Open D Tuning
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127 Comments
Roy Beadle
October 18, 2016Hi Griff. I always enjoy your lessons, I have learnt so many new riffs and been able to put much more variety into my music.Thanks. Roy
PAUL
May 26, 2018kieth richards does alot of d tuning. “honky tonk women” and others. some bands from the 70’s did use the slide in some songs in d tuening..
Sam
June 1, 2018Open G for Honkey Tonk Women
ACE DRAGON
February 1, 2022SAW KEITH DOING IT IN OPEN D TUNING!
Steve B
June 21, 2022Thanks Griff. Great video. I love slide too. Some of Rory Gallagher’s slide guitar was incredible. Especially in standard tuning. Thanks again.
Patrick
February 9, 2023Griff,
Great video today I appreciate you keeping it simple it’s amazing how good it sounds! I’m going to try slide on my pinky and do what you have laid out on this video, thanks again hope you have a great day!
Michael - in Virginia
October 18, 2016Thanks so much Griff – this lesson may undoubtedly lead to countless hours of fun experimenting with this unique sound. You are amazingly generous in sharing your time and understanding of the guitar with your students………I wonder how well this technique will work on an Acoustic-Electric….I’ll try it …..Mike K
Jimmy Dixon
October 18, 2016Hi Griff!
I’m 66 years young and still learning something every day. This slide lesson opened up something I’ve wanted to know for some time. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing these “musical secrets” with us AND making it all EZ to understand!
SO COOL MAN!
Kirk Bauer
May 26, 2018Exactly what he said!
Kim
May 26, 2018I’m 65 & right with ‘ya bud ! Been at it 40 yrs. best help= Griff & his suggestion to get the Video Surgeon -this is THE BOMB bro ck it out James Todd even gives you 4 hours for FREE to try it then when you want it (& YOU WILL !) it is already to go ! your already set, just pay & PLAY ! really the BEST learning tool for me, now learning lead (i JUST also bought the Song Surgeon, because it SPELLS out the chords or notes used ! Cool.Best of luck to, you keep it up !
Casey Brose
September 12, 2020Thanks Griff: I have my drummer play a slide while I play rhythm & leads.(acoustic). We don’t sound half bad. Only because of your video’s.
Thankyou
Casey Brose
John Sherlock Spencer London/England
October 18, 2016Thanks Griff, excellent lesson. I’ve always enjoyed slide guitar and your tips will help me to refine things even more.
Muchas Gracias my friend. John
Reggie Penberthy
October 18, 2016I am digging it my brother! I love the sound of slide guitar. Thanks for the heads up on your video series.
Bert Renwick
February 12, 2020Hi Griff, I am a 75 year old man and have been a guitar “collector” for many years. Unfortunately after a few years I tend to go off them, give them away, and start again. Not really a great idea but because I have never been able to play very well, I never get very attached to them.
Joe
October 18, 2016Oh. My. Gawd. That is a beautiful sound. I’ma gonna have to buy it.
Bob Rodachy
October 18, 2016Thanks Griff! Slide playing is fun and a great way to “take a break” when I get bogged down in my lessons. It almost makes me sound like I know what I’m doing!
Alex A
October 18, 2016Looking forward to seeing this Griff, doing the Delta Blues course at the moment and starting to crave more.
John McLeod
October 18, 2016Great help I’ve never had this stuff explained before. Thanks Griff
Glenn Wilkinson
October 18, 2016Was anxiously awaiting the release of 5 Easy Slide Solos! Great job, Griff.
Just one question, what tuning is solo 5 in?
Thanks so much!
Jim
October 18, 2016Thank you, thank you thank you. Christmas came today.
Glenn Wilkinson
October 18, 2016After looking at the tab, I believe it is in Open E.
Thanks again!
Peter from Bobby Deacon and the Cruisers
October 18, 2016learned something today thanks. was using open tuning back in England in the late 50s but just as, what we now call, power chords.
Nate Schwartzberg
October 18, 2016Nice video on slide and open tuning. I’m an “old folkie”. Used open D and G a lot in days past. D is really good for “Delta Blues. A friend at a guitar shop showed me open “C” the other day. Wow a whole new concept in Delta finger picking blues. If you haven’t tried C tuning give it a try. The bass 6th string tuned to C just stays on when using an acoustical. I’m still “noodling” with it. If you’d like, maybe I’ll send you some of the sounds.
You do a great job of teaching your ideas. I really enjoy your techniques and picking your mind for info. I have your BGU, Playing on the Porch, The “Little Wing” Method and just received and using Guitar Theory Made Useful. (thought it was about time!)
I’m now 70 played guitar and sang in the late 60’s and til the middle 70’s. Did the Coffee House run up and down the East Coast. Than stopped for about 20 years. I got reacquainted with music about 2 years ago. Amazingly, a little rusty, but it’s all still there.
Thanks for all of your help in getting back in music, I tell all of my music friends about your DVD’s (the ones that didn’t stop)
Again Thanks
Nate
Robert Dickerson
October 18, 2016You demonstrated a video editor a few days ago and I forgot the name of the software. Please let me know what that was so I can look into it.
Sincerely,
Robert Dickerson
USMC 1962-1966
Yep, old and still learning from your blues unleashed that I ordered. Having fun and learning new stuff.
paul gonzales
October 18, 2016while in open D playing a solo, what key is the rest of the band playing in?
Southside Sammy
April 28, 2024If you’re in D, they’re in D, but no sweat for the drums !!!
Steve
October 18, 2016Great little lesson, Griff! I’ve got to get me some slide going because it’s really got such a cool blues sound. Thanks for giving me through the starting gate! Really appreciate the time and effort you put into helping people like me learn to play the guitar.
Gary Davis
October 18, 2016Thank you for the open tuning I did not know and placement of the slide good lesson I don’t know how much I will use it but I will try it thank you very much
TA Ratko
October 18, 2016Griff:
The first time I played at an open mike night, the first song I did was “Dust My Broom” by the King of the Slide Guitar, Elmore James. I used open D tuning, and the place went up for grabs. I was told that most folks who do this song use standard tuning, which doesn’t sound the same. One can play virtually any Elmore James song with this tuning. The best thing about using open D is that you can easily set up to do open E with a capo on 2, or G with capo at 5, which sets up a lot of songs. These include “Prodigal Son”, “You Got the Silver”, Wild Horses”, Honkey Tonk Women” by the Rolling Stones, plus Allman Brothers tunes like “Little Martha” and “Midnight Rider”.
Mike Enloe
October 18, 2016Thanks for this. I started playing blues because of Bonnie, Duane Allman, Dereck Trucks–BGU is what I do, and love for learning, but wanting to get into slide–I’ll gobble up everything you add re slide. You are the greatest
Greg
October 18, 2016Great info on slide .. Good sound.
Noel Summers
October 18, 2016Love this. As I get older and slower, slide gets more “respect”. With your usual techniques I’ll continue to learn.
Steven Siegel
October 18, 2016Griff
good intro to slide. I love it now and then. Play it most on a 40 year old Yamaha acoustic drop D tuning. It is the old sound as they played it.Also have a turquoise blue Dean acoustic about 20 years old truly a very bright sounding guitar, I also use several different types of slides. I also have single slides for several fingers for independent solos. It is truly cool sound.. Take some metal finger picking picks flatten them slip them on and have some fun. It brings a whole new aspect to the playing and another truly different sound.
Derick Truck is truly good his style is in Johnson one the originals of slide.
Rick
October 18, 2016Just bought my first slide looking forward to trying it out, great vid as always! Would this translate to an acoustic as well?
Jim Kubitza
October 18, 2016Personally, all I’m interested in is standard tuning slide.
