Cool Jam

[SwampMusic]

After sliding into a state of near limbo over the past year, we've decided to scrap a significant part of our set list. The plan is to take a few months off from gigging and work in some new material as well as a couple of original pieces. I'm looking forward to getting some blues tunes in the lineup. I'd like to channel the Clapton/Landreth vibe, but neither of us is a slide player. It's still worth a little time just to see what happens, though. While we need the new material to revitalize the band, I'm going to miss the gigs. The acoustic group I play with hasn't booked anything lately, either. *sigh* Oh, well........onward and upward!

[daddymack]

band gigs that pay are getting tough to find around here, which is why I am working on my solo act...and doing some local jams. Slide is not all that hard, you just need to spend some time...and learn the open tunings (or not... I know plenty of guys who play slide in standard).

[SwampMusic]

Either of us can learn a specific piece (within reason) or part playing slide. But, listening to Landreth and trying to emulate a player of that caliber is fairly daunting. 

[Smilin' Bob]

Unless you have an undiscovered gene mutation for exceptional slide playing, you'll never get to Sonny's level in this life time!

But that's not to say you coudn't do a credible, even pretty damn good job after a little woodshedding.

I play in open G with my fingers (thumb and first two). For me, it means more accuracy and ability to dampen unplayed strings without using a lot of finger drag behind the slide. Also triplets are easy! Thumb pick sometimes - depends. Since my acoustic with pups slide guitars have radiused FBs, I use a concave brass slide and the heavier the better, except glass for when I play the SG Jr. on which the strings are lower. Slide on the ring finger, and I can do a bit of fretting behind and in front of the slide too.

Takes a while to get the feel of the open tuning and find where the notes lie for runs and melodies, but if I can do it, any sentient being can too!

[daddymack]

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SwampMusic wrote:

Either of us can learn a specific piece (within reason) or part playing slide. But, listening to Landreth and trying to emulate a player of that caliber is fairly daunting. 

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Why worry about that?  Just learn the song, play a part tha tfits it, and be done. Do you seriously think the average person in the bar audience has memorized Sonny's solos? Meh...most don't even know who he is....sadly.

[Smilin' Bob]

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daddymack wrote:

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SwampMusic wrote:

Either of us can learn a specific piece (within reason) or part playing slide. But, listening to Landreth and trying to emulate a player of that caliber is fairly daunting. 

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Why worry about that?  Just learn the song, play a part tha tfits it, and be done. Do you seriously think the average person in the bar audience has memorized Sonny's solos? Meh...most don't even know who he is....sadly.

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What DM said!

[SwampMusic]

I suspect you're both right. If I put in the practice time, I could probably handle it well enough for what we've been doing. The slide isn't really all that important (says my inherent laziness) so  much as the overall groove those two seem to generate when they play together. We're really looking for an infusion of enthusiasm along with the new material to counteract the frustration of backsliding and falling so far short of our collective potential. Maybe it will work, maybe not. We've had a decent run with this band and I'd like to get a couple more years out of it.