I was listening to some blues radio and “Dust My Broom” by Elmore James was on…

And I was struck by how he tended to use a very simple, characteristic lick (you know it’s him a mile away) but it never got old even though he used it throughout the song.

Well, there’s a lesson in that alone – clearly it works and it’s good because it has stood the test of time and we still like to hear it.

So here’s a live video I did on the YouTube for you where I’ll break down how to get into open D tuning, how to play the groove and how to play the riff – plus some other stuff 🙂

Enjoy!


    43 replies to "Acoustic Open D Tuning Elmore James Slide Guitar Lesson"

    • AL HEDRICK

      Thanks Griff, This is an eye opener or ear cleanout. Alt. tunings are essential to play with songs that just doesn’t sound right with E tuning,, nice job. I am on it.

    • Bob K

      If you feel inspired, would love to see a lesson on “It Hurts Me Too”.

      I’ve played around a bit with slide and only thing that really ever worked for me was the Elmore James style like you showed us. Have to go back and give this a try. Thanks Griff.

      • lee

        research Tampa Red=he did the real original version. not better…just original

    • NedBeatySquealed

      In the immortal word of Frank Zappa: “Elmore James…He only knew one lick, but he played it with feeling.”

    • Tony

      Great video!!! How about some more “slide” stuff

    • David Skelton

      What type of resonator do you have? I’m looking to get one soon but kind of want an all medal one like Sun House used

    • David Skelton

      I love this, but I wish you had more in your Acoustic Delta course. I’ve been trying to learn Police Dog Blues (open D), Can’t Be Satisfied (open G), Crossroads (open G)-Johnson not Clapton-and there are so many different versions out there people teach. Hard to know what’s accurate. It also is hard when you only have two guitars to switch between songs to practice because it means always re-tuning. I love open tuning and wish I knew more songs in it. Any other Delta song recommendations in open D or G? I visited Clarksdale last weekend, and I think the spirit of Robert Johnson is calling me

    • Jimbo

      Brian Jones was THE Elmore James acolyte in the early Rolling Stones. Anything Keef learned about Elmore came through Jones. Brian was an accomplished slide player, possibly one of the first to take up the technique in England.

      • Marty Racine

        Yes, and also Jeremy Spencer of Fleetwood Mac.

    • Ken M

      Last time you did some slide guitar I used my
      S G , I think it was some George Thorough Good song maybe bad to the bone . It was an awesome sound and relatively easy to make it sound good . I was stuck on it all day .

    • Alexander

      Hi Griff, I am stoked to see that you appear to be playing the very same Resonator model I have. This makes any viewing / listening more enjoyable. I was just yesterday listening/viewing Justin Sandercoe on the subject of slides.
      Interestingly enough many guitarists use them on different fingers and in different lengths. I notice you were using iton your pinky and therefore shorter than some others. Do you find it allows you more control and freedom to fret better? There so many people out there that play slide etc. One piece I truly want to learn is from the film Crossroads. It is called ‘Feelin Bad Blues’. That was the making of my love of slide playing. Very enjoyable and informative video Griff.

      • David Skelton

        Justin doesn’t do a lot with slides or open tunings on his channel even though it’s clear he’s a good fingerstyle player. I got to talk to him about it once, and he admitted that his channel is definitely lacking on ragtime and some old school delta stuff

    • Pete Fegredo

      Griff, you should’ave had this to download for us guys who don’t do slide but would like to learn how to.
      Thank you for an excellent lesson and credit to Elmore James style.

    • James C Mason

      Awesome stuff!!

      Thank you Secretary Mnuchin.

      Jj

    • Chris hutchison

      I think Keef used open G for “Honky Tonk”.
      Keith Urban has a great Honky Tonk lesson on YouTube.
      Listening to Fleetwood Mack today to honour Peter Green.
      His “Dust My Broom” and in fact all of “Hard Road” is unmatched after all these years.
      Used to see him every week with John Mayall,usually at the Marquee.
      Life changing!!!
      Thankyou Griff.

      • Dan Miller

        How cool. I love al the old recordings of Peter green too.. I have to check out his dust my broom. I’ve never tried much open tuning. Griff makes it simple to set up. I cant wait. Thanks. Life changing…I agree.

    • Casey Brose

      Very cool!

    • chris clemans

      Great lesson Griff! By the way your Delta slide course is great actually have my DO BRO sitting here iam working on the course this afternoon and this lesson today

    • EDWIN Ferguson

      Great intro. For me. Love slide guitar and
      Keith Richards early open tuning work. Live the lessons. Big help.

      • PAUL

        OPEN G, OPEN D, ALL GREAT SLIDE MOVES. OPEN g, GREAT FOR BAD TOT HE BONE, ALSO, KITH RICHARDS DOSE HONKY TONK WOMEN IN D TUNING. LOVE PLAYING THAT SONG. THANKS GRIFF.

    • Edwin Ferguson
    • JOHN ROTHENGAST

      Great Elm ore James stuff. Great version of it by the old Fleetwood Mac band. Pre Nicks. Era. Also check Done Somebody wrong by ABB on Fillmore East. I WONDER WHO?

    • Fred Gardner

      Good lesson. Thinking I may need to add a Dobro to my collection 😁

    • MikeS

      Good one Griff. Enjoyed it, now to go try it!

    • Mick

      Great lesson Griff! Always wanted to play that one – keep them coming! Many thanks as always.

    • Peter (South Coast UK)

      Another great lesson, and well timed for me. I have been noodling with an open tuning, and this lesson gives me really helpful direction. Thanks Griff…

    • Davy

      Enjoyed that Griff. Thanks.

    • Raymond

      A whole lot of enjoyment in a short amount of time. Thanks

    • frm

      Study Jeremy Spencer of the original Fleetwood Mac doing the full range of Elmore numbers, wonderful slide stuff.

    • John A

      great lesson griff, would like to know more about the all access pass please I have most of your courses but thinking I might like the live version of things as well if someone could direct me to the location for signing up that would be awesome !!

      • Scott Weil

        I have all access. I started out with just viewing his free videos and then went too all access after resisting his various offerings for a few month. It is so worth it! The library is almost overwhelming. I use it for about an hour every day. Get it. Let me know if you have any questions

    • Joseph Accardo

      I’ve never attempted slide before, but this sounds so cool I’m gonna give it a shot. Thanks Griff.

    • robbie kelly

      thanks griff,
      sweet stuff,
      i think duanne played ‘little martha ‘
      in open d.

      • Bill C.

        No, the guitars were all tuned to open E. Probably the most used open tuning, if not the only tuning Duane used. I’m not trying to be argumentative, I basically have followed the Allman Brothers since before they were the Allman Brothers. Used to catch a band called the Second Coming in Jacksonville, too good for a local band. One night two blonde headed guys showed up and a second drummer. I was going to leave and when they started playing I was hooked. I was also super hooked on slide.

        • Bill C.

          ‘scuse me, all two of em I should have said with Betts acoustic in standard tuning.

        • Marty Racine

          The cool thing about open D is that a capo at the second fret puts it into open E. The intervals are the same.

    • Eric Mitchell

      This was great,

      Thank you

    • DaveyJoe

      Way cool! Thanks Griff.

    • Roy

      Really like it! Always have been a fan of Elmore James, Thanks

    • Johnny B

      Great stuff Griff I’ve been trying, slide lately it’s way fun and
      A great way for my old fingers to play,!!

    • Roger R- South west coast UK

      Always great lessons. Thanks Griff.

    • cowboy

      sweet…thanks for all that you do…

    • Tom Brain

      Excellent stuff, once again!!

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