Dear Guitar Hero: Slash
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The "Sweet Child O' Mine" riff mangles my fingers every time I try to learn it. Do you use some kind of secret technique?
-Matthew Steele
There's no secret technique. That's just my pick-up-a-guitar and fuck-around-with-it style of playing. That whole riff was just a mistake-a joke, really. To this day, I find it incredibly ironic and hilarious that it turned into a song, especially such a successful one. The riff started out as a stupid exercise that I noodled around with nearly every time I picked up a guitar. I don't really know how to practice properly, so I like to make up things that are difficult to play, so that I can become better at what I do.
Anyway, I must have played that riff a million times without ever thinking it would be a song. Then one day, while I was playing the riff, Izzy [Stradlin, former Guns N' Roses guitarist] started playing some chords, and the thing just took off! I think that just goes to show the value of doing things on the guitar that get you out of the box.
What was the hardest song you ever recorded, one that was just an absolute bitch to nail?
-Robert McHugh
There are a few of them, including "Sweet Child O' Mine." That solo intro seemed impossible, even though I'd played the riff alone, without the band, for years. I almost never do more than two or three takes, but that one took at least eight. It was pretty frustrating.
I also had a really hard time nailing the intro solo on "Paradise City." It just wasn't "jamming" enough, as far as I was concerned. I finally had to quit for the day and go home, but I came back the next day and nailed it in one take. It was devastating to leave the studio with that song unfinished. I have a very short attention span.
The last song that comes to mind is a ballad on the Velvet Revolver record, "You Got No Right." We recorded it right after we wrote it. When I went to do the solo, it just didn't feel right, but I couldn't figure out why. We ended up rerecording the song a month or two later, and I nailed the solo right away. Before that, I'd never gotten into a rut where I couldn't play a solo because the whole feel was just off.
Guns N' Roses gave rock a much-needed kick in the ass back in the late Eighties. We need it even worse today, in this world where the guitar solo has become an endangered species. Do you think you can you do it again with Velvet Revolver?
-Seth Goldart
When the five of us-me, [former Guns bassist] Duff McKagan, [singer] Scott Weiland, [guitarist] Dave Kushner and [former Guns drummer] Matt Sorum-formed Velvet Revolver, it was because we'd each begun to feel a desperate need to put together a kick-ass hard rock band. I think we've managed to merge our influences and create a sound that's unique and reflects our desire to shake things up again. So if this music kicks people's ass half as hard as it's kicking our ass-then, yeah, I think we can make an impact on rock music again.
Who are some of your more obscure guitar inspirations?
-Shawn Henry
I like the Pretenders' James Honeyman-Scott; the Cars' Elliot Easton, who is one of the best lead players of the last 25 years; Joe Walsh, who's one of the best rock and roll guitar players of all time; and the Sex Pistols' Steve Jones. I'm also a fan of Elvis Presley's guitarist Scotty Moore and [surf-rock guitarist] Dick Dale-to this day I haven't had the balls to sit down and learn one of his songs. And I shouldn't forget David Lindley, who played with Jackson Browne for years. It might surprise some people to hear me say it, but the dude is incredible.
I can never seem to get that heavily accented wah sound that I closely associate with you and Kirk Hammett. Is your wah pedal tweaked?
-David Zamora
When I did Appetite for Destruction I had a stock Cry Baby. Now I own Dunlop wahs that are fully adjustable: you can decide where the wah starts and ends and make the high end sing longer or the low end more guttural. But to be honest, I don't use those features very much. Besides, you can definitely get a good wah sound without them. I think you should just keep experimenting. I'm sure whatever problem you're having has nothing to do with your pedal.
Is it true that you don't know scales?
-Marcelo Dutra
Although I was never properly schooled in scales, over the years I've learned what a scale is and how to put together a series of notes that sound harmonically correct. But there are a lot of players whose technical knowledge is far superior to mine-guys that have a good grasp of music theory and apply it to their playing all the time. I can't do that, but I do know how to take a basic scale and change the notes around to suit my needs. I also know how to play major, minor and pentatonic scales all the way up the neck, but that's about as complicated as I get.
If you could record an album with one other guitarist, alive or dead, who would it be?
-Brandon Moore
I've played with Keith Richards and would love to take that further. And I would love to jam with Joe Walsh. But when I think of people I would love to jam with, I usually think of great rhythm sections rather than guitar players. Great lead guitar players usually don't need another lead player around. The multiple lead guitar sound of bands like the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd is cool, but it's a different, very structured kind of lead playing, and that's something I don't really strive for.
I have always admired your sound. Please list your setup.
-John Ventura
Thanks. People ask me this question all the time, and it's sort of funny. Because, to be honest, all you need is a decent-sounding Les Paul and a decent-sounding Marshall 100-watt or 50-watt head. That's it. The only other things I use are the occasional Boss EQ and wah pedal. I'd love to make it sound more interesting, but I'd be lying.
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drewr798
January 25, 2011 at 10:30pm
you rock, I wish you could do a concert near riversidde,ca because I really want to see you live and maybe get an autograph
nh3525t
December 05, 2009 at 12:33pm
Slash,
I was wondering if you can provide tips to playing the main riff in Locomotive. It's an awesome riff that seems easy, but I struggle a lot to get it sounding right and would appreciate any advice.
stratfan
December 04, 2009 at 4:32pm
Slash, I want you to know that you're awesome. I want to know if you own any Fender guitars.
