This week, I'm taking a deep dive on a subject that often comes up - how to choose the right slide.
There are a multitude of options out there, and ultimately it’s a personal choice, but here are my thoughts.
The three main types of bottleneck slide are ceramic, metal, and glass. There are other options - wood seems to be getting quite popular, and it’s always interesting to try out something new and inventive! But for now I’m going to stick to discussing the three most common slide types.
Glass
Probably the original slide - often literally a bottleneck made from the neck of a bottle. Playing with glass gives you a lovely smooth feel across the strings, and it’s not as tiring on the fingers as heavier materials can be. However, because it is lighter it doesn’t give as rich a tone as metal, and it’s also not as loud. There’s less friction, but also less weight and body to the sound produced.
Metal
Brass and steel slides are the most common type of slide you’ll see around today. They give a lovely warm, even tone and you can really get the guitar growling on the lower strings too. But as they are heavier, they are more tiring on your fingers and can be harder to control.
Ceramic
Ceramic slides are a less common option but can work really well. They have the smoothness of glass but with more weight, so can be a good compromise between metal and glass slide options. However I tend to feel they are a little unwieldy and bulky.
Find a slide that fits
Once you’ve decided on the material of the slide, you also need to consider the fit. You have the option of holding the slide either on your third finger or your pinkie finger. I prefer to use the pinkie finger as it leaves my third finger free for fretting. If you’re just starting out and making this decision, you might automatically opt for your third finger because it is likely stronger and therefore feels more comfortable. However, your pinkie will get stronger with practice and you’ll be glad you stuck it out and gained that extra capability with your third finger! Anyway, whether you use your third or your pinkie, this will affect the fit of your slide. You might want something longer if you’re using a longer finger.
Some slides come with a small cutaway section. I like this feature, as it helps you keep a good position in your hand and curve your finger as needed. However it’s not essential.
Here are my recommendations for some top slide makes:
I use a medium brass Rock Slide most of the time. I've also got a really nice one made by QP Slides. This one is a little slimmer and great for the electric guitar.
Glass slide wise, I recommend Diamond Bottlenecks.
And for those last minute Christmas gifts, don't forget to check out my courses - and you can pick up your FREE GET GOING WITH SLIDE GUIDE here for those quiet moments over the festive season!