# Slide Guitar: A Lesson on How It's Done **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568 "2009-02-12T18:18:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tully\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tully\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tully_Mars)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/21 "2009-02-13T17:27:48Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Already Free is kind of a left turn after the worldly stuff they’ve done on the last few albums: it’s almost all down-home blues and gospel stuff and loads of slide playing, although there aren’t many solos. So there’s some great slide playing there. Down in the Flood might not be the best song on the album but it may be the best slide work. I’m going to get this when I get home tonight. I need some new music and you all have lauded Trucks work here before. So, I shall try it. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/22 "2009-02-13T17:28:41Z")
Seriously, **WordMan** , you don’t know that album? I think of you as roughly my age (54), but maybe you’re not – I’ve still got my vinyl of that from back in the day. I just bought the CD to get my Amazon order to $25 when I bought _Already Free_ and the new album by that hussy Susan Tedeschi. Seemed like a good idea to get more serious guitar for the third album. (BTW, those are three of the five CDs in my player at the moment – the other two are from the recent Big Band thread, Frankie Capp/Nat Pierce and Louis Jordan. Damn I have great taste in music. :D) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/23 "2009-02-13T17:35:12Z")
> [@Tully\_Mars](#): > > I’m going to get this when I get home tonight. I need some new music and you all have lauded Trucks work here before. So, I shall try it. We expect - nay, demand! - a full report. 😉 \*\*twicks \*\*- you have about 8 years on me, but more importantly, you need to understand that I did not come to electric blues when it was fresh. In 1978, when the entire musical world to me was made up of Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, UFO and the Corporate Rock All-Stars (e.g., Styx, Journey, REO, etc…), I got turned onto electric blues - Jeff Beck’s Truth, Cream’s Disraeli Gears, BB and Freddie and Albert King, etc. From that point on I have reached back to learn more, but never benefitted from having random exposure to it - none of my peers were listening to the stuff I was at that point. Heck, I just finally invested time to really get to know Peter Green a few years ago - why didn’t I have that in my life 40 years ago?! Bloomfield is one of those guys who is a legend, but much more of a guitarist’s guitarist - I have mentally committed to investing time to get to know him this year… …and, yeah, you DO have great taste in music. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/24 "2009-02-13T17:40:26Z")
Ah, okay. I’m the youngest of three children, and both of my older siblings were listening to some pretty groovy (sic) stuff when I was growing up, so I remember when _Super Session_ first came out, though I didn’t buy my own copy for several years (after I’d gone to college). Also, my college BF was a major guitar fan, so he had me listening to Jeff Beck, Roy Buchanan, Larry Coryell, etc., throughout that period. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/25 "2009-02-13T17:42:42Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Ah, okay. I’m the youngest of three children, and both of my older siblings were listening to some pretty groovy (sic) stuff when I was growing up, so I remember when _Super Session_ first came out, though I didn’t buy my own copy for several years (after I’d gone to college). Also, my college BF was a major guitar fan, so he had me listening to Jeff Beck, Roy Buchanan, Larry Coryell, etc., throughout that period. I am very jealous on both fronts. I had to bootstrap up all by myself. My parents had great taste in music - but it was Brubeck, Getz, Gerry Mulligan and then all the way over to Simon and Garfunkel and such…and my friends listened to the same crap I was listening to at the time… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/26 "2009-02-13T20:02:52Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Ordered. Thanks you guys. Jeez; gotta love Amazon Prime (I registered for Prime / Free Shipping because of the books I order for work) - the CD just arrived. Next day service… This’ll be a good weekend! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/27 "2009-02-14T16:16:28Z")
First listen - this is very solid. Good songs - if you are interested in that intersection between Allman Brothers, Black Crowes and, oh, the rhythm-section talent of the Dave Matthews Band (but with MUCH better songs :)) then this would be right up your alley. I am typically don’t spend a lot of time in that space, but Derek Trucks (and Warren Haynes) are such soulful players (vs. the typical noodling that many jam-bands indulge in, IMHO) that I will follow those guys pretty much anywhere… This is going to be fun to dig into. And yeah, Tedeschi really knows her Bonnie Raitt, doesn’t she? ---
