Getting Started (C6th Hawaiian Tabs)Hawaiian Steel Guitar. lang's Grammy-winning Absolute Torch and Twang and joined her on the resulting tour. He stays genuine with the instrument, while still allowing its breadth of expression to add value to each recording. He is a songwriter, recording artist, and producer. Greg Leisz is my favorite modern pedal steel player. She wanted something very specific. We got a record deal because of Jack Tempchins past of writing songs for the Eagles on their early records. Private Messages I was drawn, even before pedal steel, to traditional slide-guitar music. We want to hear it. She was taking parts off and replacing them. Part of his universal appeal -- which certainly draws on the experimental nature of those influences -- comes from an open-minded approach to lap and pedal steel, an approach that casts aside Nashville references. 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. Specifications I just had to hope she wouldnt walk out of the room and not come back. Greg Leisz is prolific, to say the least. Use the modes of the C major scale in the open pedal position to play over chord changes. Once you get an instrument in your hand and start playing it, you go, Wow. Then you teach yourself something and youre able to do it, you can apply it, its mind-expanding. 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. The Robert Plant / Alison Krauss album was another amazing record. They did a lot of interesting stuff with what I played. I already knew it and I came out of the Sixties and had a folkie background and could understand that stuff. She ended up having me play enough takes that she felt she could put together what she wanted. I wanted to figure out how to make those sounds. And it came out really good. I said, Oh great. And I had to go, How do you deal with that? But thats another story. lang, Wilco, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Cockburn, Shawn Colvin, Paula Cole, and the Venturesto name a few. There was a lot of stuff in your head, so you didnt think that was a possibility. He began playing guitar and soon added dobro and lap steel. It is in near mint condition and comes with a custom deluxe Cedar Creek hardshell case. Gretsch Custom Shop Tour. Pedal Steel. 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. They had the chorus. Im wondering if thats something youd ever like to do.. We were both sitting there with acoustic guitars and I play a little on this song. I asked her if she had any ideas for the song when we started. Fortunately, my mother was musical, even though she sang more opera. He showed me the song [River Runs Deep] and pulled out an acoustic guitar. He originally just wanted me on Killing the Blues. I just worked with his engineer. lang, adding pedal steel to this Grammy-winning album. Leisz is no stranger to rock n roll, and always has the ability to add grit and bite to songs. Similar to playing with a slide or playing pedal steel, the lap steel uses a bar that slides across the strings. I got a job as a janitor and as a substitute mailman for a while. He was inspired to pick up the pedal steel after hearing Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Buddy Emmons. In 1989, he played on k.d. They are Swedish musicians, but I knew some of the same people that they did. She didnt want a lot of guitar parts. Help After the band broke up, he became a popular musician both in the studio and on the road. Maybe we can have that guy in the band. Hes added so much great pedal steel playing to Frisells albums over the years, that listening to Frisells work is perhaps one of the best ways to learn what the pedal steel is capable of in Leiszs hands. These two have such a great melodic sense, and their instruments weave in and out of each other to create a beautiful tapestry of sound. Can you bring your 12-string over here to the studio? I have to go back pretty far. This is going back to her second album. While Greg ranges widely stylistically, he can also play excellent straight-ahead country style, as on some of his work with Rosie Flores. It has a deep, full body sound, with amazing resonance. Its from the Hunger Games movie. Once youre in that world, your ears become really open to hearing stuff. The record came out and you cant even hear what I played. I hope I didn't make a fool of myself. His playing on this track sits well in the mix with a tone that hooks the listener. Greg Leisz played some really nice parts on her new CD "Illustrated Songs" but I did not see this listed among his credits. She Ended Up Finding Herself, Hear Ann-Margret and Pete Townshends New Take on the Everly Brothers Bye Bye Love, Through the Morning, Through the Night., video where Jackson is getting a heart transplant, David Lindley, Multi-Instrumentalist Who Shaped the Sound of Soft Rock, Dead at 78, How Deem Spencer Learned to be Vulnerable on His New Album adultSW!M, Suki Waterhouse Won't Take Romance For Granted on New Single 'To Love', Travis Barker Says His Finger Ligament Surgery Was a 'Success' After Postponing Blink-182 Tour, J-Hope, Boygenius, and All the Songs You Need to Know This Week, DeSantis Disney Appointee Said Tap Water Might Be Turning People Gay. And although I've already owned six different lap steels, I have yet to get my Bakelite Rick. Once I got to the point where I could hang out in bars, I used to go to country bars. Ive been very fortunate since all my friends and family have remained healthy and fine. Actually, Ive been working a lot with Jackson Browne. Greg Leisz Follow Artist + The word "ubiquitous" is usually placed in front of pedal steel player and guitarist Greg Leisz's name. That was the case with Joni Mitchell. