My First Slant

As mentioned in a previous post, I am playing my dobro/resonator in the GBDGBD tuning, which is pretty standard G.

If I want to play a C chord, I go the the fifth fret where I get CEGCEG. That’s great but a bit limiting to have to be at a specific fret to be able to play a desired chord.

In order to open up what is available on the dobro, players slant the bar, giving them the ability to vary the interval. This typically happens when playing two strings, as finding slants that work over more than two are less common (there are very useful ones out there) and also it’s harder to make them sound in tune.

If I am playing strings 2 and 4 of my C chord at the fifth fret (numbering from high to low), I get a G on string 4 and an E on string 2.

If I then drop back by three frets and slant the top of the bar back a further fret, so the bar is over fret 1 at string 2 and fret 3 at string 4, I get an E on string 4 and a C on string 2.

At fret 5 the interval is a maj 6th, at the slant a min 6th.

This technique is incredibly useful for playing chord voicings around the neck and for playing harmonised scales.

More to come..