GB2366443A - Guitar slide - Google Patents

Abstract

A full-length guitar slide, which fits on the finger or fingers of the scales hand and still allows the user to play as normal. This allows the player total flexibility to change between playing all fingered chords, four fingered lead and varying slide choices on an instrument without the necessity of removal, causing no disruption in play and also allows the player continued use to create many more musical effects manually using the slide on the fingers of strumming hand. The slide includes a cylinder of adequate length to cover all the strings of guitars and other stringed instruments. The ends (see figure 2 - points 5 and 6) are cut away at different sized angles so that the shortened side of the cylinder (see figure2 - point 11) is sufficiently small enough to loosely fit in the middle section of the users finger. The curves (see figure 1 - point 4) and angles (see figure 2 - point 1 aids the slide to roll back naturally to the all mode position or to the desired position. The pressure of the bent finger on the slides body keeps the slide at the desired position for the user to present to the strings to play slide modes whilst still being able to play normal mode. With the slide on the users first finger the user can play normal slide and finger lead notes together. The slide can be easily rolled round the finger and rolled on the strings in play to suit the users requirements.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> THE GUITAR SLIDE BACKGROUND Slides are used on stringed instruments. In this case, but not restricted to, on four and six stringed electric guitars for the purpose of changing notes and chords, by sliding up and down the fret as opposed to playing with fingers. Full slides have to be removed or rotated to allow full normal play, as most chords need all four fingers and users have the problem of storing the slide until needed. Short slides, finger tip slides, ring slides and two piece rotatable slides all have limitations and also create difficulties in changing between normal mode and slide mode. Slides are made of different materials such as glass, brass, chromed brass and ceramics which all give distinctive tone qualities. Approximately only one degree of the three hundred and sixty degrees of a slide is in contact with the strings.

DESCRIPTION Please find on page 6 the drawings of the slide in which the description relates. Figure I shows the view looking onto the back of the slide and figure 2 shows the view looking onto one of the sides of the slide.

The slide is full length and has no back (see figure 2 - points 1 & 11) in relation to the front (see figure 2 - point 2), which hangs loosely'on the users finger without inhibiting play which also blends into the shape of the users bending finger and is continuously accessible for the user to play normal and slide at the same time, thus never needing to be removed, nor moved due to the slides tapered body (see figure I - point 3). Although the slide can be used throughout three hundred and sixty degrees, it naturally returns to the most favourable position in all modes of play, by the pressure from the i constantly flexing finger on the tapered and curved body (see figure I - point 4), leaving the full slide body (see figure 2 - point 2), hanging to the back of the users finger. The slide comprises of a cylinder tube of adequate length to cover all fbur, six or twelve stringed instruments. The tube preferably manufactured from a hard smooth material such as brass, glass, chromed brass and ceramics but not restricted to the,p materials or dimensions. The principle remains the same. The ends of the tube, the back (see figure 2 - points 5 & 6) are removed as indicated in the drawings and all edges are highly polished. The ends removed (see figure 2 - points 5 & 6) are of different sizes and are off centre to each other thus giving the user two optional receiving ends (see figure I - points 7 & 8) to choose from, both giving more slide body (see figure I point 3), choices (high or low) to present to the strings. This applies to any finger the user chooses to use or if the player chose to wear four slides and play mixing the different tones given from the different materials of each slide. When particular slides are not in use they can also be stored for easy access on

