An Essential Combination
Slide is an essential blues technique, and open tunings are an essential part of the slide sound.
Open G (DGDGBD) is one of the two most important open tunings – think Son House, Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, just for starters.
While open D tuning (DADF#AD) is often played in the alternating thumb style, open G works best with a steady bass approach.
In this workshop, you'll learn how to find blues scales and licks up the neck, anchor them in a solid open-position groove, and use your new skills to play the blues classics "Catfish Blues" and "Rollin' And Tumblin'."
A Three-Step Method to Get Started With Fingerstyle Slide
Know The Tuning
Slide and open tuning go hand in hand. With just a few new chord voicings and blues scales, you'll soon be playing steady-bass grooves in open G tuning (DGDGBD).
Learn The Techniques
Playing slide starts with getting a good sound. You'll learn to use left-hand damping and angling the slide for a clean sound, plus tips on choosing a slide and guitar setup.
Put It All Together
Combine slide licks with fretted chords and melodies over a groove, and start playing complete tunes, accompanying yourself singing, or just improvising on the blues.
Groove, Technique and Two Blues Classics
We'll start by getting oriented in open G: how to get a clean sound, where to find blues scales up the neck, and how to make an unaccompanied slide melody sound good.
Next, we'll look at how to combine slide with the steady bass groove to play "Catfish Blues."
Finally, we'll add more groove elements, and chords up the neck, to work through an arrangement of "Rollin' and Tumblin'."
The materials and techniques you learn in this class will work whether you want to play instrumental arrangements of traditional tunes, accompany your own singing, or just improvise on the blues.
HOW IT WORKS
Sign Up
Use the secure form below to sign up for and attend the live online workshop (or watch the replay later).
Take The Workshops
Learn slide arrangements of "Catfish Blues" and "Rollin' And Tumblin'."
Transform Your Blues
Watch the replay for an entire year, organize your practice plan, and make slide an integral part of your style.
Can I take this workshop if I've never played slide before?
Do I need a guitar that's set up for slide?
Do I already need to know how to fingerpick?
Is this workshop part of the Fingerstyle Five membership?
Will there be more workshops in this series?
How much does it cost?
$97 11/15/25 SLIDE IN OPEN G
LEARN THE TUNING, GROOVES AND TECHNIQUES TO PLAY FINGERSTYLE SLIDE IN OPEN G
Sign Up Now!
Get a year's access to Slide In Open G for $97.
