Crossroads Cover

This here is my version of Robert Johnson's Crossroads Blues. Played it on an accoustic with a thin pinky slide, probably not the best choice for this one as the tone comes out a little weak. I will probably upload an update played with a bronze slide on the steel guitar.

'round the fireplace

Another great find: Arlen Roth (resonator) and Sonny Landreth (Strat) playing around in a nice and cozy setting next to the fireplace.

I believe this part of a promotional video setup by the company making the fancy lookin' solid brass resonator guitar that Arlen plays with.

Feelin' Bad Blues

Feelin' bad blues is a theme written and played by Ry Cooder for the 1986 film Crossroads. In the film the main character Eugene (Ralph Macchio) plays this theme when he wakes up in a motel room to find his girl gone, so he gets the blues, grabs his Tele, turns on the pignose and playes his heart out. His mentor Willie Brown (Joe Senecca) acknowledges that the boy now knows what the blues is all about, which brings a sense of accomplishment for their whole trip down south (though Willie really has a hidden agenda, to meet the devil once again so he can bargain back his soul).

Teaspoon slide technique

Upon popular request, finally, here's a blog about this unique technique of slide playing guitar using... a teaspoon..!

Most internet searches on teaspoon guitar pop material about a guy named Hannes Coetzee. Apparently he is very big in his native country (South Africa) and rightfully so, since his mastery of this technique (called  "optel and knyp"..?) is amazing.

Open Tunings ~ a quick guide

Slide guitar playing is almost synonymous with open tunings, and so, anyone experimenting seriously with a slide or bottleneck should consider switching to an open tuning.

The Rock 'n' Rolla Slider

This piece here is a boogie woogie rythm with some slide lead in it. When I recorded it it sorta sounded like rock 'n' roll - though it was not intended to go there originally. So I decided to name it Rock 'n' Rolla Slider. You can practice with it and go on for ages adding variations of the slide phrases.

Slide Masters - Harry Manx

I first heard Harry Manx play only a few months ago but I'm a great fan ever since.

Actually he was recently hosted along with two other distinguished gentlemen in another slidedaddy blog titled Slide 'n' harp.

Harry Manx is a European born bluesman who's now an islander Canadian but has spent 10 years in Japan and another 5 in India studying under the

Get Rhythm ~ A Johnny Cash tribute

This here is my cover of Get Rhythm, a song by the great Johnny Cash. As an artist he may not be directly related to slide or bottleneck but he is an irreplaceable figure in the history of rock 'n' roll and, as such, he deserves all the respect a musician can reserve. I proceeded to dress this video with a few pics of Johnny Cash to add a

Lipstick Sunset

Here is my cover of a beautiful John Hiatt song called Lipstick Sunset. It's a little modified compared to how John Hiatt sings it but hey, John is John.

I'm singing a couple of verses I can remember off the top of my head and then I play some slide on the main pattern.

Light Bulb Blues

I'll be honest, I've never tried this.

I also don't know why anyone should get into the trouble of mastering this funny craft, however, I've been getting more and more messages about this lately so I decided to do a little research (no, not the town library, a few searches in google and youtube) and here's what I came up with:

French Quarter

This little piece I named French Quarter because it was inspired rythmically by the great musical heritage of New Orleans.

It's a bit elaborate as you have to play the bass part throughout while you gradually grow the chords and slide parts as the song progresses.

Slide Masters - Roy Rogers

Roy is incredible. Technically he's very sophisticated but he also dresses his playing with alot of non-slide rythm playing which, coupled with his singing, make him one of the most well-rounded performers in slide and bottleneck music.

He is also pretty unique and distinguishable in some of his setups. He plays this Dobro 12-string monster with a pickup as if it were the simplest guitar to slide around with.

Sho' Nuff

Here's another little piece o' mine on the steel. It's called Sho' Nuff and its a nice demonstration of how to play a rythmic part and throw in bits of sliding to give it a twist and make it sound alot more interesting. I'm sure this piece would sound even nicer with a blues harp in it. The melody just came to me but I think I'll record an extended version soon with some solos.

Slide Masters - Elmore James

Mississippi native Elmore James was called during his time - and rightfully so - King of the Slide Guitar. Though I have nothing but respect for all the masters of old, I find Elmore my personal favorite of that era.

His slide playing is recognizable, with very powerful attack and a very distinguishable tone. What grooves his tunes is the

Slide & Harp

A slide guitar and a cool blues harp always sound great together and what better way to demonstrate this relationship than this:

The Porcelain Slide

I was out for strings and I stumbled upon a slide on display which the store guy said was a hot item. Initially I was like ok yeah but despite my past experience with unplanned purchases I got it and played around with it a little. Here's what the porcelain slide looks like:

It's worn on the pinky. I would categorize it under bottlenecks, it feels more like a glass slide than a metal one, however, not quite the same. At first it felt a little awkward, a little heavier, a little rougher, but like with most things after some getting used to it's starting to deliver.

Flatpick, Thumbpick, Fingerpick or Fingers?

Another issue with slide playing gear is your right hand. IMO one of the most important issues that will determine how you sound, and over the years influence your style and riffs is what you choose to strum those strings with.

First off, like with anything else, there's no right or wrong. Just different styles for different people. But I find that it helps reading about the paths that others chose, the hassles they had to deal with while on 'em and the rewards they gained in the end. So, as far as slide and bottleneck playing goes I find that each technique poses specific advantages.

Slide Masters - David Lindley

I'm a great fan of David Lindley's. He's got a very unique sound coming off of his Weissenborn (a wooden body Hawaian lap guitar). However, his intonation and phrasing are distinguishable on any of the many instruments he plays. You can hear him on acoustic, lap, overdriven electric pedal steel, a mandolin even and still it's David.

This little piece is from when he played his Hawaian Lap at the Bob Rivers Show (radio). It's not a virtuoso piece but I chose it because:

Lightfoot

Here's a little piece I named Lightfoot Shuffle. Tuning again open E.

No slide here, a new version with some slide in part B comming soon.



Sayonara,

Jasmine

Here's a little piece on my National Delphi steel. It's called Jasmine, after my 10 month old baby daughter.

Enjoy.