[d-v-s]

I was listening to the Allmans' live at the fillmore, and Duane was such an amazing guitarist...

anyways, I've never played a slide before, and wanted to try it out. I have some questions, ranging from stupid to not-so-stupid.

1. Which finger do you use the slide on?
2. With an acoustic guitar is a glass slide better, or metal?
3. with electric - glass or metal?
4. could someone post 2 or 3 basic blues riffs using the slide to get me started?


Thanks.

[dancing mantis]

1. Most folks will recommend that you put the slide on your pinky (that's what I do). But for every finger there is at least one amazing slide guitar player who puts his slide on that finger. One of the reasons to use the pinky is that it leaves your other 3 fingers free to fret notes with.

2. Again, totally depends on your own preference. I use glass which tends to give a bright clean tone. Many others prefer metal for a more raunchy bluesy sound. There are also ceramic slides, but I don’t know anything about them. I’ve seen a video of Mance Lipscomb playing with the non-sharpened side of a jackknife!

3. I don’t play electric, but I suspect the answer is the same as for acoustic.

4. I believe Duane played slide in an Open E tuning. I have only worked with Open G. which is a more common tuning for old acoustic blues stuff. I’ll think about some basic stuff in Open G if you are interested. There are plenty of players that used standard tuning (Jerry and Bob for example) for slide work, but if you decide to do a lot of slide the open tunings can be really useful. One of the basic things is that in an open tuning to play a chord all you have to do is to lay the slide above the appropriate fret and voila!

5. A couple of other tips. Most of us know that Jerry had his guitars set up with high action and heavy strings. That is absolutely essential for slide playing. If the action is too low, it’s hard to avoid all kinds of buzzing. The fat strings are great because of the thick sound and the sustain.

6. Another tip – when you first start playing slide it is hard to avoid all kinds of unwanted sounds from strings other than the one(s) you are playing. The trick is to mute the unplayed strings. There are several ways to do this, but the most basic one is to rest one or more of your fingers without the slide on all the strings behind the slide as you are playing.

7. One more tip – almost all the great slide players use their fingers rather than a pick. Something about the feel you can get from the flesh of you finger on the strings. Also it allows another way to mute strings by using the fingers not picking to gently damp unwanted strings.

Good luck. Playing slide is a lot of fun, but it takes some getting used to. It is a little like learning to play the trumpet – until you get the feel for it it sounds just awful, but it is seet when you can really make it sing.

[strumminsix]

Great advice from dancing mantis!!!

Now, here's more from a hack player (me!):
1 - play it on the ring finger.
2 - User a Pyrex slide

Here's why: myself and many players I know bridge their ring finger when barring chords in "A form" (example D off the 5th) so that finger naturally plays a combination of strings which already hits the 5-1-3 of a chord. Plus the Pyrex slide seems to minimize the sound from unintended strings.

[LazyLightnin]

i too have been messing with slides, i bought a metal and a glass cuz i wasnt sure which was better to my liking. this post answered alot of questions i had thx alot. I'm gonna do the slides for
"dancin days" in my band, but my action is pretty low and im just buzzin'. i was tryin to use my ring finger, but ill stop that right now lol, and i never thought of pickin with my fingers or muting either.
it already sounds better!

[CaptainTrips]

I play a glass slide on my pinky and slide is so cool . . . I was just listening to a Jerry interview on the archive the other day and was surprised to see that he actually played slide on a couple of tunes . . . Little Red Rooster and Row Jimmy . . . I thought it was just Bobby. Anyway there is some good advice up there so Ill post a tab. Its little Red Rooster . . . but I got the tab from an old blues guy so its probably not the same as the dead but all the familiar licks are there

Code: Select all

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE--------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the#
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research.#
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------#
#-- File created with Instab - http://www.pconline.com/~smcarey/instab.html --#
#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------#

Author/Artist: Willie Dixon/Howlin' Wolf Burnette Version
Title: Red Rooster
Album: London Sessions/Rocking Chair Arrangement
Transcribed by: John M. (Dadfad)
Email: [email protected]

This transcription is based mainly on the London Sessions version. Several
others were done by Wolf over the years, including his 1962 Rocking Chair
version, which I have incorporated into this tab, making a few minor re-ar-
rangements so this transcription would be more suitable for both solo and
band arrangements with only one or several guitars. The London Sessions
used at least two. That version was done in Open-A tuning (EAEAC#E). It
could also be done (and was done) in Open-G tuning (DGDGBD), often
used instead of A because it puts less tension on the guitar neck and strings.
This same tab would work for either Open-A or Open-G tuning using the same
fingerings. It would just be one step lower in pitch. It is suggested that when
starting to learn this tune, that notes be fingered first rather than slid in order
to become familiar with the "target notes" for sliding. Slid notes will be shown
with a / before the fret number. A suggested start-from fret may be shown,
such as 3/5, meaning slide from the 3rd to the 5th, but when shown these are
only suggested approximations. This is a very improvisational style and tab is,
at best, only a guide to playing it. Some repetitive licks will be numbered and
shown where to repeat this lick in its approximate location. A good rule in these
styles is "If it sounds good to you, that's the way you should do it."

