Learn Slide Guitar with Toby Walker
Thanks for purchasing my set of lessons for learning slide guitar. My advice is to work through the lessons in the given order as each one builds from the techniques learned in the previous lesson.
I hope you have many hours of enjoyment from these lessons and the skills you're learn from them!!! If you have any questions at all feel free to contact me.
Thanks again - Stay tuned and play nice.
Toby Walker
YOUR LESSON FILES: You can either download the files below or stream on your computer. I've kept the movie files relatively small to make downloading them easier and faster. You do have the option of streaming the videos from this page.
For each song you'll find the TAB (.pdf file), and the MOVIES numbered (.mov files).
Downloading the lessons:
PC users - Right click on the file and choose 'Save File As' or 'Download Linked File.'
Mac: Control click on the file and choose 'Save Link As.'
I hope you have many hours of enjoyment from these lessons and the skills you're learn from them!!! If you have any questions at all feel free to contact me.
Thanks again - Stay tuned and play nice.
Toby Walker
YOUR LESSON FILES: You can either download the files below or stream on your computer. I've kept the movie files relatively small to make downloading them easier and faster. You do have the option of streaming the videos from this page.
For each song you'll find the TAB (.pdf file), and the MOVIES numbered (.mov files).
Downloading the lessons:
PC users - Right click on the file and choose 'Save File As' or 'Download Linked File.'
Mac: Control click on the file and choose 'Save Link As.'
LESSON #1 - SLIDE BASICS AND PUTTING THEM TO WORK
This lesson is a biggie as you're building the foundation. You'll learn the Vestapol Tuning (D, A, D, F#, A, D) which will be used throughout this series. You'll learn the basics of how to hold your slide, the type of slide to use and the best way to set up your guitar. You'll also learn how to achieve a proper tone by means of using techniques such as vibrato and damping (muting). Finally, by the time you're done you'll be MUCH improved and ready to start learning some songs!! Give yourself plenty of time to master these techniques. You'll be happy you did!
This lesson is a biggie as you're building the foundation. You'll learn the Vestapol Tuning (D, A, D, F#, A, D) which will be used throughout this series. You'll learn the basics of how to hold your slide, the type of slide to use and the best way to set up your guitar. You'll also learn how to achieve a proper tone by means of using techniques such as vibrato and damping (muting). Finally, by the time you're done you'll be MUCH improved and ready to start learning some songs!! Give yourself plenty of time to master these techniques. You'll be happy you did!
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Here's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson. Note: some movies were divided into separate parts to keep the file sizes manageable.
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Lesson #2 - Your first song: Savannah Picking
Here is a song that is very much in the style of Blind Willie McTell's 'Savannah Mama.' Although McTell played it on a 12 string guitar the licks are pretty much the same. He also used Vestapol tuning but tuned his guitar way down to Bb rather then D.
Here is a song that is very much in the style of Blind Willie McTell's 'Savannah Mama.' Although McTell played it on a 12 string guitar the licks are pretty much the same. He also used Vestapol tuning but tuned his guitar way down to Bb rather then D.
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Here's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson.
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Click to set custom HTML
Lesson #3 - Alternating Bass and Slide Fingerpicking
Many of the great country blues guitarists employed this style of fingerpicking while playing slide guitar. In this lesson I'll teach you this wonderful technique which you'll use in upcoming songs. NOTE: if you already are a fingerpicker then I'd suggest to look over this lesson before moving on to the next one. I wouldn't want you miss out on anything!
Many of the great country blues guitarists employed this style of fingerpicking while playing slide guitar. In this lesson I'll teach you this wonderful technique which you'll use in upcoming songs. NOTE: if you already are a fingerpicker then I'd suggest to look over this lesson before moving on to the next one. I wouldn't want you miss out on anything!
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Here's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson.
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Lesson #4 - Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning
Now we'll put that alternating bass and slide fingerpicking to work with a song by Blind Willie Johnson. You'll also learn a nice single line bass solo to throw in here.
