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Selecting a slide
The weight and material of the slide will play an important part in helping to ensure that the learning process is as painless as possible. I will not sit on the fence here as I bear no allegiance, after playing for so long you must remember that I have had experience of most types of slide. For the last 10 years I have been using a glass product, I find them hygienic, clean sounding and easily replaceable and for me they produce a fatter more musical note.

If you have seen or heard any of my performances and you wish to emulate a similar learning path to mine then I recommend a glass slide that covers about 4-6 mill a glass slide that covers about 4-6 mill more than the width of your fret board. You can still work the top strings just as you would with a smaller slide but the means to slide all 6 strings is still available. For the set up described above you will need a medium weight slide and definitely not the thin walled lightweight variety, they do have their uses but are not suitable for this style of set up. Typical weight should be around 30-40 grams.

Which finger?
Without a doubt place your slide on your little finger, this not only leaves the others free for chord accompaniment but also allows for more controlled dampening behind the Strings. Using the tip of the little finger a small amount of pressure can be applied to the inside of the slide. Try holding the slide upside down and you will naturally grip it to stop it falling on the floor.

Which Vibrato?
Just like the human voice the tones of your playing style are controlled partly by the vibrato you prefer. Basically there are two types, the more frenzied quicker style as portrayed by Stefan Grossman or the slower 'fatter' style as used by Ry Cooder, Kelly Joe Phelps and many Hawaiian pioneers. This is my preffered style and one, which I have used all my life. These then are sound basics for the initial part of understanding jut how many of today's slide greats achieve their goals. With the guitar set up in the above fashion you are now ready to begin this wide and wonderful journey of slide guitar playing.