Bottleneck guitar help..

[BobbyB]

Hey TDPRI'ers, I have'nt posted here in a while. Early last year I had a stroke due to high blood pressure which went unchecked.
I can no longer play my tele as I once did. (Allmans;Skynyrd ;Blues and new country)
My left hand is so weak I can't even hold a bar chord. Bends and speed is also out.
Well enough of the cheery stuff.....I am on a new adventure.....slide guitar. Can anyone recommend favorite tunings,..cd/video courses or web sites to help in my learning process?

Thanks in advance...I luv you guys...and Tele's of course!!
P.S. get your pressure checked....no kidding.

[John Harrison]

There's an interview with slide master Eric Sardinas in the new Guitar Player Magazine. He's got some cool ideas about tunings and capo use for slide guitar. I highly recommend Roy Rogers' instructional tape, too.
A lot of Warren Haynes' slide work is in regular tuning. But, if you're struggling with fingerings, open E and open A are two of the simpler (since they follow barre chord shapes) tunings to start with.
Here's wishing you a speedy and complete recovery. Good luck!

[Scotland]

But sad to read that news !!! Wishing you a full and speedy recovery.

[Bob Mc]

God bless you for your outlook, you have my complete respect. I wonder how lap style might suit you? There is a guy named Kelly Joe Phelps that does it on a Gibson flat top. Look for Roll Away or Mr.Zen which are his first bigger label releases. He has a video of his slide playing out that I had, it's not a beginners slide tutorial but a really cool glimpse of his playing. I love his sound; not everyone I've played for agrees though.
My other favorite is John Mooney; funky New Orleans rocking blues. As a kid he was Son Houses roadie/valet/go-fer I think. Mooney's another Jersey boy born In East Orange BTW.

[Brass Saddles]

Sorry to here of your health. Regarding slide guitar, I found the Hot Licks tape with arlen roth to be a really good one. Open tunings can be very helpful when playing slide. Open G is a standard, high to low
D/B/G/D/G/D. Lower your high e to d, keep your B & G string the same, lower your A string to G and lower low e to D. Very country sounding, Keith Richards stonzey sounding. I find this to be great for blues ala Mick Taylor, Robert Johnson etc. Next open key is OPEN E. Like strumming a E chord high to low E, B, G#, E, B, E. I sound like Duane Allman in open E. Easy to fret chords. Both of these open tuning may be a start for you. The key is to dampen the strings your not playing. Control with both of your hands helps with dampening etc. Hope this helps somewhat. Get Better!!!

Brass Saddles