Phil Lesh

I knew one really good guitar player whose instructions to new bass players in his band was "Nothing above the 5th fret."  I understand that attitude, but Leland Sklar plays above the 5th fret a lot, and still makes it very musical.

My favorite thing on bass is playing inversions, as James Jamerson did on some of his Motown recordings. Listen to his playing on Marvin Gaye's "Pride And Joy", a KILLER "walking" bass part!

……let’s give Phil the respect he deserves on this thread guys ! 

@goofyfoot - Indeed, at all the shows he did after the transplant, at the end of the show he would always encourage people to be organ donors, as he wouldn't be there if there hadn't been one for him.... 

To appreciate Phil Lesh’s approach to bass playing, give a close listen to the Dark Star > Spanish Jam > Lovelight, with the Allman Brothers, Berry Oakley on bass, 2/11/70. Both Phil and Berry are mixed up in the recording and you get a wonderful contrast and compare between two terrific bass players.

https://archive.org/details/gd70-02-11.early-late.sbd.sacks.90.sbefail.shnf/gd70-2-11d2t1.shn

Among my favorite bass players—so much good stuff but in terms of his studio output his playing on “Unbroken Chain” is outstanding!