COLESTEVENS.NET MENU
Run down the neck for links into this subject.
up in herefeelbreak time
glad you're here

IT'S BEEN RUMORED THAT THE STRAINS OF A CERTAIN ACCOMPLISHED SOUTHERN SLIDESMAN    INSPIRED A LOW LIFE LYING CROOK    TO STAND UP AND CONFESS PURE SOUTHERN TRUTH                                              IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE LYING MAN'S HANGING          THE TOWN'S MAYOR ORDERED THE PLAYING OF SLIDE BLUES MUSIC INSIDE THE COURTHOUSE          WHILE COURT WAS IN SESSION            TO INSPIRE TRUTH    FAIRNESS    HONESTY    AND SWIFT JUSTICE                      NOW    TWO YEARS AFTER THE MAYOR'S BLUES LAW TOOK HOLD                            THE LAST PRACTICING LAWYER IN TOWN WAS HUNG LAST TUESDAY EVENIN'                AS ELMORE JAMES' BLUES ANTHEM: "LOOK ON YONDER WALL"        WAS BROADCAST OVER A PEAVEY PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM TO A CHEERING, STANDING-ROOM-ONLY CROWD OF DIE-HARD BLUES FANS.
 
slammit SLIDES: PART II: Glass, ceramic, brass, bone and steel of every size, shape and type imaginable has been employed by guitar players over past few decades to create those cool slide effects people have grown to associate with the blues. I've experimented with at least one member from each food group and I've pretty much settled into the tones created from glass. It's quiet, it's mellow, it's lightweight, it's fat and warm... glass is my friend! Choosing a slide is like picking out a pair of shoes... it's very personal! My advice to the newby is... sample the whole buffet!

I usually use a Jim Dunlop short, heavy walled pyrex #212 slide. It fits my pinky absolutely the way a slide should... snug. Slide size is determined two obvious factors: how big your hands are and what finger you use to slide with. That's another decision to make early on... which finger to use. I played with my ring finger for a number of years, but when I began to study slide a little more seriously, I switched to my pinky. Pinky players have a distinct advantage over other finger choices when it comes down to ease of chording and fingering.

On the occasions I use a metal slide, I have a stainless steel slide custom made for me some years back. Of all the metals, stainless is the warmest and fattest sounding. To my ears, stainless steel is glass on steriods. Rust, plating wear or chipping is not an issue either stainless and it polishes right up on a buffing wheel when it looks a little rough.

A BIT ON SLIDE GUITARS: Though I cover this subject in greater detail on other pages, I did want to say that any guitar is a canidate for a slide guitar. Nothing is scared okay? It's just that some guitars are more suited for slide guitars than others. There are some special guitar setup considerations for slide that one should consider though. Ideally, if at all possible, it is best to have a guitar devoted specifically for open tuning slide playing. The reason is that heavier strings and higher action is a preferred prequisite for best results. If you got a spare guitar, acoustic or electric... get yourself a slide and learn something new!

I rarely slide in standard tuning, mostly because my standard tuning guitars don't really accomodate slide activity to my liking. It's fun to slide in standard, but my personal preference is open tunings.

Check out the ULTIMATE glass slide that I'm using now, hand-blown Diamond Bottlenecks made in the UK. Click HERE!

BACK TO TUNINGS PART I CLICK HERE

minimum waged
• Web Master & Graphic Designer: Michael F. Butler/Out There Graphics©.
• HTML & Graphic Images: Copyright© 2004 Out There Graphics© /2004 Lonnie Mae Productions.
• All Content: Copyright© 2004 Out There Graphics© /2004 Lonnie Mae Productions. All Rights Reserved.
• ColeStevens.net is best viewed on Internet Explorer 5.0 or greater. Created on a iMac.