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Where are you right now? Thats one of my favorite Lucinda Williams songs. Honestly, though, I hardly play it as I've been really focusing on C6 (and E6). It doesnt always work. Also, its interesting to me that it even happened at all. T Bone talked her into doing it this other way. Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46, The greatest musical hands in the world, now on CD! Help With origins dating back to the 19thCentury, the steel guitar found its way to Hawaii by courtesy of Mexican settlers. Every instrument and musical note seems to fall right in place, with great sounding timbres, and Leiszs pedal steel is no different. He does some nice work on Jakob Dylan's "Women And Country". Bill Frisell "Good Dog, Happy Man" lotsa Leisz. 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. I guess because of that, Ive been fairly active. This album is a seminar in playing with taste. 190 views, 8 likes, 1 loves, 1 comments, 1 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Asher Guitars and Lap Steels: Ray Lamontagne live with Greg Leisz on his Asher Lap Steel. Tell me your first memories of being a kid and hearing music that really reached you. Prior to that record, I knew who she was. Time and time again, Leisz shows that his ear is always adept to the present musical situation he finds himself in, creating in the moment. That pretty much sums it up. [Editors note: Leisz does, in fact, play on the Pretty Woman version of the song.]. But its been a crazy year, just like it has for everybody. August 20, 2019. This track kicks off strong with Leiszs pedal steel at the forefront. I wanted to know where she wanted me to play. Very nice and tasteful playing. Gretsch Custom Shop Tour. And until the record came out, I didnt even see the producer until after I finished the session. But that particular song, what happened there is kind of interesting. It has really great songs, but it had some amazing pedal steel by Buddy Emmons. K D Lang's "Ingenue" album has superb playing by Greg Leize. I think hed become aware of my playing on a couple of other records, especially this K.D. Well, in those 10 years, I spent a lot of time playing in clubs, basically. I didnt really know what to call it. I love that song too. Right on Nate! It was really close in time to after her record came out. 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 Utilize the major scale on common positions of the fretboard using foot pedals. Love this solo! We just did a video of whats going to be his next single. 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. But with the Daft Punk project, everything that band does seems to be very important. If someone asked me for my phone number, Id gladly give it to them and write it on a piece of paper. I really liked working with her. He decided he wanted to have that instrument in that particular band for that tour. I knew right then it was all up to me. And now Im going, There is something here . your profile | join | preferences | help | search. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Thats someone I met many years earlier when he played in Ace in the Seventies. Their collaboration led to Leisz producing several of Alvin's albums, including King of California, Black Jack David, Ashgrove, and West of the West. By that time, I had been in some bands and the bands had broken up. I never ended up doing anything live with him. 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. Theres a picture of me. Leisz has played on countless recording sessions over the years, and a look through his credits will astound any music fan. ], [This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 26 November 2003 at 07:59 AM.]. Youre on Paula Coles I Dont Want to Wait, which was an enormous song. For blues, rock, jazz, and many other styles, using the Mixolydian scale in the form of harmonized sixths can be a great avenue for musical expression. He tried to get a deal as a solo artist and he was told that he should get a band around him. Any kind of musical style or production can probably be enhanced one way or another with a touch of Leiszs pedal steel, and this track is no exception. The year after that, Morning Phase was the album of the year. He needs an artificial heart. 