How to Adjust an Acoustic Guitar to Play Bottleneck Blues

Bottleneck guitar is more or less just what its name suggests: originally, players would cut off the neck of a bottle, polish down the rough edges and slide the smooth glass over the strings, creating a distinctly slippery, mind-blowing sound. You can buy the slide itself pre-made these days. But what hangs up most would-be blues dudes who want to play slide is adjusting the guitar properly. A setting that's comfortable for regular playing doesn't work for bottleneck.

Things You'll Need

• Cheap guitar
• Heavy-gauge strings
• Allen wrench
• Strip of balsa wood
• Box cutter

Instructions

Guitar Setup

1. Get a cheap acoustic guitar, because you don't want to wreck your main instrument---besides, the authentic bluesmen mostly played on junk plywood instruments.

2. Loosen the guitar's truss rod with the appropriate Allen wrench. The adjustment bolt on acoustic guitars is usually located just under the neck, inside the sound hole. A half turn counterclockwise will probably do. The strings should be a good third of an inch above the neck at the 12th fret.

3. Remove strings, and then remove the nut---the grooved plastic piece where the neck meets the headstock. Cut two small strips of the balsa wood to fit the slot where the nut rests. Lay one strip over the other, then replace the nut.

4. String the guitar with heavy-gauge strings and tune up.

5. Play and sing your heart out, baby.

Tips & Warnings

• Bottleneck guitar players usually tune to an open G chord.

• The tension generated by heavy strings can pop the neck of a guitar, which is why it's better to play bottleneck on a cheap instrument.

References

• Celtic Guitar Music: Slide Guitar Lesson from Acoustic Guitar Magazine