Seeking advice (re: slide/bottleneck guitar)

[Pendrench]

Hello -

I'm interested in learning how to play slide guitar - I've watched a few videos on Youtube, and I wanted to see if anyone who plays might be able to let me know if I am on the right track.

From what I've seen/read, it seems that I'll want to raise the action and use higher gauge strings. It also seems that an open tuning is preferable to standard tuning, and most suggest wearing the slide on the pinky, so the remaining fingers can be used to play chords.

Does that sound about right?

Any feedback would be appreciated!

Thank you.

Tim

[Miles Archer]

1. You'll have to experiment and find out what works best for you.

I use a glass slide...I've tried metal, I prefer glass.

If you have light gauge strings and low action, you can still play slide, but you will have to adopt more of a "feather touch."

The ideal solution is if you have a second guitar you can use exclusively for slide playing. If not, you'll have to work within your setup for normal, non-slide playing.

Regarding tuning, I've done it both ways, standard and open. Once again, it depends on the music I'm playing, and if I need to play a combination of rhythm and lead, or just lead.

Not sure what videos you've watched, but for me, the masters are Ry Cooder and Sonny Landreth. I'd encourage you to explore any videos that they have regarding their playing styles.

Style of music is another variable. With rock, you're more apt to play leads and use your fingers for chords, and that's where open tuning might help. With blues, you can pull off lead and rhythm with the slide and not use your fingers for chords at all (unless you want to).

Too many variables to give you any "definitive" advice. Most useful advice is to determine what music you like, identify the musicians you most admire who play in that style, and do some digging into how they play it. In addition to the YouTube videos, you can explore sites like Guitar Player and Guitar World, which specialize in "How do they DO that" articles.

Good luck and happy playing.

[Pendrench]

6. Hi Miles - Thank you very much for your reply!

I like the idea of a second guitar

I'm aware of Ry Cooder, but not Sonny Landreth, so I will be sure to check him out!

As far as style is concerned, for slide my main interest would be rural blues.

Thank you again!

Tim

[Hoyt]

2. There are lots of ways to do it, but your way works. Open tuning, raise action a bit, but not too

high unless you are going to play it like a lap steel. You need reasonable action for chords, double stops, etc.

I've tried playing like you are thinking, but just never spent enough time with it to make it feel natural. Wish I could develop that, and may try again when I have time. I do like occasionally putting on a nut extension and playing like a lap steel.

Good luck.

[Pendrench]

7. Hi Hoyt - Thank you for your reply!

It's interesting that you mention the lap steel - I have seen them before, but never played one

As far as slide playing goes, I'm going to give it a good shot I keep saying that I'm going to do it, so now I just need to make a commitment, and keep to it.

Thank you again!

Tim

[Eko]

3. Higher action helps.

Heavier thicker slides for acoustic, thinner lighter slides for electric. Most people put the slide on the ring finger up to the second knuckle bending the finger to hold it on. Learn both open and standard tuning, why not? Last thing, there are no rules or right or wrong although it is generally better to "learn the rules" first before you break them. There is a good Duane Allman learn to play slide that I got that helped quite a bit.

[Pendrench]

8. Hi Eko - thank you very much!

The few times that I've tried playing, the ring finger felt the most comfortable, so I will try that again

I think what I'll try to do is get a second guitar for open tuning, and keep my current in standard so I can try both.

I will also try to locate the Duane Allman reference that you mentioned.

Thank you again!

Tim

[DFW]

4. Since I haven't played electric for decades

My comments are limited to acoustic.

I usually use a fairly heavy slide (glass, not metal) and wear it on my pinky. Since I play mostly 12 string, the tension is usually already pretty high, so I don't have to raise the action much, if at all. Except for the rare tune that warrants it (Leo Kottke's rendition of Louise, for example), I always use open tunings for slide, G, D, or C. When performing, I always have two 12 string guitars along, so I don't have to spend 5 minutes retuning before every number. One in G that is easily tuned to C, and the other in D, which is quickly retuned to concert tuning.

If you play 6 string, you probably won't be using open C tuning much, if at all, for slide tunes, so you won't need two guitars all the time.

My favorite slides are the Mud Slide series, but you have to make sure you get one that fits. If the hole is too narrow, the pressure will be distracting, and if it's too wide, you won't be able to control it. Make sure the fits is just right, or you will be spending too much time getting distracted by the bad fit. Try Leo Kottke's "Song Of The Swamp" in open G tuning in a 6 string. If you can master that comfortably, your slide fits. If not, it doesn't.

[Pendrench]

9. Hi DFW - Thank you very much for your reply!

I actually have a 12 string (in addition to my 6 string), but I have never tried playing slide on it...now I will have to give it a try

Right now I have a metal slide, but I think I would like to try a glass one - so I will be sure to check out the Mud Slide series that you mentioned. Also thank you for posting the Leo Kottke video - I love it!

Thank again!

Tim

[DFW]

11. Here is an old video of him doing some 12 string slide work

A warning--don't let this discourage you if you never quite get it down--NO ONE plays like Leo does!

[VOX]

5. If you're playing blues, open tunings are the ticket, particularly D and G.

No matter how smooth your slide is (I prefer a glass one), you will get some noise off the surface of the strings, especially on an acoustic guitar. Standard tuning can exaggerate that negative effect, but in open tuning, everything's harmonic. And in most traditional blues, open tunings are the go-to. If you can play slide on an acoustic, you can do the same on an electric -- only your touch will change to compensate for the difference in string tension and action.

Raising the action and using at least medium-gauge strings will prevent (or at least minimize) the issue of the slide whacking against the frets as you move up and down the neck. The more you get the feel of it, the less that "fret-whacking" will occur.

There are dozens of "how-to" videos on YouTube, which are fine. The best advice I'd pass along would be to listen (I mean really L I S T E N) to various artists, over and over. Early Ry Cooder (still THE master of guitar in all genres), Mike Bloomfield on the first Paul Butterfield album, and the good-as-gold Koerner, Ray and Glover albums (those guys were/are magic!).

If I had to steer you to one song that really inspires, that would be Stefan Grossman's acoustic slide cover of "Brownsville Blues," track 27 on "Country Blues Guitar," by Stefan Grossman and Rory Block (note that Grossman has recorded multiple variations of this song, so it has to be THIS one). Recorded in the early '60s, it's like a crash-course in slide packed into one song. I first heard it when I was 17, and I labored away until I could do a reasonable version of it myself.

Good luck, keep at it, don't get discouraged. Listen to slide songs as often as you can, and imitate before you innovate.

And here's that one Grossman track, courtesy of YouTube:

[Pendrench]

10. Hi VOX - Thank you very much!

Country blues is the style that go me interested in trying to learn slide, so I greatly appreciate your comments - and for posting the Grossman video!

I've been playing guitar on and off for about 20 years, but it's been awhile since I REALLY played, and I'm excited to be learning a new style. I know that the key to success will be to keep at it, so I'm willing to make that commitment.

Thank you again!

Tim