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 . At the same time, I was heavily influenced by Bob Dylan and that type of songwriting. I was drawn, even before pedal steel, to traditional slide-guitar music. Bill Frisell "Good Dog, Happy Man" lotsa Leisz. This album is a seminar in playing with taste. His tone (on recent recordings) is, in my opinion, the best you will find in the world. That was the first time I worked with him. And she got Roy Bittan. Greg Leisz (born September 18, 1949) is an American guitarist, plays lap and pedal steel guitar, guitar, mandolin, bass and Dobro. Especially the solo on "Pony". I just had to hope she wouldnt walk out of the room and not come back. I was usually to shy to go up and talk to anybody about it, but I just kind of absorbed the music. He doesnt really talk to the audience. In the earlier stages of his career, Leisz played and toured often with k.d. Thats probably the longest time I havent spent on a plane since I was a teenager. Greg Leisz: Lap Steel Craig Schumacher: Synth Bass John Convertino: Drums, Thunder Drum Brian Lopez: Backing Vocal 3. She wanted a wah-wah on this guitar part and something atmospheric elsewhere. I grew up in a family where I didnt have older brothers or sisters. That was the first thing I did with her. He met Jules Shear. But I have worked on several other sessions with him, including several where we played live in the studio, like Mutations. The year after that, Morning Phase was the album of the year. Its pretty interesting. I remember seeing David Lindley and Jackson Browne back in the 1970s and he was definitely using a Rickenbacker B6 on stage.-----Brad's Page of Steel A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars. Larry Klein bought me onto Turbulent Indigo. I heard this, and could not get that steel guitar sound out of my head. He appeared in the 2016 Cameron Crowe cable television series Roadies, accompanying Jackson Browne on three songs in the last episode of the series. Blues and Rock players tend to favor one of two tuning families: open G/open A, or open D/open E. I sometimes just took day factory jobs in Orange County. Once I got to the point where I could hang out in bars, I used to go to country bars. She made one record before that, at least. I have a credit.. Up until that time, it seemed like there was always some kind of a studio you worked in. In 1987, Leisz began working with Dave Alvin (formerly of The Blasters). I didnt have any role models or anyone that would suggest that could even be a possibility. I didnt meet Taylor or either one of the people from the Civil Wars. When I spoke to Eric, he said to me, Do you know Hop Wilsons music? I said, Yeah, I know it really well. He was surprised. I forget if it was directly by James Iha or the management. Ray Lamontagne live with - Asher Guitars and Lap Steels ], Note: Messages not explicitly copyrighted are in the Public Domain. Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46, Powered by Infopop www.infopop.com 2000 But its been a crazy year, just like it has for everybody. 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? When legendary artists head into the studio nowadays, theres a good chance theyll have Leisz play steel on the production. Greg Leisz is prolific, to say the least. I dont think Warner Bros. was particularly happy, but they allowed her to do it. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. She also never really toured again after 1998. It was from Eric. August 20, 2019. It is in near mint condition and comes with a custom deluxe Cedar Creek hardshell case. I love how much of a drive this song has, it just makes you want to dance under some neon lights. He began playing guitar and soon added dobro and lap steel. 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. Greg Leisz's Gear - Premier Guitar Did you work with Taylor? Does he mostly play E9? Pedal Steel Guitar: Why Its So Hard To Play, Pedal Steel Guitar WEIGHT (Lighter vs. Actually, Ive been working a lot with Jackson Browne. Yeah. 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 Leisz spent his younger years catching acts like the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers in Southern California clubs. Ive worked with Lucinda a lot since then, and even co-produced two of the last three albums [The Ghosts of Highway 20 and Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone] that shes made. Greg Leisz net worth is $800,000 Greg Leisz Wiki: Salary, Married, Wedding, Spouse, Family Gregory Brian Leisz (pronounced "Lease") (born September 18, 1949, Buffalo, New York, United States) is an American musician. Music wasnt brought to me through older siblings or really through any older kids. I hope I didn't make a fool of myself. Hearing Leisz' work on that Bon Iver album convinced me that