Slide Guitar

[dealrocker]

My bro is totally a noob to slide guitar. He recently got a new one and wondering what would be the best way to start practicing slide. what are some simple songs and other stuff for beginners.?

Any useful information and suggestions on slide guitar are welcome.

[tuffythepug]

dealrocker

I'm not a pro but I play a fair bit of slide guitar. 

Here are some things that I think are important.   

1.   Learn to tune the guitar to open tunings such as open G ( D G D G B D) open D (D A D F# A D)
      or open E (E B E G# B E)

2.   make sure the guitar is set up with fairly high action or you will be hitting the frets with the slide

3.   Resist the temptation to press down with the slide.  It's not like fretting with your fingers.  you 
     just hold the slide over the fret... repeat.. over the fret wire: it's not like fingering at all.

4.   Concentrate on sliding into and out of notes and work on a wavering motion to create a vibrato.

5.   Try to keep the slide lightly on the strings and dampen behind the slide to avoid unwanted noise

6.   Listen to good slide players and practice, practice, practice.


    Other than that it's a piece of cake.
   
   Good luck.  By the way, you mention that your bro got a new "slide guitar".
    Do you mean a resonator style  ?     Because any guitar can be used to play slide.   Resonators are just
    usually set up better for it and are louder.