Chordplay - The Chords of Leslie West

Hey everyone! Here's the next episode of Chordplay with The Chords Of Leslie West. I've had a number of requests to feature more of the late-great Leslie West's music, and the last time I featured him on my channel, it was nearly three years ago this month, with a Three-For-All episode that I created/posted the exact same day that he passed away. A huge loss to guitarists everywhere, as his music as a solo artist and with the massively influential band Mountain cannot be over-explained or ignored.
The music in this episode came from two classic Mountain albums from the early 1970s, along with Leslie's 1969 solo album debut 'Mountain' - which is where the band eventually took their name. The chord-based and rhythm guitar ideas shared here include great deep-cuts such as You Can't Get Away, Never in My Life, Sittin' On A Rainbow, Blood Of The Sun, This Wheel's On Fire, and The Laird - to name a few.
Needless to say, if you're a Leslie West/Mountain fan, a fan of timeless classic rock guitar playing, a player searching for some new chord moves to add to their bag of tricks, or maybe you're just curious what all the fuss is about - this episode is totally for you! Give this episode a view, leave some comments/feedback, and please subscribe to Late Night Lessons - THANK YOU!
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[@jrumiano]

Leslie West is one of my favorite player of all time with a vibrato that not many players today can match.

[@paullavallee1631]

Leslie was a true force of nature

[@alanmcclelland5245]

Grabbed my guitar immediately to blast ' Never in my life '. Thanks LNL

[@nunestunes]

Story goes Hendrix complemented Leslie on the "Never in my Life" riff

[@josephblomeister3040]

Even though we saw quite a few Mountain shows in the 70s I had no idea Leslie played so many interesting chords! And acoustic guitar too! Cool story: when West Bruce and Laing played at the famous now defunct Winterland Arena in San Francisco in the 70s we used to get there early to get first in line. I somehow was able to help the band unload their truck and was able to carry Jack Bruce's bass to the dressing room and open it up a look at it! Dave: idea for a great video "The solo guitar style and riffs of Ronnie Montrose" Consider analyzing the solos in Good Rockin' Tonight (1st album) Thanks!

[@BillCollinsGuitar]

I was there, too!

[@Pyrographx]

Damn! You keep coming up with surprises! Thank you! 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@if6turnedouttobe9]

Awwww David...Why u do me like that..? I'll be up all night now...

[@rd9219]

YES!!!! While i really like Mississippi Queen, Leslie did SO MUCH MORE

[@easter_sunday]

I have to admit that I will take nuggets from these lessons and blend them together. An example of this is the Jerry Reed lesson and the slide lesson. This one will definitely be useful as well. PS I own some wood. The rock and roll majesty of a plank of wood with a P90 in it cannot be denied! (Les Paul jr) Thank you for the Content Sensei Dave. 🎸

[@patrickkish6662]

David, I'm pretty sure if you bought a small apartment complex, we'd all move in. Just to hear you play everyday. No lie 😁

[@markroylance1584]

Not the songs i was expecting but reminds of hearing Leslie as a teenager learning to play...His vibrato was so distinctive and 53 years later I still cant play with that much SOUL!

[@greg77hot]

First !!! and loved it ... grew up on the Mountain ... awesome Dave !

[@sotirios6882]

The last time i saw Leslie live was at Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh L.I. N.Y. Late 90's VH was playing Sammy calls out that we have a special guest for you tonight n out comes Leslie. They jammed out to Mississippi Queen. Its was a beautiful summer night. That was such a treat. Leslie was a Moutain of a man. Now sorely missed. Him n Ed must be cranking it out in heaven. R.I.P. LEGENDS 🙏❤️🎸 This was a treat Dave tnx. Rock on brother 🤘

[@michaelmerrullo2043]

I love that you covered the Laird and the breakdown of Blood of the Sun. The whole Chordplay was awesome! One that didn't make the cut, I love the sound and whatever he does on the One Cold Kiss chords. Sounds so cool, pure ear candy. Actually that doesn't sound too complicated, but the way he breaks into that first chord sounds cool. I think I can figure it out, it's as much about his sound now that I'm reanalysing

