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Topic: G6 anyone? |
John Groover McDuffie
From:
LA California, USA
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Posted 23 Nov 2009 9:48 am |
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I was fooling around with a few lap steels and tunings last night and I fell into an 8-string straight G6 tuning: low to high E-G-B-D-E-G-B-D. It just seemed to "feel right", probably due to my dobro playing.
I know a lot of people use the equivalent whole-step-higher A6 tuning, but I wonder how common the G6 equivalent is. (I'm especially thinking electric, it's probably more common on dobros) |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 23 Nov 2009 10:45 am
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| Cindy Cashdollar uses it and other folks as well. |
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Tom Cooper
From:
Orlando, Fl
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Posted 23 Nov 2009 2:26 pm G6
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| I just opened for a band from NY called the Wiyos and their steel man was playing a Gibson Consolette with the back neck tuned to G6 with a maj 7 24gauge on the bottom. It sounded like magic. He also had mad chops to go with it plus a 40's National amp that was just dripping with tone. I would have thought G6 would be to bassy but it was beautiful. He played that neck the whole night. His other neck was some open D tuning, kinda bluesy. G6 is alright to my ears. I'm still gonna use A6 because it just fits my band arangements and sound. Nothing wrong with G6. TC |
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Jerry Tillman
From:
Florida
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Posted 23 Nov 2009 8:09 pm g6 E on top
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| I,ve been foolin around with G6 E for the 1st string and I,m kinda liking it.I think I,m going to make me a 7 string dobro gbdgbde.I do a lot of my playing thinking of the G tuning as E minor 7th. |
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Ulric Utsi-Åhlin
From:
Sweden
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Posted 23 Nov 2009 11:06 pm
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Well,my Dobro´s in a G 6th/4th tuning,lo to hi:
G,B,D,E,G,B,A,C...only problem is,I find stage use
a bit cumbersome,what with miking,internal PU´s
causing feedback etc,otherwise I´d be excercising
the Dobro a bit more.McUtsi |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 24 Nov 2009 12:09 am
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| G 6/9 for me GAEGBD |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 24 Nov 2009 8:45 pm
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Been awhile since I've played any lap or dobro. But on the dobro I used a tuning similar to AJ'S On dobro used the reg G tuning,DBGDBG bottom to top, if I wanted a western swing sound to play something like Pan Handle Rag, would pull the fourth string from D to E. Made it G6th. worked good. only took a second to tune it back and fourth. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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D Schubert
From:
Columbia, MO, USA
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Posted 24 Nov 2009 9:26 pm
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| When I got a double-eight, I tuned it to A6 and E13. I thought that I would get some "synergy" out of these two tunings, as they share some note with E9th pedal steel with pedals "up" and "down". But all the years of bluegrass Dobro in G seemed to mess up my A6 playing, especially when I'd go up the neck and grab a position that was two frets off. I got some thicker strings and moved the A6 down to G6, and have not looked back at all. The other neck is still E13. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 25 Nov 2009 1:47 am
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As Cindy Cashdollar advises on the six string dobro tuning when switching back and forth between low-to-high, GBDGBD to GBEGBD for the G6 tuning, keep a lighter gauge string on for the fourth,like a .034 instead of the typical .036 in a dobro set.
How do I know? I've broken several of the .036's.
I've even broken some of the .034's after a number of tuning switches. I guess the strings don't like all the up and down and up business.
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Mark |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Nov 2009 10:03 am
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| I never had the breakage issue |
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Michael Papenburg
From:
Oakland, CA
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Posted 25 Nov 2009 11:16 am
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I love G6 and have used it for years on my 6-String Supro Comet. I prefer the following incarnation:
D
B
G
E
D
B |
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Tom Wolverton
From:
Carpinteria, CA
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Posted 25 Nov 2009 11:33 am G9th?
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I use G6th a lot when I play with a Cajun band. But I tune the bottom string down to a 7th (i.e. an F instead of an E)
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To write with a broken pencil is pointless. |
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Val Drummond
From:
Maryland
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Jim Bates
From:
Alvin, Texas, USA
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Posted 25 Nov 2009 7:31 pm
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I keep my 7-string Dobro in G6th
(H-L) D B G E D B G
Great for 'Cowboy' music gigs and old swing stuff.
Thanx,
Jim |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2009 10:05 pm
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C6, E6, G6, A6. To me they all seem like variations on a theme. I use C6 primarily because I play with so many people who like to play in Bb, Eb, Dm, Gm, etc. And I like where those keys are located on C6. Otherwise, I could surely see myself using any of the others.
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Amor vincit omnia |
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Jim Bates
From:
Alvin, Texas, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2009 7:44 am
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Yes, they are all 'variations on a theme'. I used the A6th on my Fender T-8 depending on the singers I was palying for who would sing a lot of stuff in C, Bb plus do a lot instrumentals in those keys.
My 7-string Dobro does not sound good in the higher keys (A6th or E6th or D6th). This highly depends on the guitar in this case, so I keep G6th on it.
When I played a lot of Hawaiian gigs, we did a roaming hawaiian band set where I would play the 7-stringer using an modified E13 (h-l) E C# B G# E D E in which I could do lots of Hawaiian, plus still get
good jazz or swing sounds.
There's no disagreement here, it is just that we all have different reasons for our tunings. However, if there are still some who are still searching for 'the perfect' tuning for them, I still say experiment, experiment and do some more experimenting with all kinds of tunings. Make up your own.