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. Heavier Models), Parts & Hardware (Where to Find, Details, Info), How To Open Up the E9 Tuning (for Pedal Steel), The Chord Guide for E9 Pedal Steel Guitar, The Art of Right Hand Technique (for Steel Guitar), The Elixir of E9 Pedal Steel: Harmonized 6ths, 200 Country Riffs & Licks for E9 Pedal Steel, 7 Best Pedal Steel Albums (That You Must Hear), Backing Tracks (Where To Find, Info, Types), 7 Songs Featuring Greg Leisz On Pedal Steel, Buddy Emmons Characteristics: How They Can Improve your Playing, Recording & Mixing the Pedal Steel Guitar, Pedal Steel: 5 Best Ways to Use a Compressor Pedal, How to Record Pedal Steel (and Capture its ALLURING Sound), C6 Fretboard Diagram Flat & Sharp Notes, Universal Tuning & Copedent for Pedal Steel, Pedal Steel Copedents (Info, Types, Details). I havent been on a plane for about 14 months or something. The Steel Guitar Forum This song is a great example of how tasteful Leiszs playing can be. Greg Leisz (born September 18, 1949) is an American guitarist, plays lap and pedal steel guitar, guitar, mandolin, bass and Dobro. Leiszs ability to add whatever a track needs always feels natural and timeless at the same time. The first note of the solo slides up to the 12th fret. I didnt really like service jobs. Put your index finger on top of the bar, which helps you guide and control it. It sets the tone for the rest of the track, seguing smoothly into Alison Krausss vocals. I saw Rosie play in San Francisco a couple years ago - she was great! I never really liked the Grateful Dead, and now Im in Bobs band the Wolf Brothers with Don Was. I also didnt have parents that thought it was a good idea. Lang, Matthew Sweet, Bill Frisell, Charles Lloyd & others, helped shape his career Greg. The key to it working out was we had a couple conversations on the phone. Manage Settings 148 South Cloverdale Blvd. This would encompass all the work he does with T-Bone, and likely the Bon Iver and other indie records he's doing these days. On pedals,he plays both necks very well and he told me he's been playing a U-12 Sierra on the Bill Frisell gig.On lap,he plays a number of tunings and seems to come up with nice stuff even if it's a tuning he just made up to suit a certain song.No slouch on standard guitar either.I've been trying to get him on the forum as he's aware his name comes up from time to time.Hey Greg - you out there? If you think about that era, I was in the mid-Sixties conundrum generation where you had a generation gap and a draft. The 100 Best Albums of 2022. 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. At the 2:44 mark check out Leiszs cool harmonic lick that echoes the vocals. He appeared in the 2016 Cameron Crowe cable television series Roadies, accompanying Jackson Browne on three songs in the last episode of the series. Thats because Ive done a lot of stuff with T Bone Burnett. I was shaking on my way to the studio. Yeah. Thats another one of those random things. We did a short tour opening for Hall and Oates. One lesson that will aid your set of lap steel guitar lessons nicely is this one from your friends at the National Guitar Academy: Slide Guitar Tuning: The Essential Guide. We met the day I got the studio. I cant really believe it myself. I didnt have one and said Id like to play it. He was still married to her at that time. This edition features pedal-steel guitarist Greg Leisz. Was this the 1998 tour with Bob Dylan and Van Morrison? Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support. She was on my radar as somebody up-and-coming. What happened in that time? All are renowned in the business, but some are less well known to the general public. Im not one of those people that went, This is what I want to do with my life. Its weird to call it a hobby, but I guess thats what my parents would have called it. I actually didnt think much about a career. . I was also on Where Have All the Cowboys Gone, which was pretty big too. I never saw that coming. As was already mentioned, his work on the album "Girlfriend" by Matthew Sweet is great. Greg Leisz plays a Weissenborn Style 2, Style 1, and teardrop model with an original metal tailpiece (anyone seen another?). Its insane. My friend Brian Blade played drums on it. When she was making Car Wheels, that was really at the end stages of the record. Steel guitarist Greg Leisz, who first made his name playing on Americana records from Dave Alvin, Lucinda Williams and Bonnie Raitt, has more recently been playing on progressive-jazz albums. I was pedal steel and lap steel and some mandolin. I went in and did one day where I played on a few songs. And my experience with that is, a lot of people that Ive worked with, you think theyre going to be intimidating, but theyre so good at making you feel comfortable that you wind up singing that persons praises. It is in near mint condition and comes with a custom deluxe Cedar Creek hardshell case. Greg Leisz - pedal steel, lap steel, National steel guitar, Scheerhorn resonator guitar, mandolin Ron Miles - trumpet Billy Drewes - alto saxophone David Piltch - bass Kenny Wolleson - drums, percussion Curtis Fowlkes - trombone. Im fully vaccinated, have been for some time. At least that's what David told me 25 years ago. Pearl Jam have played that song countless times. She decided she wanted to go play some live shows. I was doing Gloria or something. Playpedalsteel.