10 greatest slide guitarists and their preferred tuning(s)!

Welcome to GN, Wendall.

Duane Allman shall be definitely the contender for one of the greatest slide player. Robert Johnson, George Harrison also come to mind, when thinking of renknowed slide guitarists.

Tunings I will leave to our Slide Department. Ricochet and Steiner shall soon help. :)

Rahul

im not a slide player but dave tronzo is easily on my list of the 10 greatest slide players, and probably 10 greatest players ever too

Amos Garrett: No precise info available - probably standard.

Johnny Winter: "Spanish tuning is: V-I-V-I-III-V, which equates to D-G-D-G-B-D in the key of G, or: E-A-E-A-C#-E in the key of A. Simply put, when you strum the guitar without fretting, it's playing a chord. Another Johnny favorite is the Vestapol tuning, which is: I-V-I-III-V-I, which equates to D-A-D-F#-A-D in the key of D, or: E-B-E-G#-B-E in the key of E. Some fine examples of these tunings in action can be heard on "Dallas" (open G), "Mean Town Blues" (open A), "Highway 61" from "Second Winter, "Mojo Boogie", "Stranger Blues" (open D), or the red hot version of "Highway 61" from "Captured Live", or "Let It Bleed" (open E). These are a lot of fun, and I encourage all guitar players to give them a try."

Derek Trucks: "I played everything in open E [E, B, E, G#, B, E]."

Bonnie Raitt: "D G D G B D -- Open G / Spanish Tuning / Taro Patch"

Rory Block: Need to buy her instructional CDs.

Robert Johnson (part of Rory's style): "The articles in GuitarOne Oct. '98 include a brief bio, tab to 'Dust My Broom,' and list of tunings. Some examples:
Standard -1/2 step
Kind Hearted Woman capo II
Phonograph Blues capo II
30-20 Blues capo I

EC#AEBE (RJ 'mystery' tuning)
Dust My Broom
Phonograph Blues"

Ry Cooder: http://www.accentonmusic.com/tuningdetail.asp?ID=14

DemoEtc's given you a very good list. I'd add George Harrison to the mix as well.

How could I have forgotten Harrison? Of all of them he's my favorite. And he had such a unique voice on slide, whereas the others (with the exception of Garrett perhaps) create or recreate a blues feeling.

Oh another just popped into mind - David Gilmour. I remember seeing that 1970s movie Pink Floyd: Live At Pompeii and seeing him standing in that ampitheater playing with steel bar instead of a slide. I could be mistaken - that was a long while ago. Maybe it was a slide. ;)

Some good ones there already - I've always enjoyed Joe Walsh's playing, too. He uses open E a lot, as does Derek Trucks off Demo's list. Another slide guitarist I've always admired is Manny Charlton, from the band Nazareth. I think he uses mostly open G. George Thorogood's another great slide player who uses open G a lot. George Harrison, I think used standard EADGBE tuning quite a lot when playing slide. Jimmy Page used a variety of tunings, although I think a lot of his slide playing is in DADGAD, although I may be mistaken.

If I think of more I'll let you know.....oh and welcome to Guitarnoise!

:D :D :D

Vic.

Eric Clapton is a great slide guitarist, very similar style to George Harrison his good friend.

Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top is a great slide guitarist too. I think he used Open E, A, D, and G especially. E and A are very common in Rock, D and G are especially common to Country slide.

And even John Lennon could play a little slide. Most people never hear it, but listen to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds and you can hear John playing awesome slide behind his own voice. It is so good most people don't even hear it, blends with his voice perfect. Listen to the slide come in at :40 seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ButE5TzjoYw

That's right. And JL also did a bit of lap steel:

For You Blue

(I'd always assumed it was regular slide guitar back there.)

Ben Harper, anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKW0fHWPpo4

David Lindley is pretty awesome, too. He played a lot of great tracks with Jackson Browne.

Actually, it's Harrison on "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". Lennon played some piano on it, but you need to listen to the remastered version on Yellow Submarine Songtracks to pick it up in the mix. Harrison overdubbed the slide.

Lennon, in addition to his lap steel on "For You Blue" played some slide (on a National) on Sometime in New York City:

on "John Sinclair" if memory serves.

And, yes, absolutely, how could we forget David Lindley?

Sonny Landreth -- certainly in the top ten

Jeff Beck -- known for unusual use of the slide to beautiful effect. See this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLk0l3X7e6c

The first half is standard, the next 25% is w/o slide and the final minute+thirty is a bit more unusual. It looks as if he's tapping with the slide. Standard tuning.

Leo Kottke -- not sure about top ten status, but has produced some notable acoustic (of course) 6- and 12-string slide pieces

Anyone remember Lowell George? His slide playing defined Little Feat's early sound.

my hats off to David Lindley!

Ok I mostly browse but I think can add something here.
Lowell george played in open A that's g tuned up a tone.
Rory Gallagher mostly g or d for acoustic but I believe he just played electric slide in standard.
Muddy Waters - standard.
Duane Allman open E.
Mick Taylor played multiple tunings is said to prefer standard because of the influence of Earl Hooker - whom I've never listened to but must've been good.
Elmore James - I'm not sure but listen to George Thorogood who really emulates his style. I think maybe open g.
Ron Wood did cool work with the Faces like on Gasoline Alley. No idea what tuning he uses.
keith Richards G
Warren Haynes is a great slide player who plays in standard.
Paul Barrere who plays slide in Little Feat now plays in G. (I think)

You got this far without mention of Elmore James? Yikes.