How to Choose a Guitar Slide
Without question, slide guitar is not only a blast to play, but adds a lot of “street cred” when playing it. There are many types of slides available for the market which address a wide range of tastes and preferences. This article will guide you to choosing a guitar slide that is right for you.
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Instructions
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Choose your weapon. You do this by bringing the guitar you want to use the slide on with you to the shop. You may be asking yourself ”Geesh, seems like a lot of effort? Can’t I just go in and buy any old thing?” Sure, but certain slides are made of certain materials and have certain weight to them and your guitar is as personal to you as your DNA, so bring your axe with you when you test a few slides.
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Find out if it fits on your finger. Many players use either the pinkie or ring finger for the slide, so find one that fits yours. Believe it or not, comfort is more important than speed. If the slide does not fit, it is irrelevant how cool you think you look, it will not work. Once you have found one that fits your finger that let’s for a test spin.
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Test a slide. As stated above there are many types of slides made of various materials, so test a few. You may find that a bottleneck or glass slide will give you a certain sound that a metal or ceramic slide does not. Ask the shop owner what they use, as they may have a tip you are not aware of. Also, acoustic guitar sounds very different when using a slide than electric and the string tension is radically different, so think with the attitude of getting the right tool for the right job.
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Consider the value for money. Tools can get pricey. A metal or brass slide can range from $15 to $25 depending on where you shop. Now, if for some reason after all this testing you have not found the right slide, then you can always do it yourself.
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Make you own. Believe it or not many players make their own slides. Duanne Allman used an empty glass Coricidin medicine bottle worn over his ring finger as a slide which inspired Rory Gallagher, Derek Trucks and Gary Rossington to do the same. Some players used brass or copper pipe cut and sanded to get their desired results. This author uses several types including an old ¾ socket from a vintage socket set, which works perfectly for 12-string use.
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Tips & Warnings
Test drive a slide with the guitar you want to use the slide on.
If you make your own slide, make sure you sand the edges so not to cut your fingers.
