New slide day!
- Thread starter cayle_6
- Start date
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: New slide day!
Slide guitar is fast becoming a lost art...that's why I took it up myself about 2 years ago now.
I am by no means a mean slide player but I am starting to make some headway and will only now actually do it on stage!
The biggest thing about slide to me was finding a slide I was comfortable with, finding a finger I was comfortable using then learning how to mute.
FWIW, most of the "glass" slides out there today are made from a type of glass called borosilicate or more commonly under the trade name, Pyrex.
While borosilicate is real glass it's not at all what most folks think of when they think of glass and it's for sure not what old school glass slides were made from.
I only mention this because it does sound different from traditional glass and to me the even bigger thing is the sustain is way different...a typical glass slide can have a lot of sustain on it's on, most borosilicate slides especially the medicine bottle types have very little natural sustain.
If you can work one then by all means go for it...Derek Trucks for example uses one and does just fine....I can use them but I much prefer classic glass if I'm going for glass.
Slide guitar is fast becoming a lost art...that's why I took it up myself about 2 years ago now.
I am by no means a mean slide player but I am starting to make some headway and will only now actually do it on stage!
The biggest thing about slide to me was finding a slide I was comfortable with, finding a finger I was comfortable using then learning how to mute.
FWIW, most of the "glass" slides out there today are made from a type of glass called borosilicate or more commonly under the trade name, Pyrex.
While borosilicate is real glass it's not at all what most folks think of when they think of glass and it's for sure not what old school glass slides were made from.
I only mention this because it does sound different from traditional glass and to me the even bigger thing is the sustain is way different...a typical glass slide can have a lot of sustain on it's on, most borosilicate slides especially the medicine bottle types have very little natural sustain.
If you can work one then by all means go for it...Derek Trucks for example uses one and does just fine....I can use them but I much prefer classic glass if I'm going for glass.
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BTMN
LifeIsGoodologist
Re: New slide day!
Joe Perry has a very Cool slide out. Wish I was Cool enough of a slide player to make it sing.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/dunlop-joe-perry-boneyard-signature-guitar-slide
Joe Perry has a very Cool slide out. Wish I was Cool enough of a slide player to make it sing.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/dunlop-joe-perry-boneyard-signature-guitar-slide
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firebirdV
New member
Re: New slide day!
This matches my experiences pretty much 100%.
I made a bunch of slides from wine bottles and found that they had a lot more sustain. The sound was quite different as well, but I can't remember any details. I think this is probably only noticeable when playing acoustic guitars, but I could be wrong.
This matches my experiences pretty much 100%.
I made a bunch of slides from wine bottles and found that they had a lot more sustain. The sound was quite different as well, but I can't remember any details. I think this is probably only noticeable when playing acoustic guitars, but I could be wrong.
Matt42
New member
Re: New slide day!
I've got a hand blown glass slide that I bought a few years ago and I love it! I've also got a half dozen different types of pyrex slides, and I'm not terribly crazy about the sound. My slide has more sustain and better tone, both on acoustic and on electric.
A few pieces of advice. Mute the strings with the finger that is behind the slide, i.e. if you are wearing the slide on your ring finger, lay your middle finger along the strings behind it. This will deaden alot of the slide noise you get and make your playing much cleaner sounding. Also, don't listen to people who say "you HAVE to play slide in an open tuning." That's BS. Warren Haynes (from Gov't Mule and the Allman Brothers) plays slide in open tuning occasionally. If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for anyone. Now, last piece of advice, after I told you not to buy shy about standard tuning, don't be shy about open tunings either. They really are a lot of fun to play with! G and D are my favorites, and G is fairly easy to pick up after playing in standard.
I've got a hand blown glass slide that I bought a few years ago and I love it! I've also got a half dozen different types of pyrex slides, and I'm not terribly crazy about the sound. My slide has more sustain and better tone, both on acoustic and on electric.
A few pieces of advice. Mute the strings with the finger that is behind the slide, i.e. if you are wearing the slide on your ring finger, lay your middle finger along the strings behind it. This will deaden alot of the slide noise you get and make your playing much cleaner sounding. Also, don't listen to people who say "you HAVE to play slide in an open tuning." That's BS. Warren Haynes (from Gov't Mule and the Allman Brothers) plays slide in open tuning occasionally. If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for anyone. Now, last piece of advice, after I told you not to buy shy about standard tuning, don't be shy about open tunings either. They really are a lot of fun to play with! G and D are my favorites, and G is fairly easy to pick up after playing in standard.
Grenade
New member
Re: New slide day!
I use a glass slide on my electric,it sounds warmer to me, a brass slide on my acoustic, it has more volume, and stainless steel on my lap steels and dobro. I play in standard tuning, drop D, open D (d,a,d,f#,a,d), open G (d,g,d,g,b,d), and the Dobro is ussually G (g,b,d,g,b,d). It's a lot of fun, practice holding and moving the slide to get used to it. There is a lot of stuff online to help you. Good luck. FWIW, I rarely use a pick when playing slide, and I can't stand finger picks. The tunings are from low to high. My acoustic has 13's on it and my electric has 11's.Action a little higher than normal.Lap steels have 11's and the Dobro has 15's. I use my ring finger because I have always used my pinky a lot. On Dobro (squareneck) and laps I hold it between thumb and second finger with first finger on top. I hope this helps, keep jammin.