George Aubrey
October 18, 2016Thanks for the tips. I mess around with slide all the time and I stand in awe of guys like Derek Trucks and Bonnie Raitt because they make it look easy. I’ll keep practicing!
George Aubrey
October 18, 2016I forgot Leo Kottke. Crazy finger slide!!
jerry t. searcy
October 18, 2016Great lesson. I’m a little unclear about numbered chords (1 chord, 2 chord, etc) as well as root notes. But really, really enjoy these mini-lessons!!
Jeff
February 24, 2021Numbered chords are easy. They are usually noted as Roman Numerals, I=1, IV=4, and V=5.
So what does that mean? That means if someone calls out the key (Blues in G) you already know all the chords!
The I chord is the G. The IV chord is the C BECAUSE G=1 then A=2, B=3 and C=4. So you just count the letters as numbers in sequence beginning from whatever your I chord is. Obviously in G the V chord is D (because the IV is C).
And I’ll use my fingers as a visual aid sometimes. When I say “G” I hold up one finger, then when I say “A” I hold up 2 fingers, “B” I hold up 3 fingers and “C” I hold up 4 fingers and “D” I hold up 5 fingers.
Let’s say you’re in the key of C. The C is the one chord. D=2, E=3, F=4, and G=5. So if you’re playing 12 bar blues in C you already know the chords without anyone having to take the time to explain the chords to you. I chord is C; IV is F; and V chord is G
As far as the notes, it works the same way. If you’re in the key of G the NOTE “G” is the ROOT NOTE (the first note of the scale). And you count through the notes the same way as you count through the chords if you want to know how a note fits within the chord.
As an illustration the pentatonic scale is the First Third* Fourth Fifth and flat Seventh. The reason the Third has an asterisk is because if you Flat the 3rd, it’s a MINOR 3rd (flat is to move down 1 fret). Otherwise it’s a MAJOR 3rd. To add the BLUE NOTE add the Flatted Fifth.
Steve Ambrose
October 18, 2016Cool stuff Griff- Guess it would be easier with a second guitar to save having to re-tune every time! Off to the shops now!
Colin
October 18, 2016Hi Griff, the sounds produced are very over driven, can you provide your basic set up? ie amp and pedals used.
Peter Hooiveld
October 18, 2016Hi Griff, I’ve actually been hoping you’d provide some tips on electric blues slide. Back as an 11 year-old, (57 years ago!) I had a Gretsch electric laptop slide guitar that I took lessons on for about 3 years, Hawaiian style. Problem was, once I joined the usual little rock band at 14 or 15, I resented having to sit down to play, so I played standing up. That created its own problems, not the least of which was the slide slipping from between my fingers and onto the floor…..yikes! I guess I was completely unaware of a slide in the shape of a tube at that time. I eventually hung it up and started playing regular six string, but there’s this little guy in the back of my mind who wants to see what I might possibly do with slide on “reg” guitar.
Thanks as always for all the encouragement and tips you are so decent to provide!
….Peter
Joe
October 18, 2016Hey Griff
sensational
Can you teach fred mc dell
Or son house not shure of spell
Cheers Joe
Joe
October 18, 2016Sorry wrong em
Sensational Griff
Can u teach us
Fred mc dowll
Son House
Cheers Joe
Martin Lindsay
July 23, 2021First, type “Fred McDowell” into your browser or YouTube….
Rick Francisco
October 18, 2016Very cool Griff can’t wait to try it out
Ken
October 19, 2016Hi Griff, thanks heaps for this lesson. I’ve often wondered about slide and how things come together. Thanks again.
Mike Skyba
October 19, 2016Griff, your caption blocks your fingering on the guitar and I or we can not see clearly what are doing.
Steve Pugh
October 19, 2016Thanks for this intro Griff – I’ve always wanted to dip a toe in but never had the basic info, no excuse now! As always really like how you get the knowledge across!