pedal steel is where I want to head. Greg's always been one of my favorites, from his work with KD Lang to Peter Case to Bill Frisell--I have dozens of CDs he played on that I bought just to hear him. When we ended up playing together, it was kind of fun even though he barely remembered me. This is a gorgeous Asher Acoustic Hawaiian Teardrop Lap Steel owned and played by Greg Leisz who had been using it for recording and touring with Jackson Browne. I just liked the sound of the guitar and I wanted to do it. How has your pandemic year gone? My understanding is he uses a '66 bolt-on push/pull for most of his studio work. I was basically asked to play all the guitars on the album. It sort of became an avenue to make a living by expanding my vocabulary as a guitar player. She had a strong vision. Its actually playing really specific and dedicated, punctuated lines, which is what they were looking for. Well, no. Starting in 1986 or so, your credits list gets insane pretty quick. You did all that in a single day? Help I went in and did one day where I played on a few songs. Hes the one that knew me. Why was I even there? Its kind of a disappointing thing. Another funny story is that when we were in the studio, he had a banjo. And now Im going, There is something here . 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. 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). And then I was like, Wow, I can actually play this stuff. It was just that Billy Corgan was allowing James to do one song on a double album. Also, its interesting to me that it even happened at all. But with the Daft Punk project, everything that band does seems to be very important. produced by Lee Townsend recording and mixing engineer: Judy Clapp. I keep a Strat copy with a Nut Riser and strung with 11's tuned to Open E for gritty Lap steel Blues. That band was really the brainchild of this guy named Richard Stekol, who was one third of the songwriting triumvirate of that band. So the tuning from high (string 1) to low is: E, C, A, F#, E, C). Hes help put the pedal steel on the map of countless areas of music that it probably had never been before. At least that's what David told me 25 years ago. The Robert Plant / Alison Krauss album was another amazing record. He was inspired to pick up the pedal steel after hearing Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Buddy Emmons. Classic country shuffle styles for Band-in-a-Box, by BIAB guru Jim Baron. As an Amazon Associate Playpedalsteel.com earns from qualifying purchases. During this time, are you thinking of music as a possible career, or is it more a fun hobby? Lap Steel Tunings | Telecaster Guitar Forum 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. I can teach myself.. I got pretty good. 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. Note chart for the E9 pedal steel neck. Gretsch Custom Shop Tour. He also writes songs. I think I played the dobro. The longer scale of the Strat (as opposed to traditional Lap steels) seems suited to this type of stuff. Thats what he did. Honestly, though, I hardly play it as I've been really focusing on C6 (and E6). Its crazy. 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. I was there and saw them playing. He is a songwriter, recording artist, and producer. Mission Bell I dont know how else to describe how I feel. Although this track has Leisz on lap steel, I couldnt help but include it! He heard my pedal steel and thought that was something that Joni would embrace in her music. She was unhappy with her producer and had lost her guitar player because I think it was her boyfriend and they had broken up. He met Jack Tempchin. I did a little bit of that. Use the modes of the C major scale in the open pedal position to play over chord changes. But I spent a couple of summers working as a forest ranger in Idaho and fighting fires. If you think about that era, I was in the mid-Sixties conundrum generation where you had a generation gap and a draft. He was probably looking to do something at that same time. A true gentlemen, non-pareil tasteful player and inspiring to talk to. But I think it takes a real receptive ear to hear what youre doing and make a decision to use it in the right way. Theres a picture of me. I had to decide whether it was good myself. 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. My wife plays bass with David Crosby. greg leisz lap steel tuning - sfleague.org Its huge. 