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eryque · May 4th, 2004, 06:19 PM

Just started really listening to old Little Feat tunes and I really love the slide tone that Lowell George gets. I'm guessing that he was playing it open A, but I haven't really sat down to work any of these tunes out yet. Anyone know? Any other pointers?

beez · May 4th, 2004, 07:23 PM

Yeah, Lowell used open A tuning. He also used flatwound strings (Fender F50's.....I havent looked for them, so I am not sure if they are still available), and a craftsman sparkplug socket for a slide.

He also used a lot of compression......you can really hear it when he holds a note with a little vibrato, then slowly those other strings kinda come up out of nowhere as the compression starts boosting the decaying signal.

eryque · May 5th, 2004, 12:52 AM

Thanks for the tip about the compression, I hadn't realized that's what was going on. I probably won't get a compressor, but now I won't drive myself nuts trying to get his sound down perfect, either.

slinkyoz · May 6th, 2004, 06:15 PM

I beleive it was an MXR Dynacomp.

JBandtheSalts · June 10th, 2004, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beez

a craftsman sparkplug socket for a slide.

11/16 to be exact...

zane · June 10th, 2004, 10:30 PM

Yea he used 2 dynacomps,he also used one-o-those phase dillies very now & then.

Raybden · June 15th, 2004, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beez

Yeah, Lowell used open A tuning.

I've never really used alternate tunings.

What would each string be tuned to to get A tuning? Do you just tune the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings up a whole step? What will this do to the guitar's intonation?

Bob Mc · June 15th, 2004, 02:13 PM

and double dropped D; DADgbd laong with open A.
Raybden
EAEac#e (just as you thought), watch yer neck!

Raybden · June 15th, 2004, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Mc

and double dropped D; DADgbd laong with open A. Raybden EAEac#e (just as you thought), watch yer neck!

Thanks for the info.

schickman · July 22nd, 2004, 05:26 PM

I like to play around with learning slide guitar,
but don't like to use alternate tunings,
and don't have an extra guitar that I can
leave tuned just for slide, so I
tend to (try to) play slide in standard tuning.
I heard Skynyrd's Freebird the other day,
and decided to learn the slide part (is it
Van Zandt that plays it?)
I find it pretty easy to play in standard tuning, but
wondered if anyone knows if it was originally
played in standard or alternate tuning?

Thanks,
Schickman, new here, from the FDP...

Bob Mc · July 22nd, 2004, 06:19 PM

Quote:

I took a screwdriver, of all things, and stuck it under the strings up at the nut, so it would raise the strings up like a steel guitar. Then, I tuned the B string down to G -- so the G and the B strings were both tuned to G. With the two Gs, it creates a drawling, doubled sound.

The whole article is here:
http://archive.guitarplayer.com/arch...freebird.shtml

May 4th, 2004, 06:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,406 44 Photos	What tuning for old Little Feat songs? Just started really listening to old Little Feat tunes and I really love the slide tone that Lowell George gets. I'm guessing that he was playing it open A, but I haven't really sat down to work any of these tunes out yet. Anyone know? Any other pointers?

May 6th, 2004, 06:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
slinkyoz TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: australia Posts: 43	Compressor I beleive it was an MXR Dynacomp. __________________ once a jolly swagman, always a jolly swagman...

June 15th, 2004, 02:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bob Mc Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mo'town NJ Posts: 1,856	as per the best of TAB book; EADgbd and double dropped D; DADgbd laong with open A. Raybden EAEac#e (just as you thought), watch yer neck! __________________ All of us contain Music & Truth, but most of us can't get it out. Mark Twain

July 22nd, 2004, 05:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
schickman NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Alexandria Township, NJ Posts: 8	What about Skynyrd and Freebird? I like to play around with learning slide guitar, but don't like to use alternate tunings, and don't have an extra guitar that I can leave tuned just for slide, so I tend to (try to) play slide in standard tuning. I heard Skynyrd's Freebird the other day, and decided to learn the slide part (is it Van Zandt that plays it?) I find it pretty easy to play in standard tuning, but wondered if anyone knows if it was originally played in standard or alternate tuning? Thanks, Schickman, new here, from the FDP... __________________ If someone already made music, is everything else a remake?

May 4th, 2004, 07:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
beez Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Peoria IL Posts: 760	Yeah, Lowell used open A tuning. He also used flatwound strings (Fender F50's.....I havent looked for them, so I am not sure if they are still available), and a craftsman sparkplug socket for a slide. He also used a lot of compression......you can really hear it when he holds a note with a little vibrato, then slowly those other strings kinda come up out of nowhere as the compression starts boosting the decaying signal.

May 5th, 2004, 12:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,406 44 Photos	Thanks for the tip about the compression, I hadn't realized that's what was going on. I probably won't get a compressor, but now I won't drive myself nuts trying to get his sound down perfect, either.

June 10th, 2004, 10:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
zane Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Panther City,Tx Posts: 1,029	Yea he used 2 dynacomps,he also used one-o-those phase dillies very now & then.

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