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Topic: 8 string lap tuning |
Paul Higgins
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 21 Jun 2010 9:01 am |
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Hello All
Been away for a while (no not in jail)
but am still studying music theroy, but have been very busy not a lot of time for practice...
but got to get back into it now things show slow down a bit....
Could you tell me popular tunings for 8 string lap no pedals please..I beleive it is better for country I dont know if I am right or not..would welcome input
A very kind person on the forum has made me an 8 string pick up so my intention is to make an 8 string.. more on the steel builders...
Thank you kindly in advance Best wishes Paul |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 21 Jun 2010 1:54 pm
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Welcome back, Paul. I've been using a tuning that Mike Neer has in his recent excellent video Steelin' From the Masters.
1. E
2. C
3. A
4. G
5. E
6. C
7. A
8. G
The nice thing about this tuning is that the top six strings are the same as the C6th tuning, plus the bottom two strings can easily be retuned in several different ways to expand upon that tuning. For example, the low G on the 8th string can be tuned down to F#, or the 7th string A can be tuned up to Bb.
I have many other eight string tunings on my web site. Of course, Andy Volk's book Slide Rules will give you more than you need to know about eight string tunings! 
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Paul Higgins
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 22 Jun 2010 8:23 am
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Hello Brad
Thank you for the imput...
when this project is done am I going to have problems with ready written tabs Ie at the moment learning and have C6 I am useing ready written tabs, but when i come to useing the 8 string are there ready written tabs availible..
There is a load of tabs about that is the stuff i like and would like to be able to play but Im finding they all seem to be written for 10 string pedal (before you shoot me down )it seems to be the only once's im comming across....
I understand that as a beginner I am missing alot and will hopfully understand more as my theroy comes along..( I hope )but with an extra 2 strings are there tabs written for this....
Altho still studying I am able to work melody out but my harmony still is not in harmony with me yet...(only a little way through the book )so it will come later...as long as I am able to know what to do with the extra strings......Best wishes Paul |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 22 Jun 2010 11:11 am
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You'll find that by far the majority of tablature for lap steel is written for six strings. That makes sense, as the majority of lap steel guitars are six string guitars.
This is one reason why the tuning listed above is a good choice. You can use the top six strings to learn the many songs available for six strings, and move into using the other strings as you learn more. The fact that the top four strings are an octave higher than the bottom four strings means you can easily play something on strings 1, 2, and 3 (for example), then an octave lower on 5, 6, and 7.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Paul Higgins
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 22 Jun 2010 11:56 am
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Thank you Brad
That makes sence now..
I did a mishap (not sure what you call it over there)
with out useing naughty words..
I went on joe Wright to down load tution on palm and pick blocking..But some how went to the wrong place and ordered down load beginner but ended up with E9
My fault..but I surpose it will be handy when I go into pedals...Thank you once again for your help
Best wishes Paul |
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Don Barnhardt
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 22 Jun 2010 6:35 pm
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| I like Brad's tuning. I used to use the high G GECAGECA but after playing six string for a while that tuning seems tinny. |
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G Strout
From:
Carabelle, Florida
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Posted 23 Jun 2010 12:43 pm
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Don, it seemed "tinny" to me too. Especially in the higher ranges. Plus it seemed to annoy my cat above the 15th fret.
I substitute an "inside out" (lower) D for the high G.
gary |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2010 12:57 pm
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| What guage were you using on the high G? I go with a 16 on my high G# (short scale, never broke a string) and depending on how I hit it, it can be quite acceptable. I wouldn't use a high anything that wasn't good sounding. |
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G Strout
From:
Carabelle, Florida
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Posted 23 Jun 2010 1:16 pm
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| I was using a .011 and went up to .012 before I went to the dropped D |
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Paul Higgins
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 23 Jun 2010 1:16 pm
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Gentelmen Brad Ron And Gary
What do you mean when yo say tinny?
also for the tuning Brad ?Mike Neer uses what gauge strings are used.
This next bit is going to sound so silly But.as you say top six for C6 and if the music/tap is written for C6 what use are the other 2 strings ( I was going to say what do I do with the other 2 strings) but thought I better not..
I see music Written for C6/A7 with the c# loads of E and so on what is the music for 8 string called,
I am learning soooooo much but it semes I have loads and loads more...It seems as some say the more I know the more I still need to know
Best wishes Paul |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 23 Jun 2010 2:52 pm
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By "tinny" I mean that the sound is relatively weak; sort of like how speaking into a tin can sounds compared to just speaking normally. The high G string that Don mentioned in his variation of this tuning might sound "tinny" to someone who was used to a more robust or stronger sound from a string tuned to E.
As far as string gauges for this C6th tuning, I'd recommend this string set sold here by b0b. Might as well help out the SGF while you're at it.
In some ways you can think of all eight string tunings as being extensions of a six string tuning. The extra two strings either extend the tuning, making additional higher or lower notes available, or augment the tuning, making additional notes available without having to slant or move the bar.
For example, the C6th tuning I mentioned above is an extended tuning, with the low A and G notes giving you more bass note possibilities. If I changed the low G to F# and the low A to Bb, I would have augmented the tuning with notes that I couldn't play without moving the bar.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Paul Higgins
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 25 Jun 2010 12:37 pm
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Hi Brad
Thank you again..Im learning all the time
I will order a st that you mention.I dident before as I ws waiting for them But I have a little time before I need them..Ill prob order a set for 6 string as we seem to have a problem getting 26 plain locally
Thank you again for your help
Best wishes Paul |
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