As a slide guitar teacher, I'll always encourage you to listen to the masters - to remind you why you want to play and to take inspiration from their techniques and sounds. Watching a pro on stage is great homework for your own learning process!
Martin Harley is touring now, and if you're serious about slide guitar, you won't want to miss the chance to see him live. Check out his tour dates here!
Why Martin Harley?
Martin Harley's command of the slide is breathtaking. He's spent three decades crafting a sound that weaves Americana, blues, and folk into something entirely his own, recording in Texas, Nashville, and Wales.
Guitarist Magazine calls him "one of the UK's finest contemporary roots musicians," while Roots Magazine describes him simply as a "slide guitar master." These words have been hard earned, through years of dedication to our craft, and he has inspired many budding players during this time.
What You'll Learn By Going
When you watch a live performance, take the opportunity to check out:
Touch and Tone: Watch how Harley achieves those singing, sustained notes. Notice the pressure he applies with the slide, how he mutes the strings behind it, how he controls overtones. You can practice scales forever, but seeing how a master produces tone in real-time is invaluable.
Phrasing and Space: Harley knows when to play and when to let silence speak. Listen to how he constructs solos, building and releasing tension. This is where musicality transcends technique.
Emotional Connection: Technical mastery means nothing without emotional depth. Watch how Harley connects with his audience, how his expressions reflect the music he's creating. This separates good players from great artists.
The Tour
Harley is touring extensively throughout 2025 across the UK and Europe, performing both solo shows and duo performances with bassist Mark Lewis. He's appearing at venues like Bromley Blues Club, the Wessex Folk Festival, and Live Station Festival in Portugal. If he's coming to a location near you, grab your tickets now!
His recent album, Live at Southern Ground, was recorded in Nashville with upright bassist Daniel Kimbro and will give you a taste of his current musical direction.
Back to the Roots
Learning slide guitar isn't about lessons and practice sessions, it's about immersing yourself in the tradition and seeing what's possible when technique meets soul. Martin Harley represents the contemporary evolution of slide guitar and I love his rich sound.
If you're on a mission to learn slide guitar, check out Martin Harley and other pros, and let me know how the experience was for you in the comments or in my Learn Slide Guitar Facebook group. My Slide Success and Slide Success Foundations courses are booking now and I'd love to share the secrets of endless happy playing with you!