Using slide on a fretted guitar

Posted by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw on January 25, 2011 at 5:16am

Hi.

 

I have just strung up my first fretted instrument. The frets seem to be in the right place (have carefully rechecked and all seems well). I had read elsewhere that when fingering you place the finger just behind the fret and that when using a slide you place the slide over the fret. If I place the slide over the fret it sounds flat whereas placing the finger behind the fret sounds right, so I am now placing the slide slightly ahead of the fret.

 

This seems fine and also makes sense as I am applying minimal pressure with the slide so as not to hit the frets, but it is against the advice that I have read. Have I made a mistake in the fretting or maybe in my technique, or is everything as you would expect? Partly asking as I am about to fret another neck and if I have made a mistake I don't want to repeat it.

 

Many thanks.

 

John

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Tags: frets, intonation, slide
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Replies

  • Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw January 25, 2011 at 11:15am

    Thanks John.

     

    That has made a tremendous difference. At the moment I have just tuned it to DAD but it sounds a lot brighter and louder as well. It is also a lot easier to use the slide as it isn't in so much danger of hitting the frets. The down side is that I will have to develop more resistant finger tips. This is only my second day of fretting so the fingers are a bit tender at the moment.

     

    Thanks very much for the help.

    ChickenboneJohn said:

    I'm assuming that top G (which would previously have been a ""B" string) has been dropped down to the G by three tones...which will make it VERY slack on a standard scale.  Either leave the strings on and tune the whole thing up to something like D - A - D to get a decent amount of tension in the strings, or get rid of the top one, and move 'em all up with a heavier one on the bottom, then what was the 3rd string will actually be tuned to a G as it was designed to be.  It's always easier to slide with heavier rather than lighter strings, but the tuning has got to be appropriate to impart enough tension in them.

  • ChickenboneJohn January 25, 2011 at 10:52am

    I'm assuming that top G (which would previously have been a ""B" string) has been dropped down to the G by three tones...which will make it VERY slack on a standard scale.  Either leave the strings on and tune the whole thing up to something like D - A - D to get a decent amount of tension in the strings, or get rid of the top one, and move 'em all up with a heavier one on the bottom, then what was the 3rd string will actually be tuned to a G as it was designed to be.  It's always easier to slide with heavier rather than lighter strings, but the tuning has got to be appropriate to impart enough tension in them.

     


    John Maw said:

    Thanks for the replies.

     

    John. In terms of the choice of strings, I am using the 2nd, 3rd and 4th from a pack of .013s (currently tuned to gdg for no particularly good reason). What should I be replacing them with?

  • Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw January 25, 2011 at 10:38am

    Thanks for the replies.

     

    John. In terms of the choice of strings, I am using the 2nd, 3rd and 4th from a pack of .013s (currently tuned to gdg for no particularly good reason). What should I be replacing them with?

  • The Phrygian Kid January 25, 2011 at 7:10am
    dont worry about a thing john, just follow your ears.  If in doubt plug a tuner in and double check.  Remember that in intonating you have set your bridge back a little to allow for the string 'stretch' when fretting ?? This actually changes the scale length a little right ?   You are not experiencing an unknown phenomenon at all.  You've got a good ear tho mate, bravo
  • Alan Roberts January 25, 2011 at 6:50am

    Hey John.

    Up late (or early). I'd hand this puppy to a slide guitar player, if you can find one. Have you dropped by your local guitar store? There's a lot of knowledge that can be tapped there, for the price of the occasional set of strings. I betcha a cup of coffee it will be fine.

    WORST CASE is you have your strings too low for slide. You can raise the action without starting over. StewMac has teflon dams for a few bucks. I saw someone glue dams on either side of his saddle with white glue and clamp with paper clamps (the sort you use when paperclips won't work). When the white glue dried, he carefully poured superglue into the slots on the saddle. A minute later, off came the clamps and dams. The white glue flakes off (it was there just to fill any gaps between the saddle and dam -- superglue will run EVERYWHERE). Then he was able to start over. Don't know how durable that is, but it was still working last week.

  • ChickenboneJohn January 25, 2011 at 6:24am

    With the slide right over the fret you should be pretty much in tune...if it's sounding flat it may be that you are 'pulling' the note sharp when you fret it.

     

    If the strings are a fairly low tenison, the effect of pulling strings sharp can be made worse, so heavier strings may help.

     

    Having said all this, when playing slide you need to play with your ears rather than your eyes, so always depend on what sounds right and just use the fret positions  as a guide rather than  an absolute.

  • Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw January 25, 2011 at 6:03am

    Hi Alan.

     

    There is about 1.5mm (1/16") at the first diatonic fret (it has dulcimer fretting) and 4mm (5/32") at the octave. I did wonder if this was too high, but I am having to be super-careful with the slide to keep it from hitting the frets, so in that respect if feels too low. Possibly an issue of string tension as well. I have just ordered some other strings for it.

    Alan Roberts said:

    How high is your action?
  • Alan Roberts January 25, 2011 at 5:47am
    How high is your action?
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