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Slide guitar has such a distinctive sound, and diving into its technique and traditions can be a great way to add depth to your playing. The more slide language you discover, the more you’ll be able to broaden your musical palette and expressions.
The following instructional books are great for exploring certain tunings, learning tunes that incorporate both the bass and melody, and gaining a deeper repertoire of licks and fills…
- Learn to Play Bottleneck Guitar (available on Amazon): The great thing about this book is how versatile it is with different tunings, while being straightforward and helpful in the information it provides. It has a genuine and simple feel to it, and covers basics that will provide a strong foundation to build on. This is a good down-to-earth book that is worth checking out.
- Warren Haynes – Guide to Slide Guitar (available on Amazon): If you’re going to play slide in standard tuning, or you’re occasionally looking to add some slide techniques to your regular playing, then this is a great book to explore. Warren Haynes has such a bluesy and pure tone, and learning more about how he voices notes through the slide is always enlightening. Knowing more about his approach to slide can go a long way, and this book is an insightful way to do so.
- Bottleneck Blues Guitar (available on Amazon): The introduction in this book is worth it alone, as it provides a beautiful history of the slide guitar as it evolved in the early 1900s. Also, it is full of great arrangements for solo playing that provide a nice interplay of bass and melody. Most of these tunes are traditional and are a great way to learn the styles of many legendary players like Son House and Robert Johnson.
- Traditional, Country and Electric Slide Guitar (available on Amazon): An in-depth book that covers various styles, this is a great one to own for gaining a deeper insight into many aspects of slide guitar. It also dives into some of Duane Allman and Ry Cooder’s playing, and the photos and vibe of it are enjoyable too.