S is for… Slide

You can play slide guitar in standard tuning. Beatle George Harrison did and his slide playing was breathtaking.

You could also make life easier and use an open tuning. Examples include open E (low to high: E, B, E, G#, B and E) and open G (low to high: D, G, D, G, B and D). Get a decent slide or go old school blues and use a cigarette lighter, penknife (like Charley Patton) or a beer bottle.

When you’re ready for the ultimate challenge try hanging with the amazing Sonny Landreth. He’s as good as slide guitar gets.

S is also for… Stagger Lee

Stagger Lee was a murderer who has been immortalised in numerous blues songs as a pimp and a badass. We reckon Nick Cave and his Bad Seeds' collective take on the Stagger Lee legend is hard to beat for a slice of visceral modern blues.