5 Best Slides for Banjo (That Money Can Buy)

• Discover the best slide for any budget and experience level
• Learn what materials slides are made of
• Find out if you can use a guitar slide on a banjo
• Also, check out our post on all types of banjo

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As far as I am concerned, there is not a lot that sounds better than a banjo and a slide. That bluesy sound is just music to my ears.

Getting started with slide playing can be tricky. The technique takes some getting used to, and before you even start, you need to buy a slide.

Right. So, do I need a specific slide? Is there a special slide for banjos? I had a million questions myself, so here we have a quick look at the best slides for banjos so you can get playing.

What Are The Best Slides for Banjo?

For the best overall experience, you can’t go wrong with Shubb’s AXYS reversible slide. Super versatile and affordable!

For the budget conscious, check out Fender’s Standard Steel Slide. It lets you check out this whole slide thing without costing a fortune.

Now, if you are looking for the best slide money will get you, then my vote goes to Thixotec’s MagSlide MS-2. 

Below, we’ve rounded up five excellent options based on feel and balance, sound, and design.

Plus, we’ve highlighted their pros and cons to help you pick a Banjo slide that works for you.

1. Shubb AXYS Reversible Slide (Our Pick)
2. Fender Steel Slide (Best Budget)
3. MagSlide MS-2 (Best Premium)
4. Dunlop 274 Blues Bottle Slide
5. Taylor Guitars Ebony Slide 

1. Shubb AXYS Reversible Slide (Our Pick)

I don’t know about you, but my least favorite thing about slide playing is trying to switch back to my normal style with the slide still on my finger.

Shubb has taken all that awkward maneuvering out of my playing with the AXYS reversible slide. When I am not using the slide, it gets turned away and is tucked out of my playing. I love that feature.

Features:

• Brass construction
• Rotatable design
• Size: Packaged with all four available sizes

Review 

If you have a look at traditional slide players, you will often find that the slide is worn on the pinky finger of the fretting hand. There is a very good reason for this.

Having the slide on the pink finger at least allows you three fully mobile fingers to resume normal playing.

What if that was not an issue? Shubb has outdone itself with the AXYS reversible slide. A truly ingenious design, the AXYS is made of two parts.

The inner “ring” part of the slide and the outer brass “slide” part. Each slide comes with four ring sizes, meaning that no matter what size your hands are, it will ship with a size for you. Great touch there.

And what about the sound? The sound is definitely there. The best description for the sounds is that it “cuts through.”

This slide has every single scrap of the brass slide sound you are looking for. The sound is very bright and rings quite clearly.

I really enjoyed this slide. I found that the reversible design means that this is definitely a lightweight slide. 

The slide works as a two-part system. The inside is a ring made of Delrin (a hard plastic) that stays stationary on your hand.

The brass rotates on top of this ring. The fact that this slide allows you to make music more easily is a pretty cool flex. 

Don’t let this one pass you by if you want something versatile, that sounds great.

Pros

• Incredibly versatile
• Allows for more fretting hand mobility while playing slide
• Great sustain
• A very clear and bright tone

Cons 

• Brass is very bright and may not be for all playing styles

2. Fender Steel Slide (Best Value)

For budget-conscious newbies, Fender has provided a really good option.

While it may lack the fancy bells and whistles, like carve-outs and weighted ends, it is a functional and great-sounding slide that will get you playing without a massive investment.

Features: 

• Steel construction
• Size: Medium

Review 

As I said, this is a pretty basic and standard steel slide. This is great because let’s be honest, not everyone can make a big investment in something they are not sure about.

Slide playing can be tricky, and if you find it isn’t for you, then you are only 10 bucks down and a little wiser, not 30.

That’s not to say there isn’t incredible value to be had here. The slide has a nice, even weight that won’t make moving it across the fretboard so difficult that you hurl it into the ocean.

The stainless steel construction means that it can stand up to even the toughest bluegrass gigs and will definitely give you that distinctive bluesy slide sound without breaking the bank.

Like most steel slides, the tone is bright and crisp and really cuts through.

And an added benefit of that steel construction is that if you, like me, can be accused of being a little clumsy, you can drop it and feel fine because you know it will not shatter like glass.

If you are looking for a first slide to see if it works for you, then Fender has definitely given you a good place to start.

Pros

• Super budget friendly
• Durable design

Cons

• Not a lot of bells and whistles. Pretty basic

3. MagSlide Magnesium MS-2 (Best Premium)

What makes metal slides great is the sustain, and what makes glass slides great is the warm tone, and they are super lightweight.

So, what if you could use an innovative material and combine the best of both worlds? 

With the Magslide, you get just that. You are given the sustain of a metal slide, with a tone and lightweight playing experience that rivals glass. 

