When you are playing the guitar, then it is not simply about the strings, the resonance, the body and the neck. Of course, all these are extremely important and in fact, if these elements of a guitar are not particularly well-designed, then chances are that the guitar will never attract anyone and probably will be a disaster for that particular brand in the market. However, a great guitar can only be played well if you have in store the right kind of accessories. For example, your fingers can do wonders and create magic, but the tune can be even more magical if you use a capo to enhance its sound.
In fact, particular tunes can never be played unless you use a capo on your guitar. Hence, it is mandatory to have in your arsenal all the accessories you need to become a swashbuckling performer on stage. Among them, probably the most important one is the slide that most people often forget about when they see a guitarist doing insane things on stage. If you wonder where the sliding sound wafts from when a guitarist improvises, then you should know that it is the glass side that produces such wonderful resonance. Here are some of the best slides you can find in the market for your usage:
Contents
Top 5 Best Guitar Slides
Dunlop 210 Tempered Glass | (4.8 / 5) | Check Price |
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Ernie Ball Glass slide | (4.8 / 5) | Check Price |
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Fender Steel Slide | (4.8 / 5) | Check Price |
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Planet Waves Glass Bottle Slide | (4.8 / 5) | Check Price |
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Clayton Heavy Wall Large Guitar Slide | (4.8 / 5) | Check Price |
Dunlop 210 Tempered Glass
The Dunlop 210 tempered glass is made for the performers who love to play around the middle harmonics. It accentuates these harmonics wonderfully and most effectively because of its boron silicate build. The highest quality is offered in its material as it undergoes multiple heat treatments and annealing before it is finally released. Moreover, it comes in all kinds of ring sizes, so you need not worry whether it will fit your finger or not. It is not heavy despite its sturdy build, so you could easily wear it on your finger and not feel a thing. Often, some people believe that such a slide is unnecessary since it also hampers your fingers do certain things because a finger remains blocked to do a particular thing. But, a slide is particularly useful for concerts and performances. Check Price
Ernie Ball Glass slide
A sure choice for those who believe that Blues is the purest form of music, Ernie Ball Glass Slide is a classic slide that falls back on its elegant broken-bottleneck look. It is the look that has made this slide famous, and surely, the designers never want to take the risk. One of the most seamless slides in the market made of the highest quality Pyrex glass, this little beauty produces the silkiest nodes that Blues fans can ever imagine. It is also one of the simplest products in terms of glass slides. However, the sizing is a bit inconsistent and for those whose ring fingers are larger than usual, using this slide might be a problem. The medium ones are the perfect ones so best be sure if it fits your finger or not. Check Price
Fender Steel Slide
When it comes to slides, you can always trust the master of the genre. Fender has produced some of the most iconic guitars and mesmerized the world with its sound for decades. Its steel slide is no exception because of its excellent build. The Fender Steel Slide is the vintage bottleneck slide that can be used for all sorts of acoustic and electric guitars and the slide length perfectly matches the width of all guitars more or less. It is widely known for its world-class treble tone production but has less of tonal range, and if you are working on the mid-tones as well as lower tones more comprehensively, than you may not like it. But, like all Fender guitars, this slide is made for the rock-star who takes the stage by storm with his high nodes. The steely quality of the sound is perfect for the next big concert. Check Price
Planet Waves Glass Bottle Slide
Widely regarded as one of the best guitars slides out there, the Planet Waves Glass Bottle Slide has been the reason why you have listened to some of the wonderful sliding tunes over the years. Modeled on the medicine bottle, the glass surface provides a unique touch and also, the feel on the fingers is remarkably light. So, you can slide away to glory. Most importantly, you can sustain and release nodes at will which gives insane variations to your music. The best thing about it is that it is affordable and more importantly, it produces a sound unlike any other. You should try this slide out just for testing this distinct sound, especially if you have an electric guitar since the thin glass surface produces the most riveting high nodes possible. Check Price
Clayton Heavy Wall Large Guitar Slide
There are few slides that produce the finest quality of acoustic sound, and Clayton Heavy Wall Large Guitar Slide surely ranks in the top half among them. Not only is it a classic bottleneck side with thick walls made solely for some of the best acoustic tunes, but also comes with a protective case so you can keep them safe from the usual wear and tear. In fact, surprisingly as it may seem, this slide works the best with Fender guitar, even better than Fender’s slides. Your harmonics will resonate so vividly that you will feel that you are chiming crystal specs instead of playing the guitar. However, for people with shorter fingers, a difficulty may arise since the slide is slightly on the longer side. Still, its quality is worth every dime, and you should waste no time in keeping it in your repository of slides, if not making it your first choice. Check Price
Conclusion
While having some of the best guitar slides in your arsenal always helps, it is best to know what suits you the best. Playing great guitar is all about practicing for long hours and making your tune perfect. However, it is only possible if you try out multiple ways of playing it. So, don’t shy away from experimenting. Guitar slides offer a wonderful opportunity to experiment for both novices as well as professionals. You can come out with a distinct and unique sound that can linger in your ears for days, and suddenly, one particular slide may be the perfect slide you had been looking for all these years.
While there are good slides that certainly suit a large section of guitarists, each guitarist must find a slide of his or her own which will produce the sound exactly the way the person wants it to be. However, before you start buying slides, you should remember that a slide blocks a finger and hence, more creativity is needed from the rest of the fingers to produce equally brilliant sound. So, practice more with slides and perfect your finger movements before you can even start playing at small concerts.
Always remember that the secret of being a great guitarist is nothing else but relentless practice. While slides and guitars do matter in the quality of the sound produce, they are no more than simple assistances while the true sound comes from the finger of the guitarist. So, choose your slide well considering your ring size and finger length, but practice as much as possible to increase the flexibility of your fingers so that the rest of the fingers can do the same thing what you could do with all the five fingers. While it may seem challenging, it surely is worth taking for all aspiring guitarists trying to produce new sonic dimensions.