• From: Ohio
  • Registered: 2007-09-10
  • Posts: 957

Topic: Learning Slide

Hey all,
I am interested in learning slide... this is my first time, as I dont think I have even experimented with it in the past. Any tips or tricks? Which tuning should I start with? Are different open tunings better than others or should I just learn using standard tuning?

Thanks!
Logan

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  • Devan
  • Devan
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  • From: Darwin, Australia
  • Registered: 2010-04-13
  • Posts: 1,304

Re: Learning Slide

I wouldn't start with standard tuning, as that might frustrate you as you cannot 'naturally' make nice noises with a slide on all strings , only a couple.

I would try starting by tuning your guitar to open 'E' - that way you can use the slide or just one finger to make nice major chords all the way up the neck, plus adjacent strings will complement each other nicely.  Then you can move to open 'A' tuning, or perhaps DADGAD or a myriad of others.

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  • Registered: 2010-03-04
  • Posts: 21

Re: Learning Slide

Hi there i have been playing slide now for about 5 years and regular guitar for about 13 years and slide was very tough to learn. I would say the greatest clue i got was listening to great slide players. I happen to think derek trucks is the best slide player (sorry joe, you are awesome too but credit where credit is due). But in terms of technical playing of slide its all about damping and intonation thats why i think learning slide isn really aboutt he tunings when you start its learning sliding from note to note and not making it sound like a dying cat. I have a video here of me playing slide with my band from about 2.30 mins on is my solo. Not the best solo but it was my first gig. thanks and keep on plugging away.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVI1YkjlHZY

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,857

Re: Learning Slide

Warren Haynes has a couple of great slide guitar tutorials, books and DVD's. For anyone starting, or someone who's found themselves kinda stuck, these lessons are the absolute best.

  • Registered: 2010-12-06
  • Posts: 122

Re: Learning Slide

To make it easy on yourself, before you even put the slide on, tune the guitar to an open E and play without a slide.  Learn a couple of easy phrases without the slide, and then learn to play them with the slide.  After you get the technique down you can start to expand.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Learning Slide

I Personally tune down to open D tuning. It's lower than E, so the strings are looser. ALSO if you wanted to play in open E tuning you simply put a capo on the 2nd fret.  big_smile

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  • From: West Sussex
  • Registered: 2011-05-17
  • Posts: 307

Re: Learning Slide

Generally things that help with slide are:

Using an open tuning
Heavier strings
Higher actions

Joe uses 11s and a reasonable high action on his LPs which suit slide use however Billy Gibbons use slides on 8s which is a bit mad.

  • macg1
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  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
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Re: Learning Slide

Spider wrote:

Warren Haynes has a couple of great slide guitar tutorials, books and DVD's. For anyone starting, or someone who's found themselves kinda stuck, these lessons are the absolute best.

+1

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  • SgtB
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  • Registered: 2009-03-08
  • Posts: 309

Re: Learning Slide

macg1 wrote:
Spider wrote:

Warren Haynes has a couple of great slide guitar tutorials, books and DVD's. For anyone starting, or someone who's found themselves kinda stuck, these lessons are the absolute best.

+1

+2 I have both of his slide instructional dvds. He explains things very well on both.

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  • From: Stockport, England
  • Registered: 2009-09-26
  • Posts: 110

Re: Learning Slide

Open E is just so much fun to play. I keep promising myself a guitar just dedicated to it.