Tuning suggestions: C6 or A6?

Cliff Kane · From: the late great golden state

Hi folks, this might be a weak question, but I'm wondering why people would take the A6 tuning over the C6 tuning, or C6 over A6. I've had one 6 string lap steel tuned to C6, but I've just aquired a second lap steel that is tuned to 8 string A6. Now that I've got a second lap steel I'm thinking of putting one of them to an E or E7 tuning for blues, and keeping one in either C6 or A6. As far as I can tell after only playing the A6 for a short time, it's much like the C6 but with a bassier voicing. It would be great to hear why people go with one of these 6th tunings over the other.

Thank you,
Cliff

Stephan Miller · From: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA

For me, A6 has some advantages. It contains the intervals of C6 on the middle 6 strings-- from the 3rd fret up you've got C6 on a shorter scale. And tab for 6 and 8-string C6 is still going to work.

Just as important is the addition of the 5th interval on top-- real handy for melody playing, and it gives you many more straight-bar chords and useful slants. Also translates well to standard dobro tuning.

I like the slightly bassier register, although in a higher-volume band C6 will cut through the mix a little better.

--Steve

basilh · From: United Kingdom

The A6th is preferable if you want a 5th on top and don't want a thin sound.
Conversely if you want projection without volume and to be noticeable in the mix, then the C6th with the High "G" is the way to go.
IMHO

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

I like A6 too. The deeper tone sounds great for Western Swing and Hawaiian. Also, I can retune a couple of strings and get a B11 tuning.

Carroll Hale · From: EastTexas, USA

C E G A C E.....my C6th from bass(top) to bottom...

would A6 be as follows: A C# E F# A C#...or ?????

thanks for any help....still new to this stuff..
ch

Todd Clinesmith · From: Lone Rock Free State Oregon

I am a fan of A6 as well, for the same reasons described above . Also it relates well to the E13 tuning that I use .
Todd

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

The 6 string A6 which uses the same strings as the 6 string C6 would be from hi to lo (E-C#-A-F#-E-C#).
_________________
Amor vincit omnia

basilh · From: United Kingdom

basilh · From: United Kingdom

Cliff sorry for straying but I saw 5 question marks in Carroll's post, and as others do, I thought I'd interject with some help.

Cliff Kane · From: the late great golden state

Hey Basil, thank you for jumping in and sharing your knowledge. You're not straying at all, my friend: you're expanding the conversation in a postive and informative way. These tuniing are new for a lot of us, and theory is something that a lot of are still in the process of understanding. I'm really glad Carroll posted and you responded. Great info. Thanks to everyone for your good input. I'm learning alot about these tunings here. Please keep the info coming in!

Cheers,
Cliff

basilh · From: United Kingdom

Thanks Cliff, that's nice to hear, so, here's a Tit-bit (UK Colloquialism) or Tid-bit (as you may say)
:-
drop the fifth scalic note of the chord of any of the above tunings (E6th A6th C6th) to obtain a nice 9th or 11th tuning as in the B11th .. A6th with the lower 5th dropped down 1 step.
E-C#-A-F#-D#-B-A-B
or the D9th E-C-A-F#-E-C-A-E
Or F#9th E-C#-A#-G#-E-C#-A#-F#
The ninth and eleventh tunings should be complimented by a regular tuning on the other neck of you're playing a twin etc.
The ninth and eleventh tunings are very effective for playing in a minor mode..
For instance : D9th is also Am6th and most of the B11th is actually A6th on the top four strings or F#min6 or 7 depending which strings you play..

Cliff Kane · From: the late great golden state

Very cool. That's excellent. Thanks, Basil.

Cliff

Cliff Kane · From: the late great golden state

well,
since I've been living with the A6 I'm really liking it. I'm used to playing C6, but the lower register of A6 seems to bring out some swampier stuff (maybe that's not best word to use!?). It's interesting how changing the register of the 6 tuning makes it feel very different.

