astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
I just bought one today to replace one I had broken years back. any tips or tricks youd like to share?
Tips on playing slide?
- Thread starter astrozombie
- Start date
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Tips on playing slide?
#1: Don't drop it/break it.
#2: You gotta be right over the fret, not behind it like your finger does.
#3: Keep the slide aligned with the fret, not angled. It's easy for a non-slider to have an angled fretting hand, and that habit applied to a slide results in sour chords.
#4: Learn Freebird. Paying customers will howl your praises to the Moons of Neptune, and bars will book you if fans know you play Freebird.
#1: Don't drop it/break it.
#2: You gotta be right over the fret, not behind it like your finger does.
#3: Keep the slide aligned with the fret, not angled. It's easy for a non-slider to have an angled fretting hand, and that habit applied to a slide results in sour chords.
#4: Learn Freebird. Paying customers will howl your praises to the Moons of Neptune, and bars will book you if fans know you play Freebird.
Vincent Vespa
New member
Bludave
New member
Re: Tips on playing slide?
Most great slide players retune the guitar to either open G (or A) or open D (or E). I would recommend a fw things
#1. Raise the action some. Getting the strings far enough away from the frets will help you play cleaner
#2. Use heavier strings. With slide you typically won't be bending too much, so a heavier string will give you better stability & your tone will be better.
#3. Learn to wear the slide on your pinky. It frees up all of your other fingers to fret behind the slide and to still be able to play solo notes or some chords.
#4. Muting is really key. There is a lot more going on with muting then one would think. I play slide without a pick and I use my index finger to do most picking. I I use my thumb & middle to mute the strings on either side of the string I am picking as well as using my fingers behind the slide to dampen the strings there. It takes some practice, but it is the way that Sonny Landreth, Derek Trucks, Duane Allman & Ry Cooder handle this.
#5. Buy one of either Warren Haynes DVD's or Arlen Roths. There is a wealth of information available to help you along the way.
Experiment with a lot of different slides. I have a box full of them.... everything from Pyrex, Brass, Porclean, Steel & copper pipe, as well as cut bottlenecks. I would recommend buying slides that have a very thick wall. The thicker the wall the better the tone. I use a piece of adhesive window insulation adhered to the inside wall to make it fit on my finger better on some slides, but others fit very well and I don't need anything to help with this. I tend to use a Dunlop mudslide mostly, but this is very much a personal choice. You should also experiment with which finger you wear the slide on works best for you. Even though I said use your pinky.... I don't. I find this cocks my wrist at an awkward angle and it bothers me. I use my ring finger.
Most great slide players retune the guitar to either open G (or A) or open D (or E). I would recommend a fw things
#1. Raise the action some. Getting the strings far enough away from the frets will help you play cleaner
#2. Use heavier strings. With slide you typically won't be bending too much, so a heavier string will give you better stability & your tone will be better.
#3. Learn to wear the slide on your pinky. It frees up all of your other fingers to fret behind the slide and to still be able to play solo notes or some chords.
#4. Muting is really key. There is a lot more going on with muting then one would think. I play slide without a pick and I use my index finger to do most picking. I I use my thumb & middle to mute the strings on either side of the string I am picking as well as using my fingers behind the slide to dampen the strings there. It takes some practice, but it is the way that Sonny Landreth, Derek Trucks, Duane Allman & Ry Cooder handle this.
#5. Buy one of either Warren Haynes DVD's or Arlen Roths. There is a wealth of information available to help you along the way.
Experiment with a lot of different slides. I have a box full of them.... everything from Pyrex, Brass, Porclean, Steel & copper pipe, as well as cut bottlenecks. I would recommend buying slides that have a very thick wall. The thicker the wall the better the tone. I use a piece of adhesive window insulation adhered to the inside wall to make it fit on my finger better on some slides, but others fit very well and I don't need anything to help with this. I tend to use a Dunlop mudslide mostly, but this is very much a personal choice. You should also experiment with which finger you wear the slide on works best for you. Even though I said use your pinky.... I don't. I find this cocks my wrist at an awkward angle and it bothers me. I use my ring finger.
