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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I know that there are many talented gutarist (more so than me) on this site who play slide.
I am interested in trying my hand at slide and thought I would quiz my fellow O players.
It seems that whenever I see a slide player, the slide is on a different finger. Which finger is preferred (most common) to use with a slide and why?
Do you typically have a specific guitar set up for slide (higher action) and is it set up with standard or open tuning.
What is the best type of slide to get? I noticed that Matt Smith sells some...how do they compare to the ones on Muscians Friend, etc.
Thanks |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | 28;
I'm extremely "novice" to slide as well, but here's my $0.02:
I started out a LONG time ago "mucking around" w/slide with a lightweight glass slide on my ring finger. While that always seemed to feel more "natural" to me, I've since learned to move it over onto the pinky. This gives you three adjacent fingers available to fret chords and/or finger runs, pull-off's, hammer-on's, etc.
I pretty much focus all of my slide "playing" :rolleyes: to a dedicated guitar: a Chinese Dobro knock-off I bought from Al.
I jacked up the nut with a thickness of credit card stock and have it tuned to open G.
I also have one of the glass slides that Matt hawks, and they are f&^%&^#g AWESOME!! I found it to be a little "heavy" and "cumbersome" at first, but with much practice have learned to use it's mass to my advantage. Kinda like learning to fight with a bowling ball handcuffed to your left wrist . . . . with a little "practice" it becomes a helluva weapon!!. . . |
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Joined:
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Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | I am interested in Paul Templeman's input here.
Cliff: I seem to remember you using a shot glass as a slide! :eek: |
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August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ...hmmm.. I heard it was a slide for a shotglass... same effect probably :rolleyes: |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Actually, you're BOTH right (to a degree).
I was using one of the blown-glass slides (that I bought from Matt the previous Tour/Jam) as a slide AND a shot glass . . . .
. . . Templeman was using a tequila shot glass (that I had in my gig bag) as a shot glass AND a slide. He liked it so much, I let him keep it.
The basic "gist" of the whole thread is:
". . if ya' wanna play slide, . . ya' GOTTA drink tequila . . ."
(The preceeding was a paid political announcement . . sponsored by Patron Tequila
Batteries not included.
Some assembly required.
Void where prohibited.
Your mileage my vary.
Put a shot in your shorts.) |
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June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | Interesting, cliff, that you had a shot glass in your gig bag. |
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July 2004
Posts: 474
Location: Anchorage, Alaska | Finally a technique on this forum that I'm sure I can keep up with even the best of... Drinking tequila! Ever notice how much better you play or at least sound after a few "slides" of cactus juice? |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . Interesting, cliff, that you had a shot glass in your gig bag . ."
A well-equipped, working troubador must be prepared for ANY emergency.
btw:
Master Templeman is a KILLAH slide player!! ;) |
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December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | As I recall it was some smooth tequila!!
I need to bring my own slide/shot glass this time... |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I prefer the glass slides and the ones Matt has are the best. Nunwell is the glass blower, Matt sells them.
Action the same or up one shim
open D or G and have fun |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | As Bill said, take the action up. A little at the nut, a little more at the bridge and use heavy-ish stings. Slide on the pinky leaves 3 fingers to fret normally, or to do the Sonny Landreth combined slide/fretted thing, which is very cool. Glass/metal is a matter of taste. I use both types, one of Matts & a custom made brass slide. Whatever type you use it should be fairly substantial. A lightweight slide generally means a lightweight tone. I tune to open E almost always ( E B E G# B E) |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Something I do on the Nationals sometimes is just put on a regular set with two B strings. Most of your sliding is going to be on B and E anyway and a 14 for the E will give better tone. |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ah! good trick! I'll have to remember that . . |
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Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | So what is the "perfect fit" for a slide? I want to order one of Matt's. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | That's gonna be a tough one, as well.
Since they're all hand-made, no two are really alike.
When I bought mine (actually Jeanette bought it for me), I "tried on" about a half a box of 'em before I found one that fit the way I like it (I've got stocky fingers with big knuckles). Finally found one that fit (as Master Templeman so aptly put it) "like a condom".