ChrisGSP
October 19, 2016Hi Griff, cool lesson!! I just thought we should point out that it’s a good idea to mute out the strings BEHIND the slide (i.e. the headstock end of the strings) with one or more of the other fingers of the fretting hand. If you don’t mute them out they will ring, and may not sound very nice, especially if you are playing electric with a lot of gain, like you are doing.
That said, letting the headstock end of the strings ring can produce a really gnarly sound that might be good in some tunes.
Slide is a blast and well worth exploring.
And I love your SG – tipping your hat to Derek Trucks maybe??
Cheers from the Land of OZ.
TA Ratko
October 25, 2016…”And I love your SG – tipping your hat to Derek Trucks maybe??”…
Dickie Betts too…
Brad Jay
October 19, 2016Great video Griff, super cool!
Frank McLoughlin
October 19, 2016CHEERS Griff awesome
Robert Young
October 19, 2016Since I lost the full use of my left hand I have been trying to learn the slide technique. Thank you for the slide tech video and lesson.
Martin Lindsay
July 23, 2021You could also give lapsteel a try. You can play Elmore James, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, and others with ease. Controlling the tone bar for me is easier than bottleneck, yrmv.
BobbyP
October 19, 2016Very cool Griff many thanks
Warren D
October 19, 2016Thanks Griff, I love the slide and the D tuning. My son calls it drop D,? He plays metal. I agree a much easier way to solo like Daryl Trucks. Damn brother u make it look so easy…I wish… like the open E too. Annette can u send me the link for the CDs on the slide lessons. I wish I could meet u in person and watch listen and pick ur brain. Take personal lessons. Online and CDs are cool but no where near the same… also some petatonic scale class. I can go up and down but to move up and down on the neck on the scale which we know is so important for blues. I need like a class on moveing the scale up and down the neck..I know Amature …..Griff you rock….just for giggles ur my morning 5am alarm clock…lol. Thanks for the short slide lesson u got me hooked again
Ronald Deichert
October 19, 2016Thought this was great I never done this before for one reason I cannot find a slide to fit my third finger maybe I can find one that will fit my pinkey.
I have large fingers.
Thanks
Mike
October 19, 2016GREAT lesson! It makes me want to learn “Shake Your Moneymaker”, ala Mike Bloomfield.
Chris
October 19, 2016Great lesson Griff! I have wanted to know more about slide for awhile now but got discouraged by the overwhelming stuff online. You just made it far simpler for me to get started. Wondering if you might continue to cover the basics and build us up over time? Maybe cover a few of your favourite tunes with slide? Just a thought. Thanks again for all of your generous gifts. Chris
Randy kennedy
October 19, 2016I like your site I have prostate. Cancer and had quite a bite problems in last fur years I learned most of my stuff. On guitar with yours and Outher but mostly yours I can’t afford lessons so your free stuff helped lots I just like to thank you for your free stuff from some one that has the guitar bug
anthony comi
October 19, 2016I remember several months ago your saying that you weren’t much of a slide player. Well, I guess you can throw that out the window. Nice elementary work.
It’s clean & that’s what makes all slide work.
There’s a Dickie Betts tune from the Allman Bros, “Live at the Beacon” it’s called “The Blues at Midnight.” I think many members would gain a lot from the decoding of this tune. Would you do a lesson on this.
On all of Utube, there’s only one guy who’s covered this & it’s a stripped down version. It’s a back-porching-it kind of feel but it stays in your brain for weeks.
Thanks for listening,
Anthony
Brooksville Fl
Martin Lindsay
July 23, 2021Did you mean “Midnight Blues” from “An Evening with The Allman Brothers” live at the Orpheum Theatre? Think John Hammond might have played the original tune on which it seems based – “Love Changin’ Blues” by the great Willie McTell, and, if you search, you may find tab for this.
