How To Play Slide Guitar - Absolute Beginners Lesson & Information - Slide Choice & Techniques etc.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Support us by clicking the description above and... 🎯Put something in the tip jar. 🎯Subscribe to the mailing list. 🎯Find us on other social media. Thanks all! ❤️❤️❤️

[@harryday5550]

Love the introduction to slide thanks

[@jackieinch3455]

Sadly my brother died this year. He loved his guitar and played daily. I have been gifted with his gretsch guitar and am determined to learn the slide way. I have had an acoustic guitar for a long time but never reached his potential and was happy not to do so. Now I want to impress him. Sorry a little sad but the meaning behind it is a positive….

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Not sad at all. How beautiful that you can play music and stay connected. Keep on playing and stay in touch with us if you’re struggling. Take good care. 🎼❤️🎼

[@jackieinch3455]

Thank you x

[@edwardgordon4309]

What a beautiful way to honor your brother 👏

[@jackieinch3455]

Thank you. My guitar progress is slow but I’m enjoying it.. sadly it’s a year on Boxing Day since my brother died, so this week has been hard but as you said I intend to honour my lovely brother Martin.. Thank you for your very thoughtful words. Have a wonderful Christmas time. Best wishes Jackie

[@professorskippy]

@@jackieinch3455hows the guitar going?

[@danross146]

Wow! The speed of your response to questions is astonishingly rapid! My compliments and thank you so much for all of the great information and the great videos! There is no doubt that your attention to your subscribers has contributed to your success. I subscribe to many different channels but have never seen anyone reply as rapidly or in as much detail. Some simply do not reply at all which makes subscribers not want to comment, ultimately harming the success of the channel. In about one hour you have improved my understanding of slide guitar immensely and for this I thank you!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

You were lucky ha ha! I check in once a day usually! Happy to help. Ariel Posen or Rainer Ptchek are the guys to check out for making slide original but based in tradition.

[@jackieinch3455]

Thank you for taking time to contact me. Sadly I haven’t progressed very far with the guitar as my mum died last year and my dad has dementia and is now in a home. Busy sad times but I know I will get back to it all when I am ready. I hope your own journey is a good and rewarding one.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It’s not a race! Every 10 mins you can do gets you closer!

[@jackieinch3455]

Thank you. A good bit of advice 😊

[@johnwashburn3793]

I know that this is a year old, but I always listen all the way through. Today I was walking to my local pub and I knew that long it takes. I shall find another for the walk home. I usually just listen because I didn't see well anyway, but life is grand! (He writes with a magnifier in his hand) Thanks.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Got to love pubs!!

[@johnwashburn3793]

@TheWashboardResonators just a pint and another walk on a damp and dreary day in Kansas City, Missouri. I did find a maple Republic in St. Louis, Missouri (about 4 hours drive). My son lives there and may wife may not complain. It is second hand and the cone cover is a little scratched and appears, to my poor eyes, perhaps cleaned with the improper product. $500 USD. maybe I'll hold my nose and jump in the pool. I appreciate you!

[@katiesers6007]

Exactly what I was NEEDING. I’m just sounding crazy over here…. Got me a slide for Mother’s Day!! I usually do not like “talking” videos…. I think your accent makes this fun to watch!!! ❤

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hopefully it gets you playing. Have fun!!

[@sub-jec-tiv]

That Kalamazoo is insane man. Wow. Pieces of history, incredible.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Killer guitar!!

[@johnford7847]

Going to have to watch this one many times. Thank you very much.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🎼🎯🎼

[@timtrew5655]

This is a wonderful introduction because Martyn clearly has a deep love and respect for blues and slide, while so many players (and, sadly, teachers) treat slide as a gimmick; here’s a Robert Johnson lick, here’s a Muddy Waters lick, don’t let the strings rattle, you’re on your own. I’ve been playing guitar a while, and fascinated with slide since I was a kid and saw John Hammond Jr. play. I’ve watched a lot of videos, but none has made me feel more comfortable and confident messing around with a slide. Thank you.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Glad to be of assistance!

[@artprintvisual]

Excellent video.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks!! 🎼🎯🎼

[@Clambelly]

Excellent intro to slide !

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hope it helps!

[@jeromekiemes6543]

Hello from Luxemburg and thank you Martin!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

An honour! Hope it helps.

