Pros and Cons of tuning your pedal steel half step down

Kenny Brown · From: Auburn, Alabama, USA

I play in a band and occasionally the singer and guitar player tune their guitars a half step down from standard tuning. The guitar player suggested I tune down my guitar(GFI Ultra D-10) a half step as well. I refused to do it. I personally don't think it's a good idea especially for me a beginner(2 years on pedal steel)to fool around with tuning down a half step and start messing things up on my guitar when I can simply move my bar a half step and be on key.

any thoughts? I'll hang up and listen.

Micky Byrne · From: United Kingdom (deceased)

Hi Kenny, just stay as you are and "don't" tune down just because they do. At two years playing you know all your chord positions and you have your arsenal of licks you have learned so you won't have trouble backing any singer in any keys they sing in. You should ask them to tune up to normal and use Capos if they needed open shapes for Chords, besides tuning down will alter all the tension on your strings and cause you problems unless you went to different Gauge strings...Just stay as you are!! Wink

Micky Byrne United Kingdom www.mickybyrne.com

Sho-Bud and Carter universals

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

Kenny, I agree, there are no "pros" to tuning down.

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · From: Ayrshire, Scotland

The guitar player is not an expert in pedal steel mechanics. Tell him No, No, No! It's set up that way, with those string gauges, for a reason. It'll knock out everything on your steel if you listen to his/her advice. DON'T DO IT!

Arch.
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Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I agree with the chorus of "Don't Do It". Your instincts are correct.

Guitar players sometimes tune down to Eb because the singer likes to take songs in common guitar keys - like E, G, A, and D - and sing them a half-tone flat to suit their voices better. On guitar, this sometimes makes sense because certain things work better using open strings available in these keys.

In addition, some players - Stevie Ray Vaughn, for example - used that very effectively to get a different tonality by tuning down with heavy strings. This tonality worked well for the blues and blues-rock style he was playing. These tunes were typically done in keys where he could use a lot of open strings.

But pedal steel is completely different. Except on certain tunes, open-strings are generally no advantage at all. In fact, when playing in E, one needs to slide or otherwise take the bar off the strings to get the pedals-up open E. On most songs, using open strings is no advantage - in fact, it's often more difficult.

As Arch and Micky say, changing tuning changes string tension, and changes your pedal and lever leverage adjustments. You would need to re-adjust everything.

In addition, the tone would tend to be less brilliant. I suppose that might be good for some things, but if you're looking for the standard brilliant pedal steel tone, this is not an improvement.

My opinions, of course.

Jerry Heath · From: Harrah, Oklahoma, USA

I tried this once on my Sierra Uni. (Bb6 instead of B6) The experience was challenging; everything being a half step lower. It can be done, but I don't recommend it. As far as the sound, I couldn't tell much difference in the tone by the strings not having as much tension. The are a couple of pro's IMO. You don't get the overtones at the 12th fret while playing in A. That's because your playing A on the 11th fret. The other pro could possibly be less breaking the 3rd string because of less tension. Myself, I didn't see any difference in 3rd strings breaking because I use Jagwire Strings. Smile

I've been using Jagwires now for 3 years and I have yet experienced a broken 3rd string.
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David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

I tune my C6th S10 to Bb quite often, because I like the tone. It's stringier somehow, less shiny.... I know that's the exact opposite of what a lot of people play steel for. I don't have to change anything underneath, just retune the end nuts. I don't use open strings, but I still think it's absolutely good for me to have to adjust chord positions every now and then, if you never try anything different you'll just never know what it'll do.

Ernie Pollock · From: Mt Savage, Md USA

Kenny: I keep my rear neck of my double 10 tuned to B6th, but if I were you, I would leave that E9th tuned up to standard. I do that because I play a Universal E9th & its makes it easy for me to play the D-10 with a B6th on the back. E9th is a very 'lively' tuning.

Ernie Pollock

Bill Mayville · From: Las Vegas Nevada * R.I.P.

At any stage of your playing,your ability should
not have to include tuning different than standard.
If they can't use a standard tuning,they are not worth playing with.
Just my opinion.
Bill
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Kenny Brown · From: Auburn, Alabama, USA

thanks to everyone for the input. I have no desire to tune my guitar down as 95% of the gigs I play are in standard tuning, and I don't mind the challenge of playing in a different key if someone I gig with likes to tune down that half step every now and then.

It wouldn't be a smart idea for me to do as a beginner and then if I turn around the next night and play with a band that is in standard I would have to re-string my guitar with proper guage strings for standard on the E9 neck. I like to keep fresh strings on my guitar but I can't be changing them from one night to the next!
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Dave Van Allen · From: Doylestown, PA , US , Earth

As long as you are comfortable transposing everything a half step off, then stay right where you are. 5% ain't worth it.

I'd tune down a half step if I was in the 1966 Buckaroos. But somebody already has that job. No other reason I can think of. Cool

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Asking a guitar player to play S G Rag in Eb, is "fightin' words."
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Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

I don't have a problem with the tuning down thing.
A half step makes a big difference for me and alot of people, vocally. Much easier to sing everything.
I sometimes play with bands that do this.
They want to do the Buck Ownes thing, is usually the reason.
'Just another tune up for me. Yeah, you have to whip through ever string/pedal/lever, but once you hit the open strings, it's usually just a tweak for the the pedals levers.
Having tried it both ways, I prefer to tune with the rest of the band than have to play a fret off all night.
It's all good though, whatever anyone chooses to do.
~pb

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

You could get a D-10 and tune the back neck to Eb9.

Chuck Thompson · From: Illinois, USA

hi kenny -im a beginner too - my opinion from personal experience is that these guys advising to keep your tuning are right - or if you do tune down , stay there and transpose with those in standard. the band i play in tunes a half step down and for a while i tuned down(and tuned back up when jamming with others) - i ran in to problems moving back and forth with keeping the tunings stable - it seems the guitar likes to have a steady tension - i play guitar with the band also and do tune it down but now keep the steel at "e" - mentally it's a fun challenge and i have only got caught once - kicking off "way to survive" a half stop sharp was pretty interesting for about 4 beats Very Happy

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Mike P.,

Having a guitar player ask me to play Steel Guitar Rag is fightin' words. Wink

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Clyde Mattocks · From: Kinston, North Carolina, USA

I play gigs sometimes with a band that tunes down a half step and they do some Bakersfield and Waylon.
I have a Fender 400 that I keep tuned down just for
them. Advantages: no breaking the G# (or G as it may be) every fifth song.
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