TA Ratko
October 19, 2016Griff: I’d guess you know of the guy who has mastered playing “behind” the slide? Sonny Landreth…
jeff hubbard
October 19, 2016Really enjoyed this Griff. You have no idea how much all these little tidbits mean to all of us. At least me, I really appreciate all you do for us guys, especially those who cant figure it out on our own. You mean more to us than we can say. Thanks again, Jeff
jeff hubbard
October 20, 2016Really appreciate all these handy little tidbits that let us benefit from your experience and knowledge. You can’t imagine what a help it is to us. Thanks again for all you do and all your help on our behalf. Jeff Hubbard
jim gulley
October 20, 2016Very much appreciated. I really want to get into this soon. Thanks Griff.
hank
October 20, 2016great learning lesson griff , thanks . keep up the good work 🙂
Jerry L yates
October 20, 2016Good lesson for beginners
Ron McCormick
October 20, 2016Thanks Griff. Really neat stuff. As an Eagles fan, have tried to use slide on some of Walsh’s stuff. GOOD STUFF.
Ron McCormick
October 20, 2016Thanks Griff. Really neat stuff. As an Eagles fan, have tried to use slide on some of Walsh’s stuff. GOOD STUFF.
Ron McCormick
October 20, 2016Thanks Griff. Really neat stuff. As an Eagles fan, have tried to use slide on some of Walsh’s stuff. GOOD STUFF.
Terence Flanagan
October 20, 2016Hi Griff
Excellent mini course, I have always loved slide guitar and it always appeared to be a mystery you have explained it in terms which are much easier
to understand.
Looking forward to more on slide
Thank you
jeff hubbard
October 20, 2016thanks again for another great tidbit. Speaking for myself, sharing your experience and knowledge means the world to me. My wife is recovering from another cancer surgery, so for over two years I have been taking care of her. Seems like there is never enough time for anything. I haven’t played any of my guitars in over 2 years, so I love to get these things from you. I’m not complaining my guitars ( a Taylor, Fender and a National Tri-cone) are waiting for my wifes recovery. I’ve saved all you E-mails for awhile, so when I can play again I have your courses and tidbits to keep me busy. Thanks again Jeff Hubbard
Steven
October 21, 2016Nice intro to slide and open tunings. I first got into it with a dobro in the ’60s. There were no internet lessons back then so it took forever to figure even this easy intro. Ry Cooder is still one of my favorite players although he came from a much different stream of blues.
One of the harder things to learn is to mute the strings behind the slide so you don’t get a secondary tone going just opposite of what you want. You do it on your video but never mention it.
John Fait
October 21, 2016Hey Griff,
I bought the slide package and decided to get the blues band thing too.
I have been playing for years but I thought this would give me some fresh ideas to play with to add to my style.
I started playing when I heard Johnny Winter’s “Be Careful With A Fool”, in the late 60’s. I got with the thumb pick right away and then learned Chet.
I think it would be great if you put out some of Johnny’s slide style. He did Dylan’s “Highway 61”, his own “Mean Town Blues”,
And absolutely killed on the Stone’s “Let It Bleed”, and “Silver Train”, among others. His version of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” on Johnny Winter And Live,
outsold the Stone’s. Mick and Keith were observed at one of their concerts sitting in the second row with their jaws dropped.
Don’t know why the late great Johnny is overlooked as one of the greatest players ever. How about Rick Derringer, and Doug Rappoport with Edgar?
It’s all about the popular consumer stuff I guess.
Regards,
John Fait
bogie
May 28, 2018I totally agree with you John about Johnny Winter. He was one of the best slide players out there.
I Love Second Winter any blues rock based player that album should be on their list !
I have mentioned before some posts on this site about Edgar Winter’s Road Work album,
Martin Lindsay
July 23, 2021Don’t forget his fine work with Muddy Waters (“Can’t Be Satisfied” among many others)
Gord
October 21, 2016Excellent tutorial. Very informative. One thing I see is that your slide fits on your pinky quite snugly. I have one similar but it is very loose fitting. Think I will get a smaller size.
