How to Play Slide Guitar With Vibrato Technique

When you're at the end of a phrase and you want to add a little something, you can use a great technique called vibrato. The electric slide vibrato adds that extra something to your music to keep the note from sounding dull. It also makes the note jump between the sharp and flat, so you don't have to be right on the fret wire--which is sometimes a difficult task.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Electric guitar
• Glass or metal slide

1. Wear the slide on any finger. The most commonly used are the third and fourth finger. Those that use the slide on the fourth finger, or pinky, do so because the slide doesn't take much pressure and that's normally the weakest finger.

2. Remember that about 80 percent of the slide playing is on the first guitar string. When you play electric slide guitar, this is ideal as it allows your hand to remain loose and free to move up and down while the thumb gives the pressure to hold the guitar in place.

3. Lay the finger slightly above or below the fret wire when you play vibrato on the electric guitar. The vibrato is the light slide in and out of pitch. Make sure your finger is relaxed or the sound won't come out right.

4. Move the finger rapidly above and below the fret wire when you play the electric slide guitar. The fast movement gives a little more intensity to the note.

5. Play the vibrato and use a slow movement up and down. Varying the speed of the vibrato personalizes the note to get the mood of the song. The slower the movement, the more mellow the note sounds. You create the emotional aspects of the song with the speed of the vibrato.

6. End the song with a long note and change it to a vibrato to taper off the sound. The electric slide guitar is used to intensify the emotion and character of the notes.

Tips & Warnings

• A slide can be either glass or metal. Some of the finest guitar players in the world have used the neck of bottles to make a slide.