Jeffrec
New member
Re: Tips on playing slide?
+1 (great tips, Dave)
Also, use at least .011's. I've used Ernie Ball Power Slinky's and the one heavier ("Not Even Slinky").
Check out Sonny Landreth. He is an awesome player.
+1 (great tips, Dave)
Also, use at least .011's. I've used Ernie Ball Power Slinky's and the one heavier ("Not Even Slinky").
Check out Sonny Landreth. He is an awesome player.
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GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: Tips on playing slide?
Play the Stone Roses song Love Spreads over and over . . . it's the reason that I bought a slide!
EDIT - Slide's kinda cool because all the things which normally make a guitar awkward and uncomfortable to play are actually good for slide. Super high action? Perfect! Ridiculously thick strings? Awesome! Frets virtually unplayable? No Problem!
Check out these slides if you can find them anywhere . . . they're very comfortable, and (as far as I know) they're the only ergonomically designed slides. http://www.therockslide.com/new/main.php
Play the Stone Roses song Love Spreads over and over . . . it's the reason that I bought a slide!
EDIT - Slide's kinda cool because all the things which normally make a guitar awkward and uncomfortable to play are actually good for slide. Super high action? Perfect! Ridiculously thick strings? Awesome! Frets virtually unplayable? No Problem!
Check out these slides if you can find them anywhere . . . they're very comfortable, and (as far as I know) they're the only ergonomically designed slides. http://www.therockslide.com/new/main.php
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ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: Tips on playing slide?
Yeah: don't.
Yeah: don't.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Tips on playing slide?
Listen to Duane Allman. Listen to Lowell George. Listen to Ry Cooder. Listen to George Harrison. Listen to Jeff Beck (standard tuning!).
Wanna buy some razor blades? :naughty:
Listen to Duane Allman. Listen to Lowell George. Listen to Ry Cooder. Listen to George Harrison. Listen to Jeff Beck (standard tuning!).
Wanna buy some razor blades? :naughty:
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Tips on playing slide?
I typically only do slide on an old Dorado acoustic - action's completely unfrettable, but the tone is to die for.
I also use a glass vitamin bottle. Very thick. It's also a bit overly wide. Tried a regular Dunlop glass slide and a brass one, and they just dont have the tone of a thick glass bottle.
I also wear it on my middle finger and stabilize it with my index and ring fingers.
Oh, one other tip for electric slide - if you use distortion, you don't need a lot.
I typically only do slide on an old Dorado acoustic - action's completely unfrettable, but the tone is to die for.
I also use a glass vitamin bottle. Very thick. It's also a bit overly wide. Tried a regular Dunlop glass slide and a brass one, and they just dont have the tone of a thick glass bottle.
I also wear it on my middle finger and stabilize it with my index and ring fingers.
Oh, one other tip for electric slide - if you use distortion, you don't need a lot.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Tips on playing slide?
Unless of course you're playing to other musicians. They won't appreciate it because it's an old worn out joke to them.
However, for the average beer drinking money paying music fan in a bar, they can't get enough of it.
But, they'll also kill you and bury you out back if you screw it up.
Unless of course you're playing to other musicians. They won't appreciate it because it's an old worn out joke to them.
However, for the average beer drinking money paying music fan in a bar, they can't get enough of it.
But, they'll also kill you and bury you out back if you screw it up.
Vincent Vespa
New member
KirkLorange
New member
Re: Tips on playing slide?
1) Buy a heavy slide -- that's the secret to good sustain. I use brass, custom made for me. I also sell them.
2) Use heavy strings. I use 016 -018 -024 - 034 -044 -054. You needn't go that heavy, but you want a good solid platform for the heavy slide to slide over.
3) Stay in standard tuning unless you specifically want that traditional sound of open tunings. That way, you can combine normal and slide playing into one hybrid technique. If that interests you, you can buy my DVD from Bottle Neck Guitar dot Com.
4) Watch any of my many videos to see how I mute unwanted strings. That's the main thing you need to do practice. Here's one.
1) Buy a heavy slide -- that's the secret to good sustain. I use brass, custom made for me. I also sell them.
2) Use heavy strings. I use 016 -018 -024 - 034 -044 -054. You needn't go that heavy, but you want a good solid platform for the heavy slide to slide over.
3) Stay in standard tuning unless you specifically want that traditional sound of open tunings. That way, you can combine normal and slide playing into one hybrid technique. If that interests you, you can buy my DVD from Bottle Neck Guitar dot Com.
4) Watch any of my many videos to see how I mute unwanted strings. That's the main thing you need to do practice. Here's one.
Wattage
High Voltologist
Re: Tips on playing slide?
in addition to all the good info experiment with a bunch of slides
I have about 8 different ones but it was an odd anodized aluminum heart slide that made it work for me. Once I got the feel for it I found a Dunlop 218 thick short glass slide gave me the tone and feel I wanted most often.
in addition to all the good info experiment with a bunch of slides
I have about 8 different ones but it was an odd anodized aluminum heart slide that made it work for me. Once I got the feel for it I found a Dunlop 218 thick short glass slide gave me the tone and feel I wanted most often.
korovamilkdud
WhoDatologist
Re: Tips on playing slide?
"I know I have said this before, but the odds of us actually playing Freebird?
There are no odds. It is not going to happen.
I will start off with the first reason. We have no idea how to play Freebird.
The second reason is. In the Love Bug's natural habitat, that would f***ing kill him and you wouldn't want that. He is f***ing adorable. He is cute.
Thirdly, even if, pick your deity, came down from the heavens or wherever or the hills or wherever the deity lives and blessed us with this vast knowledge of Freebird. And we could play it backwards and sing it backwards.
We still just wouldn't do it.
(pause)
If this were the Make A Wish Foundation and you were going to die in 20 minutes just long enough to play Freebird, we still wouldn't play it.
Here is the end reason. The end reason is that life is just too f***ing short to hear or play Freebird."
"I know I have said this before, but the odds of us actually playing Freebird?
There are no odds. It is not going to happen.
I will start off with the first reason. We have no idea how to play Freebird.
The second reason is. In the Love Bug's natural habitat, that would f***ing kill him and you wouldn't want that. He is f***ing adorable. He is cute.
Thirdly, even if, pick your deity, came down from the heavens or wherever or the hills or wherever the deity lives and blessed us with this vast knowledge of Freebird. And we could play it backwards and sing it backwards.
We still just wouldn't do it.
(pause)
If this were the Make A Wish Foundation and you were going to die in 20 minutes just long enough to play Freebird, we still wouldn't play it.
Here is the end reason. The end reason is that life is just too f***ing short to hear or play Freebird."
korovamilkdud
WhoDatologist
Re: Tips on playing slide?
I'll usually put the slide on the bird and use my ring and pinky to mute strings, as well as my pointer behind the slide. Takes practice, but it works great. I have a tough time with action height though. I really want a separate guitar for slide with beefier, higher strings.
I'll usually put the slide on the bird and use my ring and pinky to mute strings, as well as my pointer behind the slide. Takes practice, but it works great. I have a tough time with action height though. I really want a separate guitar for slide with beefier, higher strings.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Tips on playing slide?
I have used a mic line condenser adaptor thingy as a slide in a pinch for short passages :lol:
Or a Bic lighter, or Zippo.
Bics are actually quite comfy, though it does take 3 fingers to manage.
I have used a mic line condenser adaptor thingy as a slide in a pinch for short passages :lol:
Or a Bic lighter, or Zippo.
Bics are actually quite comfy, though it does take 3 fingers to manage.
Uk Ant
New member
Re: Tips on playing slide?
That's why I've got my Ibanez open tuned with a higher action and heavier strings.
That's why I've got my Ibanez open tuned with a higher action and heavier strings.
Bass_Medic_05
Purveyor of Low End
Re: Tips on playing slide?
Cool thanks for the tips!
Cool thanks for the tips!
