The legendary Leland Sklar

If you don't know who Leland Sklar is you should.  His list of studio and live work is too long for this blog so I will start with some of the biggies.   He is a great player with much of what we strive to demonstrate in our work, great sound, taste and chops. 

With James Taylor in 1971



With Phil Collins in 1990, killer chops in this one.



With Toto.  Good luck finding a band with just two guys like Steve Lukather and Leland, let alone the rest of this outfit.  Toto is packed with musicians that know how to make great music with chops and taste. 



Just hanging out in a music store.  Killing it.



Here's an interview with Leland and Waddy Wachtel, another studio (and live) legend you should know about.

Fundementals: Key of C, step ups and step downs. Watch the guitar player!

Here's one a lot of students are doing over the past few weeks.  It's good for many experience levels and works on bass or guitar.  This exercise works scales and chords and bass notes but works everything in one step at a time.  Pause video and practice the pieces whenever you need to.  Most of you have the hand out, if you don't have it I can get it to you.  Practice it thoroughly!  We'll build on this quite a lot, even if it doesn't seem like it is in your style.

Bass players, this helps you figure out what to do!


The step ups video

Moving around in basic progressions 1 5 6- 4

Do this one!   Do it early and often.  We will discuss the numbers, they are very important.   Students, let me know if you have questions and ask me for the handout if you don't have it.   This is a very basic, extremely common progression in the key of G.

The video


What you want to know by the time you are finished working on this and working it into your playing:


What do the numbers mean?

How practical and usable is this exercise?


There is (of course) more to learn and work on here than meets the eye.    ;-)