I use a glass slide on my electric,it sounds warmer to me, a brass slide on my acoustic, it has more volume, and stainless steel on my lap steels and dobro. I play in standard tuning, drop D, open D (d,a,d,f#,a,d), open G (d,g,d,g,b,d), and the Dobro is ussually G (g,b,d,g,b,d). It's a lot of fun, practice holding and moving the slide to get used to it. There is a lot of stuff online to help you. Good luck. FWIW, I rarely use a pick when playing slide, and I can't stand finger picks. The tunings are from low to high. My acoustic has 13's on it and my electric has 11's.Action a little higher than normal.Lap steels have 11's and the Dobro has 15's. I use my ring finger because I have always used my pinky a lot. On Dobro (squareneck) and laps I hold it between thumb and second finger with first finger on top. I hope this helps, keep jammin.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: New slide day!
I've played slide since around the mid 90's and have accumulated a couple Crown Royal bags full of them, from metal, ceramic, blown glass, lap steel, etc.
My favorite ones are red and blue glass that have a domed end, which I think were made by Dunlop. I'm not sure if they make them anymore, so I'd better not break either of them. I like closed ends because they create suction so they stay put.
I used to have a problem not knowing what to do with the slide when not playing, so I created a sort of 'finger' that protrudes from a mic stand. I got the idea when I saw a drummer making something similar to hold his metronome. So I built a slide holder out of drum hardware that attaches to a mic stand.
I've played slide since around the mid 90's and have accumulated a couple Crown Royal bags full of them, from metal, ceramic, blown glass, lap steel, etc.
My favorite ones are red and blue glass that have a domed end, which I think were made by Dunlop. I'm not sure if they make them anymore, so I'd better not break either of them. I like closed ends because they create suction so they stay put.
I used to have a problem not knowing what to do with the slide when not playing, so I created a sort of 'finger' that protrudes from a mic stand. I got the idea when I saw a drummer making something similar to hold his metronome. So I built a slide holder out of drum hardware that attaches to a mic stand.
davey boy
New member
Higher action and heavier gauge strings help a lot as well. I usually use a lap steel for slide stuff for recording but had to play slide this weekend at a gig. My big glass and ceramic/joe perry slides did not work so used a metal slide instead as the guitar i was playing had super low action. For G tuning just tune the high e string to a d as that's where most of the action is.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Gypsyblue
New member
Re: New slide day!
The best slides I've found are these Lost Country slides. They're tapered like a real bottleneck slide but they're heavier glass than most and really help with sustain and rattle free tone. They're all I use now, and I have a box full of my old slides that I never use anymore. http://static.musiciansfriend.com/derivates/18/001/475/724/DV016_Jpg_Large_584004_both_V.jpg I also have a dedicated slide guitar, a Strat with Duncan A2 pickups, set up with the action as high as I can get it and I use .012 - .052 strings with a wound G string. Open D sounds like the strings on a grand piano with that set up. Open G too. The alnico 2 pickups are a big help too, for me - warmer, more midrange and not so metallic sounding as stock Strat pickups.
The best slides I've found are these Lost Country slides. They're tapered like a real bottleneck slide but they're heavier glass than most and really help with sustain and rattle free tone. They're all I use now, and I have a box full of my old slides that I never use anymore. http://static.musiciansfriend.com/derivates/18/001/475/724/DV016_Jpg_Large_584004_both_V.jpg I also have a dedicated slide guitar, a Strat with Duncan A2 pickups, set up with the action as high as I can get it and I use .012 - .052 strings with a wound G string. Open D sounds like the strings on a grand piano with that set up. Open G too. The alnico 2 pickups are a big help too, for me - warmer, more midrange and not so metallic sounding as stock Strat pickups.
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I
iismet
Guest
Re: New slide day!
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: New slide day!
Getting just the right fit is important. I know those medicine bottles look cool and all, but i reckon you might find it pays at some stage to try some slides or various thicknesses and lengths to fit your little finger perfectly. I like brass (personal choice) slides, but as far as size goes, i like the sides to be thin so the slide is light and dextrous and i like just the very tip of my little finger sticking out the end. Of course everyone is different, but once you get a a few chops under your belt, go try a whole bunch of different slides in a shop.
Now so everyone can have a giggle at my expense....here is a video where i'm playing slide (and singing poorly pitched backing vocals) from the early 90s . The slide song starts at about 2.00. Whoever edited this cut my solo short tho! grrrr.
Getting just the right fit is important. I know those medicine bottles look cool and all, but i reckon you might find it pays at some stage to try some slides or various thicknesses and lengths to fit your little finger perfectly. I like brass (personal choice) slides, but as far as size goes, i like the sides to be thin so the slide is light and dextrous and i like just the very tip of my little finger sticking out the end. Of course everyone is different, but once you get a a few chops under your belt, go try a whole bunch of different slides in a shop.
Now so everyone can have a giggle at my expense....here is a video where i'm playing slide (and singing poorly pitched backing vocals) from the early 90s . The slide song starts at about 2.00. Whoever edited this cut my solo short tho! grrrr.
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