If you're a slide guitar player, whether you're a beginner or an old hand, you'll know that the emotion and mood evoked by slide is something special. This is why the slide guitar sound is central to so many great films, and I love hearing a brilliant soundtrack!
Slide guitar works well in a soundtrack because it mimics the human voice, and this tone can create a whole new layer of emotional urgency to suit the storyline in a film. It's a popular choice for films set in small towns in the United States, and especially where desert landscapes and empty roads are part of the scenery!
Epic Film Soundtracks
If you've never seen Paris, Texas (1984), you're missing a treat with Ry Cooder's epic soundtrack. This is a great use of slide guitar in film and the themes of isolation and disrupted identity run through the music as well as the plot of the film itself. This makes the most of the link between slide guitar and the open road, and the depth of feeling in the music deepens the impact of the film.
Another great example is Crossroads (1986), which puts the slide guitar soundtrack in the centre of the story, as an important symbol for spiritual exploration. This film takes its name and inspiration from Robert Johnson's epic track Crossroad Blues, and once again, the emotion evoked is more important than technical perfection.
The Blues Brothers (1980) is a more upbeat film that features slide guitar, with plenty of swagger and energy. The impressive slide guitar soundtrack connects the movie to the living tradition of American blues, grounding the chaos and comedy elements of the film in genuine musical heritage.
Slide also works well in edgier films, bringing a rebellious note to the soundtrack, and this is especially effective with rock soundtracks, where distortion is liberally sprinkled!
Have you noticed slide guitar in any films you've seen recently? Let me know in the comments!
Want to Learn to Play Slide?
If you want to brush up on techniques or fancy learning to play slide from scratch, I can help! I've got a range of online courses designed especially to make slide guitar accessible, and I've worked with beginners and experienced players for many years.
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Happy sliding!