| Author |
Topic: String bender with C6? clip |
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
|
Posted 14 Nov 2011 2:19 pm |
|
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWBE_e2UFe8
This guy has a string bender that appears to raise the C to a D in C6 (CEGACE). I thought about doing that but couldn't see a point in it. Just doesn't seem very useful. |
|
|
 |
Eugene Cole
From:
near Washington Grove, MD, USA
|
Posted 14 Nov 2011 8:01 pm
|
|
He put this guitar together on the cheap and he seems to be doing very well for a guy that is new to lap steel.
He will figure out how to bend the C-string behind the bar for the same change in few weeks. I think that having a lever for an Asus4 and Csus9 in addition to a C-Major seems like a pretty cool addition for brand new lap player to dream up.
_________________
Regards
-- Eugene <sup>at</sup> FJ45.com
PixEnBar.com
Cole-Luthierie.com
FJ45.com
Sierra U14 8+5 my copedent, 1972 MSA D10 8+4, and nothing in the Bank. 8^) |
|
|
|
Steve Perry
From:
Elizabethtown Ky, USA
|
Posted 15 Nov 2011 11:40 am
|
|
There's a cracked headstock waitin' to happen!  |
|
|
|
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
|
Posted 15 Nov 2011 12:49 pm
|
|
| Eugene Cole wrote: |
He put this guitar together on the cheap and he seems to be doing very well for a guy that is new to lap steel.
He will figure out how to bend the C-string behind the bar for the same change in few weeks. I think that having a lever for an Asus4 and Csus9 in addition to a C-Major seems like a pretty cool addition for brand new lap player to dream up. |
I dreamt up the same change and didn't think it was really worth it. I've tried to to find a way to use my Multibender (three levers, raise or lower) in that tuning and it just seems unnecessary with the intervals as close as they are.
I notice he only engages it a couple of times, so I don't really think he's found it all that useful either. I was excited when I saw this, hoping to have inspiration to try my benders on C6 again. |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 15 Nov 2011 12:59 pm
|
|
I think a good use for the bender would be on string 1--tune the string down to D and utilize a raise up to E. You will find the D very useful, too. There was a time that I played C6 with the E lowered to D and it is great for Rock and more ethereal sounds.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
|
Posted 15 Nov 2011 1:48 pm
|
|
Interesting. I hadn't thought of that. I had thought of bending the E up to F to get a major triad on the top three strings. Using the second lever (without the first lever engaged) to raise string 2 a semitone gets another major inversion on the top three strings.
So, holding down lever one to get C major at the 7 fret, followed by sliding up one fret while releasing lever 1 and engaging lever 2 gets a I-IV transition. That's the only useful thing I've ever though up in C6 but haven't tried it to see how it sounds.
I'm thinking of your CEGACD idea and don't see how I would use it. I feel like I would be playing with my lever engaged most of the time so I would be in standard C6. I feel like the comfort zone/most useful tuning should be there without the extra effort of the levers. Then the levers are employed for a little extra spice.
Can you give me an example of how you would use the D->E raise?
Last edited by James Mayer on 15 Nov 2011 2:37 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 15 Nov 2011 2:37 pm
|
|
Just some ideas--personally, I don't have a need for it, but I can see the value in it. I think I'd probably look to create more interesting sounds rather than emulate a pedal steel (which you can dio with slants and pulls to some extent).
I'm not sure I could describe many scenarios, but having the 1st string tuned to D (I would only tune string 1 to D) gives you a great ability to play pentatonics:
| Tab: |
Dmin pentatonic
------------------------12--
--------------------12------
---------10----12------------
-----10---------------------
-10------------------------
----------------------------
|
Here's a 2 string I or i to V7:
| Tab: |
----12*-------12------------
---------------------------
----12--------11------------
----------------------------
--------------------------
---------------------------
*means lever is down
|
Also, you have the ability to push the lever down half-way, so at the 12th fret, you'd get an F7--push down fully and you have a C. Release and you have G at your disposal
| Tab: |
---12*----12**----12-----
-------------------------
----------12-------------
---12-------------12-----
-------------------------
-------------------------
** = 1/2 lever
|
More importantly, though, you can get that nebulous sound of 4ths, or quartal harmony
| Tab: |
--12---10---7----
-----------------
--12---10---7----
-----------------
--12---10---7---
----------------
|
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
|
Posted 15 Nov 2011 2:58 pm
|
|
| Ok, I'll look into it. So, why not leave the 1st string in E and have the lever drop it down to D? |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 15 Nov 2011 3:02 pm
|
|
I didn't know you can lower the strings. If that's the case, then "Ya!" Also, I'd consider adding a 1/2 step lower for the G string.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
|
Posted 15 Nov 2011 3:04 pm
|
|
| I've never tried a full-step lower but the half-step lower works fine. |
|
|
|
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
|
Posted 15 Nov 2011 3:09 pm
|
|
| I have three levers, but I have to set them all up at the same time. Any other suggestions? |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 15 Nov 2011 3:40 pm
|
|
C to C# on string 6.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
James Mayer
From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
|
Posted 16 Nov 2011 9:30 am
|
|
Mike,
I didn't get a chance to try the lowers, last night. However, I've been also thinking of the following tuning. I guess I can't get my head out of trying to get E9 changes out of C6.
This one was suggested by Bob, at some point.
E->F
C
G->A
E->F
C
G
I had my six-string pedal steel set up like that just before I stopped playing steel entirely, so I never really gave it a good evaluation. I see that the one lever puts it in C6, but I'm wondering why others haven't tried something so obvious. |
|
|
|
