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Advanced dobro lesson

Bar Slants on the Dobro

In this lesson Mark explains slants: angling the bar forward or backward instead of holding it parallel. He shows a forward slant on the first and second strings from the fifth fret, then a harmonized C scale on the second and fourth strings that moves between straight and slanted positions up the neck.

What you'll learn

• What a slant is: moving the bar from parallel to slanted forward or backward
• A forward slant on the first and second strings from the fifth fret
• A harmonized C scale on the second and fourth strings
• How a backward slant works: the back of the bar moves up while the front stays back
• Moving between slanted and straight bar positions as you go up the neck

Step by step

1. Forward slant: from the fifth fret, slant on the first and second strings so the first string goes to the seventh fret and the second string to the sixth fret.
2. Harmonized C scale: start at the fifth fret, bar parallel, on the fourth and second strings (5 and 5).
3. Backward slant: bring the fourth string to the seventh fret and the second string to the sixth fret.
4. Move that slant position up a whole step (two frets).
5. Bring the bar back to straight at the tenth fret, then go up to the twelfth fret.
6. Slant once more: the back of the bar at the 14th fret and the top of the bar at the 13th fret.
7. Move to the 13th fret straight, then slide back up home to the C position.

In Mark's words

“You take the bar and instead of having it at its parallel position, you slant it forward or you slant it backward.”

“There's a lot of different combinations of notes you can get throughout the dobro. Up and down the neck with slants.”

“I think it's an exemplary model of harmony played on the resonator guitar.”

Questions

What is a slant on dobro?

Mark explains that a slant is when you take the bar and, instead of holding it parallel, slant it forward or backward. That lets you get a lot of different combinations of notes up and down the neck.

How do you play a forward slant on dobro?

In Mark's example, from the fifth fret, he slants on the first and second strings so the first string goes to the seventh fret and the second string to the sixth fret.

How do you play a harmonized C scale with slants on dobro?

Mark plays it on the second and fourth strings, starting straight at the fifth fret. He moves through a backward slant (fourth string at the seventh fret, second string at the sixth), straight positions at the tenth and twelfth frets, and a slant at the 14th and 13th frets, then slides up home to the C position.

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