Instrumentation and musicianship thumb|Phil Lesh (left) performing with TelStar in 2008 As the band and its sound matured over thirty years of touring, playing, and recording, each member's stylistic contribution became more defined, consistent, and identifiable. Garcia's lead lines were fluid, supple and spare, owing a great deal of their character to his experience playing Scruggs style banjo, an approach which often makes use of note syncopation, accenting, arpeggios, staccato chromatic runs, and the anticipation of the downbeat.
inSTrUmentATIOn and musicIANshIP thuMb|Phil lesH (leFt) peRFOrmIng witH telstar iN 2008 as thE BANd and its soUnD matUREd oveR ThIRTy YearS oF touRi,ng, PLaYing, aNd RecoRdING, eaCH member's stylIstic cOntrIbutiOn Became moRe Defined, consistEnt, aNd iDENTifiABLe. GArciA's LeAd lineS werE fLuid, suppLE and SpARE, OwiNg a gREAt dEAl of tHEIR ChaRActer tO His ExpErienCe playiNg scruggs sTyle banJo, aN aPproAcH wHicH oFten MakEs usE oF NOTe SyNcopation acceNtiNg, arpEGgIOs, staccato chromatIC RuNs, anD tHe anTicIpatIon of the downbEat.