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Posted by: Richard Salas Dec 29 2007, 06:20 AM

Does anybody know how to use a slide corretly? I was just listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan´s Slide Thing, and I was wondering how to get that effect on the guitar, How should use the slide on my left hand, do I need to use a different tuning on my guitar? What is the main difference between a glass, a metal, and a bone slide?

I also like how joe perry uses the silde in some of Aerosmith´s songs to make a good rock n´roll sound.

If anybody knows about this, please let me know.
Thanks: Richard

Posted by: shellshock1911 Dec 29 2007, 06:25 AM

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/slide-guitar-lesson/

I'm not sure about what makes a slide unique, maybe Muris can help you!

Posted by: mattacuk Dec 29 2007, 11:05 AM

I was giong to say, I think Muris is your man for slide guitar. He sure knows his blues playing well

Posted by: FretDancer69 Dec 29 2007, 05:18 PM

agreed!!!

Posted by: Milenkovic Ivan Dec 29 2007, 05:39 PM

With slide it's all about the touch. You must practice the touch, and be gentle with it. Also the strings action must be high enough not to cause buzzing. No need to learn different tuning - you can practice in regular guitar tuning. Slide is a technique that just requires a lot of practice that's all. For starters, work your way with 4th intervals on two strings, and one note whole step slides. Then move on to some of more advanced licks.

Posted by: Hisham Dec 30 2007, 12:20 AM

yes i a agree with ivan

Posted by: Muris Dec 30 2007, 01:54 AM

Hi Richard

If you are beginner to slide I would do as Ivan said,
first simple licks like 4ths on 2 strings etc.
Also be sure to have proper action on your guitar,
legato playing and slide playing are usually enemies,
can't play both that nice on same guitar

And about material,I really can't tell much about that,
I have both glass and metal slides,each works fine for me.
Maybe you should try them all to see what fits you the best for early start?

Posted by: Richard Salas Dec 31 2007, 05:29 AM

Thanks a lot Muris, that really helps, and by the way, that mark knopfler lesson you gave some time ago is amazing, I just can´t stop playing it, congratulations, I think you are one of the best instructors on the GMC.
I also noticed that you play with an axis, music man guitar, I was thinking of buying one like that because they seem very comfortable for playing blues and jazz, which I am very fond of, unfortunately they are a bit expensive, which made me hesitate (not regarding the fact that I have never played on one), nevertheless, I also like the fender stratocaster, I liked it because it´s got the whammy bar, which gibson guitars don´t have, I also felt very comfortable with the fender stratocaster neck, I thaught it was a very versatile guitar.
I really liked the look and sound of the axis, I also noticed that it´s got the floyd rose bridge and the dimarzio pickups, but on the other hand I am not an advanced player, I have been playing for 4 years now, but I´m not sure if it´s too early to spend on such a nice guitar, I was thinking that maybe the stratocaster could work really well for a few years... At the moment I have an Epiphone Les Paul, and a Squier Stratocaster.

What is your opinion about the two guitars?
Thanks: Richard.

Posted by: Muris Dec 31 2007, 03:25 PM

Hi Richard

About Musicman Axis I owe,it's equipped with Stan Hinesley custom pickups atm,
since I endorse Stan it's not huge surprise I would say.
But to be honest,I haven't touched Axis since I got my custom from MK Guitars
Floyd Rose at Axis and my MK custom are both of same type,you can only move
whammy bar down-way lowering the pitch,
I find it much more cool,tuning is a lot more stable,better sustain etc.

Epiphone Les Paul and Squier Strat...
Both are fine imho,depends of what you like,play and how deep is your pocket.
Deal is to have proper guitar to your plying level at the moment and I think
these 2 are fine solution for you now.
Latter on when you upgrade yourself you can try to get something "better",
mean something that will fit you nicely.

Posted by: Robin Dec 31 2007, 05:10 PM

I hear people say that metal slides give a milder tone than glass, but I have a metal and a glass slide, my glass slide gives a much rounder/milder/fatter sound than the metal slide, wich gives a much sharper tone.

When you play slide you got to mute the strings with your left hand. For example if you have the slide on your pinky you got to mute the strings with your other fingers. It's as simple as resting your other fingers over all the strings.

I would definitely use open D or atleast drop D. But not everyone use open tuning. Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton used standard tuning.

With standard tuning you can't really play much more than single notes. You can do major chords on the D, G, B strings and minor chords on the G, B, E strings.
So I recommend open D tuning.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=b0k5I2TXDeQ

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Pfte-sL1Jtc

http://youtube.com/watch?v=-8siLZ4zNbY

Posted by: Gerardo Siere Jan 4 2008, 02:36 AM

Some thing regarding slide is that you don´t need especially expensive axes, just high action, and the other half of the coin HEAVY SLIDE with those you get the note to pitch with less preasure. About the intonation, the slide must be placed over the exact line where the string would be touching the fret when playing without slide, that is over the fret and not near the fret.

Posted by: JVM Jan 4 2008, 03:17 AM

If you wanna see some awesome slide stuff, in addition to what robin posted check out Sonny Landreth. He pretty much has a whole style based around slide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxzk46iToo4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0-EFMhQCng

And John Hiatt is pretty awesome himself (less noteworthy as a guitarist though perhaps).

Also check out Ry Cooder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoGkPTjZoBg

Both of these guys have some pretty awesome solo careers (especially Cooder who does all kinds of music) and I'd suggest checking them out. Also Cooder and Landreth at some point have played with John Hiatt before such as in Little Village (Cooder, also with Nick Lowe in the band, definitely worth checking out him too) and Hiatt's own solo stuff (Landreth).

George Harrison as well but I won't post an example.

Posted by: Muris Jan 4 2008, 03:20 AM

Great links JVM,thanks,Cooder is The Man!!

Posted by: Twibeard Jan 4 2008, 09:31 AM

Or you could just use a Hoolahan Slide on your ringfinger ... really gives a lot of fleksibility
Check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3FQ0EPQURY


Added a picture of the Hoolahan Slide: