Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cigar Box Nation on April 4, 2012 at 11:41am

ride your index finger behing the slide, perhaps?  We'll work on a little technique when you come out, Rick.

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Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf on April 4, 2012 at 11:51am

   Clearly, your instrument is possessed by unclean spirits. I recommend an exorcism.

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on April 4, 2012 at 12:01pm

BUzzing and odd harmonics are kind of part of slide playing. Try damping behind the slide or likely just keep practicing till it sounds the way you want. You really do have to develop a "touch" for slide and it is a little different with each slide type and guitar.

One of the great benefits of building your own instruments is no matter what it sounds like when you play, you can claim that it is supposed to sound EXACTLY like that!!

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on April 4, 2012 at 11:52pm

It's not a fault. It's a feature.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on April 5, 2012 at 1:38am

Rick,

Lots of ways to tackle this one, methinks. I have the same problem at times. I've attempted to fix it in the following ways:

1) Listening closely to the old blues men. Some of 'em were clean, some of 'em were clangy. Sometimes, that rough clang is the sound you want, so incorporate it as part of your style, sorta like the cat that falls off the top of the fence while stalking a bird: "Hey, I MEANT to do that!" Conversely, a lot of the clean slide players did all their incredible stuff on one string only, the highest pitched one. Then try fingerpicking the other open strings. Easiest way to do that is to angle your slide finger upwards, so that the slide only contacts that one string. It takes practice, which leads us to #2...

2) Work slow. Really slow. Get your slide tone as accurate as possible. It seems painful at first, because we all wanna rip like Duane Allman, but even he didn't know how to play slide when he first started. Once you can accurately slide from note to note on a three note run, try throwing in an open or fingered, non-slide note. Pretend you are building a brick wall.

3) Try more than one slide type. The standard beer bottle neck is slightly curved, which can facilitate the angled-up technique mentioned in #1 above. There are a variety of slide rings / ring bars on the market that seek to deal with this issue, as well. One of the ways I found works for me, was a $1.37 3/4" x 1/2" copper crossover fitting from Home Depot. It fits perfectly on my pinky, and the 3/4" portion sits closest to the 2 highest strings on my 4-string, while the 1/2" portion, nearest the nail on my pinky, has enough clearance for the two heavier strings to ring true and free. Because it is lighter and fits more snugly, I don't have to worry about it moving around like a straight sided bottleneck, steel , copper, or other slide type. The dual diameters also lend themselves more easily to the angle-up technique.

4) Finally, as Shane sez, you gotta practice dampening one or more strings with your index finger behind the slide. I'm still working on this one. A variant of this is to finger notes behind the slide, but that's a pretty advanced technique.

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Permalink Reply by Keith Stanford on September 11, 2012 at 5:47pm

Excellent, Oily....I am exactly at the stage where that information was perfect for me.

Thank you,

kieta

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on April 5, 2012 at 2:13am

I've found that timing is everything.  If you have hit an open note and then want a rattle free slide note, then you have to damp the string just exactly before you hit it with the slide.  I find that I can't consciously make that happen without making a big gap in the sound.  You have to sort of imagine the result and let your fingers work it out.  It also helps if you slide up to the intended note rather than try to hit it straight on.  This way your slide is approaching the note in two dimensions (moving toward the string and up to the intended note position or fret) simultaneously.  That sort of eases in the rattle.  If your index finger is following the slide, then you get the damping almost automatically.

Hope that helps.

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on April 5, 2012 at 6:46am

It could be many things. If you're up for it do a little video, but you might suffer some criticisms. Otherwise get a guitar playing friend to have a look. It could be your technique but it could equally be something out how you built your guitar.. If its a sitarish kinda buzz on the open strings maybe your nut slots need attention? Hard to say mate sorry and good luck with it

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on April 5, 2012 at 6:49am

Oh ps if you wanna play really clean slide guitar I suggest trying a hawaiian bar and playing overhand in your lap

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Permalink Reply by Rick Stepina on April 5, 2012 at 4:42pm

Maybe I mis-stated the issue... The slide over my bottom "thinnest" string is okay and clean, but when I pick at the top string open (fattest) that's when I get the rattle buzz... Am I supposed to have my slide on all 3 strings when doing slow type john mcnair stuff?

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on April 5, 2012 at 5:42pm

Rick,

Ah. If you want a clean slide chord, then yes. Sounds like your slide is not pressing down fully on your thickest top string, because it is angled up just slightly. Flatten it out to more horizontal across the fretboard, see if that helps. Demonstrate this to yourself by using the Kid's suggestion, and play it lap style, so you can see / hear how it's supposed to sound. Then flip it round fingerstyle, and try it again.

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on April 5, 2012 at 7:12pm

Wound strings make noise. A heavier slide will help. Can't go past a Stevens or dulcel or waverley bar

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