Grateful Dead Music Forum

i bought a glass one like 3 weeks ago, i tried playin it on my acoustic but just kinda gave up. i need to start takin lessons again then i could learn it real good.

strumminsix wrote:

d-v-s wrote: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?

Kinda tough to tell cuz you can't play the open, but i'd say that the change in tuning is not significant. When you play the slide, I guess you're playing a bit by ear, anyways. It's hard to tell when you're EXACTLY over the fret.

I tried playing a G on the 3rd string 5th fret with the wire out and the wire in. There was a small change - slightly sharp. When I played the same note with the slide (ok, still using the glass bottle), i got a perfect G. So, I'm gonna say that it doesn't make a difference with the slide, but may have a small effect on notes played without the slide.

Thats a good question. I belive it changes it to A just like a capo. BTW Ry Cooder "Boomer Story" is a great cd for some slide. He also plays on John Hiatt's "Bring the family"

they make raise nut pieces to slide over the nut to raise your action a great bit

strummingsix, when I put the wire under the strings I just think of it like there are just some lower notes I can't get or have to transpose for. When I want an 'a' note on the high 'e' string I still get it at the fifth fret. I don't think of it as a capo, played open (where the wire is), doesn't really give a playable note, it's just a nice place to park it that doesn't mess with my usual visualization of the fretboard.

my buddy and i were drunk and jamming the other week and he took a beer bottle, shattered it, and took the neck to play with. he cut himself unknowingly while playing and was bleeding down his hand. it was pretty sweet.

navajo wrote:my buddy and i were drunk and jamming the other week and he took a beer bottle, shattered it, and took the neck to play with. he cut himself unknowingly while playing and was bleeding down his hand. it was pretty sweet.

Yeah, sounds really sweet!

When I started teaching myself how to do slide, I made the mistake of pressing down on the frets...bad idea, and it sounds awful, so I gave up for a while. The heavier slide you have, the fatter the tone that you'll get is. Lowell George used a thick metal slide, and he gets a great tone. He's not fast like duane, but he hits all the right notes, check out any version of rock n' roll docter on archive.

I was listening to "An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band" last night and they play a sweet little acoustic slide on a track called "Midnight Blues" on the album. I think it's Warren Haynes playing the slide (1992), but Dickey Betts wrote the song. It's a nice simple little blues slide. I'd recommend it for starters, as well.

I can post some notes on the song if anyone's interested.

I'm also a beginner slide player. I first bought a metal slide, hated it, and now I have a glass one. I use my ring finger.

I've actually been wanting to ask this for a while (created an account to do so)...could we compile a list of gd slide songs, by jerry and bob?

i know jerry plays slide on walking blues, row jimmy.
ive seen a video of bob weir playing slide on casey jones. little red rooster has been mentioned so far. Also, I know I hear slide on weather report/let it grow in some 73 shows. not sure who is playing it. Thanks for any input

taht would be jerry on pedal steel, also find that on looks like rains from the era

Don't forget Bobby playing slide on Althea.

I always love Bobby quirky slide. Everything the guy does is so unique. His slide solos arent always great and Jerry could always put him to shame . .. but it wasn't ever like that a competition. But there were some times when Bobby really shined.

Does Jerry play a slide on Weather Report Suite, too, or is it the pedal steel? The version on DP 1 sounds like he's playing a slide (around minute 3:30 in particular).

Jerry does play slide on the WRS Prelude.

I've heard JG on slide and he's been good but not impressive to the level that he is on lead. I'd hazard a guess and say Bobby's more regular experimenting and work at it could put him above JG.