Joaquin Murphy Tunning

Nate Hofer · From: Overland Park, Kansas

According to Andy Volk's Lap Steel Guitar book Joaquin Murphy uses a C6/CM7 tunning:

High to low - G E C A G E C# B
The B (8th) string is .020 plain

So my my question is: How does one use that B string?

I've been trying different tunings and this one is really interesting with that unexpected high string down there.

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

For starters, just in straight chords, it gives you a Cmaj7, A-7,9, G6,9, A7,9. Nose of the bar on GE and pull the "tail" down a fret B to Bb and you have a C7. I'm sure a lot of other people will take it from here...

Nate Hofer · From: Overland Park, Kansas

Thank you. I do know that much. Actually I see there's a book of transcribed Murphy solos. That's probably perfect.

Nate Hofer · From: Overland Park, Kansas

Wow, it's sold out. Well, can anyone give me a quicky lesson/tab on basic Joaquin Murphy licks with the B string.

Nils Fliegner · From: Germany

The book did not use that special tuning. The solos transcribed were for C6 tuning: E-C-A-G-E-C-(A)-(G or E).

I think the key to the Murphey tuning is to visualise that the high B is between A and C strings in pitch.
So, a four-note-grip on the bottom strings B-C#-E-G would really sound C#-E-G-B (=fat A9 chord).
This way you can use a note that would be impractical if located at where it really belongs: C#-E-G-A-B-C-E-G

It's more a "grip-tuning" than a strum-tuning, IMHO.
I was not able to get a lot out of it. Mostly because I'm no Joaquin Murphey Laughing

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Frustrating until it suddenly occurred to me ... Joachim Murphey's name is not on my DRIVER'S License ! Bummer ! Laughing

Jerome Hawkes · From: Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA

so was he prone to use this more for chord work or lead lines - i mean, if your not a strummer, and dont use it that way - it wouldnt matter if it was in the correct order
- it sort of reminds me of Tal Farlows playing style - he would very often play the chord backwards, ie the higher strings first which hardly any guitar player does - his explanation was that it made that melody note/chord tone stand out more.
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Jim Davies · From: Charlottesville VA

First off cut the ball end off some old strings and place them on the bridge and nut with the string threded threw them .Then tune the c# back down to c 95% of what I've heard he's using a c not c# .Think of it as a bonus note to mix in on runs with strings
1 threw 4 ( try to play strings 1 threw 4 with 1st and 2nd fingers and hit the b with your thumb) do this on home postion , up one fret from home, up three frets from home and at the 4 cord postion
Also use it for cords . 7 times out of 10 when you hear him do a really cool really fast run he's hit that b string (" you can't break my heart" spade cooley,
the opening line to "call the hounds" the plaismen)
Good Luck

Russ Wever · From: Kansas City

Nate -
Ya need to hook up with Bill Dye -
He's been learning Joaquins tuning
the last several years and can clue
ya in to what it has to offer.
If ya need his contact
info lemme know.
~Russ
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