What is it about slide playing?

[smojo]

I'm a relative newbie at playing slide but been into guitars, blues and other people's playing for a long time. I just love the sound of really well played slide guitar particularly blues whether it's old timey Delta or more electric rock/blues. There's something special about it that gets right into your soul somehow. What is it about it? I would venture to say that it's almost - no is - somehow sexy.

It's something to do with the richness of sound but I think mainly the fluidity of the sound and the way you slide up or down to a note is almost orgasmic. Phew I need a cold shower.

Anyone want to add to it? What is the "magic" that seems to come from slide guitar?

[Deleted]

I think it could be something to do with the vocal qualities of
slide guitar. Because you are not restricted to frets it sounds
alot more human. Just a thought.

[robn]

Yup it is certainly more human,

Not being restricted by frets, I can now both sing and play guitar equally out of tune

Robn

[fitchmeister]

At Bluesweek last year a guy called Jerry Ricks said 'your fretting hand is what you know and your pickin hand is who you are'.

I think slide playing allows you much more variation on your fretting hand so you get much more of 'who you are' out of the instrument. So as i work with it, it's teaching me alot about who i am in turn.

That's my tuppence

Roj

[smojo]

Yes I can see how it is closer to the human voice and maybe that "strikes a chord" in our psyche somehow.

Roj - a very interesting theory. I can see where you're coming from on that. In theory you should be able to get the same expression from your feelings with fretted playing, bending notes etc but I think it does open up an entirely different perspective and opportuntiy to express yourself.