No matter what tuning you want to learn, I have created the Slide Techniques course to show you everything you need to know about getting started with slide guitar.
Slide Techniques
In this course, you’ll learn the basics of playing slide guitar for any tuning. Topics that will be covered include getting started with slide guitar, action, strings, muting, raking, vibrato, and more.
Your next step will be to decide what tuning you want to learn slide guitar in.
Open E, Standard, or Open G
If you’re not sure which one to start with, read the description below about what each tuning sounds like.
I would recommend that whatever artist you like the most, pick that tuning to start learning slide with. Duane Allman, Derek Trucks? Choose Open E. Warren Haynes? Choose Standard.
Here are the most common tunings that are used for playing slide in my opinion. While I don’t have any lessons for Open D and Open A, they are identical to Open E and Open G except the entire tuning is one whole step lower for Open D and one whole step higher for Open A.
1. Open E Tuning – This is a great tuning for slide guitar and is associated with the Elmore James, Duane Allman, and Derek Trucks style of slide guitar. Tuning from low to high is EBEG#BE.
2. Open D Tuning – This is the exact same kind of tuning as open e, except all the strings are tuned down a whole step so by learning Open E Tuning you are essentially learning Open D Tuning as well. Many people use this tuning on acoustic guitar or dobro because of the decreased amount of tension it will put on the neck of the guitar. Tuning from low to high is DADF#AD.
3. Open G Tuning – This is a great tuning for acoustic and electric. Very similar to standard tuning in some regards. You can use this tuning to play like Lowell George of Little Feat, Jerry Douglas, Keith Richards, Robert Johnson, and Ry Cooder. Great for acoustic because there is less tension on the guitar neck when using this tuning. Tuning from low to high is DGDGBD.
4. Open A Tuning – This is the exact same kind of tuning as Open G, except all the strings, are tuned up a whole step. I believe Robert Johnson used this tuning on some tunes as well as many others. This tuning could cause some damage to an acoustic guitar because you are tuning strings up, so I would recommend further investigation before attempting this tuning to make sure your guitar can handle it. Tuning from low to high is EAEAC#E. To achieve Open A, just use Open G Tuning and capo on the 2nd fret.
5. Standard Tuning – This is really useful because you don’t have to retune your guitar or have a separate guitar for another tuning. The drawback here is that you will have to compromise your action as it’s very hard to play slide guitar with really low action. This tuning sounds like Warren Haynes and also check out Jack Pearson for some Standard Tuning Slide greatness.
Open E Tuning
If you want to learn how to play like Duane Allman and Derek Trucks, then this is the course for you. A lot of the techniques these guys use are taught in this Path. If you go through this Path and put in the practice, you will be able to understand what they are doing. However, it will take some time to achieve the same kind of sound that they get so don’t get frustrated and stick with it.
Open E Slide Path
If you choose Open E Tuning then I recommend starting with the Open E Slide Path.
Open G Tuning
This is more of a country blues type course, but it also has a little bit more of a rhythm aspect to it. I find myself playing Open G a lot. Think Robert Johnson, Ry Cooder, and Lowell George. Also contains some roundneck dobro lessons.
Open G Tuning Pt 1
Part 1 is about learning techniques such as muting, raking, holding the slide, playing chords, and just a general approach of how to start learning open g tuning. You’ll also be provided with many exercises to build your technique.
Open G Tuning Pt 2
In Part 2 you will learn Concepts such as Intervals, Dobro playing, Patterns for Soloing, Using a Capo, and scales. This Disc will teach you the Why about how open g tuning works.
Open G Tuning Pt 3
In Part 3 you will learn Solos and Licks. This is taking everything you’ve learned in the first two discs and applying it. Sort of like the final exam so you can see how you’re coming along.
Open G Tuning Pt 4
In Part 4 you will learn some more licks, a lesson about tone, and how to improvise using the techniques learned in this course.
Standard Tuning
These courses will teach you how to play slide in standard tuning. I played slide in this tuning for many years before ever using open tunings. In my opinion, standard tuning is the most difficult to learn due to the amount of muting you must do. In a way, this is kind of a good thing because if you can play slide in standard tuning, then open tunings will be a piece of cake. This is because of the technique that you have to develop when playing in standard tuning that requires very precise muting fo the other strings. These lessons are in the style of Warren Haynes and other Allman Brothers sounds.
Standard Slide Pt 1
In this course, you will learn the fundamentals of navigating the fretboard and more when playing slide guitar in standard tuning,
Standard Slide Pt 2
In this course we’ll take a look at playing slide in standard tuning in the key of G. We’ll utilize open strings to really take advantage of this key.