You might wanna contact Matt on the best way to do this "remotely" . . . |
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June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | Cliff: Is the object to get the slide to fit snugly on the knuckle? I have larger knuckles as well. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | uh . . . in order to get ON the finger, it's gonna have to go over the knuckle, . . yes??
Maybe you should try out some of the Dunlop glass slides, see which one fits best, and use that as a "gauge" to tell Matt what size you need . . .
Just a thought. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | Cliff: Of course I know it MUST fit over the finger, but to be optimal, should it be snug or loose was what I was getting at. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I'd guess it's a matter of personal preference.
My partner's got this little bracket on his mic stand that holds his (Dunlop glass tube) so that he can put it on/off quickly, so I'd assume his is a little "loose".
Me? I like mine "tight as a bride".
It actually makes a pronounced "pop" when I slip it off.
To each his own, I guess . . . |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 31
Location: Los Angeles, California | Maybe it's the time of year. I just got a hankerin' to play some slide, too. I haven't done it for a long time and never was very good but it's a lot of fun when you're in the mood for it. Last Saturday I got my old telle down and tuned it to open E. My wife wanted to know what that awful racket was. Had to turn the volume down. I always think I sound like that kid in the movie Crossroads, some seem to disagree.
I use a Craftsman 13/16 deep socket on my ring finger, tight. Maybe Santa will bring me a glass one for Christmas. |
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Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | those are the rules exactly as written in the mexican musicians union handbook cliff. in fact there arent any other rules as i remember. the test is to say clearly into a microphone---"tequila por la banda!" and "salud". the last one, well, tests your ability to stretch the truth with a smile.
Originally posted by cliff:
Actually, you're BOTH right (to a degree).
I was using one of the blown-glass slides (that I bought from Matt the previous Tour/Jam) as a slide AND a shot glass . . . .
. . . Templeman was using a tequila shot glass (that I had in my gig bag) as a shot glass AND a slide. He liked it so much, I let him keep it.
The basic "gist" of the whole thread is:
". . if ya' wanna play slide, . . ya' GOTTA drink tequila . . ."
(The preceeding was a paid political announcement . . sponsored by Patron Tequila
Batteries not included.
Some assembly required.
Void where prohibited.
Your mileage my vary.
Put a shot in your shorts.) |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | Originally posted by Hizzoner:
Interesting, cliff, that you had a shot glass in your gig bag.
doesn't everyone? |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | Originally posted by cliff:
uh . . . in order to get ON the finger, it's gonna have to go over the knuckle, . . yes??
Maybe you should try out some of the Dunlop glass slides, see which one fits best, and use that as a "gauge" to tell Matt what size you need . . .
Just a thought.
since most of us musician's carry a set of tools in our car's gig bag to make sure the "old classic" gets home at 2 am, how's about a deepwell socket for a finger sizer. also makes a pretty descent slide. that is if you dont mind that burnt oil look on your pinky between sets. |
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Posts: 31
Location: Los Angeles, California | If ya' soak it in the ta-kill-ya that burnt oil comes right off! |
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March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | Originally posted by Mustang Andy:
If ya' soak it in the ta-kill-ya that burnt oil comes right off!
but so does some of the skin. good thing the lime and salt protects the innards,----i think.
anyone know if there will be some of matt's slides at NAMM? |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Russ, If Matt has some of the Nunwell slides at NAMM they will be in his pockets. If you make the deal ahead of time I'm sure he can do something for you. Nunwell doesn't show at NAMM, they probably don't even know about NAMM. They are a husband and wife team who have a glass blowing show in their back yard and make all kinds of things, the smallest of which are these slides. They are true artists and what they can do with glass is amazing!
Hizzz, They can be tight or loose, your choice. I started with a tighe one and still use it. On the pinky, ikt fits over the first knuckle and stopps at the second. I find that as I play more slide and get more comfortable with it the looser ones work just as well. What is important is the designs in these slides, each one is a work of art. I like the ones with the little candy cane looking things and the ones with red and yellow bubbles. They are hand signed and run $40.00 |
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August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | can order them through Matt's web site.
course, if he reads this, he'll probably email you. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Ok, some slide pointers, once you have a guitar, a tuning & a slide you're comfortable with.....