**Author:** ![Tully\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tully\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tully_Mars)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/28 "2009-02-14T17:49:32Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > We expect - nay, demand! - a full report. 😉 I’ve listened to it twice this morning while I was working. I like it, but it doesn’t make me want to log back into iTunes when I get home tonight and buy more. Maybe later. My favorite track on it is _Back Where I Started_. My second pick would be the title track, _Already Free_. I think this is what I expected the entire album to sound like. If it did, I would go buy more tonight. I also enjoyed the bonus track, _Going’ Home_. If I had to criticize it, I would say several tracks are a little heavy on the electronic organ for my taste. It’s not my favorite sound, especially when it muddies up some of the fine guitar playing. All-in-all, it’s a keeper and I suspect it will grow on me a little. **Wordman** , it’s interesting you mentioned the Black Crowes, because after I listened to this one twice, I slid over and listened to Shake You Money Maker. Also, after thinking about this yesterday afternoon, I played _Angel From Montgomery_ by Bonnie Raitte and then by Susan Tedeschi, back-to-back. I could hardly tell them apart. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/29 "2009-02-14T18:19:59Z")
> [@Tully\_Mars](#): > > I’ve listened to it twice this morning while I was working. I like it, but it doesn’t make me want to log back into iTunes when I get home tonight and buy more. Maybe later. > > My favorite track on it is _Back Where I Started_. My second pick would be the title track, _Already Free_. I think this is what I expected the entire album to sound like. If it did, I would go buy more tonight. > > I also enjoyed the bonus track, _Going’ Home_. > > If I had to criticize it, I would say several tracks are a little heavy on the electronic organ for my taste. It’s not my favorite sound, especially when it muddies up some of the fine guitar playing. > > All-in-all, it’s a keeper and I suspect it will grow on me a little. > > **Wordman** , it’s interesting you mentioned the Black Crowes, because after I listened to this one twice, I slid over and listened to Shake You Money Maker. > > Also, after thinking about this yesterday afternoon, I played _Angel From Montgomery_ by Bonnie Raitte and then by Susan Tedeschi, back-to-back. I could hardly tell them apart. All good - no arguments from me and yeah, what’s cool is that there is a lot inside of Trucks’ playing, so the more you listen to it, the more you find, which adds clarity and focus to the music… The Black Crowes have their moments - when they are on, I truly enjoy them. SYMM has great stuff - their boogie-rock is more structured and aimed at a commercial market vs., say the DTB - but that’s okay by me. Their most recent, Warpaint, which was notorious after some Lad’s rag rated it without even listening to it - is actually pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/30 "2009-02-14T19:35:00Z")
This is an album that very much rewards additional listening – which is a necessity for me. (As I’ve said many times in music threads, CDs I like on the first listen tend to bore me to tears by the tenth.) This is why, for instance, it took me a while to grok the greatness that is “I Know,” as indicated above. ( **Marley** and I were back-and-forthing our comments mostly in the first few days we had it.) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/31 "2009-02-17T20:32:12Z")
Looking forward to reading additional comments if you have them, **WordMan**. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/32 "2009-02-17T20:43:32Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Looking forward to reading additional comments if you have them, **WordMan**. Well - the great news is that I was able to put it into rotation and listen to it a couple of times. The bad news is that I was puttering in the kitchen while doing so, so I don’t have the names of the songs down or anything. Overall I stand by my initial impressions. Solid songs - more consistent than Songlines (okay, I did make it a point to pick out “I Know” since \*\*twicks \*\*likes it so much - I agree; good song). The bulk of them are about love or finding your own way in the world - they don’t strike me as coming up with new perspectives on things, but the lyrics come across as honest and lived-in. The guest vocalists - Doyle Bramhall and Truck’s wife Susan Tedeschi - both sound great - I wouldn’t have minded them not being on the CD, simply because I like the thought of a band - but they have fine voices (again, Tedeschi is cut from the same cloth as Bonnie Raitt, so who is gonna have a problem with that?). Trucks’ slide work remains standout to me - even when he is doing standard blues-scale leads he manages to keep them fresh and interesting, but I remain floored by the more sophisticated approach he slips in - it never sounds forced or cerebral, just easy and natural. How’d I do? 😉 You haveta let me know soon - I have Super Session arriving any day, along with my first CD from The Bad Plus! ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/33 "2009-02-17T22:50:03Z")
Ok, how this thread slipped past my radar is beyond me. That’s an awesome break in that song, but I can’t say that I have much love for the overall production value. Way too much compression on everything, it sounds like this was recorded in the same studio with the same engineers as a 1980’s Phil Collins record. That being said, that whole solo is really deceptive at first, it doesn’t sound that hard until you throw your medicine bottle on your finger and try to play it. That’s freaking awesome. Next up, Super Session is my all time pure luck record store grab. I found the CD at the store one day (it was even the Nice Price) and I was blown away. Apparently so are all of my friends because that’s the one CD that’s been nicked out of my collection more than almost any other, but anyway it’s one of the best road trip CD’s ever made. It’s always on board where ever I go. Third, since we’re talking slide work, I have to throw out The Black Keys track [Hold Me In Your Arms](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=653PLUXWQuA&feature=related) as one of my all time favorites. It’s good enough to stand entirely on it’s own. No other guitar, or bass on that song, just wicked slide, awesome vocals and steady drums. