Picked up a slide on the local music store today and tuned my 12-string to open D in an attempt to expand my musical palette. Need to work a bit on it to get used to the slide technique and making good sound. Wonder if anybody has some good advice on how to start to explore slide guitar playing?
first of all head over to Slide and Alternate Tunings of this Forum. lots of sliders hang out there.
next. learn the fretboard. because you have a new tuning the strings are arranged differently.
I did a simple diagram of my strings and frets. kind of like TAB.
once I had all the frets and strings named, ie D D# E F etc.
I could look for the triads..those three notes that make a chord. now that I knew where the triads were I knew where the chords were . that de mystified the fretboard for me big time.
even tho I am tuned in D I can play the A chord because I know where it is and which strings to use.
next learn some basic technique. holding the slide, picking, damping, palm muting. muting behind the slide, bending strings behind the slide., hammer ons and pull offs are just a few techniques used.
welcome to slide. it is a good thing.
On the Big Road Blues main page at http://bigroadblues.com/ there are some basic slide lessons linked. The forum there is my other main hangout, full of sliders. And do drop in on our Slide and Alternate Tunings Forum, for sure!
Slide is great fun!
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
