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Topic: B 11 Tuning |
Ron Losey
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 23 Nov 2007 1:35 pm |
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| I'm new to the steel guitar and wondering what gauge of strings i should use for a B 11 tuning, do any of you have any idea's? |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 23 Nov 2007 5:15 pm
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I am presuming that you're referring to the B11th tuning used on a non pedal guitar :-
B11th neck
| Tab: |
1= E .015
2= C# .017
3= A .019
4= F# .022
5= D# .032
6= B .038
7= A .048
8= B .068 |
_________________
Steelies do it without fretting
CLICK THIS to view my tone bars and buy——> |
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Ron Losey
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 24 Nov 2007 5:07 pm
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| is there such a tunning as a B13 and what would the gauge of strings be for it? |
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Chris Scruggs
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 24 Nov 2007 5:59 pm
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This is B11 with an omitted root. Basically, it's A6 with the 5th string flattened from E to Ed.
E
C#
A
F#
Ed
E
C#
A
F#
I personally prefer
.015
.018
.022 plain
.024wound
.030
.034
.042
.054
for A6 and B11 tunings. Don Helms drops his 6th string from C3 to C and then calls it B13. It's not properly a B13. |
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Chris Scruggs
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 24 Nov 2007 6:00 pm
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This is B11 with an omitted root. Basically, it's A6 with the 5th string flattened from E to Ed.
E
C#
A
F#
Ed
E
C#
A
F#
I personally prefer
.015
.018
.022 plain
.024wound
.030
.034
.042
.054
for A6 and B11 tunings. Don Helms drops his 6th string from C# to C and then calls it B13. It's not properly a B13. If you raise the 5th and 6th strings up half a step it's back to A6. |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Nov 2007 12:55 am
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Since I achive my B11 by re-tuning my Byrd 8-str. C6/A7, the strings that I'm using are gauged as follows on a 22½” scale-length:
C6/A7 ~ B11
E ~ E .016p
C ~ C# .018p
A ~ A .024p
G ~ F# .026w
E ~ D# .032w
C# ~ C# .038w
C ~ A .040w
Lo-A ~ Lo-B .072w
If your scale-length is 24½”, I would definately suggest going one size (gauge) smaller on each string.
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 25 Nov 2007 2:37 am
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Ron, as you've probably gathered there are many variations of the tuning you asked about.
The one I listed is the one favoured by the Hawaii Calls players like Jules Ah See et al.
John Bechtel's version and gauges are very practical, and if you need a TRUE B9th chord within it, then all you have to do is DROP the sixth string from C# to B and bring the Lo A UP to B and you have transformed John's F#m13 (or F#m7 added 6) to the B11th, thus giving you C6/A7 and the others discussed.
Last edited by basilh on 25 Nov 2007 2:41 am; edited 1 time in total |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 25 Nov 2007 2:40 am
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| John is 100% correct with the gauges information, for the sake of clarity what scale length IS your guitar Ron ? |
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Ron Losey
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 25 Nov 2007 8:54 pm
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| the steel guitar i'm using is an older Fender, I think its a fender 800 pedal steel guitar, but i'm not susing the pedals, want to learn with out pedals, not sure of the lenght of it at this time |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Nov 2007 9:08 pm
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If it's an 800 model, (10-string) it would be a 23” scale and still practical for the heavy-gauges. (W/O pedal-changes) If it's an older 400 model, (8-string) it probably has a 24½” scale and would require the lighter-gauge strings. The general rule-of-thumb for string-gauges for a pedal-steel used to be, use the gauge (size) string that is intended for the highest pitch. An example would be: a string that is tuned to both (B) & (C#) would use the gauge that corresponds to the (C#), because; that is the higher pitch of the two. [.017p]
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster
Last edited by John Bechtel on 25 Nov 2007 9:54 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ron Losey
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 25 Nov 2007 9:28 pm
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| thats what i'm looking for is the B tunning that Don Helms Uses, i have the E tunning, but wanted to try the B tunning. I want to thank you guys for all your help i sure do apprieciate it |
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Ron Losey
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2007 6:21 pm
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| it must be a Fender 400, because both necks have 8 strings, what would be a good tunning to have on the second neck, the tunning i have on the one neck now is an E6 |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Nov 2007 9:58 pm
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If you have this E6:
G#
E
C#
B
G#
E
C#
A
You might want to try either of these C6 tunings:
G_______E_______E
E_______C_______C
C_______A_______A
A_______G_______G
G_______E_______E
E_______C_______C# = C6/A7
C_______A_______A
A_______G/F_____E
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster |
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Ron Losey
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2007 5:52 am
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Thanks John, I've used the first C6 tunning on a 6 string lap steel, and still have it tuned to that, so will try the other 2 c6 tunnings on my 8 string fender.
Thanks alot for all your help!
Ron |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 27 Nov 2007 7:33 am
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| Ron it's a Fender 1000, the 400 is a SINGLE neck.. |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Nov 2007 10:41 am
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You could also try the C6/A7 and then you can retune, with the same strings to several other tunings for experimenting! Here are (3):
C6/A7 ________ E9 ___ B11
.015p = E _____ E ____ E
.018p = C _____ B ____ C#
.022p = A _____ G# ___ A
.024w = G _____ F# ___ F#
.030w = E _____ E ____ D#
.036w = C# ____ D ____ C#
.038w = C _____ G# ___ A
.070w = Lo-A __ Lo-B __ Lo-B
This might be a little advanced, but; it's something to think about for the future! I use this on one neck of my Triple–10 Remington. The only difference with mine is that I have two extra strings on top. [#1 = (D) and #2 = B] Don't bother with these at all! I'm just blowing off steam with something someone else might want to try on a 10-string guitar. I have the 22½” Short-Scale, so; my string-gauges are slightly heavier also! It really expands the possibilities!
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster
Last edited by John Bechtel on 27 Nov 2007 8:09 pm; edited 3 times in total |
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Dave Stagner
From:
Minnesota, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2007 11:16 am
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Here's a page with Don Helms' tunings...
http://www.well.com/user/wellvis/donhelms.html
From my own listening/learning, he hardly ever used that B13. And it's basically a B11 with two added lower strings. Most of his songs can be done on a C6 six-string, but must be transposed up a major third, making them a bit harder to play... that tight-strung E6 really has its own sound!
_________________
I don’t believe in pixie dust, but I believe in magic.
1967 ZB D-10
1990 OMI Dobro
Recording King lap steel with Certano benders |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Nov 2007 11:30 am
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If you wish to emulate Don Helms, it's almost a necessity that you use E6-Tuning as opposed to the C6-Tuning, even though the intervals are the same. About the only alternative is the ‘proper’ bright Amplifier settings. Even that won't quite get it! IMHO There's just something special about the E6-Tuning! (In just about any amp.!)
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 27 Nov 2007 5:52 pm
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Ron, would you please, please, correct the spelling of tunning to tuning ?!  We're not talking about tuna here ! |
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