| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic I'm lost tuning my ten string non pedal in A6th
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  I'm lost tuning my ten string non pedal in A6th
Warren Morrisett


From:
Connecticut, USA
Post  Posted 3 Aug 2008 2:02 pm    
Reply with quote

I'm a newbie, God such a newbie. I'm tryng to tune my ten string non pedal in Remington's A6, F# A C# E F# A C# E. Aside from what to do about the two lowest strings, I am completly befuddled. I keep popping strings when I try to tune strings an octave from each other. It seems that when I tune the top string to E and then go an octave lower for the 5th sting E, either the 5th string is too darn low, or the 1st string is so high it pops. Am I making myself clear? Seems theres no happy medium and I keep busting strings and keep Bobby Lee busy ordering more. I know I'm missing something here. I've ordered the gauges that were suggested as correct for Remington style tuningand I'm using a chromatic tuner. Can someone help me out here. Whoa!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Rick Alexander


From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 3 Aug 2008 4:29 pm    
Reply with quote

Hi Warren,
Try this 10 string A6 tuning with these gauges:
E - .015
C# - .018
A - .022
F# - .026
E - .030
C# - .034
A - .042
F# - .056
D - .060
A - .070



I don't know why you're breaking strings.
What kind of guitar is it, and what is the scale length?
Do they always break at the nut, or at the bridge?
_________________

BIG STEEL
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Bill Brummett

 

From:
Greensburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Post  Posted 4 Aug 2008 10:37 am    
Reply with quote

My 10 string "Herbie" A6 pedal steel(a 24" Remington Sustainmaster) set up is very similar to the guages Rick showed. On the lower octave, I go just a teeny bit heavier. Here's mine(note that I use an E on #9 instead of D, but I use the same guage string. I also use these gauges on my T8 26" Stringmaster on the A6 neck and I've never had a broken string.

E .014
C# .018
A .022
F# .026
E .032
C# .038
A .044
F# .054
E .060
A .070
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Rick Alexander


From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 4 Aug 2008 4:30 pm    
Reply with quote

The D on the 9th string is optional - E would be the correct pitch for a true A6 tuning,
but the D gives you a big Maj7 chord and more harmonic possibilities.
You can easily use both.

On my top neck I use an E6 tuning with an A on the bottom, which is relatively the same thing.
Sometimes I raise it to B, it just depends.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
J D Sauser


From:
Wellington, Florida
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2008 9:13 am    
Reply with quote

Why not add two "chromatics" (inside out add-on strings) on top instead the two bottom notes. A6th can be somewhat muddy anyways as JB's C6th top three string intervals are set back a minor third.

Check out pedal E9th and Maurice Anderson's C6th "chromatic".

... J-D.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Bill Brummett

 

From:
Greensburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2008 11:40 am    
Reply with quote

When I want to use that approach, I just use the E9th neck. To each his own, but I just prefer to keep the A6th and C6th tunigs pretty much standard.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Warren Morrisett


From:
Connecticut, USA
Post  Posted 6 Aug 2008 8:45 am    
Reply with quote

I wish I knew what the problem was, but I'll try the larger gauge strings and hope that solves it.

Warren
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Charles Davidson

 

From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 6 Aug 2008 11:08 am    
Reply with quote

Warren,welcome,try what Rick said,You are proberly breaking strings because you don't have the right gauges.DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC !
View user's profile Send private message
Rick Aiello


From:
Berryville, VA USA
Post  Posted 6 Aug 2008 11:42 am     Re: I'm lost tuning my ten string non pedal in A6th
Reply with quote

Warren Morrisett wrote:
I keep popping strings when I try to tune strings an octave from each other.

It seems that when I tune the top string to E and then go an octave lower for the 5th sting E, either the 5th string is too darn low, or the 1st string is so high it pops.

Am I making myself clear?

I'm using a chromatic tuner.

Can someone help me out here.

I wish I knew what the problem was, but I'll try the larger gauge strings and hope that solves it.


Sounds like you are having issues with the correct octaves each string should be tuned to ...

Try using this site ...

http://www.get-tuned.com/guitar_tuner.php

It allows you to choose the appropriate notes (click on the little circles) ... in the correct octaves ...

Then it will play that note ... so you can match it up with your steel/chromatic tuner.

From high to low ... using the designations on that site*

E is E5 ... (same as a high E on a regular guitar)

C# is C#5

A is A4

F# is F#4

E is E4 ...

C# is C#4

A is A3 ... (same as the A string on a regular guitar)

F# is F#3

E is E3 ... (same as low E on a regular guitar)

A is A2 ...

Once you get this done ... I.E. tuning up using Equal Temperament ... and are not snapping any more strings ...

We can discuss tuning w/o that tuner (or MIDI generator that I linked to) ... but first things first Winking Laughing

* Disclaimer:

I used the designations for the octaves ... E5, A4, etc ... that the above online tuner used.

In physics texts:

C4 (middle C) is 261.626 Hz
E4 (the high E string on a guitar) is 329.628 Hz
A4 is 440 Hz
E5 is 659.255 Hz
Etc ...
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron