IanHenry Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I've never really spent any time learning slide guitar, but now I want to get the hang of it. I have a brass slide, but I don't think it's right for me, when I try it it sounds like a cat being strangled (it's easier to blame the slide!). I've decided to buy a new slide, but I'd like the opinions of more experienced slide players. Firstly which finger to use for best control and pressure, ring finger or pinkie. I know wearing it on your pinkie gives you more fingers for playing, but I'm not that worried about that. Secondly how big a slide is best, should it just go on as far as the knuckle joint or is one that fits all the way down better? And finally what material is best, Metal, Glass or Ceramic? My current Brass one doesn't sound good to me, I'm not keen on the metal to metal sound, so I'm thinking more like Glass or Ceramic. I know a lot of this is a personal thing but any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Ian
Kimbabig Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I'm by no means an experienced slide player but I love the sound of glass slides. I play it with my pinkie, but only because when I bought the slide I bought it for my pinkie and it was too small to fit on my ring finger. The ring finger should give the best control as well. You should try out slide sizes on your hands first, I think the length of a slide should just be at least the width of the fret board.
houndman55 Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I don't know about you but I've used a glass slide. I don't know the size though but it worked for me when just messing around on the fretboard and I'm pretty sure the original delta blues players (Robert Johnson, Son House, Howlin' Wolf etc.) used glass slides. In fact I wouldn't be suprised if they took old beer bottles and sawed off the neck.
RowdyMoon Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 Keep in mind I am not even close to being an expert....that being said I personally like glass or brass.....the biggest thing ( aside from technique, muting behind the slide..pick etc) is the Tone knob I think a lot of players forget the importance of the tone knob on the guitar to cut out some of the " tinniness " when using slide....as far as finger preference I alternate but it really comes down to personal preference. The more you play the more you will gel into what you are comfortable with..in this little screw around vid I made( it's rough I know .. lol)I used a brass in the index...but again, take this with a grain of salt as I am no pro... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJXvjT08m18
charlie brown Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I've never really spent any time learning slide guitar, but now I want to get the hang of it. I have a brass slide, but I don't think it's right for me, when I try it it sounds like a cat being strangled (it's easier to blame the slide!). I've decided to buy a new slide, but I'd like the opinions of more experienced slide players. Firstly which finger to use for best control and pressure, ring finger or pinkie. I know wearing it on your pinkie gives you more fingers for playing, but I'm not that worried about that. Secondly how big a slide is best, should it just go on as far as the knuckle joint or is one that fits all the way down better? And finally what material is best, Metal, Glass or Ceramic? My current Brass one doesn't sound good to me, I'm not keen on the metal to metal sound, so I'm thinking more like Glass or Ceramic. I know a lot of this is a personal thing but any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Ian Hi Ian, Are you talking "Polished" Brass, or raw? For metal slides, I much prefer Stainless steel, to Brass. But, glass and ceramic are great, too. It's really a matter of what feels (and sounds) good to you. "Raw" unpolished brass, or any raw metal, "drags" and creates that "strangled cat" sound. Polished, or chromed metal has much less drag, therefore less tendency to do that. Just check out as many types, as you can. You'll know what works for you, when you find it. After that, it's mostly technique. And a lighter touch=pressure, is best, too...IMHO. CB
Guest Farnsbarns Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 It's about damping the strings behind the slide and with the right hand As for which finger, that discussion goes on forever. Which ever your most comfortable with. The best piece if advice I can give you is to read/watch every word this man has said on the subject.... Note the right hand in this vid. Kirk has an excellent DVD you can purchase. Bottleneckguitar.com
rct Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 The material of the slide is secondary to technique, that's where it all is. And in technique, keeping the guitar quiet is where it all is. 1. No pressing down. The slide IS the fret. The slide slides along the string, where it stops is where the note is. Don't press, that's what causes the strangled cat. 2. Keep that slide straight across the neck, like a fret. Stop above the fret of the note you want. Intonation is tough with a slide on, you can't slack like normal, you need to be right over top of the fret to make it work right. Once you can do it right you'll learn how to drop and raise to cause those emphatic over/under tones that make slide so voice-like. 3 Right hand is most important once you get the placement right. Silence is golden, it's most of the job, keeping the rest of the strings quiet. 4 Some use a pick, some don't. I don't, but I like my hand wrapped around all the strings to keep them quiet, and a pick tends to back your hand up from them. 5. The quiet that everyone stresses comes from the volume and gain you need to make a truly squonking, honking, quaking slide sound. It is not for the faint of heart. If you practice at conversational living room volumes, the first time you have to actually use your amp and gain with a band you will immediately hear your weaknesses, which are usually caused by all that amp amping all that noise all them un-muted strings are making. Slide is fun! rct
Rabs Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I know very little about slide technique too.. But isn't one of the main things the tuning of the guitar? Doesn't it have to be tuned to an open tuning? (or is that just too obvious to most people?) (or am I just wrong? :unsure: )
saturn Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 Over the years, I've started practicing slide periodically but the have, excuse the pun, let it slide. But one opinion I have from listening to myself and others who play or attempt to play slide, is that you have to slide into the notes, up or down to pitch, pretty quickly. I think that "strangled cat" sound comes when the note is taking painfully too much time to get to pitch. It's only a fraction of a second, but it's perceived by our ears immediately if that note is not where it needs to be. Just my .02
