Inspired to learn slide because....?

[steam-powered]

I saw the documentary "Desperate Man Blues" about five years ago and the clip of Son House playing Death Letter left me speechless. Bought an NRP single cone a few days later and spent hours each night in my home studio learning slide.

How about you?

[9fingers]

Because I lost half my left middle finger to a jointer 15 years ago & the only way I could find to keep playing guitar was to tune to Open E & keep a slide on the half finger. Slide & open tuning opened a whole new sonic world to me!

[lefty kwan]

Derek Trucks.

[steam-powered]

Originally Posted by 9fingers

Because I lost half my left middle finger to a jointer 15 years ago & the only way I could find to keep playing guitar was to tune to Open E & keep a slide on the half finger. Slide & open tuning opened a whole new sonic world to me!

A lot of folks would have become discouraged, suffering that kind of loss, and give up. Reading how you adapted and overcame is inspiring!!!

[9fingers]

Originally Posted by steam-powered

A lot of folks would have become discouraged, suffering that kind of loss, and give up. Reading how you adapted and overcame is inspiring!!!

I thought I was done playing but I just couldn't quit electric guitar. Playing semi- pro again for the last few years.
Thanks to "having" to play slide and relearn chords & scales I have a style all my own (for better or worse:-)

[jdaunt]

Never really thought about it. I'd probably have to say Eric Clapton Unplugged. When I got my first acoustic the first accessory I got for it was a slide. Not really sure why, that was before I even got into the Allman Brothers and the old blues guys, the only thing I can think of right now was hearing Unplugged from when I was younger and how ingrained into my musical psyche that album became.

[smj]

Originally Posted by 9fingers

Because I lost half my left middle finger to a jointer 15 years ago & the only way I could find to keep playing guitar was to tune to Open E & keep a slide on the half finger. Slide & open tuning opened a whole new sonic world to me!

Dude that is so inspiring! Gives me no excuse to not be practicing in my spare time.

For me, I've been listening to the new Big Wreck album. The slide guitar melody on the song Albatross gets me every time I hear it. Really would like to get some of that vibe in my own playing.

Sean Meredith-Jones
www.seanmeredithjones.com

[Shiny McShine]

I was driven to it because I didn't want to stop playing and my fingers were gone. It's a great way to keep going when you can't anymore.

[Neer]

Because I heard Ry Cooder and Hawaiian music.

[kimock]

Originally Posted by 9fingers

Because I lost half my left middle finger to a jointer 15 years ago & the only way I could find to keep playing guitar was to tune to Open E & keep a slide on the half finger. Slide & open tuning opened a whole new sonic world to me!

I did not know that about you.
That's the way to power through man, nothing but respect for that.

[9fingers]

Originally Posted by kimock

I did not know that about you.
That's the way to power through man, nothing but respect for that.

Your posts have helped me a lot to deepen my understanding of the potential and power of slide. Thanks Steve!

[guitarjazz]

Duane

[Sweetfinger]

I always liked the sound of slide when I heard it in classic rock tunes or 70s and 80s metal and when I started playing, I worked on slide. eventually I moved more towards roots and blues material. Here I am!
Some of my "gateway drug" slide playing, so to speak, was ZZ Top, George Thorogood, early Whitesnake, Black Crowes. Hearing Hound Dog Taylor was an epiphany, then Major Lingo redefined what was possible with slide. Now it's Elmore James, Robert Nighthawk, Mike Henderson, Hop Wilson, etc.

[jhumber]

Mike Campbell.
I realised at some point that almost all of the Tom Petty songs I loved had a) great guitar solos and b) they were almost all done on slide. That guy just oozes taste.

[bob-i]

I went to a show where a new blues band from the south were opening for Johnny Winter And, this guy named Duane put a pill bottle on his finger, borrowed the other guitarists (Dickie) SG and simply made the thing SCREAM.

A few years later Coriciden had to use childproof tops and the new bottles didn't fit my finger. I wrote to them and offered to buy some old stock. About a month later I received a box of 144, no letter, no charge, nothing. I have about 6 left, gave away many, broke just as many.

Oh... and later that show was released on an album. Yes, the Live at the Filmore was recorded when the Allman's were opening for Johnny Winter.