anatomy of a reverse slant?

Joel Newman · Post by **Joel Newman** » 16 Mar 2005 10:23 am

Alright, I know I’m opening myself up to torrents of ridicule, but I just gotta know, and as I don’t have a teacher, (well actually I have a whole forum full of teachers heh-heh, hence forth . . .)

I guess a picture is worth a thousand words so I just wanna see if this reverse slant is executed correctly, (I just got this dunlop bar seems to make the rev. slant easier as the shubb/pearse sp1 just would be really hard to control)

here’s the before, (ain’t nuthin I can do about my gorilla hairy arms . . LOL)

ok so now I’m starting, . . . the 1st finger is starting to flip over the right side of the bar as I need it to be the back stop to keep the bar from shooting away from me, (I think I read a thread that sez it’s better to bear down with the 1st finger??? still confused about that . .), my thumb is tucking behind the bar, bent at the 1st digit to catch the left back corner of the bar and flip the whole ass end of the bar to the right.

and here’s the end result with the middle finger and thumb pinning the bar against the 1st finger

I guess this particular slat is like; strings 1&2 straight across ( a major 3rd) to, moving up a half step, strings 1&2 again to a (minor 3rd).Easier said than done for me at this point but I’ll get there. Please don’t hold back to tell me how wrong I am. It’s been frustrating not being able to get this reverse slant until about now , and if I’m not executing it correctly I don’t want to get in any bad habits . . Thanks again everyone!!

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 16 Mar 2005 11:08 am

Well, you're gonna get lots of "variations on this theme" ...

Here's the "Jerry Byrd" method ...

The key is the "Ever Present / Ever Arched" index finger.

No matter if its a straight bar position ... a forward slant ... or a reverse slant ...

That index fingers only job is to act as a pivot point ... and apply a small downward pressure ... to ensure contact between the bar and strings.

The "Thumb" is in control of everything ... the middle finger just "catches" the tip.

Please pay no attention to my fret mis-alignment ... I was takin' the picture with the other hand ... just tryin' to show the fingers

Next ...

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 16 March 2005 at 11:16 AM.]

Joel Newman · Post by **Joel Newman** » 16 Mar 2005 11:25 am

Ahhhhhhh! so it looks like the thumb actually hooks into the indentation at the back of the bar and you're kinda pinching the bar between the middle finger and thumb.hmmmm I'll expeiment with this way
Tanx a million Rick!

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 16 Mar 2005 11:27 am

Joel and Rick, what size bars are you usin? I started out usin my shubb pearce II steel but I like the feel of a bullet style steel better so I ordered the 3/4" "Broz O phonic" to use on my 6 string.

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Fender Stringmaster T8, Carter D-10, 54' Fender Champion, two Oahu laps, two National laps, and two Resonators

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 16 Mar 2005 11:28 am

Great discription/pix Rick

Jerry always sez your bar movement when slanting should be just like turning a corner in your car. Keep the bottom end in position and drive the tip around then let the tail follow. This keeps the sound sweet during the turn.

The middle finger is also very important in executing slants with precision and ease/smoothness. You'll start to feel this coming naturally as you follow Rick's guide.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 16 Mar 2005 11:34 am

what size bars are you usin?

Again ... you are gonna get alot of "variations on this theme" ....

When I usta use this "style" ... I could only properly execute the reverse slants as fast as they were called for on some JB arrangements ...

By using a 2 3/4" x 3/4" bar.

Even the 2 7/8" x 3/4" bars (BJS and Pearse) were too long for me ... and I have big hands.

Next ...

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 16 Mar 2005 11:45 am

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!! I'll never get this right, no matter how hard I try........

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www.gregertsen.com

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 16 Mar 2005 12:11 pm

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!! I'll never get this right, no matter how hard I try........ You will
I slanted so much I look like a chinaman and I walk on a slant too. Its difficult walking in reverse though

keep on doing what you are doing. It comes when you least expect it.Good luck my slanting friend.[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 16 March 2005 at 12:14 PM.]

Harry Dietrich · Post by **Harry Dietrich** » 16 Mar 2005 12:36 pm

Jody

If you walk with a slant, try walking with one leg in the gutter and the other leg up on the curb.........that should straighten you right out.

Harry

Pete Grant · Post by **Pete Grant** » 16 Mar 2005 2:15 pm

For bars, I really like the John Pearse Thermo-Cryonic Tone Bars. There are three sizes. They're the best I ever used.

http://www.jpstrings.com/braccess.htm#TCBar

The smallest bar will help you get the reverse slant, though I find that the added weight of the other two bars give a different kind of advantage. Each bar has a significant indentation in the back for your thumb.