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'playpedalsteel_com-large-leaderboard-1','ezslot_12',176,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-playpedalsteel_com-large-leaderboard-1-0');report this ad, E9 Pedal Steel: Chord Charts for A, B, & E Minor Chords, The 6 Best Ways To Use Compressors: TIPS & Tricks, Pedal Steel on Todays Music Scene: A Hidden Gem, 9 Best Pedal Steel Guitars (That Sound AMAZING). It was the sound of it. He spent time at the Ashgrove, the Troubador, and clubs on the Sunset Strip . She seems sweet. Thats probably the longest time I havent spent on a plane since I was a teenager. I worked with Rose Flores from Austin Texas last year out here in NZ and Greg was all over her albums and material --- fantastic playing ! You dont meet the artists. Lovely conversation with this music legend. I played a lot of different kinds of guitars on that record. ------------------Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning. And then I was like, Wow, I can actually play this stuff. 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. When he was working on it, I got brought in. My understanding is he uses a '66 bolt-on push/pull for most of his studio work. He felt it would be too many musicians and that it should be more stripped-down. I didnt know much about Roxette and it was just that day. Pedal Steel Guitar: Why Its So Hard To Play, Pedal Steel Guitar WEIGHT (Lighter vs. gretsch. Yeah. She wanted something focused on every song. They were referencing a lot of what they thought of as Seventies music, and using it. I got pretty good. The reason Im on this song [laughs] is because Jim called me and said, Im mixing this song. They made it look like a recording studio onstage. It was actually just one day. She wanted a wah-wah on this guitar part and something atmospheric elsewhere. Another funny story is that when we were in the studio, he had a banjo. Im very lucky. But I played on a song with Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Kris Kristofferson. When I taught myself how to play the electric guitar when I was 13, 14, its a visceral thing. The 6 string lap steel is great for Hawaiian, blues, slide guitar licks, many country songs, dobro style riffs and can imitate a lot of what can be played on the 8, 10 and 12 string tunings. Tour Gretsch 's Corona, California, custom guitar building operation with company master builder Chad Henrichsen and PG 's own John Bohlinger. In 1987, Leisz began working with Dave Alvin (formerly of The Blasters). That was great, for me. When I saw Greg with the Intercontinentals a few months ago, he was playing an Asher lap steel, Bob Hoffnar's Emmons push-pull, (Greg uses a PP for recordings he told us), and what I thought it was an old Rickenbacker lap in some kind of E tuning. Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46, Powered by Infopop www.infopop.com 2000 Her original version was more what she was doing at the time. We already have a guitar player. I could see it as a smart thing to do. Its overwhelming. These lap steel tabs and songs were played on an 8 string Excel Jerry Byrd frypan lap steel. I didnt study music because I didnt think that was a career option for me. #raylamontange. All in good time --, [This message was edited by Russ Young on 22 November 2002 at 09:12 PM. And when she was young, she actually sang in a Broadway musical and light opera in the mid-Forties, during the war. Like what? The music started coming into my consciousness a lot more. I ended up working on a few other albums with him. I was able to play a lot of different kinds of music. Leisz enjoyed collaborating with her for nearly twenty years straight, and this musical dynamic is always worth listening to. I was there and saw them playing. Lap Steel. As well as Ryan Adams "Ashes & Fire", he is on a few tracks. Thats another crazy story. The band got signed very quickly because there was already a songwriter that had a couple hit songs. We recorded that song with Don Heffington on drums and Greg Cohen on bass. He had Phoebe come in and be in the video. Thats what I kind of remember. "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. She decided she wanted to take over the production of the record herself. They ended up pulling it because of that incident. The experience was great. 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 didnt really expect any sort of a follow-up. It is always a pleasure to hear Leiszs playing. Why was I even there? Its kind of a disappointing thing. Adding distortion to the lap steel, Leisz gives so much personality to this Bruce Springsteen track. But once I started hearing songs on the radio I liked, Id memorize them and play them on the piano. Definitely check out the Sara Watkins album, he's all over it. I actually went to college for a while and studied geology. Were going to try and match the sound and have you play the 12-string in the parts that arent there. If you look at the credits, it has two players playing 12-string on the song. It was pretty terrifying. With tasteful use, the blues scale can go a long ways in many musical styles and playing environments. produced by Lee Townsend recording and mixing engineer: Judy Clapp. No matter who I play with, I try to integrate what Im doing with what Im hearing. I really do like what I played on that song. They did all that stuff in Nashville. Greg Leisz: Lap Steel Craig Schumacher: Synth Bass John Convertino: Drums, Thunder Drum Brian Lopez: Backing Vocal 3. He was great. No. How was your experience in Eric Claptons touring band in 2013? Leisz single-handedly liberated pedal steel from the bondage of country.. Nonesuch Records 2001 . "I don't know how to comprehend everything I've done," says the musician, who has also played with