Thanx,
Jim |
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Olli Haavisto
From:
Jarvenpaa,Finland
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Posted 27 Nov 2009 9:21 am Re: G9th?
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| Tom Wolverton wrote: |
| I use G6th a lot when I play with a Cajun band. But I tune the bottom string down to a 7th (i.e. an F instead of an E) |
I have that on my 8 string McKenna. Same intervals as the C13 tuning Junior Brown uses. I`ve been thinking about putting a Hipshot extender tuner just for the 8th string, to get both the sixth and the seventh with the lever. Has anyone tried that ?
Here`s a link: http://store.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=7
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Olli Haavisto
Finland |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Nov 2009 1:24 pm
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| Edward Meisse wrote: |
| C6, E6, G6, A6. To me they all seem like variations on a theme. I use C6 primarily because I play with so many people who like to play in Bb, Eb, Dm, Gm, etc. And I like where those keys are located on C6. Otherwise, I could surely see myself using any of the others. |
I use G6/9 in all keys and styles. In fact flat keys are preferred. There's a misconception among steelers that the tuning HAS to dictate what you play (like it's good for swing, cowboy, hawaiian, etc.). While there are tunes that work better any tune and style work in any tuning for the most part. |
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Jim Bates
From:
Alvin, Texas, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2009 2:37 pm
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It's not a mis-conception, it is experience. It's the voicing of the chords at the neck position for the key being played that makes 'the sound' or not, for me.
Do what you feel comfortable playing, that's what most of us do.
Thanx,
Jim |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Nov 2009 5:59 pm
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By continuously switching tuning to suit the song you don't get the opportunity to truly dig in to a tuning like you do on standard tuning guitar. Alternate tunings are like a capo, it helps get interesting alternate sounds but, used as an immediate go to solution it limits mental growth towards well roudned musicianship where in you play music utiliZing the instrument the instead of the instrument playing you.
I'm not saying avoid using many tunings. i am saying don't use them to box yourself in to cliches. Experience based on thinking inside that same box isn't so much growth experience as it is following a comfort zone based rut. |
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Tom Wolverton
From:
Carpinteria, CA
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Posted 28 Nov 2009 6:43 pm
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AJ - A fun way to combat that is to learn to play a solo for a given song on both necks of a D-8 (for example). If the song gives you two solos, do one on each neck. It's a nice way to break ruts.
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To write with a broken pencil is pointless. |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Nov 2009 8:42 pm
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| I do that with one 6 string neck by changing thought process from horizontal to vertical to angular, etc. |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 30 Nov 2009 2:46 am
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I have two Dobros, one in standard G tuning and the other in G6th (B D E G B D). I had an old ShoBro years ago which was a 7 string and had the standard G tuning on the first three and last three strings with an E string on position 4. That's how I discovered G6th. I love it!....JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!! |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2009 3:18 pm
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| AJ Azure wrote: |
| Edward Meisse wrote: |
| C6, E6, G6, A6. To me they all seem like variations on a theme. I use C6 primarily because I play with so many people who like to play in Bb, Eb, Dm, Gm, etc. And I like where those keys are located on C6. Otherwise, I could surely see myself using any of the others. |
I use G6/9 in all keys and styles. In fact flat keys are preferred. There's a misconception among steelers that the tuning HAS to dictate what you play (like it's good for swing, cowboy, hawaiian, etc.). While there are tunes that work better any tune and style work in any tuning for the most part. |
I agree, AJ. I don't change tunings no matter what I'm playing. And I also vary my playing style by going across the strings one time and along the strings at other times as well as mixing up melody chord and single string play. I definitely go along with the idea that I am likely to only ever play one tuning really well. And I'm going to put on my helmet and duck my head after saying this. But I think the lap steel will continue being referred to as a, "Folk Instrument," and considered to be in a class with auto harps and zithers and dulcimers until there is at least a quasi-universal tuning that is generally seen as being workable for anything you might want to play. 
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Amor vincit omnia |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Dec 2009 11:11 pm
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| Edward Meisse wrote: |
| AJ Azure wrote: |
| Edward Meisse wrote: |
| C6, E6, G6, A6. To me they all seem like variations on a theme. I use C6 primarily because I play with so many people who like to play in Bb, Eb, Dm, Gm, etc. And I like where those keys are located on C6. Otherwise, I could surely see myself using any of the others. |
I use G6/9 in all keys and styles. In fact flat keys are preferred. There's a misconception among steelers that the tuning HAS to dictate what you play (like it's good for swing, cowboy, hawaiian, etc.). While there are tunes that work better any tune and style work in any tuning for the most part. |
I agree, AJ. I don't change tunings no matter what I'm playing. And I also vary my playing style by going across the strings one time and along the strings at other times as well as mixing up melody chord and single string play. I definitely go along with the idea that I am likely to only ever play one tuning really well. And I'm going to put on my helmet and duck my head after saying this. But I think the lap steel will continue being referred to as a, "Folk Instrument," and considered to be in a class with auto harps and zithers and dulcimers until there is at least a quasi-universal tuning that is generally seen as being workable for anything you might want to play. |
preach brother, preach lol
Moving towards the long tradition of higher musical education and thinking of it as a musical instrument not a (insert genre) instrument will help too. When its' own players pigeon hole it in to very narrow stylistic definitions how are the average listeners going to think any differently?
I wouldn't pick C6 as the standard because, it's too high in my opinion unless you've got more than 6 strings and you go lower. |
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