rct Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I know very little about slide technique too.. But isn't one of the main things the tuning of the guitar? Doesn't it have to be tuned to an open tuning? (or is that just too obvious to most people?) (or am I just wrong? :unsure: ) I play slide in standard tuning. It is physically harder, and there are some tricks that the ear hears really well with an open tuned guitar and slide that you can't do with standard tuning. I played like that out of need, didn't have the luxury of having pre-tuned guitars handed to me, and we had no GForce! For slide playing in standard tuning, use the same assignment I was given as my first slide job, right after I was coaxed away from my band into yet another band from my town. From a record called Wipe The Windows, Check The Oil, Dollar Gas, Dickey just kills Wasted Words and Ain't Wastin Time No More. I saw them guys do them songs then. He didn't ever want to be another Duane, and he didn't want to touch that stuff, so he did it his way, standard tuning. SOMEtimes he used an open tuned guitar, but not often. Those two songs teach some basic intonating and getting on a note with the singer and not sounding like azz. rct
Rabs Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I play slide in standard tuning. It is physically harder, and there are some tricks that the ear hears really well with an open tuned guitar and slide that you can't do with standard tuning. I played like that out of need, didn't have the luxury of having pre-tuned guitars handed to me, and we had no GForce! For slide playing in standard tuning, use the same assignment I was given as my first slide job, right after I was coaxed away from my band into yet another band from my town. From a record called Wipe The Windows, Check The Oil, Dollar Gas, Dickey just kills Wasted Words and Ain't Wastin Time No More. I saw them guys do them songs then. He didn't ever want to be another Duane, and he didn't want to touch that stuff, so he did it his way, standard tuning. SOMEtimes he used an open tuned guitar, but not often. Those two songs teach some basic intonating and getting on a note with the singer and not sounding like azz. rct Yeah I guess that's where things are easier today... I can look up an open tuning on my phone in seconds if I want (not that I play in alternate tunings).. Im not so interested in slide that id buy a book for it which I guess is what you used to have to do before the net, or have a friend who teaches you this stuff. Ive tried slide a few times and was useless at it so never really went back for more.. I may get back to it at some point, or not :)
Dennis G Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I'm also making (yet another) attempt at learning to play slide. I've decided to use standard tuning since I already know where the notes are. You can get a major chord by using the 2-3-4 strings with a 3rd string root, and a minor chord using the 1-2-3 strings with a 1st string root. Knowing where the notes are and not having to "relearn" patterns, etc. is what sold me on standard. I'm finding my ring finger preferable to my pinky for control reasons. Also, if your slide is just a bit loose, take strips of adhesive backed cork shelf liner and cut to fit. Not only does it "snug up" the slide on your finger, your control of it will improve. As others have said, the real secret to playing slide is damping the unused strings, behind the slide as well, otherwise you're going to continue to sound like a cat fight. That's about the extent of my "slide knowledge".
surfpup Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 All good advice so far... I really think the key is experimenting to find what works for you. Slides are somewhat cheap, buy a few. Some of my favorites I made out of copper pipe myself. I've known others to do the same with glass. You might think about trying a Jet Slide too. I use it quite a bit lately because I like/need to mix slide and fretted notes in a song. I used to just keep the slide on my pinkie to facilitate this, but the Jet Slide makes it easy to fret normally with all four fingers... As for the strangled cat - it's damping with your other fingers (on both hands)and going light on the slide pressure that will help that. Plus you have to learn to slide right onto the fret markers - so not where you'd normally put your finger. Greg Allmann says Duane sounded like a strangled cat at first too, so obviously it takes time. Also slide work is subtle. I tended to wiggle a round a lot and try to do too much at first. A little bit o' slide goes a long way. Try to be economical. If you do try to use standard tuning, check out Warren Haynes's videos. He offers some good tips. Heck he offers good tips for any tuning...
RowdyMoon Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I could be wrong but I believe Derek Trucks plays mostly in standard tuning as well
Versatile Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 Slide is as slide does... I've used most types, short, medium and long Glass, brass, chrome plated steel, chrome plated brass, plastic coated steel... The material does affect the final tone IMO the best known users of standard tuning are/were Johnny Winter and Mick Taylor Open 'E' and open 'A' form are most often used for open chord playing Interesting to consider 'C6' tuning derived from lap steel and pedal steel guitars String height/action is critical as is string gauge A very light touch is needed with standard set-up guitars due to grounding onto the frets Some players use flat-wound strings to ease the rough friction sounds... Enjoy... V
IanHenry Posted October 14, 2014 Author Posted October 14, 2014 Many thanks for all the suggestions. I do want to play in standard tuning because I don't have a G Force tuning system. I've been tasked, by the guys I play with of learning all the lead for Lynyrd Skynyrd Freebird, which should be easy, it's just I'm not very good with the slide part, but I guess it's an good way to get into slide. I watched the tutorial on Justinguitar, and he seems to place a lot of emphasis on the weight of your slide. Unfortunately the store I'll be going to this coming weekend (giving opinions in dress shops!) will only carry a small selection and I think I'll need to try them out for size, so I don't want to buy online. Ian
btoth76 Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 Hello Ian! Kirk is a very nice person. I am sure He will kindly give You instructions too. He suggested me to use a heavy, thick slide. That's more easy to navigate. Cheers... Bence
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