Slide exercises?
- Thread starter Sorg
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psy
New member
Re: Slide exercises?
There are no rules how to hold the slide. Depends on the length of the slide. I prefer a "long" slide on the pinky. It's important to always fix it with the finger beneath.
I always played some easy blues stuff like Robert Johnson. Play it slowly, pleay it clean and try to avoid undesirable sidetones. This requires good muting technique for your right hand.
Acc. to my experience it's best to have a guitar mainly for playing with the slide. So you can remain it in open tuning - also thicker strings and higher distance to the frets is recommended.
Wish you alle the best for your tries. Two days and blues will sound good. Country licks (simulating pedal steel) are a much more difficult.
There are no rules how to hold the slide. Depends on the length of the slide. I prefer a "long" slide on the pinky. It's important to always fix it with the finger beneath.
I always played some easy blues stuff like Robert Johnson. Play it slowly, pleay it clean and try to avoid undesirable sidetones. This requires good muting technique for your right hand.
Acc. to my experience it's best to have a guitar mainly for playing with the slide. So you can remain it in open tuning - also thicker strings and higher distance to the frets is recommended.
Wish you alle the best for your tries. Two days and blues will sound good. Country licks (simulating pedal steel) are a much more difficult.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Slide exercises?
Any of Bob Brozman's instruction videos will give you alot to work with...for years!
Lew
Any of Bob Brozman's instruction videos will give you alot to work with...for years!
Lew
Norman_T
New member
Re: Slide exercises?
Most people find it difficult to play with a slide on their ring (3rd) finger or lttle pinky (4th finger). A good way of starting is to have this on your 2nd (or middle) finger so that you get the "feel". You also just need to "rest" the slide on the strings and not "bang it"down as is more common when you start to play.
As has been said earlier a higher action and thicker strings on your guitar will be good for slide work. You will also need to use your right hand for palm muting but that will come later on Most important is to trust your "ears" - if it sounds right then its fine.
Most people find it difficult to play with a slide on their ring (3rd) finger or lttle pinky (4th finger). A good way of starting is to have this on your 2nd (or middle) finger so that you get the "feel". You also just need to "rest" the slide on the strings and not "bang it"down as is more common when you start to play.
As has been said earlier a higher action and thicker strings on your guitar will be good for slide work. You will also need to use your right hand for palm muting but that will come later on Most important is to trust your "ears" - if it sounds right then its fine.
Bludave
New member
Re: Slide exercises?
It is important to get good muting technique down. If you wear the slide on your pinky or ring finger you need to dampen the strings behind the slide with either your middle finger or index finger. The real key to playing slide clean is in the right hand picking/ muting. I like to think of my right hand like a claw. I do almost all picking with my index finger and use the thumb and middle to mute the strings that I do not want to sound. For example if you wish to sound the "G" string pick the string with your index finger, but place your thumb on the "D" string and your index finger on the "B" string. When you move the slide the only note you will hear is the "G" string. If you have muted behind the slide properly no other sounds will be produced. BUt as Lew said pick up a BoB Brozman video and prctice the lessons provided.
It is important to get good muting technique down. If you wear the slide on your pinky or ring finger you need to dampen the strings behind the slide with either your middle finger or index finger. The real key to playing slide clean is in the right hand picking/ muting. I like to think of my right hand like a claw. I do almost all picking with my index finger and use the thumb and middle to mute the strings that I do not want to sound. For example if you wish to sound the "G" string pick the string with your index finger, but place your thumb on the "D" string and your index finger on the "B" string. When you move the slide the only note you will hear is the "G" string. If you have muted behind the slide properly no other sounds will be produced. BUt as Lew said pick up a BoB Brozman video and prctice the lessons provided.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Slide exercises?
100% on the money...muting behind the slide (and muting with your right hand too!) is as important as how you use the slide itself.
Lew
Bludave said:
100% on the money...muting behind the slide (and muting with your right hand too!) is as important as how you use the slide itself.
Lew
Jeffrec
New member
Re: Slide exercises?
People all play slide a bit differently. Duane Allman used his ring finger; Johnny Winter uses his pinky. It all depends on what feels comfortable to you and what gives you the most control (which of course comes with practice). I prefer glass & use an old Coricidin bottle, but some folks like metal. Just experiment.
Good luck,
Jeff
People all play slide a bit differently. Duane Allman used his ring finger; Johnny Winter uses his pinky. It all depends on what feels comfortable to you and what gives you the most control (which of course comes with practice). I prefer glass & use an old Coricidin bottle, but some folks like metal. Just experiment.
Good luck,
Jeff
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: Slide exercises?
:bigok:
I personally wear the slide (Long dunlop Mudslide or an old prescription bottle) on my ring finger. That way I have the Index and Middle fingers for fretting (and of course muting)behind the slide, and the pinky for fretting and muting in front of it
Although I have to admit, I don´t think I´ve ever heard of anyone else that frets BEHIND the slide. In front of I´ve heard often, seems quite common to me. But behind seems to be something only I do, although I´m 100% sure there´s gotta be someone else out there somewhere ....
Bludave said:
:bigok:
I personally wear the slide (Long dunlop Mudslide or an old prescription bottle) on my ring finger. That way I have the Index and Middle fingers for fretting (and of course muting)behind the slide, and the pinky for fretting and muting in front of it
Although I have to admit, I don´t think I´ve ever heard of anyone else that frets BEHIND the slide. In front of I´ve heard often, seems quite common to me. But behind seems to be something only I do, although I´m 100% sure there´s gotta be someone else out there somewhere ....
Last edited:
59paul
New member
Re: Slide exercises?
Try the " I " pattern, ala Billy Gibbons. This is the style slide I play. It helps to be familiar with "Dominant" chords, or as some call them, " Clamped " chords....sorry if the terminology is confusing, but I'm so old school it's pathetic lol. ( listen to " Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers " > ZZ TOP ). Anyway, from your starting point...( the 1 chord...Blues I IV V, or the " tonic " ) ...Play an " I " pattern, going up or down from your starting point ( note ).
**** also, learn to use " Blue " notes.
Example> say you're going to slide from the 5th to the 12th fret on the G string. Now, the next time, instead of sliding all the way to the 12th fret, stop just before the 12th fret. This is a Blue note. It's a subtle tonal change, but very effective, and very essential. ...........
Try the " I " pattern, ala Billy Gibbons. This is the style slide I play. It helps to be familiar with "Dominant" chords, or as some call them, " Clamped " chords....sorry if the terminology is confusing, but I'm so old school it's pathetic lol. ( listen to " Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers " > ZZ TOP ). Anyway, from your starting point...( the 1 chord...Blues I IV V, or the " tonic " ) ...Play an " I " pattern, going up or down from your starting point ( note ).
**** also, learn to use " Blue " notes.
Example> say you're going to slide from the 5th to the 12th fret on the G string. Now, the next time, instead of sliding all the way to the 12th fret, stop just before the 12th fret. This is a Blue note. It's a subtle tonal change, but very effective, and very essential. ...........
kmcguitars
GuitarArtologist
Re: Slide exercises?
Anybody ever see Slash play slide ?? He plays from the top side of
the neck?? I wouldn't recommend it. But it works for him.
Anybody ever see Slash play slide ?? He plays from the top side of
the neck?? I wouldn't recommend it. But it works for him.