[@b.p.7153]

Thank you! I plan on replaying this tomorrow with my guitar in hand. 😬👍

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Excellent! Give it a go and let us know if you need anything else to expand on this! 🎯

[@jerkerjansson386]

I just bought an Epiphone Dobro. I have been playing guitar for forty years but am totally new to acoustic slide playing. Very fun and inspiring to be a beginner again. This channel seem to be a great resource to get started. Thank you!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hope all the stuff we share opens many doors!

[@jerkerjansson386]

@@TheWashboardResonators I'm sure it will!

[@TheChicagoTodd]

Really nice job....thank you.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hope it helps.

[@TheChicagoTodd]

@@TheWashboardResonators Indeed.....I have a resonator guitar coming next week and have save this video and will return to it.

[@BPStorm]

Martin, I need information on choosing a thumb pick, and using the same as I have trouble catching them on the string, etc.😢 Thanks.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Dunlops the least likely to catch. I Used to have this problem. It went away with practice! 🤩

[@fetchingphotos]

I love old-style blues, and this video was really helpful because I just picked up a resonator and have a lot to learn. I really appreciated your explanation of the different techniques to manipulate the sound.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hopefully it inspires jointing make music. 🎯

[@jurgenblick5491]

Love that sound

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🎯🎯🎯🎵🎯🎯🎯

[@Pick-a-finger]

Super 👌🏻 video Martyn, thank you. All the best for '22.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks! You too!!

[@pedrorochael7698]

Thank you so much!! It definitely helped me!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Great!! 🎯🎼🎯

[@javatar1900]

thank you Martin. Great video. Just got a raw brass National Tricone ( 2021 ) owner. I am off and running ( sliding? ) thank you for inspiring and educating.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Excellent! Glad to be of help!

[@HEEDRECORDS]

what a fantastic tutorial. Thanks so much

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hope it helps!!

[@HEEDRECORDS]

@@TheWashboardResonators Thank you. Am following you now. All the best

[@flouisbailey]

Thanks for a great into for me a beginner, covered a lot of ground. Will be saving this as a great reference.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Excellent! Hopefully it helps with absolute basics.

[@mikemoodie]

Thanks Martyn, great advice, there is a dearth of good slide lessons out there, looking forward to more from you, season's greetings!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

There are loads. I put doing them off because of that but people do request more from me so here we are!!

[@panasonic3DO]

Awesome videos I will most definitely stay tuned

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks! More coming soon!!

[@Doowopsid]

Terrific video! Learned a lot! Thank you

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Super! So glad!

[@Beachbumartist]

Do they sstill make that Kalamazoo you are playing? Great lesson

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It was their cheap brand 1935-42. I think they should revive them. Easy to find them online. Cheap still if you find them and get a deal. Mine cost £500 ($550).

[@Guto-df3hq]

Muitíssimo obrigado pela força 😎😎😎ganhou mais um inscrito!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🤘🏻

[@jonhughes2865]

Thank you so much for this video. I’m just starting out. No previous musical experience to speak of except a little bit of Blues Harmonica. Other videos I’ve watched all seem to assume some prior knowledge of guitar and I almost gave up! You take things back to basics and have given me great encouragement. Thanks again. 😊

[@TheWashboardResonators]

That’s the point! Glad it helped! I’ll be doing a beginners Open D lesson this week as it was requested. Put this video into practice then check our ‘lessons playlist’ for more in-depth lessons.

[@jonhughes2865]

@@TheWashboardResonators Thank you. I will do. Also hope to catch a gig of yours soon. :-)

[@SergeCeyral]

Happy new year, and thx for this new video... You're absolutely right to insist on the fact that a spare metal slide (copper or steel) is NOT optional, for any regular slide player on stage! Unless you have a carpet under your feet, any wrong movement with a glass slide, will leave you, alone in underwear, facing the audience! And no one wants this to happen (believe me, I know what i'm talking about...)

[@TheWashboardResonators]

I carry spares for that reason. I prefer glass but have a phosphor bronze in the gig kit just incase. 🎯

[@MrChegcelestialslides]

I dig Sam Mitchell, you're the first person I've heard play those pieces and I dig that song I was just playing it lol!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

I know people that speak nothing but good of Sam Mitchell as a person! He’s a genius player. Maybe one day I’ll be 10% as good as him. 🤞🏻

[@ralphciardella9705]

Happy New Year Martyn with a Y.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks Ralph with a P!

