The Slide
A very common technique used in Funk playing is the slide. There are two basic types of slides, one uses a grace note with no written time of its own (a quick slide) and the other is a valued slide in which the first note is held before sliding to the second note. A slide may be ascending or descending.
The Ascending Slide
An ascending slide is executed by starting at a note below the one you are aiming for and then sliding up to the desired note. Often the slide begins from two frets below. The ascending slide is indicated by a diagonal line below the note, accompanied by the symbol "S".
Place third finger on fifth fret, fourth string.
Slide to seventh fret immediately after first note is picked.
The Descending Slide
A descending slide starts above the desired note and slides down to it. The descending slide is indicated by a diagonal line above the note, accompanied by the symbol "S".
Place third finger on seventh fret, fourth string.
Slide to fifth fret immediately after first note is picked.
The Valued Slide
Instead of sliding immediately to a note, it is also possible to hold a note for a specific time value before sliding to another note. This is called a valued slide. It is indicated by a curved line and the symbol "S".
This example demonstrates the difference between valued slides and grace note slides.
Here is a Funk lick which makes use of slides.