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the machine heads of most modem guitars giving the user a wider range to choose from. The slide can be rolled with ease and speed round the finger in normal play using other fingers or in slide rnode by rolling it on the strings or rolling it off the strings. New concepts are also possible i.e. by wearing the slide on the first finger (main finger); the user can play fingered lead in front of the slide at the same time as sliding, by using the three free fingers. By placing two finger tips on the receiving end (see figure 1 - points 7 & 8) the slide can be guided up through the scales and all the way to the bridge without putting strain on the users wrist as opposed to having it on a finger thus giving complete control to play and find the finer scales past the neck end and bridge area of the strings for prolonged lengths of time. The user can use the slide in the strumming hand as a plectrum in conjunction with normally a nylon plectrum to change between the distinct sounds given by both materials. The smooth angles can be used to glide over the strings at the point known as the harmonics of the strings creating a continuous wave of sound. Using the small body (see figure 2 - point 11) on the fret board the user can tap the strings as opposed to using the soft fingertips and create clean bright notes and many other effects without damage or breakage of the strings. The result is a multi functional slide and strumming device that is held in place in all modes by the pressures on the inner bodies of the slide and at the same time can be manoeuvred to any position with speed and ease in or out of play giving the user total control and a wealth of technique possibilities.

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Claims (22)

1. CLAIMS 1. The slide, which is a full length slide that blends its self into the shape of the bending finger in use which does not require to be moved or fully rotated to change between playing any chords lead or slide modes
2. 2. The slide can be rolled (in play) and used throughout three hundred and sixty degrees without any disruption in any mode of play
3. 3. The slide can always be used to play from some to all of the strings depending on the angle its held or rolled (in play) on the players fingers
4. 4. The slide is reversible to both different sized receiving ends giving the player more choices where the tapered slide body may be required to present to the strings
5. 5. The slide can be worn up to multiples of four without restricting the player's finger movements still allowing all mode play.
6. 6. The slide can be guided by two fingertips placed in both receiving ends through the scales on the fret board and beyond, all the way to the bridge without putting any strain on the players wrist, giving more control and accuracy to play the finer notes found between the neck end and the bridge area of the strings
7. 7. It is possible for a single slide to be exchanged between fingers (in play) giving the player more slide and fingered lead modes to choose from
8. 8. The slide is multi functional as a guitar slide and strumming plectrum and glide device
9. 9. As in claim 8, the slide can be worn on the fingers of the strumming hand and used as a plectrum to strum the strings, pick lead notes with the smooth edges.
10. 10. As in claim 8, the smooth slide angles can be continuously run across the strings at the point known as the harmonies, creating a continuous wave of sound as the player changes chords with his other (scales) hand
11. 11. As in claim 8, the slide can be snugly worn on the pinky of the strumming hand and brought into use as desired to create effects on and over the bridge playing down the fret board
12. 12. The slide allows the user to play all chord styles; all lead styles and all slide (slide lead) styles continuously
13. 13. The slide can be rolled through many degrees whilst in use on the strings without effecting quality of play or sound
14. 14. The slide can be in use in full slide mode and rolled off the strings to return the slide to any position required depending on what mode or modes the user wants to play next 'A I
15. 15. The slide can be worn on the (main) first finger to play slide (and all other modes) thus leaving the users other three remaining fingers to play notes in front of the slide playing
16. 16. As in claim 5, the slide can be used by one, two, three or four fingers in any combination of materials thus allowing you to mix the tones and sounds given by each individual slide
17. 17. As in claims 8 the slide can be worn on the finger of the strumming hand (i.e. the index finger) and by using the smaller centre of the slide body, to hammer the notes

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    on the fret board as opposed to tapping with bare finger tips thus giving clearer and brighter sounds
18. 18. The slide hangs loosely on the middle section of the finger resting on the slides curved and angled body which allows the slide to roll back to this position naturally, from other previously selected positions as the finger pressure on the slides bodies are released
19. 19. As in claim 18, the slide can be easily rolled by rolling the slide round the finger to the desired position using the users other fingers to do so
20. 20. As in claim 18, although the slide can move freely in all directions the light pressures on the slides inner tapered body and curves from the bending finger holds the slide at the desired position and by increasing the pressure on the tapered body will also allow the slide to roll round the finger to the next desired positions all of which is achieved in full play
21. 21. A full length slide with no back in relation to the front giving total freedom to play the instrument as before (without the slide) and still having a full length slide to present to the strings at the same time
22. 22. When particular slides are not in use they can also be stored for easy access on most guitar machine heads due to the unique hanging features of the slides shape and configuration