Wayne Kelly
October 22, 2016I’m obviously a novice and therefore not “in tune” with open tuning…I thought that open D was tuned as DADGAD so I was surprised by the F# in lieu of the G.
TA Ratko
October 25, 2016Wayne:
I think it’s to get the F# that is sounded normally on the first string when you play a “D” chord in regular tuning? Otherwise you don’t have it.
James Faulkner
October 23, 2016Hey bud, thanks for the quick response about open-d, I don’t do any slide I’m just a big metal head, you explain things well and I put a lot of the blues things you teach into metal, good stuff man thanks
Karl-Olov Sandin
October 24, 2016Hi Griff!
Greetings from a cold and dusk Sweden! Perfect conditions for some guitar practice with the Beginner course you might think, but a while ago I managed to cut myself badly in the left hand, damaging three fingers… Bummer!
I was close to give this guitar playing dream up, but then – there was light… []
Today, back from the hospital, I checked my mail and got my eyes on these excellent slide lessons of yours, and I think my little pinky is now well enough to carry a slide pipe, so all is not lost!
Besides, I just looove slide blues! Learning chords and boxes have to wait for a while…
Youre a lifesaver, as always! Keep the good work up! I’m so happy to be a part of this community!
Regards
Karl-Olov Sandin
Ornskoldsvik, Sweden
PS. Just ordered the 5-solos course 🙂
Ken Embers
October 24, 2016Nice, thanks so much for making the analogy of D slide is like E slide tuning, only up a note! Ken
Tommy Wadsworth
October 24, 2016Hi Griff,
Great video.
Curios about the set up of your SG.
Is your SG set up with higher than normal action and heavier gauge strings to make it easier to play slide ?
What gauge/brand strings are you using here ?
Enjoyed the video very much.
Thanks,
Tommy
tony
October 24, 2016great way to play check out Butch Trucks with Lou Reed doin the dirty boulvard tune no slide and butch is just playing open cords kool
kenneth
October 25, 2016never tried slide,,,going to give it a shot thanks Griff.
Michael Chappell
November 2, 2016Hey Griff,
This is a great lesson… I will certainly purchase this BGU course sometime next year and I am a bit more advanced in the existing BGU courses I have. But this lesson is a great eye opener of how it all works and especially How to Tune your Guitar.
Michael-Sydney-Australia 2 Nov 2016.
mike zeoli
May 26, 2018Griff , thanks for this great lesson . I have your course on slide guitar , which came with the Acoustic Blues Guitar course . I only tried a couple times to play slide .I could not quite get the feel for making the right sound . Now that I watched this video , I will try it again . Thanks , and have a great memorial day weekend . Mike Z.
Gary McCorkle
May 26, 2018What fun Griff, I’m curious, is there a preference between a steel slide and a glass slide?
bogie
May 26, 2018Wow I have never heard about open D tuning… for a moment I thought originally it was what I knew as drop D tuning.
I don’t play in open tunings, but this now is changing my mind.
I learn this great trick Joe Walsh uses to cut back that excessive ringing.. he actually uses a compressor pedal.
It is funny you mention Sonny Landreth… I don’t think they are related though…
but here in Canada we have a musical group called The Brothers Landreth..
What is funny for me anyways is I never really heard about them here in Canada… I actually found out about them from That Pedal show on youtube?
Yep Joey Landreth is the guitarist who plays Slide.. Check them out !!
Rustie
May 26, 2018Griff’s explanation of tuning in D is non existant, he names the notes but not the why’s. As with many online lessons I’m left confused and consequently de-motivated
Rick
May 26, 2018Oh…..please!
bluescat
May 26, 2018Slide guitar is a good choice if the arthritis in your hands is acting up. Not really a fan of slide guitar but it works for some songs.
