Slide Guitar

[RVA]

 

[ivan H]

Some good points given here. I do use a pick to throw simple slide licks amongst rythm riffage, palm muting strings below the string I'm using & the edge of my pinky to mute strings above. Also the edge of the thumb & fingertips of my picking hand to mute picked strings when changing to another string. For more complex lines the fingerpicking/muting method shown in the video is where it's at. Don't be afraid to experiment, whatever you can make work for you is good.
I like the tip on getting mileage out of one string using a "slide, freeze, slide" technique. The Skynyrd's "Free Bird" slide is very easy to learn & without detuning the B string (to a G) is played almost all on the G string, the main, instantly recognisable lick being an exercise in this "slide, freeze, slide technique.
One thing I noticed in the video is the lack of muting the strings behind the slide. This "may" be ok on acoustic (I don't play acoustic so ain't sure), but with any decent amount of amplification I find it a must (to mute). Without muting behind the slide you hear the intended portion of the string which is the part between the slide & bridge, with an overtone from the strings behind the slide (slide to nut). Cheers

 

[RVA]

One thing I noticed in the video is the lack of muting the strings behind the slide. This "may" be ok on acoustic (I don't play acoustic so ain't sure), but with any decent amount of amplification I find it a must. Without muting behind the slide you hear the intended portion of the string which is the part between the slide & bridge, with an overtone from the strings behind the slide (slide to nut). Cheers

Funny you should say that because this video encouraged me to try using the middle finger for the slide. I find it comfortable and like the ability to span a whole step on 2 strings. However, I am finding it hard to mute with my pointer with the slide there

 

[smitty_p]

Funny you should say that because this video encouraged me to try using the middle finger for the slide. I find it comfortable and like the ability to span a whole step on 2 strings. However, I am finding it hard to mute with my pointer with the slide there

I used to use my middle finger for slide...until I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror at home while practicing.

It looked like I was flipping off the audience!

Hence, my current usage of my pinky.

 

[ivan H]

I used to use my middle finger for slide...until I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror at home while practicing.

It looked like I was flipping off the audience!

Hence, my current usage of my pinky.

Now that's funny.
For me it's the ring finger. I think that when it comes to which finger to use its a case of "whatever works for you is right for you". Cheers

 

[RVA]

What about FR radius adjustments? Do you all agree that keeping your finger "straight"is not enough and that micro adjustments in finger curvature must be made between low E and hiigh E?

 

[Gahr]

What about FR radius adjustments? Do you all agree that keeping your finger "straight"is not enough and that micro adjustments in finger curvature must be made between low E and hiigh E?

Usually I try to move the slide in such a way that the outer joint of my finger is on the string I’m playing when I play single notes. This makes me automatically adjust the angle. This reduces string noise from the lower strings, since the slide isn’t always touching them, and gives me more control of the string I’m playing.

 

[BlackSG91]

I like this kind of slide.

;>)/

 

[Sp8ctre]

I was forced to play slide when I was taking classes at Berklee. I tried glass, ceramic and chromed steel.

I stuck with the glass. It sounded best to me. The steel was kind of treble sounding or something and I
didn't like the rough feel and sound of the ceramic on the strings...