The greatest bass teacher I have ever had (I am 71 years old, have been playing bass for 55 or 56 years, and I still take bass lessons every other week) told me about playing with vocalists, “give the vocals their space and never step on the vocalist”. I keep that at top of mind to this day, and I still get plenty of gigs and studio work thanks to that advice. Leland Sklar is the absolute MASTER of incorporating this in his playing at all times.

"Anybody can play them on the surface",- but to FEEL the music, inhabit excellent musical understanding, putting the notes carefully, making other musicians better ( let the artist shine) and staying earthy and humble even you are an elite musician-that is Lee Sklar's magic in a nutshell! He's one of a kind!

Wow! Thanks! Both of my favorite bassist sharing the stage and even playing together. Now my day is complete.

Truly love watching Leland simply enjoy playing....it doesnt matter if its a pop song or a quiet jam....love your love for the song.

When I was at music college in England I thought “everyone is better than me!” And flunked out before it’s end. I had not realised that they were not just good... but the best! That group held within it a huge contribution to music and I should have relaxed and worked hard! ( Omar (singer/writer), Christine Tobin (jazz singer) Phil Robson (Gtr) and actually many more were there. Twenty years later all their music is recorded and thier stars shine so bright! Relax! Focus! Make learning an act of luv and joy! Be kind to yourself....practice musically.

I first learned about Lee by seeing him when I went to one of Phil’s concerts. Great bassist and he had this vibe that was so obvious. I’ve been at fan ever since.

Thanks for posting this ~ Lee Sklar is such an amazing musician and human being!

Thanks I'm glad I got to watch this show.

I'm so glad you talked about the idea of coming up with those parts that everyone learns, but someone (you) came up with it. It's those special , sometimes very simple parts in music that people never forget. Thx Lee

@bookguitarguy

4 жыл бұрын

Definitely agree. I was hoping it was Lee playing, but the opening bass line in Linda Ronstat's recording of Blue Bayou is a CLASSIC example of what you're talking about. It doesn't get much simpler than that, yet one of the most famous/recognizable bass lines in all of pop music. Not just the intro, but the whole song, actually. The bass player was Kenny Edward's, who'd played with her since her days in the Stone Poneys. What he played TOTALLY complemented her vocal part... what a powerful combo!!

This is friggin’ gold.

Thanks for sharing this. Lee is one of a kind. What a rare combination of a musician who is absolutely clear headed, sensitive, awake, funny and also a brilliant player. Like Jeff Porcaro, the beat and the pulse that he is playing is not really quantifiable.

Videos like this are just a joy to watch in general, but maybe more so for someone like myself who would have loved to play professionally, but decided I wanted to put my engineering degree to work and get paid enough to afford my gear! I've always enjoyed EVERYTHING I see Lee do and still remember actually reading a full article in Musician Magazine back in the day about Lee & the now-infamous producer switch. Just a joy to watch all around. Thank you all for sharing!!

When I was at either Genesis concerts, or Phills I would just watch Lee play his bass thinking Dam that is like the coolest dude.. I am so happy to come across this it has made my night.. And yes Phill Collins Son is definitely Killing it he is Just awesome... Tickets were a hell of expensive but worth it...

@Zerpersande

10 ай бұрын

It’s almost certainly from Phil’s concert. Rutherford and sometimes Steurmer played bass at concerts. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen every Genesis tour since the mid-70s and don’t remember seeing Lee in any of them.

One thing I learned from Tommy Tedesco is... Every time you get a call for a session or any gig. SAY YES to whatever it is they need. Can you play country flamenco? YES... THEN GO FIGURE IT OUT! Tommy was a genius

@Terrible_Peril

4 жыл бұрын

Rene Flores but if you show up and blow it because you don’t fit, you’ve wasted potentially a lot of people’s time and they may go about telling others how it went down. People don’t forget.

@dieterd3119

4 жыл бұрын

Rene Flores I agree, as long as you have the chops to pull it off.

Interview starts at 5:10

@19501960

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, I was losing the will to live.

Absolutely amazing.

If I could go back and master one instrument it would be standup bass. Love hearing the history and background, Lee is a gem, thanks for the post.

Leland was lucky to have been born into an era where there was a lot of opportunities in music, just like much of anything from the era the boomers grew up in, so much creativity during that era.

Great chat guys.