Jenny Amanda Hurwitz
May 27, 2018Hi Griff- Thanks so much for this! I have been a huge Bonnie Raitt fan for decades and only about 10 years ago it dawned on me – OH! She must be using open tuning! But still I felt daunted. This video you presented is so helpful and clear, I’m gonna get that slide back out and give it a try again! Thanks again!
Robb Jones
June 1, 2018Thanks Griff, I’ve added a little slide action in standard tuning with the blues band I play with in The Villages Florida. Always enjoy your emails and videos, thank you again for all you do to keep the Blues alive.
Gary Joseph Myers
August 8, 2019Finally, it all makes sense now. Thank you.
Bernard Vail
August 9, 2019How about a lesson on Chet Atkins Wheels (DGDGBE tuning)
james pearson
August 20, 2019Hi Griff
I am70 years young and just enjoy playing my guitar for my own satisfaction . These slide videos are great for me to experiment with.
Thanks a lot for sharing them.
Lewis Bell
August 20, 2019Great lesson. I play a lot of old Stones tunes. My favorite is Can’t You Hear Me Knocking in Open G. Really love the grit and feel of the opening riff.
Christopher Belcher
August 20, 2019Thanks for these great videos…PLEASE show us some lessons in a style of Gregg Allman with his tuning and setup…I would love to understand his approach to slide playing, and the only online source I would trust is you–your lessons do so much to provide the background and theory behind how everything works…
Martin Lindsay
July 23, 2021Wrong bro, bro. Plenty of material out there if you search for “Duane Allman”
Tim Heman
August 21, 2019Why when mentioning slide guitar don’t you guys ever mention Johnny Winter?
Imho he is the slide master. Listen to Pick Up On My Mojo and I Love Everybody.
Please transcribe those for me. White Line Blues live also.
David Rosen
August 25, 2019Hi Griff,
Thanks for the lesson. As usual it’s superb! I’d sure like to know the secret of getting that growl into the tone? It would be a big help.
Thanks again
Joseph Romeo Duguay
September 26, 2019Nobody explained slide guitar in quite the way before Griff. Thank you! I always look forward to receiving your email tutorials. Keep up the great work.
Robin Giesbrecht
September 28, 2019Pretty sure Rory Gallagher was using this riff or something similar on Back On my Stompin Grounds. Rory was a guitar master.
Jack Flash
October 11, 2019I am trying slide myself so this is interesting….
Gordon Moore
October 28, 2019Hi, really geat little vid to get me started.
I have it easy, my setup is a Steinberger spirit with a Roland GK3 pickup (makes the guitar a bit ugly) into a Boss GP-10 Guitar Processor. So I just select whatever open tuning (or any other tuning) I want at click of switch. Big smirk! :smile.
tom ekberg
July 17, 2020Griff, that was excellent. Thanks so much. I love slide but feel like its too hard for me. After watching this I’m going to try again
rich cibelli
July 17, 2020Great Lesson Griff. I ‘ve always wanted to play slide but continue to struggle with it. Maybe today will be the day my luck changes!
Guy Thomson
August 8, 2020I loved that opening shuffle …damnnnnn…
Pete
August 15, 2020would love some Duane Allman and Bonnie Raitt lessons
Jimmy B
August 19, 2020Hey Griff, Thanks so much for the slide lesson. I’ve always loved Duane and it’s something i want to get good at. Definitely going to check out your 5 easy slide solos.
Bluescat
October 1, 2020Slide seems to be a viable option for me since my arthritis has gotten worse on occasion. Thank for the lesson. Pick long and prosper.
Rick s
December 12, 2020This really works good for me and my fat fingers.
