full display. Leisz grew up in the garage band culture of mid-1960s Southern California. Definitely check out the Sara Watkins album, he's all over it. Nonesuch Records 2001 . It has a deep, full body sound, with amazing resonance. Leisz has been a top-call session musician in the L.A. area for many years, so its no wonder he got the call to do work on this production with such fantastic artists. I feel very fortunate we got through the whole year. ------------------Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning. "Legends of the Incredible Lap Steel". Do whatever you want to do.. They did two version of that song. lang, Lucinda Williams, Matthew Sweet, Meshell Ndegeocello, Paula Cole, Peter Case, Ray Lamontagne, Robert Plant, Sam Phillips, Sara Watkins, Shawn Colvin, Sheryl Crow, Susanna Hoffs, The Bangles, The Jayhawks, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tracy Chapman, Whiskeytown, Wilco, and Allen Toussaint. So the tuning from high (string 1) to low is: E, C, A, F#, E, C). Pedal Steel. Pedal-Steel Guitarist Greg Leisz on His Years With Joni Mitchell, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, and Daft Punk "I don't know how to comprehend everything I've done," says the musician, who. He spent time at the Ashgrove, the Troubador, and clubs on the Sunset Strip . [Laughs] Yes, but Im used to being intimidated by people in the music business. 6.9K views 1 year ago On this Greg Leisz interview, how playing with artists like Dave Alvin, k.d. Leisz single-handedly liberated pedal steel from the bondage of country.. He stays genuine with the instrument, while still allowing its breadth of expression to add value to each recording. Her original version was more what she was doing at the time. A detailed look at one of the most challenging and mysterious aspects of steel guitar playing: the right hand An In-Depth Guide to Picking and Blocking How to Efficiently and Accurately Play Notes on Steel Guitar with Info, Advice, and Tips Great for Pedal Steel, Lap Steel, and Console Steel Guitar Playpedalsteel.com also participates in affiliate programs with CJ, PartnerStack, and other sites. Podcast 66: Greg Leisz on Buddy Emmons. Thats what I kind of remember. It really wasnt like I saw the Beatles on TV and said, I want to be like them. I never really did that. We already have a guitar player. I could see it as a smart thing to do. I love that song. Its actually playing really specific and dedicated, punctuated lines, which is what they were looking for. And it was the first time I remember going to somebodys house to record. Lang, Matthew Sweet, Bill Frisell, Charles Lloyd & others, helped shape his career Greg. But its been a crazy year, just like it has for everybody. LIM_FLAG - Soundboards allowed in ***streaming format only*** four months following a given performance Audience-made Bob Weir concert recordings (exclusive of Grateful Dead, RatDog, The Other Ones, The Dead, and Furthur recordings), can be made available as downloads while available. All are renowned in the business, but some are less well known to the general public. This is one of those songs that I cant imagine without Leiszs pedal steel. When he was working on it, I got brought in. Married to Mai Leisz . It was Steve Gadd and [organist] Walt Richmond and Doyle and Eric. Some of it is credited and other things arent properly credited since that thing was a mess in the latter stages of that record.