SLASH IS THE (LIVING) GOD OF ROCK!
carlitos117
January 12, 2008 at 10:46pm
Hey Slash, im learning guitar but lots of things i want to learn are either too hard or too easy.The hardest thine for me to do is the intro to Run To The Hills (standing up.)I don't know scales either.What do i do?
slash0078
October 24, 2007 at 8:50pm
hey slash,
i think ur amazing. ur the best ever! i was wondering if u liked playin with zakk wylde. also where do u get ut leather pants.
denco
October 07, 2007 at 8:25pm
Hey Slash,...can u tell me what it felt like to play infront of thousands of people on big stage for the first time..sharing all that energy with them...are there words that can describe that feeling?
David Raymond
September 05, 2007 at 7:56pm
For the intro to Paradise City do you use any distortion or wah?
englishcharlie
August 22, 2007 at 7:15pm
I think you are the best guitarist. The style is great..I hope to be like you..=D..Anyways..When you play it do you use Jimi Hendrix's tabs or Stevie's..or do you have your own? If you do..could you try and get on the internet or something please!!
x1cmb123
July 30, 2007 at 12:21am
ive been wanting to get into guitar and im finally getting one for my birth day and ive been practicing on my little bros spider man guitar and i was wondering if you had any tips on playing
WhyNotRock
July 28, 2007 at 5:57pm
Hey, I like Velvet Revolver and Guns N' Roses, but do you think ever just maybe you could do a reunion tour with Guns N' Roses. That would make me the happiest kid ever to see you and Gn'R play some classics like Sweet Child O' Mine and Paradise City! Rock on Slash! (And if you did come to the DTE :D)
-Kyle
gunsnroses520
July 22, 2007 at 2:34am
Slash,
Also I have to let you know that you have inspired me to pick up a guitar and start playing. Can you beleive I never heard one Guns N Roses Song until September of last year. Since then I have loved Guns N Roses (and Velvet Revolver) because I got a wake up call and realized what good music was... and how great of a person and guitar god you are.Thank you for everything you have given to the music world,
Rock On!!
gunsnroses520
gunsnroses520
July 22, 2007 at 2:30am
Hey Slash,
I was just wondering, I hope you don't mind me asking, but here it goes... will there ever be a guns n roses reunion. Hell that would be totally awesome. If not, I respect the decision and you will still remain my hero.With the most amount of respect,
gunsnroses520
gasher23
July 18, 2007 at 10:16pm
Slash you are my idol! i just want to know, how do you play so long and so fast withought stopping?
Michael Kollar
slash0078
July 06, 2007 at 10:04pm
Dear Slash,
I am a huge fan. Im not ur #1 fan....im sure there are people that are crazier for u than i am. Anyway, what was it like to play with zak wylde and what is your favorite guitar...Pat Stewart
slash0078
July 06, 2007 at 10:04pm
Dear Slash,
I am a huge fan. Im not ur #1 fan....im sure there are people that are crazier for u than i am. Anyway, what was it like to play with zak wylde and what is your favorite guitar...Pat Stewart
surfbuhler45
June 20, 2007 at 10:05am
Hey do you rekn u will ever do a New Zealand concert with guns n roses for gud ol times sake?, im goin to the concert on the 29th in auckland but it wont be the same without you and izzy etc. it would be cool just to even see you as a guest guitarist!!
thinkANDcreate
June 12, 2007 at 7:40pm
By the way did you ever tab your solos from Tokyo 92' I've been learning some of them, but I want to see if I'm playing close to what you were. Thanks man....
thinkANDcreate
June 09, 2007 at 10:23am
Your ability to put feeling into the guitar is incredible; I just want to say that. I read what you said about learning more from jamming and I seem to be that way too. I cross over more obsticles when I'm not trying to climb them, but then I sometimes get stuck on experimenting my sound when I don't sit down and analyze my thoughts. I just don't want to overthink things. What do you suggest. Thanks.
JoshNordlund
June 08, 2007 at 7:46pm
what albums had the biggest influence on you to keep playing the guitar
cody87
May 20, 2007 at 11:07pm
hey man. i live in lafayette, in. do u ever come hear to jam with izzy. get back to me. Cody B.
me12354
May 19, 2007 at 10:59pm
Dear Slash;
the only reason I started a membership with guitar world is so that I could place comment for you. Slash you are one of the greatest guitar heros ever your work with guns n' roses is one of the main reasons I began playing guitar and recently inspired me to purchase a 1969 les paul replica of my very own-sincerly,
Tanner g. Williams
Hats422
May 12, 2007 at 9:32am
Hey Slash,
I was wondering if you ever had any injuries or problems such as tendinitis
which may have affected your playing.
vic
April 23, 2007 at 6:59pm
What do you think is your best and your worst solo ever?
- Victor Leroux
dezaum
April 01, 2007 at 2:20pm
Slash is the best n' fuck all the rest.
Slash i'm brazilian and i'm your fan number 1
dezaum
April 01, 2007 at 2:20pm
Slash is the best n' fuck all the rest.
Slash i'm brazilian and i'm your fan number 1
Reynolds88
March 21, 2007 at 7:57pm
Hey SLASH,
I'm desiding between crybaby's. Do you sujest any particular one or none at all.
Taylor
Reynolds88
March 21, 2007 at 5:21pm
Just out of curiosity why did you kick out Tommy Gun?
Not that I have anything against it.
wladdy
March 21, 2007 at 2:40am
hey SLASH if you don't mind me asking i am just curious, did you ever have anything against vince neil and nikki sixx when you went on tour with motley crue or was it just axl? Do you use your signature crybaby now or a modulation of it with like a panel
Alexguitardude
March 18, 2007 at 6:46pm
What was the thing that inspired you to pick up a guitar for your first time?
Alex Hall
kiolony
August 04, 2007 at 9:57pm
i was inspired by guns n roses album appetite for destruction, slash is one of my favorite players, and the first song i learned was sweet child o mine.
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