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. [Laughs] He was like, Heres this carrot. I really enjoyed his work on the recent Blue Ridge Rangers" album (John Fogarty). I feel very fortunate we got through the whole year. This is all very helpful. He plays guitar, dobro, mandolin, lap steel and pedal steel guitar All Lap Steels 2022-2023 Asher Electro Hawaiian Junior Lap Steel Black with Gig Bag! Bob [This message was edited by Bob Hoffnar on 26 November 2003 at 07:59 AM. She seems sweet. Yeah. As well as Ryan Adams "Ashes & Fire", he is on a few tracks. anyone know? With tasteful use, the blues scale can go a long ways in many musical styles and playing environments. I never thought of it as a career. Why am I going there? I had no idea. As far as lately the latest Luncinda Williams has him on steel and guitar. He had Flood and the other producer [Alan Moulder]. 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. Shes fantastic. All are renowned in the business, but some are less well known to the general public. They are Swedish musicians, but I knew some of the same people that they did. Theyd stick it in their wallet and maybe theyd lose it, or maybe theyd write it down. If youre interested in diving deeper into playing chords and scales on E9 pedal steel, check out these guides, Learn the chords on the E9 neck in a way that makes playing simple and enjoyable. Alot of T-Bone Burnett records have Greg playing steel. If someone asked me for my phone number, Id gladly give it to them and write it on a piece of paper. I already knew how to play guitar by then. I can see why his recording career show so many credits. Here, these artists tell their complete stories, giving an up-close look at life on musics A list. Not to be pigeonholed in just roots music, Leisz (pronounced "Lees") has also played with the likes of Beck, Matthew Sweet, Bad Religion, the Smashing Pumpkins, and Brian Wilson. Its not just flavoring. And then Paul Carrack. I think she had an idea of how she wanted to do it. This is going back to her second album. 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 . And then I went, Holy shit. I texted back to see if it was real. Pedal steel is a great accompanist instrument, but Leisz shows how much a simple sound can add so much depth to a piece of music. Search He was still married to her at that time. They were all getting more into roots music. Im wondering if thats something youd ever like to do.. I have to go back pretty far. 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 It was that tour. I guess they could have learned it from the version we did. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. A marvelous pedal steel player, Leisz has some of the most tasteful playing and impactful tone. Ive come full circle with him. We got a record deal because of Jack Tempchins past of writing songs for the Eagles on their early records. At some point, I just picked up the guitar, probably around 1962 or 1963. Playpedalsteel.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I played a lot of different kinds of guitars on that record. These lap steel tabs and songs were played on an 8 string Excel Jerry Byrd frypan lap steel. Going back here, can you talk about playing with the Smashing Pumpkins on Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness? The other guy was Steves co-producer [Ray Kennedy]. I was also on Where Have All the Cowboys Gone, which was pretty big too. How did you feel when you first heard the record and realized theyd used that much of your work? I think hed become aware of my playing on a couple of other records, especially this K.D. I guess because of that, Ive been fairly active. Its similar. I found out the day before the Super Bowl. Thats one of my favorite Lucinda Williams songs. In 2010 and 2011, Leisz toured with Ray LaMontagne as a member of his backing band, The Pariah Dogs. We met the day I got the studio. He spent time at the Ashgrove, the Troubador, and clubs on the Sunset Strip . "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. The Curmudgeon: A Brief History of American Music's Most - Paste As was already mentioned, his work on the album "Girlfriend" by Matthew Sweet is great. Leisz is playing subtly, yet the sound he creates enhances the track nicely. I was pedal steel and lap steel and some mandolin. It won Album of the Year too. I can imagine that being intimidating. In the studio, usually David used Valco instruments. http://archive.guitarplayer.com/archive/artists/frisell.shtml. Bob Weir : Free Audio : Free Download, Borrow and Streaming : Internet Hundreds of pages of practice, instruction, and reference materials for E9 pedal steel. That was fascinating since I spent more time with her and got to see more process. The band got signed very quickly because there was already a songwriter that had a couple hit songs. Whats more interesting to me is that much later they had me play on Western Stars. Its kind of funny. They had the chorus. Starting the early 1990s, he worked often with Matthew Sweet, played on Sweet's album Girlfriend and toured with him. Let's connect. Yeah. He decided he wanted to have that instrument in that particular band for that tour. I live in a place thats a good place to hang out during a pandemic since its very close to nature. 