Slide Guitar

Slide guitar originated in the late 19th century, with its roots firmly planted in the swamps of the Mississippi Delta, where they discovered that sliding a metal object along the strings was a far more interesting way to play than, say, learning actual chords. This technique gives it a distinctive sound that's impossibly smooth, as if the guitar is engaged in a sultry conversation rather than merely playing notes. Slightly ironically, once the blues took it up, it became a staple for anyone wanting to convey both deep sorrow and the urge to have a cheeky jig at the same time.