It turns out a dormant Yamaha 12-string makes a perfectly good 6-string slider if you add a dobro nut and the right strings (Flattop brand medium gauge flats) in an open D chord, tabletop.

It turns out sliding is instant gratification with a Stevens Steel Hawaiian slide and a brass pick. It can only get better from there!

I started (as advised) with Amazing Grace and I did play a bunch of hymns the second day, but it was only a matter of time before Hardi and I had slid down to Built for Comfort, my theme song (thank whoever wrote that)! And next it had to be Hardi's theme song, Born in Chicago.

Then!! Then I remembered my HOT IDEA. Did you know that the children's WEE SING series of books and tapes is GREAT to play along with when you are learning and far from other players? It was sweet on the autoharp.... So.... WEE SING FOR BABY, a la SLIDE!!! Yepp-er. The tapes are almost always made in the same key as the singalong book-- large print with chords and very simple 2 or 3 chord arrangements. Ten bucks, any toy store, and makes you work hard to keep up with a variety of rhythms and styles. And modulate!! Hoo-ee!!!

What next? How do I start picking? Your ideas welcome!

~Slip-sliding Away Susan

(Backslider???)