Features: 

• Magnesium construction
• Ultra lightweight
• Size: Medium

Review 

Magnesium certainly is an innovative material for slide construction. The MagSlide comes in lighter than steel, glass, and ceramic.

The magnesium material also has some great tonal characteristics, in that it doesn’t have excessive string noise like steel or glass sometimes has, which is pretty cool.

The slide is incredibly well-balanced and feels quite comfortable on the hand. The attention to detail on this slide is really something.

The inside of the slide is slightly conical, with a textured surface, meaning it feels incredibly comfortable and well-balanced on the finger. This is a bonus because it won’t slip like glass if your hands get sweaty.

The sound is also pretty impressive. The MagSlide manages to straddle that sweet spot between the sustain of metal and the warmth of glass.

Overall, a warm and mellow tone with lots of sustain will be welcome in most situations.

The extensive research and development that went into Thixotec’s MagSlide is pretty clear when you look at the product. I enjoyed this slide and would definitely consider it a go-to.

I can understand that a $39 USD price tag may be a bit steep for some, so this is definitely not going to be your budget-friendly option, but worth it if you can afford it.

Pros

• Super lightweight
• Good sustain
• Bright tone
• Pro-level slide

Cons

• Price can be prohibitive

Related: Resonator Banjo vs Open Back (Differences & Similarities)

4. Dunlop 274 Blues Bottle Slide 

There isn’t much that sounds more authentically blues than a hand-blown glass slide.

Dunlops 274 gives you everything you could want, from a glass slide, from its smooth movement across the fretboard to its warm silky tones.

All of this at a very wallet-friendly price. Not too bad.

Features:

• Glass construction
• Size: Small
• Closed-end

I absolutely love the classic look of this slide. This is quite literally a bottle slide, open at one end with a closed top. It’s modeled after the Mississippi pre-Depression era slides made from the necks of medicine bottles.

This slide gives you exactly what you want from glass. The tone is full and warm, although Dunlop has done a little work to mitigate the glass sustain issue. 

The thicker wall on the slide ensures you get the best sustain and durability that glass can give.

Pros

• An Even tone
• Minimal string noise
• Thicker sides give more sustain

Cons 

• If you have really big fingers you are going to have a bad time

5. Taylor Guitars Ebony Slide

I have added this as an honorable mention because I love this slide’s look and feel.

Ebony feels so light and warm in your hand that it is a joy to play with, even if the sustain you would get from glass or metal just isn’t there. 

And if you are looking for a great slide that is also environmentally friendly, then this is going to be your best option.

Features: 

• Ebony construction
• Very lightweight
• Size: Medium

Review 

This slide comes out a little left of the field. It is certainly not your everyday slide. The fact that it is made of ebony gives it some unique characteristics.

I am a huge fan of dark, warm, and mellow tones, which is exactly what this slide provides. That ebony slide has an organic woody sound that is like candy to my ears.

I do need to add, though, that it lacks sustain. That is hardly surprising, and it is not like ebony has the bell-like tones of glass, steel, or bronze.

I feel that it makes up for its lack of sustain in the character and warmth of its sound, but that is definitely not going to be the case for everyone.

The fact that Taylor makes a point of letting you know that this is a sustainable product also won them many points from me.

Every single one of these slides is made from the ebony offcuts Taylor has left from making guitar fretboards and bridges.

I think that it seems reasonable to want to be kind to the planet that gives us music, right?

I would rather have less sustain and a habitable planet that lets me keep making music, you know.

If you want to make your banjo wail long, sustained slide notes, then I would advise you to look elsewhere.

If you are looking for a unique slide that is comfortable to play with, well made, and also doesn’t harm the planet, then this bad boy is for you.

Pros

• Very comfortable
• Warm, woody tone
• Environmentally sustainable

Cons 

• Lacks the sustain of other materials

Related: Taylor vs Gibson Guitars (Head-to-Head Comparison)

FAQs

Can You Use A Guitar Slide On A Banjo?

Yes. You definitely can. There exists no special banjo-related slide. You can use any guitar slide on your banjo.

As long as it is wide enough to cover the strings, you will be fine.

What Materials Are Slides Made Of?

Slides are generally made of three different materials, namely glass, metals like steel or brass, and ceramics. Each material has its characteristics. 

Glass slides have a warm tone and are lightweight, but they lack sustain. 

Metal slides are heavier than glass, but what they lose in weight, they make up for in sustain.

Metal slides have a much brighter and more sustained sound but are not as warm as glass.

Lastly, you get ceramic slides. These slides kind of combine the best properties of both glass and metal. Ceramic has much more sustain than glass but a much warmer tone than metal.

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