Thanks Grif
Alan
January 21, 2021Great introduction to slde guitar and thanks for demystifying the techniques in one session. I feel confident enough to start playing, whereas i’ve tried in the past, failed, and gave up. Always great to add another dimension to your playing.
james francis calderon
April 13, 2021Dear Griff,
i dig your lessons but let me tell you if you don’t know……based on your saying something about being “out of luck” if you want minor chords. let me tell you that it is very easy to finger chords BEHIND THE SLIDE. it works very well. take an ordinary Am chord. visualize the minor chord behind the slide. finger the B string (in open G tuning) and finger the second string BEHIND THE SLIDE. you may have to adjust your technique a little but it certainly works. also remember that in open G tuning the middle of the tuning is the same as standard tuning…..dgDGBd. Dig…..there are so many GC and D chords that can be made off the “DGB it really opens up the tuning. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A SLIDE COURSE THAT TEACHES ADVANCED CHORDS OR PLAYING BEHIND THE SLIDE.
PLEASE WATCH FOR MY WEBSITE “Learn the Basics First” by James Calderon on Youtube. i will also be teaching the CORRECT FUNDAMENTALS of Alternating Bass playing, PROPER TECHNIQUE FOR PEDAL AND LAP STEEL, i.e. pick blocking, muting, vibrato etc. Dobro and Weisenborn included. Later I may do some mandolin basics teaching and we’ll see after that. I AM 70 and have decided that I am not going to take all my secret licks and techniques to Heaven with me so it’s time to give them away. KEEP UP YOUR GREAT WORK ON YOUR VERY GENEROUS TEACHING SITE. DIG!
alexander
April 22, 2021Wow! I always wanted to learn the slide and I’m glad that you have the “5 easy slide solos” I’ve tried in the past and I really didn’t have a clue on what I was doing. I can’t wait to check that course out. Great video Griff!
Alexander
Rusty Allen
July 28, 2021Hey Griff,
Following you is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made
Sean Artis
August 4, 2021Thanks mate, nice ,simple and not rushed, you have helped invigorate my stale playing.
Sean, Melbourne.Australia.
Walt
August 19, 2021Very impressive slide playing sir!
I’m a fan of slide guitar as well as steel!
Allman Brothers stuff by Duane Allman, Derek Trucks etc, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards etc.
Good to see you helping to keep it alive and most importantly, demystifying it.
I had a guitar teacher who was a nice guy but, the more I look back on my time with him, the more I’m convinced he was either a poor teacher or didn’t want to let his students in on certain techniques! Sad!
Elvis Mortley
September 11, 2021Great stuff Griff. I am really enjoying your lessons
Thomas Matheson
October 22, 2021Thanks Griff. Nice. I love the slide. At Arrowhead BGU session in 2017 I won a slide lesson there. This was cool cause I wanted to learn more. Keep on TRUCKing Griff.
Smokey Tone Tommy
November 13, 2021John Lee Hooker – House Rent Blues uses open tuning, in E, I think.
Derek Trucks is one of the best. Love his guitar work. We see the Tedeschi Trucks Band every year. Spiritual experience.
Thomas Guitarman
March 25, 2023I play in many open tunings but for slide open E or G because there is more tension on the strings and they sound out better , one of the best slide players ever was the late great Merle Watson the son o Doc Watson , I knew them well Merle played in open A to have even more tension on the strings because he was an acoustic player . Derek Trucks is simply freaking genius his right hand tech is amazing and of course to really get slide to sound right you got to play with fingers not a pick . Warren Haynes does so well even in standard tuning .
Jeffrey Hubbard
April 14, 2023Thanks again for a wonderful video. I really appreciate all the help and all the tidbits and mini lessons you put up for us. It really helps a lot and I’m glad I have a chance to say thank you for all you’ve done for me and everyone else who watches. I really loved this one on slide. I have glass, brass and stainless steel slides that I play around with for my guitars. I really appreciate all I’ve been able to learn from you, thanks again.
CDiamond
April 29, 2024Critical to damp the strings — both behind the slide and on the adjoining strings (for single-string work)
One can angle the slide — or use pinky slides on adjoining fingers if you want to do 2nds or 3rds etc.
It helps to find a couple of slides that fit well and have just enough weight for the guitar and your ‘style’.