[@henrys.6864]

One Michael Schenker's favorite guitarist. You can tell in Michael's playing where he got his vibrato and phrasing from Leslie! Leslie just a cool guitarist! He is definitely missed! RIP Leslie! 🎸 Leslie's band mate, Felix Pappalardi, Leslie truly missed when he past. What a voice! RIP Felix Pappalardi!🎙🎸

[@buddylobos5277]

Mississippi Queen was the theme song for the movie "Vanishing Point". I was a 'BIG' Cream fan. Some would say obsessed. I was 15 (1966) when Cream hit. I had a New Harmony Sovereign. I was sure playing guitar is supposed to hurt. A Minnesota boy who had been to Glacier Park often, & it hit me that the perfect band name was Mountain. Yeah, once I get this Harmony guitar to rock, my band name will be Mountain. When that dream was ruined by Leslie West I became a booking agent.....No just kidding. Thanks Dave

[@waynewells915]

AWSOME as always! You never cease to amaze me with your choices and breakdown of guitarists🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@jteichma]

Best guitar teacher on the planet!

[@xavesaves9517]

David, I love the Chordplay series. I'd particularly love to see a video in the future of the chordplay of Todd Rundgren during his progressive rock years, or even a soloing secrets video on him too, I can't get enough of his giant bends and smooth vibrato on songs like "Utopia Theme".

[@sabbster1157]

Excellent lesson again. Leslie was a monster

[@carlhargis8573]

Killer!!!!!!!! To this Day ! this Stuff cant be Toped!!!!!!!!

[@thomasryan5681]

Always loved Mountain. Leslie's riffs, fills and phasing.... . OMG. Great to see (and hear) these songs that I've been attached to for all these years. How about 'Blind Man'?

[@jmar482]

I was fortunate enough to see Leslie West in a small club in NYC in the late 80’s. The turn out was small which was great for me a my buddy because we got to be right at the front of the stage. He was amazing. We actually got to talk with him for a while after the show and he was such a gracious dude. Will never forget that.

[@thebombu]

Absolutely sick! Great recognition/respect & lesson from you as always.💯🔥🎸

[@GeeDee803]

You "right", he play some songs sick - i mean wrong. He have to check most of the songs AGAIN ! I play Mountain and Leslie West since i play Guitar ( i started playing in 1963) Where are the high Tones that Leslie play??

[@warrior4949]

That intro lick is tasty! Never heard that song.

[@michaelmerrullo2043]

❤😲 My first guitar love. Thank you

[@voronOsphere]

This Blues Rock Rules! Great flavors in this lesson! Thanks, David!

[@lauriekennedy7984]

west bruce and laing was one of my first albums i bought still like it at 70

[@Viper_555]

Leslie West was one of my main inspirations for gravitating towards the Les Paul Junior. Even for its simplicity, it truly is a versatile instrument. Leslie proved that he could make one roar like a B-52!

[@MacD1074]

Great work. Would love to see more of the acoustic stuff from Leslie. Thanks!

[@spideymarino]

Brilliant stuff, thanks. Some great insights here. The Laird is such a great track, not only the acoustic parts you’ve shown but also Leslie’s tasteful lead fills. Thanks.

[@dwainphillips]

Nantucket Sleighride is a great song. Great intro song

[@bobboitt3126]

MOUNTAIN 👍🎸Loved the acoustic riffs you showed!

[@esteban1487]

David you are all over that tone. Nice!

[@juanrajara2887]

The time I saw Mountain at The Aragon he was playing through Orange amps and cabinets. Around that time I read Leslie say that he liked the way they were, or weren't, grounded.

[@Cnhfcsh]

Hey, man. I love your lessons. There’s an ocean of guys on the Internet giving guitar lessons. Many of them are pretty good. You are the best. You do an excellent job of explaining the specifics, the details. And your attitude, your persona,is quite enjoyable. Two thumbs up man.

