Rocky Mountain Way - on a single standard tuned guitar

FarleyUK

The new band I'm in have chosen to do the awesome Rocky Mountain Way; that's cool, I love the tune and I have a talkbox etc.

However, on closer inspection, the slide and rhythm are in open tuning and the talkbox is standard tuning... and I'm the only guitarist in the band.

I'm currently thinking of just doing everything in standard tuning, which is fine for working out the rhythm parts - however, I've not really done slide before. How hard is it likely to be playing slide in standard tuning? I'm assuming it's going to limit some of the phrasing, but I think that's OK as long as I'm not stitching myself up....!

bloodandtears

Are you in a tribute band? or playing in the dog and duck??

If the latter, seriously, don't beat yourself up about it... most people won't care

FarleyUK

Very true....! It's just a covers band (a house band at a music venue).

stickyfiddle

You can def do it close enough in standard. I'm not even sure I'd bother playing the slide bits with a slide, especially if you're new to slide in general - I'm sure I didn't when I first played it as a teenager. 

FarleyUK

stickyfiddle said:

You can def do it close enough in standard. I'm not even sure I'd bother playing the slide bits with a slide, especially if you're new to slide in general - I'm sure I didn't when I first played it as a teenager. 

Yeah, good point - especially as all my guitars have very low action. I'll have to experiment with it and see what I can do. I'd have thought lots of slides and vibrato would almost cover it.

welshboyo

I used to do it on an RG550!!! with a slide...in normal tuning

Its pretty easy if keep the major 3rd on the G string in your mind..

Or just play it with a trem and no slide, for pub covers the latter is more than acceptable. the Talkbox bits actually gets more punter wows

CaseOfAce

I wouldn't even bother with the slide for this one - just blaze away in E minor pentatonic for the intro and solo bits.
The rhythm is just a D barre at 5th fret going up to 7th with an added 6th notes occasionally - with a barred A at second fret for the verses going up to B all in standard tuning. There's no reason to go to open E tuning for these parts.