We are bringing back this article on slide, a topic that generates a lot of interest among guitarists, especially when it comes to learning a bit more about the types of slides and alternate tunings to work with in order to get scales or interesting sounds with a slide. In this article, we take a closer look at the bottleneck.
Definition
Bottleneck and slide are two words generally used for the style of guitar playing in which the strings are played with a small metal or glass tube (porcelain ones also exist) worn on the third or fourth finger of the fretting hand. The sound lends itself especially to slurs and glissandos, and it also creates a very characteristic atmosphere, in blues for example.
Its origins
Slide originated and developed in the area of influence of the Mississippi Delta, in America. It is Black music, linked to the tradition of slavery and, consequently, to the blues. It seems the original intention of this technique was to imitate the expressiveness of the voice, although the result is actually quite different from what was intended. The name "bottleneck" comes from the fact that the technique began with the necks of broken beer bottles.
Guitarists known for their slide playing
They include, among many others: Big Joe, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Son House, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, Lowell George, Ry Cooder, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, etc.
The first ones mentioned are some of the great blues musicians who created and passed on slide techniques, reaching a second generation of guitarists (such as Elmore James). The second generation introduced the bottleneck into electric blues, influencing some rock guitarists, such as Eric Clapton.
Types of slide
In the beginning there was a strong influence from Hawaiian musicians, and the first "slide players" played with the guitar in a horizontal position (on their laps with the strings facing up). Any kind of material was used to get this characteristic sound: knives, cigar tubes, etc... This way of playing persists today, and there is a type of flat slide that is held like a pick, that is, pressed between the thumb and index finger.
Later came the idea of putting the finger inside the slide itself. That way the guitar went back to its usual position, hanging from the shoulders in an upright position. There are several types of slide; the most characteristic or common are:
Long metal tube (made of various materials)
Short polished metal tube
Ceramic tubes
Glass tubes
How to play with a slide
We have all seen slide effects improvised with anything from a beer bottle to a lighter. The truth is that slides are sold cheaply in music stores, and you get somewhat better results (even if they are less showy than the beer bottle trick).
The sound produced by metal is different from that of ceramic or glass, a matter of taste you will have to decide for yourself.
As for where to wear it or how to use it, the little finger or the third finger is usually used. Personally I think it is easier on the third finger, although it may be a good idea to get used to wearing it on the fourth (little finger), since that leaves fingers 1, 2 and 3 free to play normal scales or phrases at any given moment.
The slide is not used by pressing the string down, as you do with your fingers. It is dragged along the fingerboard, resting directly over the fret. The most striking effects and sounds are usually achieved with dropped or open tunings.
Alternate tunings
This consists of tuning the strings so that they form a chord when played open. The most common alternatives are the "Spanish or Hawaiian" ones: G minor, D major, E major and C major. Another advantage of alternate tuning is that you can play a chord anywhere along the fingerboard just by laying down a barre. The tricky part is that with an altered tuning you will have to work out many other chords, since the shapes obviously change.
In the case of slide, since it is a straight tube (like a barre), tuning this way is very convenient and appealing. Some examples:
Open D tuning
6th string lowered to D
5th string standard (A)
4th string standard (D)
3rd string lowered to F#
2nd string lowered to A
1st string lowered to D
Open C tuning
6th string lowered to C
5th string lowered to G
4th string lowered to C
3rd string standard (G)
2nd string raised to C
1st string standard (E)
Open G tuning
6th string lowered to D
5th string lowered to G
4th string standard (D)
3rd string standard (G)
2nd string standard (B)
1st string lowered to D
Open E tuning
6th string standard (E)
5th string raised to B
4th string raised to E
3rd string raised to G#
2nd string standard (B)
1st string standard (E)
Drop tunings
There are more types of alternate tunings, such as modal tunings, cross tunings, sawmill tunings, etc...
To wrap up today's chapter, it is worth mentioning drop tunings, since they are very simple and give eye-catching results. The most widely used drop tuning is drop D, which consists of lowering the 6th string to D (sounding the same note as the 4th string, an octave lower). If you are into "messing around" with slide, or feel like it, I encourage you to try some of these tunings for blues.
6th string lowered to D
5th string standard (A)
4th string standard (D)
3rd string standard (G)
2nd string standard (B)
1st string standard (E)
Variation
6th string lowered to D
5th string standard (A)
4th string standard (D)
3rd string standard (G)
2nd string lowered to A
1st string standard
