A slide is a technique that moves smoothly from one note to another. On guitar and bass you slide a finger along the string, and on a synth you can create continuous pitch movement with the glide function.
The basic idea
The distance and the speed of the move change the impression. Short slides suit connecting notes, while long slides suit emotional rises and falls.
Using it in performance and programming
A short slide at the end of a phrase or going into the next note sounds natural. In MIDI, use pitch bend or portamento and check the amount of pitch change.
How it differs from related terms
A slide moves the pitch continuously, while a bend pushes the string to reach a target note.
Use them sparingly, only where you want to emphasize the direction of a phrase, and they will be effective.