[@mblazer4004]

I love listening to you play. Great tone too. Appreciate the videos.

[@esteban1487]

Listened to Twin Peaks a LOT in high school. Double album. Nantucket Sleigh Ride was incredible.

[@brucehelppie6119]

i grew up in that era. i forgot that they played woodstock. they were another great band from the late 1960s. theme from an imaginary western was another great song.

[@brucehelppie6119]

dave-i didn't catch the picture of leslie west with steve morse, but i knew steve back when we were 11-12 years old. steve was already a dedicated guitar player back then, the smartest kid around and a guy who could wheely his bike down the street for blocks.

[@outtathyme5679]

Yessss

[@timothyruiz4317]

I had the Woodstock triple album and Mountain wasn't even on it, so I never knew they were there

[@MarkEdward-bl6cr]

With all the focus on shredding these days it seems like this type of guitar music is definitely overlooked but there is some great content here awesome job on the Breedlove David 🤘

[@wayfaerer320]

From his 2013 album - Still Climbing. The intro guitars on "Not Over You At All" - it's so simple, but the sound is just friggin' massive - gives me chills.

[@joeurbanowski321]

LESLIE WEST..??!?! Right after…MARSHALL TUCKER..??!!?! Man.! I always dug your vids.. but now I’m approaching NIRVANA..!!! Thanks.!✌🏼❤️

[@CHill-uh1fg]

It was Leslie West that made me love that big vibrato, which you've seem to have mastered. It's something that a lot of players seem to overlook. Your zz top and mountain are some off my favorites.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

Been playing for 40 years and the thing I hear that makes a good guitarist great is their vibrato. There is so soooo much more that can be done with vibrato other than just sounding like a goat being strangled.

[@richarddelconnor]

In 1972 I was hitchhiking from coast to coast in Canada and saw Mountain perform. I think in Toronto. Corky Lang was on a huge super high drum pedestal.

[@ransbarger]

Love it! Thanks.

[@gsharpe6840]

Thanks for this!!!!

[@jessprice1518]

Thanks man!!! That was awesome

[@Sutich]

Awesome lesson. How do you get the album to change on your wall all the time? That's pretty sweet!

[@patrickkish6662]

I think it's magic 🪄✨🌟

[@Sutich]

@@patrickkish6662 I was hoping that was the answer 😂

[@patrickkish6662]

@@Sutich Dude, you and I both know it🤙

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

9:00 Yea, it sounds like _Can't Explain_ by The Who. Edit: Wow, I didn't know Leslie was so into "proggy" chords like that. 2nd Edit: 18:18 This is my favorite of the bunch. A iiv chord with a Major root chord. Never seen that before, the sound of that movement is _mystical_ for lack of a better word. Reminds me of something Page or Lifeson might have written. I think Lifeson might have been/is a Mountain fan, too.

[@richarddelconnor]

I performed several Mountain songs during the 1970s before I started playing only my originals. Since I was playing bass and guitar in different bands, I also have to give credit to Felix Pappalardi for his influence on me. Check out “Simple Sister” for an interesting time signature. I used to perform that one too. The song “Don’t Look Back” was really fun to play with my big muff during certain sections of the song.

[@henricomonterosa4534]

100.000 subscribers. Well done.

[@user-uc9rv1it6p]

Yesssssssss 😀

[@peter333]

Your videos are way cool man, I like your presentation style, relaxed, not shouting like a lot of these so-called 'guitartubers' do nowadays (as if they think we can hear them even with the computer turned off hahaha!), you don't show off and/or make deliberate funny faces while playing, but you do know a heck of a lot more about guitar scales and music theory in general than I do. I've been improvising most of my (lead) stuff since I learned how to play in the early 70s, taught myself the basic stuff by listening to records, then in the 90s I learned basic music theory because I was asked to teach young people to play guitar, most of that is now hidden in the back of my head so 9 out 10 times I still have no clue wtf I'm doing lol. I do know that Leslie West and Mountain were a major influence on Michael Schenker too, it's obvious if you listen to him closely...