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. Great album. I didnt know it was Eric Clapton. The first note of the solo slides up to the 12th fret. She was living in Nashville and he was in Los Angeles. 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. The sound of the guitars blew my mind. All Lap Steels - Asher Guitars & Lap Steels Store Tell me about playing on Bruce Springsteens Wrecking Ball. Youre on Youve Got It and We Are Alive. 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. I had seen her play live when she opened for Sarah McLachlan in Los Angeles. I really liked working with her. Leisz has an amazing ability to generate sounds that the pedal steel isnt usually associated with. It was something I really liked to do and I started doing it a lot. Versatile and musically accommodating, Greg shapes up many tracks with his pedal steel playing. It really wasnt like I saw the Beatles on TV and said, I want to be like them. I never really did that. ------------------Brad's Page of Steel A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars, Too bad I procrastinated for more than 20 years. Fortunately, my mother was musical, even though she sang more opera. Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA, Strings & instruction for lap steel, Hawaiian & pedalsteel guitars. Tour Gretsch 's Corona, California, custom guitar building operation with company master builder Chad Henrichsen and PG 's own John Bohlinger. Youre all over the last Daft Punk album. What drew you to the pedal steel? It Took Me 25 YEARS to Get STEADY SESSION WORK | Greg Leisz They did two version of that song. The Lap Steel Tunings Database - 100 tunings for lap steel guitar! I didnt really like service jobs. 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. When I heard electric guitar on records, I wanted to play that. This was a time where I met a lot of people like Victoria Williams and Lucinda Williams, Dave Alvin, Dwight Yoakam, Rosie Flores there was a bunch of people that all kind of knew each other and were playing in the same clubs in L.A. in the late Eighties. I guess I feel very fortunate when I see that, but its just hard to believe theres so many. lang, Wilco, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Cockburn, Shawn Colvin, Paula Cole, and the Venturesto name a few. Definitely check out the Sara Watkins album, he's all over it. And then seven or eight years after that, she did her last album [Shine], and she called me to work on that one, too. I actually didnt think much about a career. It was an amazing experience. Greg Leisz's playing with k d lang is wonderful. The idea that you were going to have to go to Vietnam and maybe kill people, it wasnt conducive to thinking about being a musician. Greg Leisz | | Discogs This track kicks off strong with Leiszs pedal steel at the forefront. It gets crazy. Greg Leisz Net Worth 2023: Wiki Bio, Married, Dating, Family, Height But I played on a song with Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Kris Kristofferson. Pedal Steel Guitar: Why Its So Hard To Play, Pedal Steel Guitar WEIGHT (Lighter vs. Or does he switch necks often? You dont meet the artists. He stays genuine with the instrument, while still allowing its breadth of expression to add value to each recording. A couple years later, he made another record [Old Sock] and Doyle called me again. The word "ubiquitous" is usually placed in front of pedal steel player and guitarist Greg Leisz's name. We recorded that song with Don Heffington on drums and Greg Cohen on bass. 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. Just interested in his equipment and tunnings. But that particular song, what happened there is kind of interesting. Oh, man can Greg play the steel! 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. She didnt want a lot of guitar parts. your profile | join | preferences | help | search. . Log in, Steel Guitar Forum LLCPO Box 237Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA. I really had no idea it would become what it became. How Do the Pedals and Knee Levers Work on a Pedal Steel? I didnt really see myself in the picture. Brian recommend to her that maybe I should do it. Tell me your first memories of being a kid and hearing music that really reached you. It complements it so well. Manage Settings But I was playing in garage bands and he was doing folk music. You get very disillusioned about that being a possibility, but you still keep doing it. Greg Leisz : The Steel Guitar Forum Great for diving into single note playing possibilities and runs on the tuning. I did a couple of songs, and then a couple of days later, I played on another song. Click HERE to hear me play Moon of Manakoora recorded on the D9th lap steel tuning, which is nothing more than dropping the 4th string on your C6th from a G note to an F#. Tabs that display the major scale harmonized in thirdscombine these with harmonized sixths, and single note runs for lots of playing possibilities. You wouldnt know it was Daft Punk, but its got pedal steel all through it. He is awesome. Unraveling the Mysteries - Weissenborn I saw her on Saturday Night Live. It was like, Maybe we can put this instrument on this one song. I also played some other stuff on a couple other songs, but the songs didnt make the record. 