Now we'll put that alternating bass and slide fingerpicking to work with a song by Blind Willie Johnson. You'll also learn a nice single line bass solo to throw in here.
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Here's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson.
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Lesson #5 - Mama Had a Sick Child
This is one of my favorite songs by Mance Lipscomb. You'll be re-enforcing many of the same techniques you just learned in the last two lessons with this song.
This is one of my favorite songs by Mance Lipscomb. You'll be re-enforcing many of the same techniques you just learned in the last two lessons with this song.
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Here's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson.
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Lesson #6 - What's The Matter Now
Here's something in the style of Mississippi Fred McDowell. It has one of the most haunting repetitive licks in it and I've also included a solo which I think you'll have fun learning. Use that solo as a springboard for adding some of your own ideas. You're certainly good enough to do that at this point!
Here's something in the style of Mississippi Fred McDowell. It has one of the most haunting repetitive licks in it and I've also included a solo which I think you'll have fun learning. Use that solo as a springboard for adding some of your own ideas. You're certainly good enough to do that at this point!
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Here's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson.
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Lesson #7 Learning Triplets and the Shuffle Beat
You're going to need these powerful techniques in order to prepare for the upcoming lesson on Elmore James's style.
You're going to need these powerful techniques in order to prepare for the upcoming lesson on Elmore James's style.
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Here's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson.
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Lesson #8 Beginning Elmore James
It's the Elmore lick... the one that made him one of the most inspirational slide guitarists of his generation. Now you'll learn it and quite a few other tricks to include in a 12 bar blues shuffle progression.
It's the Elmore lick... the one that made him one of the most inspirational slide guitarists of his generation. Now you'll learn it and quite a few other tricks to include in a 12 bar blues shuffle progression.
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Here's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson.
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Congratulations!!! You've made it to the end of this series and I'm confident that you must be so proud at how you've progressed with your slide playing. If you have any other questions or comments please feel free to drop me a line and thanks again for ordering my lesson.
This is just the tip of the iceberg gang. There's way more downloadable lessons available for you to choose from.
Toby Walker's Download Lessons.
"I can't say enough about these lessons. They really helped to take me to the next level. I can't believe how many new licks I learned with these lessons and am looking forward to playing other songs so I can throw some of them in. I can't thank you enough!"
Craig, NJ
Toby Walker's Download Lessons.
"I can't say enough about these lessons. They really helped to take me to the next level. I can't believe how many new licks I learned with these lessons and am looking forward to playing other songs so I can throw some of them in. I can't thank you enough!"
Craig, NJ
Rocky Mountain Slides
By the way, the slide I use is the 'Toby Walker Signature Slide' made by Todd 'Doc' Sigmar of the Rocky Mountain Slide Company. He makes slides in a variety of sizes and colors and is one very cool dude.
http://www.rockymountainslides.com/index.html
http://www.rockymountainslides.com/index.html
Besides the artists that have been listed in the lessons above I would also suggest you listen to some of my other favorite slide guitar players for further inspiration:
Muddy Waters
Robert Johnson
Bukka White
Robert Nighthawk
Tampa Red
Son House
Casey Bill Weldon
Earl Hooker
Ry Cooder
John Mooney
Duanne Allman
Derek Trucks
Johnny Winter
Sonny Landreth
Muddy Waters
Robert Johnson
Bukka White
Robert Nighthawk
Tampa Red
Son House
Casey Bill Weldon
Earl Hooker
Ry Cooder
John Mooney
Duanne Allman
Derek Trucks
Johnny Winter
Sonny Landreth
Here are some of the guitars I use for playing slide guitar.
My 2004 National Steel Tri-Cone. This was used in the lessons.
1953 Silvertone Archtop
1963 Gibson ES-120
1900 or somewhere around there all birch parlor. For a small size you wouldn't believe how loud this guitar is!
2014 Gretsch 'Boxcar' Dobro. What an old-timey sound this guitar has.