What's the high string on your C6?

Patrick Janka · Posted 10 Nov 2011 4:26 pm

I recently got a Carter D10 from a forumite. I noticed all the strings were tuned as generally documented except the high string was tuned to D on the C6 instead of G, as I see it documented in most sources. When I tuned it up it snapped as the gauge must have been too light. The previous owner told me most people tune the high string to D nowadays, as opposed to G. Is that the case here? I saw nothing about it in the books I have or on Wikipedia. What are the cases for both turnings? I'm holding off getting a replacement string until I decide what to tune it to. Thanks.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

That trend is about thirty years old now - a D on the top. It facilitates fast picking petterns just like those possible with the 'chromatic' strings (1 & 2) on the E9 tuning. It allows you to play a quick 3,2,1 scale by picking strings 2,1 and 3.

The old high 'G' note is replaced by moving the bar up three frets and raising the 3rd string a half-step on a knee-lever. Do that and grab 2,3 and 4 and there's your higher inversion of the '1' chord. Hit strings 2,1 and 3 with that 3rd raised in the 3-above position and there's a 5,4,3 scale there.

Many players still use a high G, of course - Herby Wallace is one notable player who does, and his excellent teaching material employs that 'older' set-up.

I found the high D helped me to asimmilate the C6 tuning and provided some familiar ground for this dyed-in-the-wool E9th player.
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
----------------------------------

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

The majority have used D for about 20-25 years. Although that means calling it the "high string" no longer applies, since the 2nd string now sits higher.
You can still get high-G sets, some folks still prefer it that way.
You failed to provide one bit of info: did the set come with a first string of .012 or did it come with an .015?
The twelve goes to G, the fifteen to D.

Hope that helps.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Whatever suits you. Many players like a D. Many others, including me, still use a G. Try both and see what you like better.

You need to gauge the string to suit the note as mentioned.

Patrick Janka · Posted 10 Nov 2011 5:20 pm

Lane, I'm not sure, as the steel was already strung when I got it. I was looking at the Winston/Keith book as I was tuning, and tried to tune to G. I'm now looking at the Carter manual I received with the steel, and in the back there's a Setup and Tuning form the original owner requested, and it shows the top string listed as a D. Someone should tell Wikipedia to include this tuning, or make it the standard Mr. Green

Tom Cooper · From: Orlando, Fl

2 chromatic tunings? For me one is enough. As I am really into vintage sounds, I keep high G on my D10. But totally dig the fast pick/high D vibe. I want to get deeper into old west. swing and the high G seems to be more in keeping with that. As previous post says you may be able to have both with pedal action. I am just getting back into back neck, nice to have another tuning to turn to when song needs something else.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I use the G on top. Herby Wallace uses the G on top. There have been threads on this before (and maybe a poll). I don't recall actual results but the last one I saw neither G or D was predominant.

I've tried the D several times but go back to the G as I lose some licks. Being an "old time" player who started out on lap steel is probably my reason.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

If you either put P5 on a knee and have a pedal to raise 3&7 +½ or have a knee that raises 3&7 +½, if you engage both and go up three frets, you'll have, on strings 10-2, FACEGACEG, or the entire High G C6 tuning.
Since my high G licks aren't very pedal-dependent, this gives me both tuning forms, and although I don't have many other of the standard pedals when I do that, P6 acts like P5 and my 4-½ knee acts just like my B lever
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Thiel Hatt · From: Utah, USA

I am from the old school also and use G on the top on my pedal steel but on my non-pedal C6th I have D on the top. So in a way I have it both ways, and I might add ,That's my preference.

Jake Gathright · From: Foreman, Arkansas, USA

I just changed to the G on top tast nite, and Its a lot easier for me to implement into my altrenating thumbpicking stuff, as well as playing 3-string pinches on the more traditional swing stuff...

Patrick Janka · Posted 10 Nov 2011 6:54 pm

Tom, where in Orlando are you? I'm right near downtown.

Ned McIntosh · From: New South Wales, Australia

Being an old fossil (a fossil is older than a dinosaur!!) I still have the high G on my top C6th string.
_________________
The steel guitar is a hard mistress. She will obsess you, bemuse and bewitch you. She will dash your hopes on what seems to be whim, only to tease you into renewing the relationship once more so she can do it to you all over again...and yet, if you somehow manage to touch her in that certain magic way, she will yield up a sound which has so much soul, raw emotion and heartfelt depth to it that she will pierce you to the very core of your being.

Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

I really don't play the C6th, just fool with it, but when I first got a D-10 (in '84) it was set up with the G and my first attempts to learn the tuning were with that setup (and instructional materials written for that). Learning a few years later of the D option, and that Buddy E and seemingly everybody else had switched to it, I put it on my guitar. I enjoy what can be done with it (such as I am able), but I haven't stopped missing the high G string. I've got the C# raise and know how that works, but it's just not the same for me.

I've speculated about ditching the low C and moving everything down one place, with G as 2nd string and D as 1st string. I find I never want to play anything on that low string anyway.

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

Paul Franklin told me about the D string at the DJ Convention in 1977. I put it on that year. Now, I can't do without it, for chords and single string both.

For the "5th on top" interval, I use both the C-C# lever, or pedal 7, alternately.

FWIW, Jim Loessberg doesn't raise his 3rd string to C#. But when you play incredibly like J.Lo, you don't need to.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.

Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg?

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

On my U-12 the 1st string is an F# (which is the B6th analogue to G) and my 2nd string drops to C# which is the equivalent to a high D string on the C6th.

Best of both worlds. On the down side, I've had to re-learn to play all my C6th stuff one fret up.

Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

Ryan Barwin · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

I have a D on top, for all the reasons previously mentioned. With my setup, I can easily get most of the same chord voicings as I would with the G string. But I use a G on top for C6th non-pedal steel.
_________________
www.pedalsteel.ca

Steve Hitsman · From: Waterloo, IL

Don Sulesky · From: Citrus County, FL, Orig. from MA & NH

I like the G on top because it give my a high triad chord which i use for some bluegrass rides.
I've tried the D on top and don't care for it.
When I heard Herby uses the G on top that was good enough for me.
Don
_________________
Private one on one lessons available
Member: FSGC, PSGA, TSGA
Co-founder: Florida Steel Guitar Club

"Steel guitar is like playing chess in the dark with three players". Jeff Newman quote from 1997 seminar

Bill Ladd · From: Wilmington, NC, USA

I play a lot of non-pedal A6. When I got my first D-10 (8 and 5) it came set up with the more modern C6 with D on top. Didn't like it. Switched to G on top. Now I'm happy as a clam.

Rick Barnhart · From: Arizona, USA

one more vote for a G on top, I couldn't do without it.
_________________
Clinesmith consoles D-8/6 5 pedal, D-8 3 pedal & A25 Frypan, Pettingill Teardrop, & P8 Deluxe.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

The ideal would be to have an 11 string setup for the C6th with both the G and D. Those of us that use the G wouldn't lose it but also have the benefits of the D string.

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

I have the D on top and the C to C# changes. There are times when I miss the high G but with the C to C# knee lever I get a lot of the high G sounds back. In addition the high D adds a lot of new riffs that I wouldn't want to live without. My next steel will have 12 strings on each neck. That would be overkill but allows for a lot of fun explorations with tunings.

You might still want the C to C3 change even if you have the D on top. It acts a lot like the E to F knee lever on E9th and has a ton of uses.

I have seen Doug Jernigan while trying out a guitar at Bobbe's in Nashville, tune the high string between D and G in just a few seconds and still get good tone out of it. And you can still use the 1st string half tone raise on the 8th pedal with a bit of endplate retuning.

Here a page of tabs, sounds and discussion of the C to C3 change on the C6 tuning:

C to C# Tuning Change

Also here's a page with about 12 tabs for the C to C# change:

http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Tab/Tab8.html

Greg

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Jack, I would take it one step further. I would like to have a 12 string (a D12 I guess - the Doctor says I'm gonna die anyway, so totin' a D12 couldn't hurt - much). I would have the "G" on 3, a "B" on 2 and the "D" on 1. There are times when I am picking when I want the B note and don't want to have to hit a pedal or lever or move the bar. Sometimes that breaks the flow of the lick.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Robbie Daniels · From: Casper, Wyoming, USA

I have a Carter D12 and my C6 I have top strings 1-G and 2-D and my 12th string is a low F under the C.
I have been using that style since my first D12 in 1968.
_________________
Carter D12, MSA S12, 12 String Custom Made Non-Pedal, Evans FET 500LV, Evans SE200, Peavey Nashville 400, Fender Steel King

Forum Index > Pedal Steel	Goto page 1, 2 Next	Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic