Slide beginner questions

taylorcc · #1 10-03-2008, 09:45 AM

I'm learning Robert Johnson's 'Walking' Blues from an Eric Clapton tab book. Right off I can say that I don't sound like EC

Do you reserve a guitar for slide only? Higher action seems like a good idea to me. Your thoughts? Any preference between glass and brass for the slide? Do you put the slide on your ring finger or pinky?

Ed

brian a. · #2 10-03-2008, 10:32 AM

Ed,

You don't sound like Clapton because you ain't Clapton

... EC's playing a vintage wood body resophonic guitar with a glass slide on his Unplugged recordings.

I mostly play slide on a metal body Dobro, but I also like wood resos a lot, as well as, non-resos for slide. They all sound different.
Typically guitars are setup a little higher for slide.
Huge difference in tone between glass, brass, stainless, chromed. And all glass slides don't sound the same and neither do all brass etc, etc. My current favorites on either metal or wood bodied resos and straight acoustic guitars are the Diamond Bottleneck slides. Artisan and Spruce Tree Music carry them.
I play with the slide on my pinky so as to have 3 fingers to fret with when needed.

Check out littlebrotherblues.com for helpful hints and even lessons. Doug is a great resource for slide guitar.

Good luck,
Brian

Pen · #3 10-03-2008, 10:46 AM

I did the slide thing a couple years ago and learned it wasn't for me. It was fun I suppose, but not my cup of tea.

I did keep one guitar as my slide guitar. No only was the action higher - but I hate retuning my guitars.

I, personally, kept the slide on my ring fingure.

I used a bottleneck slide. I like the sound, feel and look of it.

DaveG · #4 10-03-2008, 04:57 PM

I have a wood bodied reso that I use mainly for slide. The action is a little higher than normal, but still low enough to fret comfortably. I use a glass slide on my pinky to leave the other fingers free to fret notes. The metal slide I tried were a little too noisy for me, but that may be my technique (or lack there of). There's lots of good information around. Check out the Big Road Blues forum http://bigroadblues.com/forum/. Lot's of knowledgeable people over there.

taylorcc · #5 10-04-2008, 02:32 PM

Hey guys, thanks for the links and info!

Ed

zombywoof · #6 10-04-2008, 03:12 PM

Ahhh, ya don't want to sound like Clapton anyway - the guy, while a great rock/blues guitar player is pretty sterile sounding on a resonator.

First thing you have to do is listen to some of the real deal. And Listening is the best way to learn.

Go give Son House a listen. Not as great technical player but full of raw emotion.

Then grab yerself some Mississippi Fred McDowell and listen to his attack and some Bukka White for his pounding percussive rhythms.

Jump over ther the eastern seaboard and the Piedmont and listen to some of the Uptown Atlanta players like Barbecue Bob Hicks and the way he separates the bass and treble lines. Gets a driving rhythm going on the bass and then shoots up high on the neck with some shimmering slide lines. Incredibly modern in a way.

All the while just play around. Try different tunings and slides, different guage strings, switch the finger you use the slide on and so on. Before long you will find something you are comfortable with and a sound you favor.

Good Luck and have fun.

SeamusORiley · #7 10-04-2008, 03:29 PM

best beginning slide DVD?

I have Brozman's but as soon as he began to sing, something went south for me. My wife and I thought he was just kidding; you know, like someone who is imitating other singers!?! We both realized that this voice was not supposed to be funny.

that pretty much meant me and the DVD didn't hit it off on our first date.

Any other recommendations?

valky guy · #8 10-04-2008, 04:23 PM

Hey taylorcc,
Check this guy out. My wife and I found him on youtube some time ago, and love his style. His name is Chris James from the UK.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=24Hb-FIRCRI hope this works.
John (valky guy)

AndrewG · #9 10-05-2008, 07:18 AM

I prefer a higher action for slide; being able to attack the strings harder makes for a better, stronger tone without fret-rattle.
I use a Dunlop #228 heavy chromed-steel slide on my pinky and play in open G exclusively..

AndrewG · #10 10-05-2008, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeamusORiley

best beginning slide DVD?

I have Brozman's but as soon as he began to sing, something went south for me. My wife and I thought he was just kidding; you know, like someone who is imitating other singers!?! We both realized that this voice was not supposed to be funny.

that pretty much meant me and the DVD didn't hit it off on our first date.

Any other recommendations?

I have the same problem with Stefan Grossman-stick to playing guitar Stef!

taylorcc · #11 10-06-2008, 04:31 AM

Okay, Bukka, Fred, and Barbecue Bob are on their way from Amazon.com.

I have a Dunlop Pyrex slide. It's all they had at my local shop. Tone sux

I need to try some metal slides. It's 80 miles to the nearest Guitar Center but a road trip is imminent

Ed

craigster59 · #12 10-06-2008, 07:25 AM

I learned to play slide from an old blues guy. He gave me a bottle neck from a wine bottle that he has the local glass guy cut for him. It works great because it isn't the same diameter straight up, so you get a more interesting sound and feel.
I usually play on my Gibson L-00 or resonator w/ medium strings. You want a higher action, but you don't actually press down on the strings, you just slide up or down to land on the fret. I wear the slide on my ring finger and it works for me.