I absolutely admire Leland Sklar as a person and musician. I love his passion and took all he said and played in like a sponge. I´m a drummer and appreciate everything he shares here.

@johnjacobs1625

4 жыл бұрын

I hope you have check out he channel. It's pretty cool. JJ

@tobiasgaust

4 жыл бұрын

@@johnjacobs1625 I follow it and agree. :)

@johnjacobs1625

4 жыл бұрын

@@tobiasgaust Sorry for the carp spelling!

I love reading the January Guitar World interview with Lee too.. that was fantastic thanks to the interwebs it's there.. the best part it wasn't just about guitars Lee even talked beard maintenance...lol looking at is wiki page in the things he played on I had no idea he played on somebody Clint Black albums.. I figured it would be the usual Nashville session musicians on there that's really cool. and I love the hard way it's such a great album

Wonderful stuff, especially after watching a number of the video chats Mr. Sklar's has done during lockdown. There are some comments below criticising the presentation and sound of this Berklee clip. Personally, I feel these are unwarranted, unfair and unjustified. This event was for the benefit of the Berklee students so presentation values are what they are. And Mr. Bailey is acting more as director of the programme, not as an interviewer. He was providing context, filling in some blanks and guiding the conversation where required. That he is a great player in his own right and friends with Sklar resulted in a relaxed and insightful result. A couple things I'm surprised that weren't mentioned include Tommy Bolin having been the replacement for Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple (a gig Steve Morse has now held for decades), and the influence of Billy Cobham's 'Spectrum' on Jeff Beck (thanks to Carmine Appice introducing him to it), most notably his 'Wired' and 'There and Back' albums, where the guitarist and Jan Hammer recreate what the latter had done with Bolin on 'Spectrum'. Also, the double-time shuffling double bass drums.... Alex van Halen may have nicked that from 'Spectrum' for 'Hot for Teacher', though Appice did something very similar earlier on 'Parchment Farm' by Cactus, and Simon Phillips did something similar with Beck on 'Space Boogie', so who knows where Van Halen got it from.

Phil's son LOCKS into the pocket...impressive for a kid! Great snare tone. What makes Lee so special is he has NO ego...he plays with Phil's son...OK, let's do it...helps the kid can groove...but for a 25k session legend, this normally would be like, "Who is on drums?" Lee can also save the band if anyone gets lost...

A must watch for bass players

I hope this Bailey guy is a good teacher....because he is mostly a distraction as a host or whatever he was there for. At times it sounded to me like he was treating the audience as a bunch of know-nothings. He also seemed to be trying to compete with Lee. Fortunately Lee was able to carry the workshop very well and provide some excellent information and practical examples. So thanks to Berklee for a very valuable workshop/video.

@JerryT21

4 жыл бұрын

You're 100% Right

@jamesmartin6709

4 жыл бұрын

I disliked him immediately when he kept having them turn down the spotlights making it difficult to see them on the video.

The producer switch... awesome! It's like what fader 22 does. Some douchbag producer says "we need more of this or that " and we'd say go ahead it's on fader 22. Of course it was connected to nothing. Producer turns it up just so and says " that's much better". When he leaves the control room we finally get to laugh our asses off since we've been biting our tongues the whole time. Can't count how many times we did that. Fader 22! Also, Lee Sklar rules!

@johnjacobs1625

4 жыл бұрын

That's funny and Leland has that switch on one of his guitar that is a fake.

@UTubeISphere

2 жыл бұрын

At 53:35, and the Tommy Tedesco mandolin story - one of Lee's very early studio learning points - just before at 53:00

Good Word and Music Processing....

Right about 1:13:50, Mr. Sklar makes the statement about the best/most creative/etc part of music is the collaboration. This is the best thing I have ever heard him say, and the one that hits me the most. I have been a rock musician since the early-mid 1980's. I have been in a bunch of bands in different genres and parts of the country/world. I have been on stages of all different sizes, I have been in the studio with my own bands, and with other artists (all local with two nationals). Of all the things I've done in the music industry, the studio is my favorite. I love being on stage. I love the audience interaction and meeting them after the show, and all of that. I come alive in the studio. Whether it's the pre-production or the actual studio. When you get into the studio and someone has a riff, or a chorus, or even a full song idea, and when you leave the studio is a completed song..... There is no better feeling

If you only watch one in your life, this is THE ultimate bass player masterclass!