The small bar is great for carrying around in your pocket just in case you happen to run into a steel guitar in your day's travels.[This message was edited by Pete Grant on 16 March 2005 at 02:17 PM.]

c c johnson · Post by **c c johnson** » 16 Mar 2005 2:46 pm

Pete, they are great should you run into yor girlfriends husband. CC

Jim Jasutis · Post by **Jim Jasutis** » 16 Mar 2005 2:53 pm

Rick,

You talk about when you used to use this style bar. Is it even possible to do a reverse slant with your flat bars, or do you just arrange your tunes to avoid reverse slants?

Papa Joe Pollick · Post by **Papa Joe Pollick** » 16 Mar 2005 3:03 pm

I can't slant-keep fallin off the bar stool..

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 16 Mar 2005 5:32 pm

Steinar......noticing your bar in relation to the strings (over & under thingy), by chance are you the fellow that was selling the guitar on eBay a few backs, showing the strings strung "OVER" the top of the pick-up cover or "arm rest", as some refer to it?

And Rick........Jerry Byrd told me that the index finger "has to bend at that first joint"........"just behind the finger nail", and not as you have shown it. (I couldn't perform that manuever either!)

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 16 Mar 2005 6:10 pm

For those who have not seen a close-up of JB playing ... his index finger is basically straight ... with an almost 90 degree bend at the Distal Interphalangeal Joint (DIP).

I asked my wife is she could break mine and set it so it was permanently in that position ... but she answered ...

Butt, how would you pick your ...

Just tryin' to help out, Ray ...

Jim ... nope ... forward slants are easy with a "flattie" ... but no reverse slantin' (least I can't).

I spent the better part of the last 17 yrs learnin' to slant and play in "that style" ...

Payin' "my dues" as some call it ...

Now I'm just tryin' to get a single note to sound good ...

And maybe throw in two notes or a strum ... to be fancy ....

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 16 March 2005 at 06:42 PM.]

Byron Walcher · Post by **Byron Walcher** » 16 Mar 2005 6:19 pm

Hey Rick is that a Fender in the pics?
Byron

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Lashley Legrande D10 8x7,Fessenden 8x8, Sierra Lap-Top, Webb Amps

Jackie Anderson · Post by **Jackie Anderson** » 16 Mar 2005 6:35 pm

Not far north of here (at the moment, Conway), in Vermont, the hills get steeper and they have slanted cows. They call them "side hill cows." The legs on the uphill side are shorter than the ones on the downhill side, from grazing around the hill in the same direction all the time. If they get turned around the wrong way, they just roll right down the hill.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 16 Mar 2005 6:37 pm

Old habits "die hard" ...

Byron ... yep ... a Dual Professional.

It's my "walk up & play" steel ...

When I have a free moment ... I'll walk up to it ... unplugged ... and play.

Its walnut body has a lovely sound ...

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Aiello's House of Gauss


My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield
[This message was edited by Rick Aiello on 16 March 2005 at 06:42 PM.]

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 16 Mar 2005 6:59 pm

Steinar......noticing your bar in relation to the strings (over & under thingy),

Huh? You mean it's not supposed to be like that? Isn't that the whole point of a round bar?

I remember that, eh, very creative interpretation of the term "string-through pickup" from eBay.. It wasn't me selling it but it was me who posted the photo...

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 16 March 2005 at 07:02 PM.]

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 16 Mar 2005 8:57 pm

Steinar, thanks for the laugh! This is the first time i've fallen off my chair reading the forum.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 16 Mar 2005 8:59 pm

Good Lord! Where have I been!!!!!!!

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 16 Mar 2005 10:18 pm

Rick Aiello. A-freakin-men on that description and illustration of JB> Perfect.
Steinar; I actually laughed on that one..ha...pretty funny man.

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Ricky Davis

Rebel™ and Ricky's Audio Clips
www.mightyfinemusic.com
Email Ricky: sshawaiian@austin.rr.com

Dan Sawyer · Post by **Dan Sawyer** » 17 Mar 2005 12:16 am

Mike Johnstone had an interesting reply about this subject. He uses the flesh of his hand to start the bar moving. Here's the topic: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/006038.html

Joel Newman · Post by **Joel Newman** » 17 Mar 2005 7:13 am

LOL!!!! Seeee, torrents of . . .!!!(I think I'll try to stay away from the 'Norway' slant).But I do think this thread is worthy, if for no other reason than for it's pictures. . .

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 17 Mar 2005 8:15 am

I never did a lot of reverse slants but the first thing i noticed in your photos was the size of your bar. It is way too long to handle those slants properly. It might be too big around also.
Erv