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. He has played on so many noteworthy productions, with so many great artists, that to say he has been influential in modern music is probably an understatement. I recently tried to just make a list of the names of the people Id played with, but it was so many that I had to stop. This is the same type of lap steel that Greg Leisz used (along with his Bill Asher steel) when I saw him with Bill Frisell. Shes the one that comes in and walks away with it. I didnt know much about Roxette and it was just that day. He began playing guitar and soon added dobro and lap steel. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Then you were with Joni Mitchell on Turbulent Indigo in 1994. For more ideas on utilizing the pedal steel sonically, check out the page below, Stay up to date on articles, tabs, and more, The pedal steel is much easier than it seems if you approach it with certain essentials in mind. 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 Steel Guitar Forum Im very lucky. I also didnt have parents that thought it was a good idea. She decided she wanted to take over the production of the record herself. I basically thought at one point that Id be a geologist or a forest ranger or something like that. Playpedalsteel.com also participates in affiliate programs with CJ, PartnerStack, and other sites. I wanted to know where she wanted me to play. His heart gets taken out because its broken. Do whatever you want to do.. Use the following techniques: Hold the bar in between your thumb and middle finger. It was actually just one day. Having options for playing minor scales or modes in 6ths can be beneficial when playing in minor keys, over chord vamps, and over certain chords in a progression. Anyway, it was great for me. Greg Leisz Quilter Labs Podcast 66: Greg Leisz on Buddy Emmons. But once I started hearing songs on the radio I liked, Id memorize them and play them on the piano. They made it look like a recording studio onstage. It was just basically recorded in a bedroom. Thats someone I met many years earlier when he played in Ace in the Seventies. And it was a cool thing to get to do that. Custom pedal steel t-shirts, mugs, posters, and moredesigned in Asheville, NC. T Bone has a lot of I dont want to say he delegates, but he trusts musicians to just do what he thinks theyre going to do. I'm pretty new to the world of steel but I'm completely captivated by the subtle detail work Greg Leisz does on 'Bon Iver, Bon Iver.'. Theres one song where you can really hear how its cut up and moved in the track. It is always a pleasure to hear Leiszs playing. I am a huge fan of Greg's playing, and had the pleasure of meeting him after the show. I had met Victoria before that. But anyway, I actually had the experience of playing with him live in the studio. It is in near mint condition and comes with a custom deluxe Cedar Creek hardshell case. Girlfriend is a classic My absolute favorite steel player. Can you bring your 12-string over here to the studio? Its a song called Moonlight Motel. Its the last song on the record. Tunings The Lap steel guitar is not tuned in standard guitar tuning ( E-A-D-G-B-E, low to high). She was bringing in a lot of guitar players and people she knew to overdub on songs that already had guitars on. Blues Dream Bill Frisell I loved it. Buddy Miller's "Majestic Silver Strings". As a janitor, Id work at City Hall, just cleaning bathrooms and stuff like that. His playing on this track sits well in the mix with a tone that hooks the listener. And its interesting to me that youd think of that. Nonesuch Records 2001 . It was. Greg Leisz Follow Artist + The word "ubiquitous" is usually placed in front of pedal steel player and guitarist Greg Leisz's name. She ended up having me play enough takes that she felt she could put together what she wanted. "Legends of the Incredible Lap Steel". Four years later, I worked with her again on Taming the Tiger. The reason Im on this song [laughs] is because Jim called me and said, Im mixing this song. They just had me improvise on it. It kicks off that album and its beautiful. I basically felt like I had to hone my own skills. Greg's toured or recorded with Dave Alvin .