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Post by jamesw79 on Jan 3, 2021 0:59:20 GMT
Hi there hope things are well.
I have been messing around with slide for a month now and have got the basic of muting behind the slide(a lot better then it was)
Still having difficulty with my picking hand and I want to improve this (keeping the bass going with the thumb)
Looking for some suggestions on what songs to learn which will take me to the next level of playing as I don't know any numbers in full yet. Thanks for your comments James
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Post by jamesw79 on Jan 3, 2021 1:01:39 GMT
I have a dunlop thumb pick too should I get familiar with it and use it to play with
Thanks James
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Jan 3, 2021 9:38:03 GMT
Robert Johnson's "Come on in my Kitchen" is the one I started with.
Tune to Spanish G and capo at the second fret if you want to sound high like RJ - I don't, I play in G.
It sounds difficult to start with but it's relatively simple stuff around the twefth fret if you don't use the capo.
That's my suggestion but Michael will be along in a bit with much more sensible advice.
Also - save up your pennies or take some from your ladies nation sack and come up to the Pocklington week-end which hopefully will happen towards the end of the year.
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Post by pete1951 on Jan 3, 2021 10:01:56 GMT
Come on in My Kitchen get my vote as a first song too. In theory is an 8 bar blues, but the chord changes ( the way RJ plays it) are implied and you can do the song without any complex chords or alternating thumb . The bare bones of the song are fairly easy the devil is in the detail! Pete
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2021 11:12:47 GMT
I have a dunlop thumb pick too should I get familiar with it and use it to play with Thanks James There's no rules. Do what feels best, including which finger to put the slide on. Thumbpicks never worked for me - I learned flatpick hybrid. TT
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Post by lonelyjelly on Jan 3, 2021 11:45:25 GMT
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Post by Michael Messer on Jan 3, 2021 11:47:53 GMT
James, you are getting excellent advice from PD, Pete and Deuce, but I have a couple of questions for you. These are not meant to be negative or criticisms, but I have taught this style for the past 25 years to what amounts to many hundreds of students, and I believe that it is you that should lead the way.
If you are learning to play slide, who are the musicians and what are the songs, solos, or whatever, that have inspired or driven you to want to play in this style. If you have been "messing around for a month", what have you been playing?
When I set out to learn to play slide I was so desperate to be able to play like the artists I was listening to, that I had no choice, I was completely overwhelmed and obsessed with wanting to be able to play certain songs and styles.
We each have our own opinions, and mine is that Robert Johnson's material is too complicated for a beginner, and at this point in time we don't even know if you listen to his music.
The most important thing when learning to play music, is to listen to the music and learn to understand it. No amount of practice will teach you to play like Robert Johnson unless you can hear his music in your head when you are trying to get to sleep at night.
Don't stop! I am not trying to put you off by any means. In fact, quite the opposite, but I am trying to focus your attention on what is important and that you have to give us some information before we can help you.
Shine On Michael
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Post by jamesw79 on Jan 3, 2021 11:59:46 GMT
Hi Michael thanks for your response
I’d say I was inspired to play slide by hearing Ry cooder play Paris Texas soundtrack I like all his playing to be honest along with Elmore James,Jimmy Reed, little Walter, Robert Johnson,Tampa red..
I have just being playing along too backing tracks on YouTube in the key of d feeling my way around getting to grips with a group of notes that sounds good to me around the 3rd and 5th fret.
Been playing electric guitar for a number of years now my thinking is that some skills will transfer over I am sure
Thanks James
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Post by jamesw79 on Jan 3, 2021 12:01:19 GMT
Lonejelly great I’ll check that video out. Thanks Pete and pickers ditch and deuce
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Post by lonelyjelly on Jan 3, 2021 12:08:44 GMT
Hey James, If you want to get your thumb working independently from your fingers then a good idea is to practice whilst doing something else such as watching tele. Just have the guitar in your lap plucking away with your thumb until it feels natural and second nature, be it single string or alternate thumb. Following our convo last night you're not a beginner to guitar for sure nor a slouch as a musician, so that should help lots.
Once you have the thumb going then start incorporating some melody with your fingers on the first string. There are some tunes / songs that could be good to familiarise yourself with, but initially I'd just have fun using open D vestapol tuning (DADF#AD) and plucking the 1st string open, at the 4th fret, 5th fret, 7th, 9th, 10th and 12th, whilst having the thumb doing the bass underneath, and goof around creating your own melody lines.
In terms of a tune I always think Sylvester Weaver's 'Guitar Rag' is a nice one as it is very straight and massively pleasant on the ears. And Taj Mahal's 'Country Blues No.1' is another nice simple one for practicing the thumb side whilst having a pretty melody on top to practice your slide work. Fred McDowell's 'You Gotta Move' is another good shout, again in open D Vestapol and pretty straightforward.
Unfortunately it won't happen overnight, but fortunately it should be fun getting it to a place where it all clicks.
Hope that is helpful.
Boom-cha-and-out
Lew
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Post by purpleorange on Jan 3, 2021 12:16:40 GMT
Hi James, have you figured out the main riffs for Paris Texas yet? That would be a great place to start and they are really satisfying riffs to play, it is a good opportunity to work on vibrato and playing notes cleanly.
Ry Cooder's Paris Texas is heavily influenced by Blind Willie Johnson's Dark Was The Night, so it might be worth checking that out as well.
Dust my broom would also be another good song to work on as it is adding a shuffle to the mix and some different techniques.
I think Vestapol/open D is a better for beginners to slide than Spanish/open G as it just makes more sense, Furry Lewis called Vestapol the 'learning key'.
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Post by blueshome on Jan 3, 2021 12:48:23 GMT
I recommend open D if you want get that automatic thumb. Use 1st position chords and run through a basic 12 bar sequence alternating 6-4, 5-4, 5-4. This tuning also gets you into Elmore James and most of Fred McDowell. Also Tampa Red but he is more complex although his playing is still based around 1st position chords.
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Jan 3, 2021 13:00:16 GMT
Hi all of the advice written above is great , if you are a visual person , another suggestion is you get a copy of Michaels dvd and work through that for ideas , The dvd teaches principle rather than songs , well worth a look
all the best
al
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Post by lonelyjelly on Jan 3, 2021 13:24:15 GMT
Hi all of the advice written above is great , if you are a visual person , another suggestion is you get a copy of Michaels dvd and work through that for ideas , The dvd teaches principle rather than songs , well worth a look all the best al I have this DVD and it's a good starting point, and kinda where I stole the first part of my advice from regarding the principle aspects 😁 Also, within the exercises included you learn riffs from Walking Blues, Roll & Tumble (both in Spanish / open G) and You're Gonna Be Sorry (Vestapol / open D).
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Post by bonzo on Jan 3, 2021 13:24:32 GMT
Love in vain, no expectations, rolling and tumbling are good starting points. Rolling and tumbling especially because that leads into many other songs and rythmn patterns IMO!
Best wishes to you all, John
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