I am getting to grips, or at least trying to with using a slide on fretted GBG in open G. I have a little trouble trying to get a clean sound with a slide. I seem to get loads of background chatter off the strings as I first hit the strings and at the end as it comes to rest over the fret. How much pressure should I be using? Every thing I read talks about light pressure which for me seems to make things worse. Should the notes be fretted with the slide at the end of each slide or floating over the top with the lightest pressure. When I try this is a horrible tinny noise.
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Thanks chap, glad it's not just me. I am in for the long haul. I started off as a bassist (12 bar blues) and to be honest while I have played tenor banjo, mandolin, mandola and uke I have only really understood the blues. CBG is where it's at, end of story.
I used to play stuff like Joe Walsh and the classic 'Free Bird' on an electric guitar. Extra light strings. GHS '9's. The strings were set up so low a passing breeze could play a tune on it. I used a very light glass slide. A Clayton thinwall.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CLAYTON-GLASS-GUITAR-SLIDE-CASE-STAGE-STUDI...
It takes a light touch and a lot of dedication. And worth the effort. Because it can be done.
All good advice, nothing really to add except that it's a common thing for all of us so don't be discouraged. Love the airplane analogy. Here's a vid on the subject that may help.
https://youtu.be/iyd43eAMF4E
slide rattle can depend on alot of things .. different people hold it at different angles and with different fingers .
even different slides .. if your angle is not flat across ,, you may get rattle on either end string ,, if by nature you cant break the habit of your finger / wrist angle .. try a tapered slide , like a bottle neck .. try it both ways too. taperd back and foward .
some folks also use their trail fingers to mute the strings behind the slide abit or palm mute between lifts and lands .. because you are bound to get some rattle no matter what .
also there is the "approach" to the string , i say "approach" because ; think of the slide as an airplane landing on the string at an angle, and approach the string as such ..this will reduce rattle .
a head on drop is more likely to produce rattle ,
the same with lift off . unless you hit or let go of all strings at the same time . ( usually your natural finger angle is still contacting the bottom string .
bottom line , the more you play , the more you will find out what works best for you .
it will get better .
then again .. some folks let it rattle away and call it "character" ;-)
that works too.
a good tip - is to get down at eye level with your strings ,, and your slide and try to make it rattle .. once you see close up what causes string rattle ,, it is easier to avoid it and compensate your technique for it .
All the best from Bill. :D
Lots of practice, and a little trick called "damping". Basically, you would lightly drag a finger on the strings behind/above the slide, which helps prevent unwanted string vibrations. Oh, right...and practice more. It will work out.