Toby Walker
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Learn Slide Guitar with Toby Walker

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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.'


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!
Here's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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01_slide_basics_.pdf
File Size: 42 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

02_more_slide_basics.pdf
File Size: 57 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

03_slide_basics_put_to_work.pdf
File Size: 33 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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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01slide_guitar_intro.m4v
File Size: 38760 kb
File Type: m4v
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02holding_the_slide.m4v
File Size: 40032 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

03damping.m4v
File Size: 26274 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

04slide_guitar_basics.m4v
File Size: 110006 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

05more_slide_basics_.m4v
File Size: 61708 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

06slide_basics_put_to_work_01.m4v
File Size: 63310 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

07slide_basics_put_to_work_02.m4v
File Size: 41697 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

08slide_basics_put_to_work03.m4v
File Size: 46226 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File


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's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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04_savannah_picking.pdf
File Size: 56 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson.
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09savanah_picking.m4v
File Size: 12346 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

10savanah_picking_instruction.m4v
File Size: 95756 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

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!
Here's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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05_alternating_bass_and_slide.pdf
File Size: 43 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson.
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11alternating_bass_and_slide_exercise_01.m4v
File Size: 53097 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

12alternating_bass_and_slide_exercise_02.m4v
File Size: 75994 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File


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.
Here's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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06_keep_your_lamp.pdf
File Size: 59 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

07_keep_your_lamp_solo.pdf
File Size: 54 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson.
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13keep_your_lamp_trimmed_and_burning.m4v
File Size: 8334 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

14keep_your_lamp_instruction.m4v
File Size: 72637 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File


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.
Here's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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08_mama_had_a_sick_child.pdf
File Size: 47 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson.
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15mama_had_a_sick_child.m4v
File Size: 15664 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

16mama_had_a_sick_child_instruction_01.m4v
File Size: 53991 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

17mama_had_a_sick_child_instruction_02.m4v
File Size: 49379 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File


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 the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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09whats_the_matter_now.pdf
File Size: 50 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson.
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18whats_the_matter_now.m4v
File Size: 19753 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

19whats_the_matter_now_instruction_01.m4v
File Size: 88430 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

20whats_the_matter_now_instruction_02.m4v
File Size: 36367 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File


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.
Here's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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11_learning_triplets_and_12_bar_shuffle.pdf
File Size: 53 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson.
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21learning_triplets_and_shuffle01.m4v
File Size: 82884 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

22learning_triplets_and_shuffle_02.m4v
File Size: 55857 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

23learning_triplets_and_shuffle03.m4v
File Size: 16522 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File


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.
Here's the list of your tab files (pdf) for this lesson
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12_beginning_elmore_james.pdf
File Size: 48 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Here's the list of your movie files (m4v) for this lesson.
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24beginning_elmore_james.m4v
File Size: 14920 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

25beginning_elmore_james_instruction_01.m4v
File Size: 23513 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

26beginning_elmore_instruction_02.m4v
File Size: 66760 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File

27beginning_elmore_instruction_03.m4v
File Size: 23563 kb
File Type: m4v
Download File


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.
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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



Rocky Mountain Slides
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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


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

Here are some of the guitars I use for playing slide guitar.

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My 2004 National Steel Tri-Cone. This was used in the lessons.

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1953 Silvertone Archtop

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1963 Gibson ES-120

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1900 or somewhere around there all birch parlor. For a small size you wouldn't believe how loud this guitar is!

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2014 Gretsch 'Boxcar' Dobro. What an old-timey sound this guitar has.

Copyright 2025 Toby Walker