E9th or C6th Which do you prefer ?

Bill Dobkins · From: Rolla Missouri, USA

Which do you prefer to play as well as listen to ?
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Dan Hatfield · From: Columbia, Mo USA

Bill, I like both tunings equally. Some tunes I prefer on E9 (eg, Way to Survive); other tunes I prefer on C6 (eg, Nightlife)
Dan

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

I like them both,but lean towards the 6th,I like to switch back and fourth between the two on the same songs a lot.Like on steel guitar rag,Remington Ride,etc,I like to play the first ride on the 9th,let the guitar play one,then SWING it on the 6th,also like to do this on ballards also.By the way Bill,that's a beautiful rendition of Shenandoah you do.DYKBC.
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Doug Seymour · From: Jamestown NY USA (deceased)

C6 for listening & playing! Enough said??

Larry Lorows · From: Zephyrhills,Florida, USA

I prefer C6 most of the time but do switch in the middle of a song. Larry
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Steve Broatch · From: Newcastle, England

C6 to listen to. E9 to play (only cos I'm terrible on C6). Laughing

Ernie Pollock · From: Mt Savage, Md USA

I have been torn between both of them since I started steel, but I think I like the C6th the best, but do enjoy the E9th stuff. I love the old western swing style. I guess if I could have only one tuning it would be C6th.

Ernie Pollock
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Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

It's all the same to me.
E9 is a position within C6 and C6 is a position within E9.

Very Happy

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Jim Hoke · From: Tennessee, USA

I like what Larry said. Both necks are unlimited. Randy Beavers sure gets way beyond what's usually done on E9. And Tommy Hannum has done some blatantly "pure country" things on C6th. It's all there. Sometimes you have to "dig it out" as Jernigan puts it. Which points back to the idea of universal tuning. How come it didn't take over? In my case, I tried it and couldn't make sense of it. I know Tommy White made a stab at it, going so far as to play it on the Opry and in the studio. He went back.

Don Brown, Sr. · From: New Jersey

I wouldn't want to play without both necks. Both necks have their place in music. That's not saying you can't do without, but as they say, variety is the spice of life, and as has been said, C6 provides a nice change. When I think pedal steel, that thought comes automatically as "Double 10" or none.

However, if given the choice of having a single neck in either C6 or E9, it would be E9 for my overall preference. Very Happy

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

the more i play them, the more i like both necks
Nevertheless, i've got a preference for C6 cause of them neet & reet chords

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Lloyd Green has always been a BIG FAVORITE of mine.

He seems not to have any difficulty in moving around on his E9th neck for whatever style of song he chooses to play. His rendition of "San Antonio Rose" sounds just as "WESTERN SWINGY" as anyone else on C6th.

Larry is right on. Both of those tunings are inter-twined within each other. I feel some of you are merely chasing smoke simply because you don't fully understand and appreciate what each tuning has to offer. YES! The different size strings and pedal arrangements provide alternative 'sounds' but the heart of it all, is pretty much the same. IMHO

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

Since Ralph Mooney turned me on to pedal steel there's no contest, E9 all the way! As for lapsteel I'd favor a 6th tuning but it wouldn't be C.......JH in Va.
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Spencer Cullum · Posted 11 Oct 2008 9:07 am

e9th pays yer rent thou!

Stan Paxton · Posted 11 Oct 2008 9:07 am

Bill I am enjoying this thread. ...Have always loved the sounds of steel guitar ever since first heard dobro as a kid. Western Swing was wonderful with the C6 sounds, but when I started hearing them pedal moves when E9 came along with the advent of pedals, that was love at first hearing. Probably never would have taken up the steel to learn to play, if it hadn't been for pedal E9, the hard core sounds of pure country. Besides that, I can't make sense of the C6. Cool

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Joseph Barcus · From: Volga West Virginia

C6th has been a great help on my E9th if that makes sense. I hope in the nest few years I will be 70% C6th. again the C6th sheds more light on your scales and does help you a better E9th player
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Bill Dobkins · From: Rolla Missouri, USA

Well I know nothing about C6th but hope to someday.
Like Stan I love that crying country steel sound. Thats why I started. There is not a more beautiful sound in the world.Although I like Jazz and western swing It dosen't compare to that good ole country sound. (IMHO)It amaze's me what people like Tommy White,Terry Crisp, Scotty Henderson, Doug Jerigan, Jody Cameron ECT, to name a few can do on the C6th neck.
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Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Bill,all those guys you mentioned are GREAT 6th players,[this is just my opinion ONLY] But to me the greatest 6th player of all was Curly,Every steel player should have the DVD of Curly that Mike P sells,worth every dollar and more you would pay for it.A GENIUS at work.DYKBC.
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Larry Bressington · From: Nebraska

I dropped C6th for 'portability' reasons, but --- damn i miss it. You can still play swing and jazz on the E9, just dont have the fatter chords, all the scales are there and can be found easily . For chords, ill choose my voicings carefully, exstracting certain exstensions etc.
Wife sayes E9 is easier to carry, and thats all i'll ever need! Laughing

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Gotta go along with Larry Bell on this one.

I am as at home on one as the other. In fact, on my universal* I am never aware when I switch modes. It is as automatic and natural, as apple pie "and" Ice cream, as appossed to "apple pie "or" ice cream"!

Being able to use the A and B pedal(s) in the "6th" mode; or the equivalent pedals 5 thru 8 when playing in "E9th" mode is awesome.

I would never go back to a D-10. But for those who prefer them, I say "go fer it!"

Praise Jesus he gave us freedom of choice.

c.

*Note: This would in no wise be true on the standard "universal" setup.
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Danny Bates · From: Fresno, CA. USA

Larry Bressington said:

Tracy Sheehan · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

The C 6th has always been my favorite tuning,but had to use the 9th after swing died out.I have mentioned this many times that i have reversed the last 2 strings on the 9th tuning since a great steel player showed me that years ago.Wish i had worked on it more as you can do what is called raking the 9th to the 3rd with out having to skip the 9th string.
98% of the C6th can be done with this by holding down the 2 main pedals and lowering the 4th and 8th at the same time moving dowm 2 frets or up one for the dim augumented chords ect.I am surprissed more steelers have't picked up on this.
Night Life,Thompson stuff,ect can be done and sounds exactly like the C6th as you are playing the same notes only in a different position.Tracy

JERRY THURMOND · From: sullivan mo u.s.a.

C6th

Jerry

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Definitely C6th.

I even have S9 on my E9 down to C# and raise it to D.
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Jerry Dragon · From: Gate City Va.

I haven't played long enough to have an opinion but I can say finding instruction books for C6 is difficult. I have found only one and it only includes scales and modes, no chording. I don't want a CD, I need a book I can hold in my lap.
Any suggestions?

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