reccomend me books and dvds for a beginner

[purpleorange]

Hi, I am new to the form and I would like some advice about what would be the best books and DVDs for a complete beginner to learn how to bottleneck style blues.

I have never played the guitar before, but I have been playing the harmonica for a few years. I have been thinking about taking up a new instrument for some time now, and afte watching a few harmonica videos with resonator guitars played bottleneck style I have fallen in love with the sound.

Any advice would be appreciated, I hope to get a busker or MM guitar in the next month or so, but I thoughI better read up on it first.

I also have a few other questions,

What is the best tunning to learn in?

Is it best to learn with finger pics or with out finger picks?

What slide and pics are reccomended?

Does buskerguitars sell picks and slides?

Cheers, Ryan

[Michael Messer]

Hi Ryan,

Welcome to our forum and to the world of slide playing and resonator guitars.

My own tuition DVD is for beginners. Rather than me talk about it, have a look at this thread > michaelmesser.proboards7.com/index.cgi?board=advertizing&action=display&thread=1376

If the link doesn't work, the thread is in MAIN STREET on this forum.

Regarding your other questions: you should learn to play in both groups of open tunings - DGDGBD and DADF#AD.

Slides and picks - you need to experiment with different tools - metal slides, glass slides, metal picks, plastic picks....This is a process that nobody else can go through for you. You just have to try stuff out and see what feels right for you. I do have some guidelines and logical advice in the DVD which I think would be a good start for you.

Keep in touch and please don't hesitate to ask any questions

Shine On
Michael.

[purpleorange]

Thanks for the reply Michael, your DVD was already on my list. I had been looking for that thread but I expected it to be in the
national avenue section on the forum.

Michael, can you tell me is it possible to get the MM blues guitar in the aged steel finish, or is that someting I need to speak to buskerguitars about?

[Michael Messer]

Hi Purpleorange,

They are available in limited numbers in the aged finish. You need to contact Busker and check with them.

Shine On
Michael.

[purpleorange]

Cheers, I will contact busker and see what is available.

[bluesbottle]

I've got the 3 DVD bottleneck blues tuition set by Bob Brozman which I have finished with if anyone is interested in buying.

[Deleted]

Personally I think Michael's DVD is a better bet than Bob Brozmann's set. Bob's is great, but there's a lot in there and it can be sort of intimidating being faced with all the stuff he does. I feel that perhaps some of his techniques are also rather prescriptive (far be it from me to critisise Mr Brozmann)... they work well, but they are not for everybody, and there are other ways of doing things. I think Bob probably aims at not confusing people by giving them one solid technique which he feels is the best, whereas I feel Michael's tuition technique is a little more open and accessible for the beginner.

Blimey Bluesbottle, does the fact that you've finished with Bob Brozman's DVDs mean you've got all that stuff down now?!

[SoloBill]

Hi and welcome,
Just to confirm from a 'pupil' viewpoint that Michael's DVD is the best on this topic for a beginner that I have come across.

The guitar is difficult enough but I wonder if you should also learn (perhaps at a later date) regular tuning and non-slide playing.

I think you should probably try finger picks; I personally do not like them but I started playing classical on a nylon strung guitar and I do not want to give up what to me is the intimate personal connection that touching the strings with my fingers gives me. The problem with using fingers on steel strings is that the top ones are very thin and hard compared to nylon and it is difficult to pluck the strings to give a good tone without breaking your nails.