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/34 "2009-02-17T23:05:51Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > The bulk of them are about love or finding your own way in the world - they don’t strike me as coming up with new perspectives on things, but the lyrics come across as honest and lived-in. I agree on that, although I think the lyrics are improving- they haven’t tried writing this many new songs before. Interesting mix of writers, too, although I’m not really sure who wrote what. > [@](#): > > The guest vocalists - Doyle Bramhall and Truck’s wife Susan Tedeschi - both sound great - I wouldn’t have minded them not being on the CD, simply because I like the thought of a band - but they have fine voices (again, Tedeschi is cut from the same cloth as Bonnie Raitt, so who is gonna have a problem with that?). I could’ve done without Bramhall’s singing. Really didn’t add anything, to me, and I didn’t care much for his voice. If you check the liner notes I bet you’ll be surprised how much Susan T’s band appears on the album- this one must’ve been recorded at the same time as her latest release. > [@](#): > > Trucks’ slide work remains standout to me - even when he is doing standard blues-scale leads he manages to keep them fresh and interesting, but I remain floored by the more sophisticated approach he slips in - it never sounds forced or cerebral, just easy and natural. Definitely. One of the things I like most about his playing, and the band’s by extension, is that while they blend a lot of styles, they don’t get postmodern or ironic about it and don’t make a point of showing off what they’re doing. It’s very natural. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/35 "2009-02-17T23:37:37Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > …I have Super Session arriving any day… Great, but what about “The Live Adventures of…”? How 'bout that, huh? I’d sell you my vinyl copy, but I have no idea where it is since we moved (4 years ago). ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/36 "2009-02-18T22:15:52Z")
How’d I miss this thread till now? Derek Trucks has a new album out and I don’t have it. I need to fix that issue fast. Especially after the comments on this board. I just love watching and listing to [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBo_dZAnjoc). It has some nice closeups of him in action. Its one of the few Utube transfers that isn’t garbled or compressed to hell. Its from the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival DVD (higher quality sound) and the DTB is practically the “house band” for the festival. Derek’s on stage for many of the Clapton sets and his band backs up Johnny Winter for a nice cover of “Highway 61”. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/37 "2009-02-18T22:33:45Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > After listening to it several times a day since I got it (within a week of its release – though not the day of, since I had to wait for my unemployment stipend the end of that week :D), I think it is probably better than _Songlines_, and I loved _Songlines._ (Yeah, “Crow Jane” is just dumb – but “Blind, Crippled, and Crazy” is a lot of fun – and “This Sky” is a serious contender for the list of my top ten favorite songs for all eternity.) > > As to this album: Right now I would not want to have to pick between “Our Love,” “Back Where I Started” (guest vocalist, Susan Tedeschi, who seems to think she’s married to my husband) and “I Know” as my favorite song. > > Buy it. Immediately. I say this as your music-loving friend. You looove him. (snicker) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/38 "2009-02-18T22:36:32Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > I just love watching and listing to [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBo_dZAnjoc). It has some nice closeups of him in action. Its one of the few Utube transfers that isn’t garbled or compressed to hell. Jeez, what a slide monster he is - although his straight-up lead break is great, too. But when he plays slide - just, whoa. It’s funny, slide has something in common with trombone - you have to move up and down the neck linearly, moving superfast and super precise to stop on the right notes, waggle a little vibrato on 'em and move to the next note. That is HARD. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/39 "2009-02-18T22:47:11Z")
A related question: what kind of guitar is Trucks playing in [this video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v-8wL33-Ao&feature=related)? Danelectro? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568/40 "2009-02-18T22:50:22Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > A related question: what kind of guitar is Trucks playing in [this video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v-8wL33-Ao&feature=related)? Danelectro? No - that’s a Harmony or Kay - cheapie guitar that a lot of slide players used, same as Danny’s… Eastwood Guitars makes an affordable version these days… [http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/](http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/) - look up the AIRLINE® H44 DLX I yearn for an Eastwood Tuxedo. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slide-guitar-a-lesson-on-how-its-done/485568.md?page=3)