- Sliding is a technique
that can add a vocal quality to your playing
and make it sound more expressive.
In this lesson, I'll show you how to incorporate slides
into your lead playing.
So what is a slide?
A slide is created by striking a note
and shifting on the same string to another fret or note.
(notes ringing)
This allows us to connect notes smoothly
and creates a unique effect
that adds character and style to the notes that are played.
There's quite a few ways to play a slide,
so let's walk through some of the more common techniques.
Now let's try sliding upward.
We're gonna be on the G string with our first finger,
sliding from five to seven.
(notes ringing)
So starting on five, squeezing our finger, sliding up.
(notes ringing)
It's important here to maintain pressure
throughout the slide, so you got to keep squeezing,
even though it feels kind of funny, going over those frets.
(notes ringing)
Definitely something you have to get used to.
Once you go from five to seven, landing on seven,
let the note ring out.
This is a slur between two notes,
with just one pick.
(notes ringing)
Holding that finger there, letting it ring out.
So let's try a different one.
This one we're gonna be on the D string, (notes ringing)
sliding up to seven from five,
and then picking the third G string.
(notes ringing)
So on the fifth fret, with my third finger, (notes ringing)
sliding up to seven, maintaining the pressure,
holding down the string,
and then picking on (notes ringing) the third string,
with our first finger on the fifth fret.
(notes ringing)
So definitely take time when you're practicing these slides,
go slow and become familiar with the feeling.
It can change from string to string.
On the thicker strings, it's a little easier.
On the skinnier strings, you're gonna have
more of a feeling of going over these frets,
and you can kind of get stuck on them.
So experiment with different fingers, different strings,
and also, on each string, you've got pitch.
So if you're going up, (notes ringing)
towards the bridge, the pitch is going up.
If you're going down, (notes ringing)
towards the headstock,
pitch is going down as well.
Let's take a look at the down slide.
This is the same technique as before.
We're gonna be starting on the seventh fret of the G string
with our first finger, sliding down to five.
(notes ringing)
Once again, maintaining the pressure
throughout the whole slide, and letting it ring
once we get to the fifth fret.
(notes ringing)
Then when we're comfortable, let's add a lick.
So we're gonna go seven to five,
and then finish with a pick, down pick,
on the seventh fret of the D string.
(notes ringing) With our third finger.
(notes ringing)
One more time on that.
(notes ringing)
There's your down slide.
Now let's look at a legato sliding technique,
which allows us to slide both up and down.
Here's what it sounds like.
(notes ringing)
So starting off, I got my third finger on the seventh fret,
and we're gonna legato slide up and down,
slurring three notes together.
Legato just means smooth.
So we're smoothing it out, without having to pick.
So seven, slide up to eight,
back to seven, all in the same pick,
and then we pick five with our first finger,
and then pick seven with our third finger on the D string.
(notes ringing) Seven, eight, seven,
pick five, pick seven.
(notes ringing)
Legato slides are great for adding nuance to your playing.
Sometimes we slide into and out of notes
with undetermined destinations,
not necessarily knowing where we're coming from
or where we're going to,
but as long as we have a main destination of note,
then we can come in and out of it.
So for example, seven to five.
(notes ringing)
So here, my destination is seven on the fourth string.
I might come from the fourth fret, (notes ringing)
or maybe even second fret. (notes ringing)
Kind of just depends on what we're feeling at the time.
(notes ringing)
Or, for example, coming into the 12th fret, (notes ringing)
on the third string,
we might come from the seventh fret, (notes ringing)
or even the third fret. (notes ringing)
And then coming out of a note, (notes ringing)
we might let the note fade out
by releasing the tension of our fingers (notes ringing)
anywhere on the neck.
So it can be nine, (notes ringing)
or it could be five, (notes ringing)
or any other frets.
Also coming in and out would be similar.
So, enter the note at any point,
and then come out of the note, at any point on the neck.
Get comfortable with your slides
before speeding up your technique.
Try experimenting with these slides all over the neck.
Remember, it's all about having the right touch.
Too much pressure,
and it's difficult to move along the string.
Too little and your note will disappear.
Keep practicing at it, and we'll see you next time.