@johnjacobs1625

4 жыл бұрын

Watch him on youtube........ if you like. His own channel.

@martinheath5947

4 жыл бұрын

@@johnjacobs1625 I know!

@johnjacobs1625

4 жыл бұрын

@ianh Leland has his own KZread channel and today the new Immediate Family song Cruel Twist is out. JJ

The challenge of it is a beautiful thing. Leland Sklar

Lee has done so much! Half of those song I didn’t even know Lee was apart of.

That was a beaut! The duo that is. Q: what's better than a bass player? A: Two bass players! I think life is all about harmonic relationships, when we socialize, when we collaborate, when we dream or we have a visit from our split personality, it is all progression of harmony: into something beautiful or into chaos, which is just a few steps away from something beautiful. You can't live all the time in harmony, it must be stepped out of and the chaos be explored so that we can return to harmony, even in the darkest of rooms, without panic or second thoughts. Life may well be a metaphor for music? :)

We saw Phil Collins and Genesis about 6 times and Dave and the mechanics once. Harrisburg Hershey and Phila. Back in the day. Tickets were about 15 bucks. JJ

27:20 Yup. If you're a certain age, it is a trip to even think an actual person created this stuff. That song was so deeply ingrained in my childhood. Wow!!!

Still amazed a Q&A recorded session has NO audience mic for questions...at a music school. Kinda think they would get THAT...just sayin' "The courage to be THAT simple...on Jeff Porcaro.." YUP...YUP...always amazed me about Jeff...true confidence...it is HARD to NOT overplay. @1:04:00 YES YES YES...gotta be able to hang w the boys...and girls

Leland Sklar actually played some Wolfgang tracks on his channel if anyone is interested in hearing his college band.

@UTubeISphere

2 жыл бұрын

Episodes 69, 80, 86 if I am not mistaken.

I can’t find the three bass thing that is being referred to at 58:15. Anybody know where that is?

Lee is solid gold treasure

23:50 That was me in my younger days, imposing my loud drums and fills where they did not belong.

Pay attention kids.....Lee's giving ya pearls here....

What a fantastic, humble gentleman - Such a shame that his like will never be seen again

Leland is the reason why I play bass.

... and I love Lyle too.

24:24 Amazing wisdom.

The essential question is" How do you get good." The answer is, do it...a lot!

⚡️ God -Speed !!! ✌🏼⚡️💪🏼

Listening to that Vanessa Carlton mix really makes me wonder why they even used real musicians. Compressed to bits in ways that James Taylor, BB King, Phil Collins and the music from the 70's breathed. - Today's music doesn't suck as much as the shitty producers & mixers make artists sound. Really.

I love this! I should say though, Steve seems either super tired or super frustrated. He also seems frustrated with students...

Are the left and right channels out-of-phase?

How much $$ to get Leland on a tune?

Rick Beato is right about Lee.

Sorry to many commercials.

👍🏼

Leland Sklar is fascinating to watch perform. He doesn't do it in our interview but he's still pretty awesome: kzread.info/dash/bejne/rJWp06qMhKivpaQ.html

At 49:14 Lee says the G string is 35", but it's actually 34". I can't believe I caught Lee making a mistake! I think it's his first mistake in over 40 years. :-) What an absolutely incredibly creative player, just a monster, yet such a down-to-earth nice guy. There will never be another like him.

Who is the other bassist with Lee?

@djfobtronics

4 жыл бұрын

Steve Bailey

Elton & Liberace now that’s a pair 🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭

@MulaBatiswaHutagaol

3 жыл бұрын

That would be interesting.