----------/5|--------------------/5-|-----------------------------------------
------------|--1--1--1--0-----------|----------------1--------1---------1-----
--/3---0----|--0--0--0--0--/3--0----|----------------0--------3---------0-----
--/3---0----|--2--2--2--0--/3--0----|----------------2--------2---------2-----
--/3---0----|--0--0--0--0--/3--0----|-----------------------------------------
------------|-----------------------|-----------------------------------------
(INTRO)(#1)  Repeat 4 times (#2)  <<Well>>     (Lick #3)               Repeat lyric and    

-----------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------
-----------------------|--0-----------5----5--0---1---3--|-1-1---1---1-1------
-----------------------|--0-----------5----5--0---2---2--|-3-3---0---3-3------
-----------------------|--0-----------5----5--0---0---0--|-2-2---2---2-2--/3--
-----------------------|--------------0----0-------------|----------------/3--
-----------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------
tab between <<and>> |'n when he struts into the barnyard the hens begin t'

------|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------------
------|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------------
---0--|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------------
---0--|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------------
---0--|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------------
------|-----------------|-----------------------------------------------------
lay    (Repeat Lick #3)                                                      

-|-------/5--/5----------------/5--/5----------------------------/5-----------
-|--3/5----------4/5-----3/5----------4/5-------------------------------------
-|--3/5--------------5---3/5--------------5--0--/3--0---/3---0------------0---
-|--------------------------------------------------0---/3---0-------/3---0---
-|------------------------------------------------------/3---0-------/3---0---
-|-------------------------------------------------------------------/3-------
  Solo Slide Part A .........................................................

---------/5-|---------------------------|------/7-/7----------|---------------
------0-----|---------------------------|-6/7---------6/7-----|---------------
-/3---0-----|---------------------------|-6/7--------------/7-|---------------
-/3---0-----|---------------------------|---------------------|---------------
-/3---------|---------------------------|---------------------|---------------
------------|---------------------------|---------------------|---------------
........   | Repeat Solo Slide Part A                                        

-------/5--/5----------|----------------------/5-------------------/5-|
-4-/5---------4/5------|----------------------------------------------|
-4-/5--------------/5--|--0---/3---0---/3--0------------0---/3--0-----|
-----------------------|--0---/3---0---/3--0-------/3---0---/3--0-----|
-----------------------|------/3---0-------0-------/3---0---/3--------|
-----------------------|---------------------------/3-----------------|
                                                                    
Verse 2
The dogs begin to bark, the hounds begin to howl.
The dogs begin to bark, the hounds begin to howl.
You better lock up all your chickens,
Red Rooster's on the prowl.

Verse 3
So if you see my little red rooster, won't you please now drive him home.
Ya' you see my red rooster, won't you please now drive him home.
There's been no piece in the barnyard
Since that rooster's been gone.



        


THIS WILL BE AN ALTERNATIVE SLIDE SOLO FOR A MORE DRIVING SOUND BEST ON      
ELECTRIC WITH A SECOND GUITAR PLAYING RHYTHM. APPROXIMATE LOCATONS OF        
CHORDING TO LEAD WILL BE SHOWN AS BEST AS IS POSSIBLE. AS SHOWN IT'S IN THE
KEY OF A. BY SUBSTITUTING A=G, D=C AND E=D IT CAN BE TRANSPOSED TO KEY OF G.

        

--------/5--/5--/5--/5--/5--/5--/5-------/8--/8--/8--/8--/8-/8--/8-|----------
----/5--/5--/5--/5--/5--/5--/5--/5---/8--/8--/8--/8--/8--/8-/8--/8-|----------
----/5-------------------------------/8----------------------------|----------
-------------------------------------------------------------------|----------
-------------------------------------------------------------------|----------
-------------------------------------------------------------------|----------
<D>          

------------------/5-----------/12--/12------------|-----------------------|--
---------------0----------/12------------/12-------|-----------------------|--
--------0--/3--0-------------------------------/12-|-----------------------|--
----/3--0--/3--0-----------------------------------|-----------------------|--
----/3--0--/3--------------------------------------|-----------------------|--
----/3---------------------------------------------|-----------------------|--
<A> Now repeat those 4 bars  

--/7--/7--/7---------/10------|-------/12--/12-------/12----------------|-----
--/7-----------/10--------/10-|--/12------------/12-----------/12-------|-----
------------------------------|--------------------------/12-------/12--|-----
------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----
------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----
------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----
<E> <D>      

--------------------/5------------/12--/12----------|-------------------------
--0------0---/3--0----------/12---------------------|-------------------------
--0--/3--0---------------------------------------/2-|-------------------------
--0--/3--0----------------------------------/12-----|-------------------------
----------------------------------------------------|-------------------------
----------------------------------------------------|-------------------------
<A> (Now totals 12 bars)