I am on the (early part of a) journey to discover what slides I like. So far I have four that I have kept and some I threw away as soon as I got the ones I have now. So, my current favourite metal slide is a Dunlop 224 which is heavy and fits my pinky (I have a lighter metal slide, make unknown, that I no longer use). I ordered it from www.stringsdirect.co.uk but you can search it on the web. My favourite glass slide is an 'ultimate' from diamond bottlenecks. I also have a 'redhouse' from them which was much better than an unfinished bottle neck that I had before. If you get an idea of what size cylinder fits your little finger (internal diameter and length), email Ian at diamond bottlenecks (www.diamondbottlenecks.com) and he will advise you.
HTH,
Bill

[clarke111]

I can second what Bill says there. For me playing with a slide is a wonderful means of expression on the guitar, and something I as a new slide player have only just began to explore. I do feel though Ryan that it is worth grasping the basics of the guitar first if you have no previous experience. Even if that is just a few open chords in standard tuning and a few exercises to get to know the guitar and build up a base before introducing the slide and alternate tunings. When I have (only occasionally) taught people I have always felt that it was important to get a base, from there anything goes on such a great and versitile instrument.

I'd be very interested to hear what other people think about this subject. Have people started and learned from the begining as slide players?

Chris

[purpleorange]

Thanks for the information, it is much appreciated.

Clarke, I understand what you saying about building foundation on a standard tuning before moving on the bottleneck, I guess that is a right of passage for most guitar players.

I think I will mess about with the slide guitar for a few weeks first and see how I get on, it will depend on what I think of Michael's DVD, and if it is basic enough to get me started.

I have to have a new guitar in the next week or so, I will let you know how I get on.

I ould also be interested to know in many people start of playing bottleneck style.

Thanks, Ryan

[fitchmeister]

I started out on electric guitar, learnt standard tuning &lots of scales - I think i disagree on the building a base in standard tuning.

Standard may give you more flexibility to play in different keys without retuning, and there loads more learning material on it. Personally i think your 'base' should be rythmn and manipluating the strings to get the sound you want/like. And i think open tunings give you an opprtunity to start expressing your self quicker than getting bogged down in the technical aspects of playing. We 'play ' music not 'work' it ;D ;D

Then again playin in standard gives you loads more people to learn/jam with - so what do i know.

Bill - a bit weird seeing someone with exactly the same choice in slides as me

That's my tuppence

Roj

[purpleorange]

I just thought that I would let you know that I got my MM Lightning the other day, it made it from Wales to Northern Ireland in less than 24 hrs.

This is my first ever guitar so I can't really comment on how it is to any other compaired to any other guitars, although just before it arrived I started to have second thoughts about whether it was the right choice for a beginners guitar (I had set out to buy a wooden acoustic for fingerstyle blues) but somehow managed to get side tracked to the wonderful world of slides and resonators.

Once the guitar arrived I knew that I had made the right decision, I sat with the MM dvd and played the guitar for most of the weekend, and although I know nothing about playing the guitar I can get some funky blusey sounds out of it.

I have to say I am really impressed with it and compared to the other resonators I have seen in the shops it looks a lot better and more expensive. Now I need to go out and buy a guitar stand to show it off.

BTW - Does any one know of any good lessons on youtube or any good slide guitar websites where there will be usefull information for beginners?

[andys]

There is loads of stuff on YouTube. Type in a search like "open G slide" or "resonator playing" and theres just loads of stuff. Theres folk playing their own stuff, folk doing their own interpretations of existing music, loads from the beginner posting their progress to the virtuosos. Theres people showing you the chords, people using resonators to play all kinds of music as well. Dont neglect the electric slide players on there, they have got some licks and tips you can use as well. YouTube is a good resource, though beware. Hours can turn into days.........!

The other thing you could do is try and find someone near to you that can teach you a few things as well.

Great you like your Lightning. MM guitars and Busker Guitars are just great instruments.

[wolvoboy]

Hi Purpleorange
try this Guy on youtube,{ Keni lee burgess} he has loads of stuff in open g and d tunings.
uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RKEPRk1lQ1k
wolvoboy

[Michael Messer]

Hi Purpleorange,

I am happy that you are pleased with your MM LIGHTNING. It is always difficult buying a specialist item when you have very little knowledge.

The best advice I can give you at this point in time is to PLAY >PLAY >and keep PLAYING! The more you play and work things out for yourself, the better it will be in the long run. You Tube is wonderful, but too much information when you are learning can be destructive.

The main thing is to HAVE FUN!!!!

Shine On
Michael