Did you play on "Grease" ??? ..."Yes"..... 😂

I played bass in a band after playing 6-string for 20 years at that point. I was blown away at how much a bass can steer the harmonic content of a song and make or break it! The bass can rescue a bombing gig. The bass can make your Halloween gig sound creepy when the rest of the band are playing Christmas songs! If you are new to bass, unless you are a Jimmy Page playing guitar, then you have found the most fun and fulfilling instrument in the band. Actually I was spotted by a local Columbus,OH acquaintance who I'd sold a Fender Mustang to, he saw me at a bar one night, I was playing an acoustic 6-string guitar with the D and high E removed, and tuned the four remaining strings F# C# C# F# (GDDG...the former sounds better). He said, " hey if you can play those four strings you can play a bass right? You want to pay bass in my band, our bass player is leaving next week? " I said sure, and played with Bubba Hotep for 3 years or so. I in quick order landed a very nice playing Japanese 1971 CROWN SG CLONE of a GIBSON EB-3 BASS for $150usd, and ent $70 for an actual vintage Gibson EB-3's bass pickup. My buddy a few years later brought over his Gibson EB-3 and we both were amazed at how well the Japanese got it right. I liked the Crown more o be honest. And lucky me scored a vintage (well in 97' we still said 'old') AMPEG V4B (it's a 100 WATT AMPEG SVT😊) for $150 in the 'Tradin' Times' (penny saver equiv, but better...all before craigslist), I but it holds the bottom pretty well. The F# C# C# F# tuning has little to do with bass, naturally. I'd written over 100 songs with this tuning and sang. An excellent songwriter's tuning! It's a big fat fifth strumming down and a big fat fifth strumming up, the two center C#'s are Unison- 5th string wound/3rd solid for a really nice chorus sound. In the end those four strings put out bigger and more complex sound than EADGBE 6 sting tuning. If you try it, experiment with everything, on't just play Delta blues. You can play a really individual/ personal sound, and write music right on the spot. You will be amazed at how playing simple fingering can give you rich, complex arrangements...the magic happens when you add the vocal melody. "That's four strings?!" ...." Yep, and 2 notes at that. 😊

As easy as explaining away - what is “Infinity” 🤣✌🏼⚡️#Simple

Ok kids are busy,wife left,my next hour and fifty minutes is yours LEE!

GLENN CAMBALL?

I thought the pros should be ready to go

Does he talk about Bernadette Peters?

@truckerkevthepaidtourist

4 жыл бұрын

watch the 2 hours and see

I wish the music business as it existed when Lee Sklar's career was born still existed today. Sadly, it doesn't.

Obviously made by students. UN-listenable! I'd love to hear Lee tell the stories and play but the tracks are just blasting and it takes all the fun out of it.

This host is so awkward, almost insensitive. Just shut up and witness greatness !

@mbrew3244

4 жыл бұрын

Steve Bailey is a monster player... interviewer... i dunno?

@johnjacobs1625

4 жыл бұрын

@@mbrew3244 To Be a good teacher, You must be a better listener. Especially a music teacher.

@mbrew3244

4 жыл бұрын

@@johnjacobs1625 he seems more interested in jumping in

@foxmulder8862

4 жыл бұрын

Fredelin * also if you play with 6 string you have a small p...s

@briananderson2320

4 жыл бұрын

He’s not a host. It’s his class. He’s directing content. Leland is a guest.

💪🏼 Again : Keep it simple -Stupid !!! 🤣 #Listen

Without a click track, Sklar's time and meter are shaky. Helps the rest of us feel mortal, I guess.

@franktaraso2067

4 жыл бұрын

Yes I agree his time is a bit shaky. Perhaps he should go back and re-do the 25,000 or so songs he did. Maybe you could perhaps give him some pointers.

@ranatlas

2 жыл бұрын

The guitarist was playing some weird stuff, not much rhythm there, etc. It came off like he was showing off or something. I found it to be very annoying and uncomfortable. Sklar didn't have much to follow for reference but he did better than most bassists would, given the circumstances.

@Wobbz9413

5 ай бұрын

​@@franktaraso2067love your sarcasm man.

This production is too amateur”

This is from Berklee? Fuck me, I am glad I didn't go there to learn about...ANYTHING. This video is a travesty and so rude to Lee Sklar.

Unwatchable needs serious editing.

@rspratt

4 жыл бұрын

Uh? I thought it was fantastic :)

Average

OMG...5 minutes of farting around ...am I watching a Will Farrell movie?..was expecting "is this thing on?...tap tap tap..+ feedback" .....soooooo unprofessional...does anyone know how to set up just 2 basses and 2 amps, or work lights...this is at Berklee ?!?!?...

Will not watch because the audio is SO BAD, try rerecording it, too bad to miss the stories, sad for professional sound people to have screwed up like this.

@lawrencetaylor4101

4 жыл бұрын

Sorry to inconvenience you.

@randymarsh5088

4 жыл бұрын

The audio is just fine what are you bitching about

@djfobtronics

4 жыл бұрын

Thoughts and prayers

The cat on the left looks put out….won’t let go of the mic….a bit of musical jealousy perhaps….?