[amyjared]

I play some slide, and Little Red Rooster is one of the best to learn on. Some recommendations:

Open G:
Little Red Rooster (Stones version)
Walkin Blues (clapton Unplugged)

Open E:
No Expectations (Stones)
I got the Silver (Stones)
One Way Out (Allman Bros)

Most of these you can find on the web. For Little Red Rooster, I do it like this:

Code: Select all

D|--------------------/12----
B|--------------------/12---
G|--0--5--3--0--------
D|--0--5--3--0--------
G|--------------------
D|--------------------

I use this riff after the chords, and I play the riff on the G/D strings with my fingers and then use the slide to go up to the 12th fret. I use the slide on the chords, which are C (5th fret) and D (7th fret). Play the chord over the singing part and at the end of each verse, throw in the riff.
I play it like this:

Code: Select all

Slide up to 5th fret                             Riff 2 times
Got a little red rooster, too lazy to crow for days

Hope this helps.

[IamDocWatson]

i play in standard tuning, just to avoid retuning, i never really play full chords so i can find a ton of two note combos with the slide, and use the 3 notes of the a form chord all over the neck.

i definately recomend using the pinky but do whatever works....
i have glass chrome and brass slides, all great all sound a bit different, get them all...

make sure your slide is directly over the metal fret or else you will be flat or sharp and that sounds aweful...now it is cool to slide flat and then come back into the note but if you are trying to play the exact note and you are sharp, its not good....

practice while plugged in to a tuner to get the hang of it...

[shakedown_04092]

make sure your slide is directly over the metal fret or else you will be flat or sharp and that sounds aweful...

That's good advice, thanks, I didn't realize that's how you were supposed to play slide. I had a glass slide, never used it all that much because I wasn't good at it, but it broke - fell off a music stand...doh! I think I'll go get another one and try it again with this newfound forum advice.

[Django]

I am a hack player also. Slide, the rest I'm a hacksaw player...but I digress.
One trick I discovered from a Skynyrd article : For the part time slide player who wants to keep his action low until sliding - take a fret board wide piece of insulated solid wire, like 18 ga. (sound right electricians?) and slide it up the fretboard under the strings to the second fret. Now you got no open notes but you got a big bouncy string height that sounds great for rootsy stuff. Putting it at the second fret works good for the key of A amoung others, not so hot for say, B.

[dancing mantis]

Re: CaptainTrips says "I was just listening to a Jerry interview on the archive the other day and was surprised to see that he actually played slide on a couple of tunes . . . Little Red Rooster and Row Jimmy . . . I thought it was just Bobby"

Jerry could play some amazing slide. Walkin' Blues is another one he did some slide work on. I remember a mid-80's show - during a really hot Little Red Rooster first Bobby took a very nice slide solo, and then Jerry pulled out his slide and just sent the jam into hyperdrive. He kind of blew Bobby's efforts away (I love Bobby by the way).

What I have been amazed by is the more I pay attention to what Jerry is doing on the DVDs that are available the more I see how much he fingerpicked, even during solos,

[IamDocWatson]

yeah ive seen him fingerpicking althea crazy fingers peggy o....he also chicken picks alot to with his flatpick and fingers both...

also jerry plays mean slide on alot of tunes...check out 78 stuff...dicks picks 25 he plays slide alot...

cosmic charlie also has some jerry slide

[BigJilm]

I put it on my pinky and play with a metal slide

[golfnutt]

[quote="d-v-s"]I was listening to the Allmans' live at the fillmore, and Duane was such an amazing guitarist...

Truer words were never typed...

Anyway there has been a lot of great advice posted already I'll add just a couple more.

The recommendation to set your action higher is an absolute must for starters.

Also it may sound lame but simply practing hittin a note and sliding and then cutting it off (cleanly) is very important.To me what really seperates good slide players from the masters is the ability to play clean (no excessive noise other than what is intended). Also lots of repetition as you learn different licks.

Using your fingers instead of a pick is also a must

Warren Haynes has a book out thats for standard tuning has a lot of short licks as well as more advanced. There is also a CD included which helps. It also offers some great insights for string dampining (both left and right hands) in fact for me the right hand damping technique is really key.

Also hope the people you live with are cool cuz learning slide can be like nails on the chalk board. the trumpet analogy by dancing mantis was spot on. I perfer electric play (Duane is my absolute favorite) and use a glass slide on my ring finger. Go with what feels good and keep practicing you'll love it

[d-v-s]

There is some excellent info here. I especially like the wire under the 2nd fret idea. I just gave that a shot - don't have a slide with me, but i used a glass bottle - and it's much easier like this!

Thanks to all who posted these great tips.

[strumminsix]

There is some excellent info here. I especially like the wire under the 2nd fret idea. I just gave that a shot

Does it change the guitar's tuning?