x3 string fretless.

[kevin shanks]

 

would like to play delta style blues on x3 string fretless. using fingers and finger slide method . no glass, steel or bone slide, any advice?

[Andy Eight Spades CBG]

Got any pvc pipe? You will need something hard to hold against the strings. I've seen people use a small drinking glass that they hold against the strings in their palm.

[kevin shanks]

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[kevin shanks]

kevin shanks said:

no no ,  what i mean is with no slide whatsoever, in other word sliding with the fingers to get that unique subdued sound with less ring to it.'' if you know what im saying.''
A Russell said:

Got any pvc pipe? You will need something hard to hold against the strings. I've seen people use a small drinking glass that they hold against the strings in their palm.

[Andy Eight Spades CBG]

Oh, sorry, I thought that might be what you meant.  Maybe someone else has a better answer for you.

[Seaman Jay]

I use the techniques I use on my upright bass. "Fret" with the fingertips and strum/pick at the bridge for more "banjoey" sound, "fret" with the fingercups and strum/pick low (sometimes in the middle of the string) for mushier, bassier sound.

Sliding is not that big a problem if you already developed some calluses on your fingertips - just don't try to slide with the side of your finger. The same problem - barre chords. I manage somehow to use 3 fingertips to fret all string at more or less on the same fret, but - frankly - not at every position on the fingerboard.

 

Not an expert opinion! It just happens to work for me - YMMV. 

[kevin shanks]

 

thanks , i'll experiment and once i've built up some calluses i'll try not to lose them. '' cheers.''

[Mark Bliss]

Other than to recommend that you might want the action (string height) to be on the low side, I'd say if you have (or can develop) the technique, go for it!

[Seaman Jay]

BTW: don't press too hard. 

Someone with shitloads of knowledge and experience developed a "calibration procedure" - credits are due, but I cannot recall the name:

- "fret" a string a bit(!) stronger than usual, and start picking the string

- release slowly the finger until the string starts to buzz

- then press (gradually) a bit harder, till the buzz dissapears

- you're calibrated now - try to remember the feeling in your fingers and keep using only as much force as needed - otherwise you'll end with cramps ;-)

[Seaman Jay]

It's on my "wishlist" (i know other 5, it's definitely worth buying):

[Keni Lee Burgess]

Please consider checking out my CD 4 and 6.

http://shop.ebay.com/njmikeb/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&a...

If you are defining Delta Blues as the style played by Robert Johnson, Son House, Blind Willie Johnson, etc. it is a fingerpicking style playing two lines of music at the same time (bass and treble) with the addition of the bottleneck slide. Although, you can simply use your finger to slide, but the unique tone offered by the slide will not be there. I will work with one string, but multiple strings may be rather challenging.

Do you have an example of someone playing this way? Why do you want to play Delta style without a slide?

Thank you for your discussion.

Enjoy, Keni Lee

      

 

[kevin shanks]

 

i love that style of music it reminds me of when i was a kid watching b/w films and in those films you would get clips of people on guitar or harp,playing in this way. there is just some thing a little bit raw and unpolished about it, this is what appeals to me because  i just hate perfection and modern life in general
maybe i should have been born a hundred years ago, i dont think i could have gone further back than that as it would have been too hard.  being new to all this i just thought it would be an old and 'primal' way of doing things.
i will read about your cd's though. thankyou everyone. Keni Lee Burgess said:

Please consider checking out my CD 4 and 6.

http://shop.ebay.com/njmikeb/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&a...

If you are defining Delta Blues as the style played by Robert Johnson, Son House, Blind Willie Johnson, etc. it is a fingerpicking style playing two lines of music at the same time (bass and treble) with the addition of the bottleneck slide. Although, you can simply use your finger to slide, but the unique tone offered by the slide will not be there. I will work with one string, but multiple strings may be rather challenging.

Do you have an example of someone playing this way? Why do you want to play Delta style without a slide?

Thank you for your discussion.

Enjoy, Keni Lee