Still more advanced slide guitar by Stephen Couch

[bendy5150]

Hi Stephen,

Wow.. I've been playing for years and haven't seen anything like this before.. Never seen anyone bend the strings behind the slide! That's it... I'm off to buy a slide!

One question.. Is that velcro on the slide? If so what is it used for?

Thanks

Chris

[slidesorcerer]

@bendy5150 Thanks! the velcro serves two purposes, hold the slide to velcro attached to the guitar or strap and to do DJ tricks(scratching).

[jcookonbass]

@bendy5150 I agree - I thought it was awesome bending behind the slide too.

[DaleRobertSzyms]

As a fellow slider and looper pedal nut all I can say is, wow nice job!!! I try to do slide on every type of music, not just blues so I really dig what you've done here. Am I safe to say that Derek Trucks is a big influence for you? Your playing reminds me of his.

[slidesorcerer]

@DaleRobertSzyms I love Derek's playing but I wouldn't really count him as an influence but I will take it as a complement if I sound anything like him. I count him, Ry Cooder, Sonny Landreth, David Tronzo, and Kevin Breit as my personal favorites on bottleneck but I also love the lap players Jerry Douglas, Rob Ickes, Debashish, Bhatt, Ralph Mooney, Jerry Byrd, and Buddy Emmons as well. I have been a guitar nut for years and just took to slide and I am always finding new things with it.

[pandacommanda]

R2-D2!

[slidesorcerer]

Just play as melodically as possible. However it is that you would like to sound you should make an attempt to quantify some of the qualities that you imagine(a vocal sound or maybe very clean arpeggios..etc.)and then work on those things that appeal to you and that you can hope to attain(forget ever playing as fast as without the slide!). Slide is so hard when you are trying to do things that aren't natural to the concept but pushing those boundries is the only way to reveal yourself. Goodluck

[b2c095]

Stephen a fellow slider here. I am trying to improve my improvisation skills. My solo's on the fly seem to lack continuity sometimes. Any suggestions on things I can practice to help this?

[RGBLackson]

er wow.... this is amazing... you are fucking god. i'm debating picking up slide guitare... because derek trucks is amazing and inspirational but you just gave me another reason.. the only problem is i don't know where to start lol

[slidesorcerer]

Thanks!

The right hand is so important with slide that I usually suggest that people start with it so that they don't get too frustrated with all the noise. Developing a natural position where your fingers tend to rest on the strings not being played is key for my approach. Learn to mute(block or dampen)with the thumb, palm and fingers of the right while learing to play with the slide only on the strings needed at any given moment while avoiding the rest with the left hand. Listen to the Gods!

[RGBLackson]

wow what the hell?

[Souroush]

the bowed part sounds like the song echoes by pink floyd

[SlideSorcererWan2b]

This is so tight. It's kinda like there's a whole band there, but when you look closer, it's just an ordinary sorcerer doing his wizardry like normal.