Beck, Phoebe Bridgers, Bob Weir, Smashing Pumpkins, and Lucinda Williams. She did a tour with an orchestra [in 2000], but it was last time she went out and played guitar with a band. She set me straight and said, Im not going to tell you anything. I didnt play live with her. She came in and she was real sweet. I can see why his recording career show so many credits. My understanding is he uses a '66 bolt-on push/pull for most of his studio work. The people that you meet and have a connection with, suddenly theres another connection later on. Later, I did play on a James Iha solo album [Let It Come Down] that Jim Scott produced. Thats another crazy story. But I love that record. Married to Mai Leisz . For the next eighteen years he toured with Lang and recorded with her, including her album Ingenue. Check out these 7 songs that feature Leiszs fantastic pedal steel playing. I overdubbed on that. 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. A couple of months later, a box came to my house and it had a banjo in it. Buddy Miller's "Majestic Silver Strings". I love how much of a drive this song has, it just makes you want to dance under some neon lights. Join It was a natural fit with a lot of people. It gets crazy. Im going to make a list and send it to people. He told me the band, that he wanted Willie Weeks and Steve Jordan to be the rhythm section and Doyle and Chris Stainton. Getting paid for anything is always a pain in the neck. from $995.00 $1,773.00 Sale You probably know the history. A true gentlemen, non-pareil tasteful player and inspiring to talk to. I am a huge fan of Greg's playing, and had the pleasure of meeting him after the show. I really enjoyed his work on the recent Blue Ridge Rangers" album (John Fogarty). Adding distortion to the lap steel, Leisz gives so much personality to this Bruce Springsteen track. Your purchases help youth music programs get the gear they need to make music. The last plane flight I was on, I went to New York at the beginning of last February. I actually went to the same high school as Jackson. Its called Horizon. Its probably on Spotify now. Oh, man can Greg play the steel! I think I played the dobro. David Murphy (left) photographed by Richie Tyndall. He introduced Jules to Jack and vice versa. On the other hand, she was always very interested in hearing what I could come up with. Does he mostly play E9? So the tuning from high (string 1) to low is: E, C, A, F#, E, C). He basically put the band together since he was the only person that knew everyone that ended up in it. This track is beautiful and Leiszs pedal steel comes in almost right away. Custom pedal steel t-shirts, mugs, posters, and moredesigned in Asheville, NC. I didnt meet him. Youve recorded and toured a ton together over the years. Sometimes you just kind of go, Why did they pay me the money? Thats another situation where I wasnt involved in the tracking. I started meeting people that came out of almost the punk era in the Eighties. And Id save money from doing that and come back to California with several thousand dollars, which is a lot of money for fighting fires. It was one of those things where she had a breakout song with that Cowboys song and suddenly the record company was like, Oh, we knew it the whole time! Ive seen this a lot before. Just interested in his equipment and tunnings. Thats what they called New Wave at the time. He said, Im not sure what songs Im going to do. I guess they could have learned it from the version we did. Originally played on the lap, the instrument was a modification to the Spanish guitar, whereby the strings were raised by a half inch, creating what was at . Anyway, it was great for me. It was the same thing that drew me to the electric guitar. That was amazing. Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA, Strings & instruction for lap steel, Hawaiian & pedalsteel guitars. And then I would live off that money and play music for as long as I could. I went through a little bit of soul searching. I did a couple of songs, and then a couple of days later, I played on another song. As far as lately the latest Luncinda Williams has him on steel and guitar. And then Paul Carrack. Versatile and musically accommodating, Greg shapes up many tracks with his pedal steel playing. It wasnt the first band that wasnt successful that I was in, but it was the band that had the most attention focused on it, quite a bit in a very short time. Great for diving into single note playing possibilities and runs on the tuning. All recordings used a Boss RV-5 set on hall reverb, a Fender black face Vibro-Champ amp and a Shure SM-57 mic. I'm learning to appreciate and love the form but it's just not my natural habitat, musically speaking. That was fascinating since I spent more time with her and got to see more process. I never even listened to the Dead. If you have a certain kind of shy disposition, youre usually intimidated because you dont know what to say and you just hope the person that is intimidating wont be intimidating because of something that you say. I especially love what came out of that. I didnt have any role models or anyone that would suggest that could even be a possibility. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . 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.