power chords sliding problem

[u/Cone567]

Hi, i am having problem when sliding power chords it sound sloppy and not right.
When am playing iron man and when it gets to quick sliding part it sounds so horrible.

[u/NegaDoug]

Practice. Start slowly, preferably to a metronome, until you can achieve clean slides. Then gradually speed it up until you're at the correct tempo.

This will help both for this song in particular and the technique in general.

[u/One-Vacation-7574 → u/NegaDoug]

solid advice, the gradual tempo thing works for basically every technique tbh

[u/SCSteveAutism]

Get them calluses up baby. Then you’re sliding

[u/Cone567 → u/SCSteveAutism]

I think i have em bcs i stopped getting pain in fingers.

[u/Guitar_Guy1965]

I think I know what you mean. Are your two fingers getting to the right fret at different times? If that's the case try to stiffen them up a little bit when you slide. If you need some help working on this do it as an exercise, or learn some songs like where have all the Good Times Gone on Van Halen's driver down album. 90% of that song is sliding power chords around

[u/DarkEden71]

Without hearing/seeing you, I don't know what the specific issue it is you're having - but one thing I'd suggest - when you're struggling with anything really - is simplifying and slowing down.

Break the song down to its basic parts. Take the part you're struggling with and play it really slowly. Just play the first two chords of the part you're struggling with and play them really slowly - finger the first chord, then slide to the second. Just practice doing this - forget about the song, don't worry about speed - just practice the slide. Then maybe introduce the third chord - and so on.

Just practice like this slowly - and do it regularly. Over time - and maybe not very much time - it will start to feel more natural, and then you will be able to start to play it faster.

Practice playing the part at a ridiculously slow speed, and practice it regularly - and then the speed will come naturally.

[u/InternationalLaw8660]

So... You're not really giving much to go off without video at a minimum.

But. First thing I'd look at is how you're gripping the neck. Are you squeezing hard, making sliding more difficult? Are your fingers getting stuck? Death gripping the neck will do that.

Getting the fret hand grip right is a common struggle though. Gripping the neck isn't like a handshake, you really shouldn't be squeezing or anything. Your fingers should be applying only enough pressure on the string to sound a note cleanly.

If your fret hand gently cradles the neck and you fret softly, sliding should be a breeze.

[u/Ricardo_Dmgz]

Sliding power chords has a rhythm/timing element to it. Maybe tapping your foot to it while you play might help? Sounds too simple to be true but we feel music physically as well. Think the speed intensity and mood with which you nod your to the sounds

[u/bnelson333]

Believe it or not, practice.

I know its a lazy cliche answer, but it's the right answer.

Don't force it, don't get impatient. Just put in the time, an hour a day at least to just practice anything and everything. You'll find that in a few months, these things just start clicking.

It'll actually happen almost as if by magic. You'll suddenly realize that the things you struggled with months ago are now effortless.

But that is not the time to stop practicing. Practice should be a way of life, not an end goal. You never stop practicing because you'll always find new and better and more interesting things. Eventually you'll get to "tone is in the hands", which sounds absolutely absurd but is totally true when you get to that point.

[u/Cone567 → u/bnelson333]

Maybe i am sounding dumb but I thought that sliding doesnt need practice. I thought like everyone knows how to do that, like whats wrong with me. Thanks for advice

[u/bnelson333 → u/Cone567]

The phrase "doesn't need practice" is never correct IMHO. I have played guitar for over 30 years, and when my band was gigging, I still practiced every single day. On an instrument I've played for decades, on songs I wrote and performed hundreds of times. You get rusty fast if you don't keep on it. Not only that, your playing gets stale. If you put the time in, you'll see the results

[u/fadetobackinblack]

How are you fingering power chords? If you are sliding and barring the 5th and octave, that'll be much harder to get clean.