Rudi

Starting : Lessons: Its one hell of a lot faster to learn. Starting : Do it yourself: Everything you discover, you learn very very well. After some years : Lessons: You might end up just doing as you are told. You could become a version of your teacher. After some years : Do it yourself: You will always have gaps, and it will take ages to narrow them.

Terrapin Station - Grateful Dead

Early days: I always used to want to use fingers exclusively. But, I used a Strat in those days, and for over 20 years too. The action was so heavy that I used a pick just in order to play it hard enough. I sacked the strat a long while ago, but still like a firm-ish action. I agree that using fingers give the control, feel and sound that cant be achieved with plectrums. A good example is the 1st Dire Straits album (eponymously titled). Here is a track from it that demonstrates what I am talking about.

They do? Ok. I place performance 1st, so that doesnt matter. The last time I posed was as a kid with a pretend guitar. It was a handcarved walking stick. I might need it again one day if the knees dont settle down.

When I find it, I'll probably use it on a Pee Wee Les Paul (Epiphone). http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y121/pactio_kiss/P150111_1205.jpg I got one of these to pack in my suitcase when going on holiday. I think it might quite good for slide.

As for a guitar to use. I still have my old Yamaha acoustic. I have just finished experimenting with an open minor chord on that. Didnt work as well as I'd hoped. For electric, I am considering using a nut riser http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=guitar+nut+riser&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=N3xBUYbIOsPBOLD3gbgE&ved=0CDMQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=929 I have mislaid mine, so may get a new one.

Broken Arrow - Robbie Robbertson

The latest thing to inspire me to write a lyric was the response to the last lyric I posted (nobody understood it). Other stuff includes refraction, things on the ceiling, the equinoxes, symmetry in syntax. experiencing time as now pastures after rain

Lyrics are usually the last thing I listen to upon hearing a new song. I get around to it eventually. I agree they are, or should be important. It's just for years I never bothered with words. As a child, most of the time I couldnt understand the words to songs. By that I mean that the words were indistict, and might've been almost anything. As a matter of fact, this topic and recent posts on the Lyrics Critique area have prompted me to write a song. It will be called 'It Doesn't Matter What I Sing'.

Estimated Prophet - Grateful Dead performed on November 24, 1978 in Passaic, New Jersey.

There are commercially produced ceramic slides as well. If I had a lathe I would experiment with other metals and finishes. A 'brushed' finish might have different acoustic characteristics to a burnished or ground surface.

Gopichans are strange beasts. I have never seen one for real. I cant imagine how they could be used for regular intonation. But the slide would help no doubt. Would a bow work I wonder?

I'm missing the link Kel. I like obscure & tenuous ones. So congratulations if it is there. Is it?

Mama Tried - Johnny Cash

I never really thought about it, but I can think of several songs that work this way (even my own, - subliminal influence?). Thanks for bringing this to notice.

Thanks for the reminder, I'll slip it in the guitar case now. Have you used brass slides? They are said to be better for sustain.

No refrain either. Pretty dull huh?

Los Lobos did an album with guests covering their songs (‘The Ride’ with Tom Waits, Mavis Staples, Bobby Womack etc). They accompanied Elvis Costello who sang ‘Just a Matter of Time’. I always thought the original was iconic, but Costello made the song (as they say) ‘his own’. Its faintly amusing that the band try to add harmony vocals, but Costello’s timing is so unique that they fail to match it. Therefore those harmonies sound disjointed and ‘timid’. An example of a cover sounding better that the original, instigated by the original artists.

Pretty much like HoboSage. Music happens. My last song had no chorus at all. In fact, it did not even occur to me to add a chorus. Thats how much say I get in the process.

I have never been that into slide playing. I only ever learned one piece too (in my 1st year of playing) called ‘Andu’s Easy Rider’ from Michael Chapman’s “Fully Qualified Survivor’ album. The fascination has not abated though. I have made (and lost / broken) many actual bottle neck slides from wine bottles. Method: Take half a dozen bottles & smash them on the back step. With luck at least one neck will come out the right shape for slide use. The next stage is to blunt the sharp edges using (again) the back step until its safe for pinkies. I recall on a live Little Feat collection (‘Hoy Hoy’ I think) hearing a snippet of chat from Lowell George where he say’s: “There are a lot a kinds of slide guitar, I use specifically this, Sears & Roebuck Craftsman 11/16†socket wrench, because you can go most anywhere…..†(fades out). I assumed this was a spark-plug socket spanner (spanner = wrench in UK to USA translation), as that would be about right. It seemed an ideal solution; heavy, well made and smooth. You can be sure I tried more than once to find this item & failed. I even looked at some UK plug sockets spanners but they had embossed lines and other slide-spoiling-features. I recently found this. A 'Socket Slide'. I got a small one on ebay (ok for my modest pinky). http://www.steveclayton.com/slides.php This has the socket star in place of a smooth ID. Inspired no doubt by George or other ‘spanner-wrench’ players. Its less heavy than expected, but produces a good ringing tone. I have never used a slide on stage, but I will remedy this next Saturday.

Hello & welcome Bodgan. See you around I hope.

Hi Tristan, Wecome to SS. Lots of guitarists & songsters here.

Hi Jordan, I'm certain you can find plenty of useful adice here. Take the time to get to know the site. There is something published about everything musical on here. FInding it can take a little time though. welcome

A Maid Thats Deep In love - Pentangle

Bad to the Bone - George Thorogood & the Destroyers