First 10 String Final Tuning.........For Now

Eldon Cangas · From: Ontario, Canada

I’m seriously considering the following 2 - 10 string lapsteel C6 tunings

I’ve read most of the tuning articles on the forum but I’d like to clarify a bit of confusion especially the high and low strings. Greg Cutshaw’s 12 string shows the following:

D .015
B .018
G .013
E .014
C .017
A .022w
G .024w
E .030w
C .036w
A .042w
F .054w
D .068w

I’d be dropping the low F & D since I’m a bit partial to plain strings. But the above gauges puzzle me they are out of sequence how does this work? Perhaps they give a different texture like a 12 string guitar??

The following one also interests me.

A .010
G .012
E .014
C .017
A .021
G .024W
E .030W
C .036W this could easily change to a C# if there is any wisdom to it
A .042W
F .054W

string gauges off John Ely’s String Gauge Chart).

I’ve modeled both tunings in Excel and I see good utility in both of them The music will be mainly country with some divergence into songs like Harbor Lights, All of Me, Moonglow etc. Both tunings give at least 3 string chords with few slants most within 4 frets of each other (not a problem I just have to work on my slants more). All said & done I’m probably favouring the 1st tuning. Unless someone can show me more advantages for the the 2nd one. Where is my thinking taking me astray? Is there another variation with the second one that would be more useful than what I have presented?

I’d like to order my strings in a few days.

Any comments will be appreciated. Warmest regards to all! Eldon

Drew Howard · From: 48854

The top tuning looks like Reece Anderson's and the 1st and 2nd strings are chromatic much like the pedal steel E9 tuning. So your highest pitched string is the G on #3. Thus you will have several scale notes without moving the bar a la E9 and some cool chords, too.

Besides Greg's playing I would study any Youtube video of Reece (there are several) or obtain Bobbe Seymour's Superslide DVD w/ Reece to fully appreciate what his masterful approach and C6 chromatic tuning can do.

Good Luck!

Drew
_________________
http://www.drewhoward.com

Jeremy Threlfall · From: now in Western Australia

Terry Farmer · From: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Your 5th string down from the top is C. the second string down (B) is tuned 1/2 step below the C. the top or D string is tuned 1 whole step above that C. Note the string gauges listed. It is still taking me some getting used to, but it opens up all kinds of additional chordal positions, double stops and chromatic single note runs. Reece Anderson is an absolute master steel guitarist. That thought keeps me trusting his suggested tuning and keeps me plugging away trying to get used to the re-entrant strings. Good luck with whatever tuning you choose. Oh, and another master, in my opinion, told me to quit screwing around with different tunings. He said pick one and learn it backwards, forwards, inside and out! That's probably the best advice I've recieved to date. Now.......to just follow it!

Danny Bates · From: Fresno, CA. USA

Eldon, I would use the first tuning you posted. I wouldn't change a thing. It's perfect.

You need that low D so you can play an Am7 (strings 10,9,8,7) over the top of it. IMHO, That's the best 5 chord for pop and jazz.
You also need that low F because you build your 1 chord off of that note. In other words, Your 1 chord is FAC. Your 2 chord is the next group of strings 2 frets lower. Come back up to the 3 chord (A,C,E) If you keep following this pattern, you will see that within 2 frets (and on 3 strings that are next to each other), you have the 1,2,3,4,5, chords of the F scale. If you now look at strings 5,4 and 3, You have the same pattern in the key of C. These strings are higher pitched and the fact that they can be notes right next to each other makes no difference.... they still sound good.

So, in summary, within 2 frets you have the 1 thru 5 chords of the key of F and C... pretty dang good.

Rick Winfield · From: Pickin' beneath the Palmettos

Using D and B as the chromatic strings(1+2) on a C6 non-pedal, will give the change you have on a PSG using pedal 7.(just one example) Very versatile tuning. Maurice put a lot of thought into it, and now the rest of us can try to catch up !!
thanks Reece,
Rick

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