Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on October 22, 2013 at 8:56am

Start with a one string diddley bow or canjo, and work up from there. They don't get any simpler than one string. Or, tune a 3-stringer to GDg, slide at 3,5,7,9 and 12 for the blues basics. Start by strumming chords. Learn the I-IV-V blues pattern. Buy Keni Lee Burgess' DVD lessons. Watch Shane Speal and Knotlenny's free how-to-play vids here on CBN.

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Permalink Reply by Skeesix on October 22, 2013 at 10:58am

Try my beginning slide video:

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/beginning-slide-by-skeesix

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Permalink Reply by Sanddraggin on October 22, 2013 at 12:41pm

I had no experience either when I started. I built a fretless first cause it was easier to build. I had to build a fretted instrument though before I really felt like I was getting somewhere.

Just my 2 cents

Keep at it and goodluck. 

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Permalink Reply by Ice Bob on October 22, 2013 at 12:56pm

one string diddly bow or a strum stick dulcimer

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on October 22, 2013 at 2:49pm

Get frets!
Exactly as sand said, guys build fretless because it's easy, not because it's a desirable property in an instrument. It takes a lot more skill and knowledge to make decent music on a fretless neck

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Permalink Reply by Yankee Dog on October 23, 2013 at 12:27am

As a fretless builder and player and someone with no prior musical experience, I cannot understand how finger fretting cords can be easier to learn than the slide. With no frets you only have to get a single object into postion. With frets I have to get five fingers into postions. And learning to push down on the frets correctly is no easier than leaning to use a slide.

 

Besides, how can you play the blues without a slide. Isnt there a law against that or something.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by 3 String Blues on October 23, 2013 at 1:16am

HI, do not try to learn diddley bow!...you have to be rather talented to make it sound good!...try a 3 string....a diddley bow you will need to a have a good ear for tone and pitch , otherwise you will get frustrated fast!!!

 

a three string you can let the strings ring open and the instrument will sound good with little effort!

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Permalink Reply by SlowHound on October 23, 2013 at 2:24am

I purposely built my first few guitars without frets forcing me to concentrate on the slide. I rarely even pickup a fretted guitar anymore.

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on October 23, 2013 at 2:46am

3 string open tuning. View lessons on YouTube and find some from someone who plays music you like. No sense trying to emulate a sound that doesn't turn you on.

Just pick up and play. Eventually (soon) you may want feeds and it opens a whole new world of possibilities. And you can still play slide! I hardly ever play my fretless now.

So now you've heard advice all different ways. Its up to you to find out what works FOR YOU cos our experiences and opinions don't mean chit to YOUR playing and enjoyment.

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on October 23, 2013 at 1:25pm

That should read frets, not feeds. Bad phone typing.

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Permalink Reply by turtlehead on October 23, 2013 at 1:31pm

Good advice from Bad Finger here.  Figure out what you want to play and build or buy a guitar to suit that style.  Even with that, it's still 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.  Anything can be done with enough good, focused practice.  Don't get discouraged!  Every time you pick up your guitar, you are learning something!

I'd side with those who say slide is more difficult, but only slightly.  Frets make it easier to hit the notes, but with a 3 or 4 string slide guitar tuned open, all you really have to do is go from open to the 5th and the 7th fret position.  Check out the vids mentioned here and like Oily said, get the 12 bar blues progression down.  You learn it once and then you can play about 435,167 songs. That will lead to rock if that's your bag and there is a lot of crossover to country, folk and so on.  Don't worry about picking out a melody at first, just get the slide changes down and keep a steady rhythm. 

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Permalink Reply by Rob Ingram on October 23, 2013 at 1:20pm

I built a 3 string fretless slide cbg first. I'd never played slide guitar much at all. I messed around with that a while picking up things here n there from Shane Speal, Mike Snowden and Chickenbone John youtube videos. Then I built a one string diddley bow and actually learned more about handling the slide and picking out things by ear. Everyone learns differently. Above all ... Have Fun !!!

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