| Author |
Topic: custom tuning on an E9 steel |
AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Jul 2011 4:06 pm |
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Hi Folks,
I just acquired a 3 pedal 2 lever pedal steel.
Here's the deal (not for the purist so stop reading if you are).
I want to do this.
Tuning and pedal / lever adjustments based on E9 set up
F, RKL:F#
D RKR:D
B P2:C
G P3:A LKL:G# LKR: F#
E P1, P3:F#
A P2:Bb
G RKL:G#
E LKL: F LKR: D#
D RKR: C#
B P1:C#
String gauges (basically a C6 set)
12
15
17
22
30
38
42
54
56
68
So here's the question. Can I basically pop on a C6 set and with a bit, of fine tuning make this work?
The music theory aspect is right. I want to know if the mechanics will work.
The why, it's a tuning I am more happy with and will work for the music I am doing; fusion and progressive rock.
Any help is welcome, naysayers please please be gentle. Thanks! 
Last edited by AJ Azure on 27 Jul 2011 5:35 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 27 Jul 2011 5:21 pm
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That is great. I would love to hear what you come up with on that tuning.
You wrote 9 gauges for 10 strings, but it should be easy to find the right gauges. For example .017 will work for a B or C string, etc. |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Jul 2011 5:36 pm
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| fixed it thanks |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 27 Jul 2011 9:17 pm Re: custom tuning on an E9 steel
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| AJ Azure wrote: |
F, RKL:F#
D RKR:D
B P2:C
G P3:A LKL:G# LKR: F#
E P1, P3:F#
A P2:Bb
G RKL:G#
E LKL: F LKR: D#
D RKR: C#
B P1:C# |
Made a chart to help visualize it better
| Tab: |
LKL LKR P1 P2 P3 RKL RKR
F +F#
D D?
B +C
G +G# -F# ++A
E ++F# ++F#
A +Bb
G +G#
E +F -D#
D -C#
B ++C#
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Is that right?
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Jul 2011 9:56 pm
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| That's the plan! |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 27 Jul 2011 10:41 pm
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Okay, I don't understand it. First, what's RKR doing with the 2nd string? Changing D to D? 
I think what really throws me is the big interval between E and A in the middle. What's the basic theory behind this tuning? It just doesn't make sense to me.
To answer your question, I don't see anything that's hard from a mechanical perspective. It all looks very feasible.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 27 Jul 2011 11:24 pm
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| i'm basing this off my 6 string steel tuning. G 6/9: GAEGBD and extending out from it. You're right I missed string 2. Can I retune that? |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 28 Jul 2011 8:07 am
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You can do whatever you want, AJ.
I just realized that you're doing this without moving any parts from the E9th copedent. Gotta ask, why? It's not hard to re-rod a guitar to get the changes that you really want.
One challenge that I imagine is the roller nuts. On some guitars the rollers are gauged for the string sizes that are expected. The .068 string might not sit well on a roller designed for a .038.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 28 Jul 2011 8:51 am Re: custom tuning on an E9 steel
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Consider this alternative, AJ:
| Tab: |
LKL LKR P1 P2 P3 RKL RKR
F +F#
D -C#
B +C
G +G# -F# ++A
D ++E ++E
B +C
A +A#
G +G# -F#
F -E
D ++E
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This has your tuning on P1, with a B string added in the middle of it. I think you'd get used to that real fast, and the G string changes on the left knee are a lot more useful when they move in octaves.
I'd also consider retuning the 2 lowest strings to F and D. P1+RKR would then pull them together to an E unison, like a doubled low guitar E. The whole-tone scale on adjacent strings F G A B is a mind bender in progressive rock music, and it extends every 2 frets up or down the fretboard. Used just at the right time, it sounds amazing.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 29 Jul 2011 3:01 pm
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btw when I say progressive i am thinking Dream Theater, Rush, etc. The alternate tuning is intriguing. My issue is I need the extended range of the low B or even an A. I will be doing some rhythm guitar low distorted sounds.
I'm not a huge fan of having the b7 low in a chord.
I also don't like too many instances of the third in the tuning. Kinda ugly. On my tricone i usually tune it low like -10 and I only have one occurrence.
Don't know why but, GAE in a row just sounds cool to me. Throw n a C# and I find it shimmery.
The roller might be an issue. I'll see when I get the set on.
I'm more of a linear thinker so I'm looking vertically rather than horizontally for my scalar passages.
What I liked about my tuning is the lydian and diminished / augmented aspects of the straight bar with pedal / lever chord change. I can also wrap my head around it quickly and sight read. Most melodies happen on the DGB strings like on standard 6 string.
I do like the multiple Es. The power chord E5 , etc. is what I am looking for so I might be better off tuning that low string to an A.
I like delving in to the cello range. I am playing
with two stick players so I have bass envy I guess lol.
Were I to try that tuning, is it a custom set or ..? |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 29 Jul 2011 3:46 pm
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I think that anything you try will be a custom string set, but that's easy to do. Just click on "Strings" at the top of the page and pick your singles.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 29 Jul 2011 4:29 pm
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| I think I can work off a C6 and change out only one string. |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Aug 2011 1:08 pm
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well you were right b0b roller issue so I am taking the plunge with your suggested tuning.
can I build off an E9 set or am I looking at something totally different. Suggestions on string gauge most welcome and appreciated. |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Aug 2011 4:04 pm
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D 30
F 30
G 26
A 22
B 20
D 18
G 16
B 12
D 11
F 10
would that work? Can it be beefed up a little? |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Aug 2011 4:28 pm
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Perhaps this?
D 34w
F 32w
G 30w
A 26w
B 24w
D 22w
G 17p
B 15p
D 12p
F 10p |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Aug 2011 7:45 pm
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that's actually where I got the gauges from |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 4 Aug 2011 9:28 pm
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| AJ Azure wrote: |
Perhaps this?
D 34w
F 32w
G 30w
A 26w
B 24w
D 22w
G 17p
B 15p
D 12p
F 10p |
I'm confused because you're showing it upside down. You need to go with the highest pitched note when you press a pedal. So here's what I get:
| Tab: |
1. F > F# .013
2. D .016
3. B > C .018
4. G > A .022
5. D > E .030
6. B > C .038
7. A > Bb .042
8. G > G# .046
9. F .054
10 D > E .056
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I do want to make it clear that I'm not really recommending this tuning. I'm just saying that within the parameters you've defined, this might work, and that these would be the right string gauges.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Aug 2011 10:16 pm
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that's the gauges I would've picked but, the rollers are for an e9 tuning so barring changing rollers (is that even feasible?) I have to go an octave higher.
I know it's far from standard but, it gets me playing right away and it's really mostly just the E9 tuning up a 3rd
A D10 or a 14 string is probably in my future at some point
In retrospect since I have two bass rannge instruments, I will stand out more i this pitch range. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 5 Aug 2011 7:43 am
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You can't go an octave higher. The highest note that a guitar string will hold is Bb, and that's pretty shaky.
What brand of pedal steel do you have? It's really easy to change the nut rollers on most of them - you just pop out the axle, slide the old rollers off, slide the new ones on and re-seat the whole assembly.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 5 Aug 2011 9:52 am
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| It's. A custom but the tunug peg head is stock so that's probably the case. Where would I get rollers and would a c6 size roller or something in that direction fit? Thanks for the help b0b all the mechanics stuff is new to me. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 5 Aug 2011 11:49 am
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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AJ Azure
From:
Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 5 Aug 2011 1:12 pm
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| awesome! |
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