Using a Slide

felix'apprentice · Post by **felix'apprentice** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:19 pm

I've been messing with a slide and i really like the different kinda sounds i can get outta it. I haven't mastered it by any means lol

i personally use a glass slide, i like its sound way better than a metal slide for some reason. i've experimented with volume swells while using a slide and can get some different stuff outta it. and i can also use my tone knob to control my top pickup and get some different sounds too.

so im just lookin for some slide techniques or tips. does anyone else use the volume swells or a pedal or whatever. just curious.

thanks.

- kayla.

DogAlpha · Post by **DogAlpha** » Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:13 pm

Yep I use Glass and Cooper Tube.

Working on Lynyrd Skynyrd-Four Walls Of Raiford

Love the slide in that song.

Maybe I'll post when I get it down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxEDiZphQ-Q

RFBuck · Post by **RFBuck** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:02 am

I noodle with one a couple times a year LOL. When I do, I prefer glass to metal myself.

riksylvania · Post by **riksylvania** » Tue Nov 24, 2009 3:07 pm

I use stainless steel on stage and brass or glass in the studio. I found brass to be too heavy when I play my normal gigging guitars, I tend to fret out a lot (especially when I've been drankin'). I have an electric guitar set up for slide that I use for recording (raised action), but tend to not take out to gig live with. I definitely like to play live acoustic with a brass slide, but I go to glass when I record it.....brass is just so harsh, especially with a condenser mic in the room. I love porcelain, it's light but not too light, and it sounds great, but I haven't found one round enough for me to want to use.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 5:04 am

Shubb GS-1 on dobro, they're the ones with the wooden handle. They have a nice chunk of stainless steel for mass, but are still light enough to be fast, and I don't lose them when my hands get sweaty.
For Spanish-style, I use a standard Dunlop brass or chrome slide. I prefer glass, but they always get broken.
On lap steel, I've been using an old Oahu bar from the 40's. It's more accurate on the shorter scale (22 1/2") and has mojo.--->JMS

Gallowglass · Post by **Gallowglass** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:23 pm

Definitely glass on electric (I use an old coricidin bottle or a wine bottle neck Felix made for me) for a smoother sound. Of course, other materials have their place. Raised action definitely helps. Try picking with your fingers, it gives a better tone (imo), and lets you dampen any unwanted string ringing with your other fingers. Use the fingers on your slide hand to mute behind the slide. Use your ears, intonation is key. Rock on!

felix'apprentice · Post by **felix'apprentice** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:31 pm

thanks for the advice. i will try muting behind the slide, i didnt know i should do that. i have trouble gettin a lot of sound outta my slide ... its normally real low even when i turn up. maybe i will try usin the overdrive when i use my slide, idk.

-kayla.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:48 pm

Kayla, how teensy is your pinky?

I have a nice Dunlop 301 glass slide that you can have. Just pick it up in Hollidaysburg. I can't get it past my 1st knuckle.

felix'apprentice · Post by **felix'apprentice** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:50 pm

lonewolf wrote:Kayla, how teensy is your pinky?

I have a nice Dunlop 301 glass slide that you can have. Just pick it up in Hollidaysburg. I can't get it past my 1st knuckle.

how big is it? im using an 8 on my ring finger. id pick it up, i work in duncansville. thank you.

- kayla.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 2:56 pm

felix'apprentice wrote:
lonewolf wrote:Kayla, how teensy is your pinky?

I have a nice Dunlop 301 glass slide that you can have. Just pick it up in Hollidaysburg. I can't get it past my 1st knuckle.
how big is it? im using an 8 on my ring finger. id pick it up, i work in duncansville. thank you.

- kayla.

An 8? An 8 what? Is that a ring size? I have no way of telling that. I think its about 1/2" inside diameter.

I live on Rt 22 about a mile from Duncansville, past Stuckey Ford.

riksylvania · Post by **riksylvania** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:53 pm

definitely mute the strings behind the slide. You'll notice a much cleaner sound without all those ugly residual tones underneath what you're playing. I always liked playing simple melodies on slide for practice....happy birthday and stuff like that. If you can copy something not originally played on a slide with a slide, you're on the right track.
also: think about tunings. I play normally in standard tuning, but open tunings REALLY change the voicing you can use with a slide. Most of the old blues guys play in open G, and a lot country guys play in C6, G6, E9, and other major key tunings. It all depends on what kind of feel and style you want to play. Also: listen to a lot of different slide players in different styles of music. even though I like Rick Richards as far as what's closer to what I do on stage, I really like Don Helms and the old table steel players from the 1950s and 60s, they did some awesome stuff back then.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY0pe5pqyzM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaedYTKZ8_w

(my two favorites)

my7of9 · Post by **my7of9** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:11 pm

Kayla,

If you have a free moment stop by and I will give you a couple of one on one pointers.

Anytime.

Barry

felix'apprentice · Post by **felix'apprentice** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:16 pm

Barry, awesome! i will definitely take you up on that offer. maybe sometime early next week. i will shoot you an email. thank you!!

oh and i want to show you this ghost sound im gettin too ... anyways. thanks!

- kayla.

my7of9 · Post by **my7of9** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 5:50 pm

felix'apprentice wrote:Barry, awesome! i will definitely take you up on that offer. maybe sometime early next week. i will shoot you an email. thank you!!

oh and i want to show you this ghost sound im gettin too ... anyways. thanks!

- kayla.

Anytime Kayla!

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 12:49 am

Generally speaking, it's better to slide up into a note, and not down to the note. When I have to guess at a note while jamming, I start a bit below where I think it will be, so I can slide up to it without sounding wonky or pitchy.
Oh, and my D, G, and B string are the ones I play most, the others sort of fill it in.
I use "Dobro G" or "Nashville G" G-B-D-G-B-D. --->JMS

Flaw · Post by **Flaw** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 1:37 am

i found that when using a slide its better to go down feet first.

felix'apprentice · Post by **felix'apprentice** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 1:45 pm

Flaw wrote:i found that when using a slide its better to go down feet first.

now thats the advice i was lookin for !

-kayla.

timemoney0 · Post by **timemoney0** » Thu Nov 26, 2009 5:58 pm

Metal slides, burning sun, short shorts. OOOOOUCH!!!!!!!

felix'apprentice · Post by **felix'apprentice** » Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:32 pm

big thanks to jeff for the slide, it fits perfectly! thank you!

- kayla.