Lose the flatpick, really good slide guitar requires fingerstyle (Lowell George being the exception)
Make sure you damp behind the slide (rest your spare fingers lightly on the strings behind the slide to kill the resonance between the slide and the nut)
Use only as much slide as you need to cover the strings you're playin' on
Aim for the centre of the fret with the slide, not behind like when you're fretting.
Work on your vibrato. Then work on your vibrato some more. Go on a Bhuddist Vibrato retreat for 10 years, then come home and continue to work on your vibrato.
Learn to play a major scale & a minor scale on one string. How many ways can you slide around those 8 notes? Try Ry Cooder for classic & peerless single-string slide. John Hiatt's "Lipstick Sunset" has one of Cooder's finest slide guitar solos ever, mostly played on one string at a time
Diads, (double stops or 2-notes at a time) can imply lots of harmonies, so it's worth investing some time on chord theory
The really subtle stuff is in the right hand. Right hand muting is the key to really good clean slide guitar. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 873
Location: puerto vallarta, mexico | Originally posted by Paul Templeman:
Ok, some slide pointers, once you have a guitar, a tuning & a slide you're comfortable with.....
Lose the flatpick, really good slide guitar requires fingerstyle (Lowell George being the exception)
Make sure you damp behind the slide (rest your spare fingers lightly on the strings behind the slide to kill the resonance between the slide and the nut)
Use only as much slide as you need to cover the strings you're playin' on
Aim for the centre of the fret with the slide, not behind like when you're fretting.
Work on your vibrato. Then work on your vibrato some more. Go on a Bhuddist Vibrato retreat for 10 years, then come home and continue to work on your vibrato.
Learn to play a major scale & a minor scale on one string. How many ways can you slide around those 8 notes? Try Ry Cooder for classic & peerless single-string slide. John Hiatt's "Lipstick Sunset" has one of Cooder's finest slide guitar solos ever, mostly played on one string at a time
Diads, (double stops or 2-notes at a time) can imply lots of harmonies, so it's worth investing some time on chord theory
The really subtle stuff is in the right hand. Right hand muting is the key to really good clean slide guitar.
i didn't realize how basic my slide must be till i read this paul. i told you all you need to know was a few I IV V progressions to get work here. i have the guitar and if i can get a slide from matt i will take the rest of the list to the bhuddist vibrato camp to practice after vibrating classes. (co ed?) i'll let you know if it all helps in 2014.
do they have agave in bhudda land? i might pack some copper tubing--- |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 3
Location: Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. U.K. | Hi all,
We may be able to help you in your search for a custom slide, please take some time out to browse our website over here in the U.K. http://www.diamondbottlenecks.com & take a peek at our range of glassware - it'd be great to hear from you sliders!
Many thanks,
Ian. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I sell Ian's slides & tonebars over here, they're highly recommended.
www.reallyusefulmusicco.co.uk |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | WebPage is lookin' good there, Master Templeman!
Can't wait'll it's up & running (f&^% eBay!).
I'm considering getting a pair of tablas.
We'll have to talk after the Holidays . . . . |
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March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | A f%$#%ing Taylor on the logo page????? |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | actually no, it's a Chinese rip-off. Retails at around 1/4 of a Taylor 300 series, plays and sounds about as good. Comes with Shadow electronics. We sell tons of them.
Cliff, Tabla are incredibly difficult to play & even more difficult to tune. Take a look at these, they sound kinda similar to the smaller of the Tabla pair and play just like regular bongos
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47088&item=3770154781&tc=photo
These are exclusive to us, you won't find 'em anywhere else. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . Cliff, Tabla are incredibly difficult to play & even more difficult to tune . ."
I know Daddy!, but I still WANT one!!! :p
Actually, the wood bongos look kinda cool too, and appear to have the potential of being equally annoying . . . |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 16
Location: Victoria BC | For what it is worth i use the end of a beer bottle for Sustain and a chunk of hollow brass for tone.Both home made.
I am too lazy to re tune to anything but drop D so I do not play alot of slide...to much right hand work in these 2 keys.
Love the sound of those who do re-tune especially G finger pickers/slide..WOW!!!
:D |
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Slide Guitar