The drawbacks of trying to play slide banjo have been described already: close action, percussive sound with rapid decay of notes, etc. I only want to suggest an alternative, and that is bending the strings. It's easy to get a full step on a string bend, and half steps and micro tones (for country blues, delta blues, etc) are easier. You can bend to higher or lower notes. You can pause on the base note before bending or make a continuous slurred sound between notes. Also, you don't need to carry a slide or fetch it before a slide tune. You just play as usual and push the strings sideways.

This thread needs a little shot in the arm. Past few days I’ve been messing around with a short (to second knuckle) glass pinky slide and I’m having a blast! I can certainly see it would take some real practice to become proficient and develop clear tone — and I’m not ready to commit one of my banjos to a specific setup for slide — but even so, it feels attainable.

I’m surprised there’s not more folks leaning into Scruggs-flavored slide… or are there? For context, it was the John Dowling clip a few posts prior that sold me on it — it was an immediate double-shot of inspiration, exactly the sound I heard in my head when thinkin, “I bet bluegrassy slide banjo would be awesome”.

So has anyone else recently travelled down this road? Maybe it’ll run its course for me and end in frustration, but past few days it’s been taking over my nightly practice regimen… so if you have any recent experiences, tips, tricks, licks, clips… post ‘em
up!

Been playin bottle slide banjo fer years...
It works..rather well..

quote:

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Originally posted by TimFoster

This thread needs a little shot in the arm. Past few days I’ve been messing around with a short (to second knuckle) glass pinky slide and I’m having a blast! I can certainly see it would take some real practice to become proficient and develop clear tone — and I’m not ready to commit one of my banjos to a specific setup for slide — but even so, it feels attainable.

I’m surprised there’s not more folks leaning into Scruggs-flavored slide… or are there? For context, it was the John Dowling clip a few posts prior that sold me on it — it was an immediate double-shot of inspiration, exactly the sound I heard in my head when thinkin, “I bet bluegrassy slide banjo would be awesome”.

So has anyone else recently travelled down this road? Maybe it’ll run its course for me and end in frustration, but past few days it’s been taking over my nightly practice regimen… so if you have any recent experiences, tips, tricks, licks, clips… post ‘em
up!

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An assortment of slides i make n use..

youtu.be/3jSR5z9yjxQ?is=OXRBFp8yDMBmAy6u

Enjoy..

Love it STUD figmo Al Al!!! That is one hell of a slide collection!  And some Interesting ones with the "ring" soldered to the half-sawn brass?

Just today I strung one of my banjers up with heavyish 11-13-16-26-10 strings and let the action up a bit… i don’t love the tone for Scruggs style pickin’, hard (for me) to get good note separation — but in the tradeoff I did gain sustain and the higher string tension is definitely helping me to bang against the frets less until I get better control.

So I guess I’m all in on it for now!

A few years back i got to finding some basic melody --with a pair of needle nose pliers --The other day I ran across a vid where the guy was showing how to mimic pull offs and other things with a slide --and realized how shallow my knowledge was --I really don't have room for a revisit--but have heard wonders pulled off with bottle necks and steels

quote:

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Originally posted by TimFoster

Love it STUD figmo Al Al!!! That is one hell of a slide collection!  And some Interesting ones with the "ring" soldered to the half-sawn brass?

Just today I strung one of my banjers up with heavyish 11-13-16-26-10 strings and let the action up a bit… i don’t love the tone for Scruggs style pickin’, hard (for me) to get good note separation — but in the tradeoff I did gain sustain and the higher string tension is definitely helping me to bang against the frets less until I get better control.

So I guess I’m all in on it for now!

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You are on the right path..

In time you will not need the higher action..

The slides that I make..allow me to use the slide..when i want..n flip it out of the way... as so I can pick n fret like normal..

You may like what is called the ..jet slide..

Look them up on Google and ot ebay..

Have fun..! :0)