Performer/Teacher
Member:
Folk'n Bluesgrass
River City Blues Band
Brian Curran Band

Getting Started on Slide Guitar

First of all let me say that the following is only my opinion on what I think works best to begin Slide Guitar. Experiment and find what works best for you.

Obviously, the first thing you need is a guitar to play slide on. Any guitar will be fine but here are some suggestions on guitars that I think are ideal.

The most ideal is any resonator guitar. This can be an all metal guitar or one made of wood with a resonator. You don’t need to spend thousands on say a National guitar. You can do just fine with a Regal or Johnson and it can be a little easier on your pocket book. Make sure it is a round neck and not a box neck which is used for bluegrass. Talk with someone at your local store and see what is available.

You may also use an old cheap acoustic made by Harmony or Kay during the 50’s or 60’s. These guitars were used by a lot of the old delta musicians and have a great sound for slide guitar.

If you prefer to use an electric guitar any electric will be fine but again I prefer to use older guitars like the ones made by Harmony, Kay or Silvertone in the 50’s and 60’s. These can be hard to find but check out your local music store or pawn shop.

Once you have selected a guitar to use you need to set it up to play slide. When I play slide I like to have medium to heavy gauge strings. I also like to have the action of the strings a little high over the frets, meaning the strings are set higher over the fret board than would be used for regular guitar playing. Your local music store should be able to help you here with the selection of strings and setting your guitar set up for higher action.

You now have a guitar set up. Now we need a slide! There are many slides to choose from out there. I will say avoid all the gimmicks! You should never pay more than $10-$20 for a slide. You should try a few different sizes and materials until you find one that works for you. A good start is getting one made of glass, steel and brass. Also, don’t forget about things around the house like a socket from your tool set, an old piece of pipe in the basement or even a tall shot glass. Again experiment and find what works best for you.

Now you are all set so enjoy the lessons!