You mentioned the importance of pauses vs never-ending run-on stream of notes. One trick I learned a long time ago to have more vocal-like phrasing is to concentrate on your breathing. You don't sing when you are breathing in. It's a natural place to pause.
My dad is a respected bassist who drilled several lessons about this angle on musicianship into my head: 1. Always feature the soloist by leaving room for them to work. Whether that's the vocalist or another instrument, always feature the soloist and don't distract from what they're doing. Keep it sparse until it's your turn. 2. Play as few notes as possible and be dynamically responsible/respectful. An implied note can be as powerful as a played note. 3. Always leave yourself somewhere to go. If you start out at intensity/speed level 10, you're already there; you can't add to that. It's not nearly as much of a ride for listeners as a build up from 2 or 3. 4. If you can't whistle or hum it, it's probably more flash than taste. There's a place for flashy, but not in every song. Tasty, on the other hand, is always tasty.
I really like the way you broke this down into discrete parts. You are a natural teacher. I've been playing slide since probably before you were born, but I learned some new approaches today! Thank you for sharing with the world.
A much overlooked style point for guitarists. Many are just into shred, which is great . . . for shred. But there's so much more impactful music out there. R&B and Gospel are great genres for inflection and dynamics. Dynamics is another method of interjecting feeling, along with pace and phrasing. If you can build a crescendo in a solo, a vocal phrase or in a composition as a whole, or diminish a phrase of a solo, or phrases in a composition, that is what brings true character to your music. Much of your playing uses dynamics in the slide up to or down to the note and then use of vibrato. It's a huge part. Great video Dylan.
Dylan, your videos have been a huge inspiration. I’ve now got a Ernie Ball Comfort pinkie slide and listening to a whole bunch of music with fresh ears. Been in a rough patch for a long while but when I dig myself out some more I intend to get your course as well. PDF in the email is a simple visual reference that clicked for me. Thanks. You’ve added to the enthusiasm I feel for music and creation. Keep up all the good work. 🙏 All the best.
Yup this is a wicked video. & I’m really enjoying your standard tuning slide course. My slide playing has come a long way since discovering your lessons. Thank you!
I have purchased several online guitar courses over the years and some have been good, but most have been pretty disappointing. I bought Dylan’s standard tuning slide course and it is fantastic! I have always wanted to get more into slide but the whole open tuning thing was a pain. This course is the most practical and applicable course I have ever purchased!
Great guide, I picked up a couple of good tips there. I think if there is one thing missing it is dynamics/attack. I can hear it in your playing so was waiting for it to come up as one of the tips. Thanks again!
Don't forget the sacred steel players, Robert Randolph , Ghent, Campbell Bros. for the otherworldly singing voice of their playing. Some people don't see it the same, but I do. Especially Randolph on The Word album.
Great concepts to work on. Here's one. Don't listen to Bonnie Raitt's slide playing. Listen to her sing. Extreme example. Also, K.D. Lang. If I can ever get her vibrato down I will have accomplished something in my slide learning.
You mentioned the importance of pauses vs never-ending run-on stream of notes. One trick I learned a long time ago to have more vocal-like phrasing is to concentrate on your breathing. You don't sing when you are breathing in. It's a natural place to pause.
My dad is a respected bassist who drilled several lessons about this angle on musicianship into my head:
1. Always feature the soloist by leaving room for them to work. Whether that's the vocalist or another instrument, always feature the soloist and don't distract from what they're doing. Keep it sparse until it's your turn.
2. Play as few notes as possible and be dynamically responsible/respectful. An implied note can be as powerful as a played note.
3. Always leave yourself somewhere to go. If you start out at intensity/speed level 10, you're already there; you can't add to that. It's not nearly as much of a ride for listeners as a build up from 2 or 3.
4. If you can't whistle or hum it, it's probably more flash than taste. There's a place for flashy, but not in every song. Tasty, on the other hand, is always tasty.
This is the slide lesson I wish I had 25yrs ago when I first heard Derek Trucks. Thanks man! Keep em coming
Sounds great. Simple ideas that easily get overlooked. Thanks
Loving the new course, Dylan! Thank you so much for teaching.
I really like the way you broke this down into discrete parts. You are a natural teacher.
I've been playing slide since probably before you were born, but I learned some new approaches today! Thank you for sharing with the world.
A much overlooked style point for guitarists. Many are just into shred, which is great . . . for shred. But there's so much more impactful music out there. R&B and Gospel are great genres for inflection and dynamics. Dynamics is another method of interjecting feeling, along with pace and phrasing. If you can build a crescendo in a solo, a vocal phrase or in a composition as a whole, or diminish a phrase of a solo, or phrases in a composition, that is what brings true character to your music. Much of your playing uses dynamics in the slide up to or down to the note and then use of vibrato. It's a huge part. Great video Dylan.
Dylan, your videos have been a huge inspiration. I’ve now got a Ernie Ball Comfort pinkie slide and listening to a whole bunch of music with fresh ears. Been in a rough patch for a long while but when I dig myself out some more I intend to get your course as well. PDF in the email is a simple visual reference that clicked for me. Thanks. You’ve added to the enthusiasm I feel for music and creation. Keep up all the good work. 🙏 All the best.
I got the course for a few days now, and it very good.
Yeah Dylan, awesome work dude!
Thanks Jules!
Yup this is a wicked video. & I’m really enjoying your standard tuning slide course. My slide playing has come a long way since discovering your lessons. Thank you!
Thanks so much man, I’m glad to hear you’re digging the videos and the course!! 🙏🏻
I have purchased several online guitar courses over the years and some have been good, but most have been pretty disappointing. I bought Dylan’s standard tuning slide course and it is fantastic! I have always wanted to get more into slide but the whole open tuning thing was a pain. This course is the most practical and applicable course I have ever purchased!
SO much good stuff in here, wow dude. Thank you! Grabbed your course, as well!
Would love to see a video teaching licks that u like to use in a live setting.
Thank you Dylan! Teach us how to play Amazing Grace
thanks my friend, this is slide gold!!
thanks for watching!!
I’m actually a steel player. Love this style of playing. It’s harder to pull of with a bar, but worth it.
Awesome video, thanks
Great guide, I picked up a couple of good tips there. I think if there is one thing missing it is dynamics/attack. I can hear it in your playing so was waiting for it to come up as one of the tips. Thanks again!
Don't forget the sacred steel players, Robert Randolph , Ghent, Campbell Bros. for the otherworldly singing voice of their playing. Some people don't see it the same, but I do. Especially Randolph on The Word album.
Nice lesson! The course is excellent too. With this technique I feel like I need to move my thumb more than we are doing in the course.
Awesome man!!!
Another great video! Off-topic but, where did you get the customised truss rod cover from? Very cool!
Great concepts to work on. Here's one. Don't listen to Bonnie Raitt's slide playing. Listen to her sing. Extreme example. Also, K.D. Lang. If I can ever get her vibrato down I will have accomplished something in my slide learning.
I also make my guitar sing, only problem is it sings like Ashlee Simpson
Be glad it’s not Yoko Ono!