Cliff

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

For me, it's not only the sound. It's also where the different positions are located on the neck. Because of who I play with and the type of music I play, I play pretty often in Bb and Eb and sometimes even in Ab. C6 puts these keys in very convenient places on the neck.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia

Fred Bova · From: Connecticut, USA

I'm in the middle, sort of... I play an 8 string that is based in G6 but I add a Major7 on top as my first string.

Strings 2 thru 5 intervals are like High C6/A6 but the top major7th gives me more range, and my choice of notes for 6, 7, and 8, give me some good alt for 2 note harm lines.

1st String = f#
2nd String = d
3rd String = b
4th String = G
5th String = E
6th String = D
7th String = C
8th String = B

I have found that there is some historical ref to this tuning, that even though I found this thru trial and error, I did not "Re-invent the wheel".

When I emailed Alan Akaka as to a ref he made to an FMajor7th tuning.

"and Fmaj7 (E-C-A-F-D-C-A-F)"

1st String = e
2nd String = c
3rd String = a
4th String = F
5th String = D
6th String = C
7th String = A
8th String = F

He replied with this info;

"The F maj7 tuning is one that Mel Abe (who took over Jules Ah See's spot at the Hawaiian Village's Tapa Room after his passing) had on his double 8 Fender out."

"According to musicians I played with two songs were written based on this tuning. "Tonight Mapuana" and "Straight From Hawai'i To You".

"The composer Lani Sang used the F maj7 tuning."

"Another notable musician from yesterday used a similar tuning on her 6 string and mastered it. Her name was Lovey Lui Conn and she was quite a musician and singer. The tuning was E-C-A-F-D-B. So there's a minor on the top three strings, major 7th using the top four strings, major chord using the 2nd through 4th strings, 6th chord using the 2nd to 5th strings, 9th chord strumming the bottom four, and a diminish using the bottom three strings. That's a lot of chords with different colors and that's by using a straight bar. You could find other chord combinations by using slants and split bars."

In ref to my "GHexatonic" tuning he wrote;

"Now I find your hexagonal tuning interesting with a built in major 7th, major 6th and a C chord on the open tuning. I tried playing "Sweet Leilani" utilizing the built-in four chord and came out with pleasing results."

======================================================

David Kelii used a tuning he called G13th;(No Root)

1st String = e
2nd String = c
3rd String = a
4th String = F
5th String = D
6th String = B

Lovey Lui Conn also used this tuning ;

1st String = e
2nd String = c
3rd String = a
4th String = F
5th String = D
6th String = B

Lani Sang, and Mel Abe used this FMajor7th tuning;

1st String = e
2nd String = c
3rd String = a
4th String = F
5th String = D
6th String = C
7th String = A
8th String = F

Now if you transpose my GHexatonic down one full step to "FHexatonic" you get this;

1st String = e
2nd String = c
3rd String = a
4th String = F
5th String = D
6th String = C
7th String = Bb
8th String = A

Look familiar ?

1 thu 5 are the same as David Kelii, and Lovey Lui Conn.

and...

1 thru 6 are the same as Lani Sang, and Mel Abe

I find my choice of notes/intervals on my 6th, 7th, and 8th strings allows me to do some nice two note harm lines.
( Strings 4 and 6 are 2 1/2 steps apart)
( Strings 5 and 7 are 2 steps apart )
( Strings 6 and 8 are 1 1/2 steps apart )

And, this choice of notes/interval for the strings 5, 6, 7, and 8 opens up lots of chords options.

In GHexatonic I end up with;

G
G6
GMajor7
Em
Em7
C
CMajor7

I prefer G over F because as a guitar player the positions make sense, and I like having a brighter timbre with the f# as my 1st string.

G also lets me use a plain /unwound string as my 4th string.

Try it, I am sure you will find it interesting and lots of fun.

Fred

Carroll Hale · From: EastTexas, USA

thanks fellows....
one little dumb question from me....

lots of very good comments and suggestions..from you.
wish I was 21...not 61....might learn all this stuff before I go play in the hearafter.....but, it is fun learning the new tunings,etc....
you pros really know your s&^%....thanks again.
ch

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