[@hervemas3492]

Well done David for this Leslie West special. 👍👍👍 Thank you 😁😁😁 What amp are you using ?

[@JBASH2011]

Never in my life

[@uncleremus5046]

🍺’ski how about 3 licks from Ron Jarzombek? 🤘🏻

[@staggs5034]

If you haven’t heard Leslie’s version of Born Under a Bad Sign check it out. It’s just him and the guitar no drums or bass. It’s so bad ass!

[@sonnycrook2245]

Thanks for Leslie west lessons, could you realize a video on "Drinks of Milk and Honey" I like this from Leslie west

[@voronOsphere]

I need to use my fret hand thumb that way! I never think to do that trick!

[@poloniumsugarcube611]

Dont forget the tone of the junior . 👍

[@natemendsen1629]

That flat 5 power chord in This Wheels on Fire, I mean did anyone do that up to that point in 69 yet?

[@LateNightLessons]

Hey! I thought about that when I was putting this one together. That was very unusual for that time (1969). I mean, Hendrix/Zeppelin/Zappa were experimenting with b5 sounds and dissonance, but that section in that song in particular was interesting and ahead of its time IMO. It sounds almost like metal. Also, his tone at Woodstock was unlike anyone else. His tone/sound was MASSIVE and heavy as hell for 1969. Check it out and thanks - ROCK ON!

[@natemendsen1629]

A few years ago I did a deep dive on those Sunn Coliseums and a few people are keeping that alive.Mostly one or two of Wests old students and for a whileTom Bukovac had one but I think he must have sold it. You just dont get to see and hear these like other legendary amps in this setting kzbin.info/www/bejne/m6K8dKWJpcSHr7s

[@natemendsen1629]

And kinda on topic about Leslie's playing, but I think I heard him say in a interview that he loved the solo tone of those things but he got tired of having muddiness in his chording and after watching your video I understand it even more .

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

@@LateNightLessons An exploration of the roots of music like metal, funk, do-wop, prog, or whatever interests you might be be a fun thing to do. Or perhaps a musical history from the mixing of African and European music that created blues and country, and how those created rock and roll, swing, and do-wop, then came R&B, surf music, soul, then funk, metal, prog, punk, disco, thrash-metal, rap, death-metal, techno, death-metal, nu-metal, black-metal, stoner-metal, and umm... ..maybe we don't need to go all of the way down the road of hundred-generes-metal, though. Why does no other type of music insist on each band having it's own genre, anyway? 🧐 😂 Note: I only marginally tried to name them in order. I can already see a couple that may be off.

[@jeddak]

Possibly Schenker's primary influence. Impossible to overstate his importance to hard rock guitar.

[@shaunkitson6941]

Never in my life!

[@richardpierce7819]

I traded one of my Marshalls for a pre-peavey Budda because of Leslie. A great amp. I recommened them highly. Only the pre-peavey ones tho.

[@silvermachine6062]

Just to point out, not to take away from Leslie. But Felix (bass player and producer) wrote a lot of the chord progressions for Mountain. I believe Leslie wrote the riffs however. Also I think Felix is credited with playing rhythm guitar on The Laird.

[@esteban1487]

Never in my Life?

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

Those Sunn PA heads were modified by Sunn and sent to Leslie accidentally, and he wouldn't give them back. I either read about it or watched a video of Leslie explaining this.

[@wanderingweederspapa7878]

I always put Mountain and Nazareth together for most epic guitar tones . Need more Nazareth chord lessons

[@babayaga1767]

"We want to name the band Meryl Streep. We think she'd be honored"

[@GuitarMagik]

What year is your les paul ?

[@stratosexual1329]

How about doing some Toy Caldwell?

[@roadwork8941]

Can you do a vid on "ronnie montrose" rock candy album👍😃

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

I think that he has.