Acoustic Slide Guitar
Another popular style used in Blues involves using a slide, a metal or glass tube usually placed on the little finger of the left hand. This book only introduces the slide guitar style, for a more detailed description of this style see Progressive Slide Guitar Technique and Progressive Slide Guitar Licks. The slide is moved up or down the fretboard in the direction of the strings after a string is played. The slide does not fret the string, it only rests against the string.
The most important part of slide guitar technique is the use of the left hand. It will be necessary to practice some new fundamentals of left hand technique.
The Thumb
The left hand thumb should be positioned behind the neck. Keep the thumb behind the second finger of the left hand and the face of the thumb against the back of the neck. The thumb must be kept straight.
Thumb must be kept straight.
Keep the thumb behind the second finger.
The Slide
Slide must be parallel with fretwires.
The slide is mostly used on the fourth finger of the left hand. It is rare a slide player would use another finger. It is important to keep the slide perfectly parallel to the fretwires.
Damping
Damping with left hand fingers.
With the slide on the fourth finger, at least one of the other fingers must lay across the strings behind the slide. This will help dampen the strings when the slide is lifted off the strings. It will also deaden any overtones which may occur when the slide is at certain frets.
Fretting
Hold slide above fret wire.
When a note is played with the slide it is necessary to hold the slide on the string directly above the fretwire and not before the fret wire (where a normal fretted note is held). The amount of pressure on the string will be something you will slowly get used to. When you move the slide try to keep the pressure as even as possible.
Sliding
As you slide from one fret to another, it is important to keep the slide parallel to the frets. The thumb must trail behind the neck with the left hand fingers still damping the strings. The shape of the left hand should not alter as you move up and down the fretboard.
Slide Scale Patterns
The most common slide scale patterns are shown next in the key of E.
Slide Scale Pattern - Key of E
Slide Scale Pattern - Key of E (open position)
The following slide examples are played within the slide scales shown on the previous page.
The following example combines a shuffle rhythm and some basic slide licks. Note: it is OK to play the turnaround lick in the final 2 bars as normal fretted notes with your fingers rather than play the notes as a slide lick.
The following slide example utilizes the constant bass line.