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

Thank you Martyn for the lesson I normally play electric, but I really want to learn some delta blues. This is a good start.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Check the other lesson in Open D & G from mid 2020. That’ll be the next stage!

[@Rogue40kCraftsman]

I love the reso guitar. I bought a Beard round neck. Then I went looking for lessons either in-person or online. What I found is discouraging. First, no in-person instructors near me even though I live in southern California. Next, the advice I got from guitar players is learning blues in open D from scratch is not a good idea. My question is can I learn blues guitar in open D for a guy who has never played anything before? So far I have not found anything for someone learning from the beginning. Love your videos.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

You absolutely can play in D and make that what you do. Just learning a repertoire of songs that use that tuning can help. That’s No Way To Get Along / Guitar Rag / It’s Tight Like That / Dust My Broom etc. In time you can then get or even write out the fingerboard and work out chord shapes etc but to start learn basic tunes. We have a playlist of lessons. Get the beginners slide ones. Work through. Keep an eye out this week. I’ll do a beginners open D video as it’s on my list to do any way. 🎼🎯🎼

[@jackieinch3455]

Wow….. what a great find. I love your video. I’m a beginner and learnt so much from watching it. So well explained and bursting with slide energy. I look forward to watching more. Thank you so much.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks! Glad it helped! It’s a longggg video but it takes its time and shares as much as possible.

[@stevemindurown182]

Love your videos mate. Clear, concise and informative. Especially enjoyed your vid on the history of resonators. Btw, I'm the fella who sent you pics of my, Pitch Black guitar!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hey Steve! Glad you like them. Hope the guitar is still being beautiful!

[@stevemindurown182]

Love the passion mate 👌. Hopefully catch you on tour, missed you at the Bear Club in Luton, local to me. Cracking little venue great to see it stayed open. Catch ya on your travels!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

@@stevemindurown182 Next time then!

[@jmvmike]

I really appreciate you taking the time to produce this. I’m brand new to guitar and when I get the basic fundamentals down delta blues slide guitar is next!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Hopefully it all helps the spread the good word of the blues around the world!

[@nationalduo4945]

Hi Martyn…..well done video, wish I had this years ago when I was learning…

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Sorry!! Hopefully a few folks will get it when they need it now as we go forward!!

[@gav1nwood]

One of the three!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🎯

[@media_dept]

Happy New Year! I'm just polishing my resonator today. It has freaky dots on it that do kinda buff off with tremendous effort. Its almost like mildew circles. I also appear to have the 'haze' on the finish that I'm stuck with for now. It was left for 10 years in an attic. I've used lemon oil on the fretboard, doing what I can with the body. I'm making some cosmetic changes to the headstock and have some lighter strings as I could never fret anything with factory strings - far too heavy and the high action seemed to favour slide too. Hopefully I've saved my resonator from destruction and I can 'pick up and play' with regularity setting it up as more of a multipurpose guitar. I love your videos - watching them all. Thanks for everything, Martin!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

You can almost polish out the tarnishing but never fully. Keep it polished and waxed and at least it will not get any worse! Thanks for the lovely kind words!! 🎵🎯🎵

[@WahrheitMachtFrei.]

I made it! TY

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🎼🎯🎼

[@blakegilliam8223]

This is great lesson esp about muting

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Thanks! Muting is the difference between good and bad playing. It threw me off getting good tones for a long time until I figured it so I’m happy to share!!

[@danraan]

Yes

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🎼🎯🎼

[@andyt5559]

I have played badly for over 26 years, and I saw it a was it a regal tone? I had to have it! was tuned to dropped d but, I wanted it in standard, and it sounded fine! I played it it for my dad, he loved the sound of it, then he played it and it doesn't project to the player the same, would a sound hole in the top bout help I know a mesh hole cover would have too be considered like some wooden bodied ones have instead of sound holes, improve things?

[@TheWashboardResonators]

I wouldn’t be drilling any guitar. Especially a resonator and especially a vintage one. They will often respond well to improved cones and a set up. Or, sell and buy a better one. Should be louder with more bass than a regular acoustic.

[@danross146]

I've always been a little concerned about open tunings because it's sometimes difficult to access chord voicings other than the voicing in which you are tuned. I place my slide on my pinky as it then allows me to use other voicings by simply fretting the desired note. But there are times that I find it distracting to change from the sound of the slide to fretted notes. Should I be concerned about this? I have seen other players use the slide on other fingers but the pinky works best for me. Any thoughts about that?

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Keep it on the pinky. You have to consider it a different voice. Don’t think like a piano with inversions up and down the neck like in standard tuning. Think of it like either a violin for which you play over changes. That would be the electric Derek Trucks style. I think of it like a hybrid thing. I might play chunks of music without the slide to back me up then use the slide within riffs or answer vocals.

[@mauriziomariani8409]

Which strings are best for fingerpicking and slide?

[@TheWashboardResonators]

No such thing! It’s all preference. Lots to try. I’d say start with Daddario or Newtone 13 gauge Phosphor Bronze and see how you get on. Some prefer heavier gauge. Experienced players can use thinner gauge with out rattle.

[@FTF96]

My friend, which slide do you recommend for recording slide? I like my Robert Johnson solid copper slide, but you can “hear” the metal on metal scratch I was sliding around. I’ve got a solid brass Dunlop too …. Both have great sustain and tone, but both suffer from the scratchiness sliding around. Any tips would be handy!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Diamond Bottleneck Ultimate. Heavy glass is best. 🎯

[@FTF96]

@@TheWashboardResonators Fantastic, thank you!

[@tylerjones7310]

How about country blues music style hill country blues Missspppi

[@TheWashboardResonators]

That’s on the list. Would be a great subject.

[@tylerjones7310]

@@TheWashboardResonators thank you sir

[@Rockingjohnny1234]

Hi would you pick a national or a mule?, I only ask because I’m in a dilemma of where to place my deposit? But really love your stuff. I’m serious on buying and waiting. The question really is where would you put your money? Much love keep on keeping on. 👍

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Both are great in different ways. Personally I’m a big fan of the original 1920s & 30s National guitars and when Don Young set up National Resophonic (a completely separate company bear in mind) he did so with the aim of recreating the vintage instruments but with some improvements. For me his link to working with the original Dopyera family (that set up the original National) in his past means that the newer NRP guitars have at least a link back to the history, a respect for the originals and a sense of what made them great. Sadly Don passed away a few years ago but the people there now are making great guitars still. I did play a Mule recently and boy it was nice. Incredible neck feel. You’d be fine either way but personally the fact NRP’s are based on the historical originals would be my favourite. As I get older and I struggle with my back and the weight of my metal bodies I am looking at custom ordering a wood body Tricone from them. Perhaps in a few more years. 🎯

[@markust8904]

Man! i can't' believe you didnt shout out to Justin Johnson in your list of fabulous sliders!

[@TheWashboardResonators]

It’s an endless list! He’s great of course!

[@scoobydoo4087]

Do I need a steel guitar?

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Any guitar will do!

[@campbell166]

Hello, I have just found your videos and I have subscribed, I am going to try to get going on an old acoustic I have . Years ago I borrowed a resonator ,but I was used to an electric guitar and I found the weight and body size very uncomfortable so I didn’t really stick at it. I love the looks and sound of the Nationals etc....but I think I would be better suited to perhaps a wooden body,parlour size resonator. My main question is would you recommend open D or G as a tuning to a new convert like me 😉 Thanks again for sharing your time ......David

[@TheWashboardResonators]

They’re both good in different ways. If you learn D & G songs with the correct licks you’ll still on figure out which you prefer. I’d split my practice 50/50 between both for a few months. A wood / parlor resonator is a good place to go. Try and play a few before choosing it. Thanks. 🎯

[@edcrutchfield3447]

😊🎸👍🏾

[@TheWashboardResonators]

🎼🎯🎼

[@24nikita]

The men from the boys.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

The Lemurs from the Yaks.

[@johnwashburn3793]

And I listened allow me ways again, but I don't know why...

[@TheWashboardResonators]

… and thy signet is born of a dove from the dusty skylight, but one couldn’t know why…

[@johnwashburn3793]

I apologize. My comment made no sense. I am legally blind and I should have proof read first. I believe my point was, you mentioned no one listened to the end. I will say, YOUR EMAIL went my SPAM box, but I found it. I appreciate you! ​@@TheWashboardResonators

[@suziekew8619]

So, you want to sort out the girls from the boys? You did! This girl is taking her resonators over to Justin Johnson’s channel.

[@TheWashboardResonators]

Said with irony. If you’re taking that personally it’s a bit narcissistic. It’s not about you. Justin’s great. Have a good life. ❤️