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Topic: 8 vs. 6 |
Thomas Temple
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 16 Feb 2012 3:06 pm |
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Is there a general rule for tuning a 6 string lap steel guitar using an 8 string chart? In other words do you eliminate the top and bottom string or do you drop the top or bottom two? This may sound like a foolish question but I have noticed that some charts listed for various 8 string tunings do not exactly match what is listed for a 6 string.  |
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Steve Ahola
From:
Concord, California
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Posted 16 Feb 2012 7:43 pm
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| Thomas Temple wrote: |
| Is there a general rule for tuning a 6 string lap steel guitar using an 8 string chart? In other words do you eliminate the top and bottom string or do you drop the top or bottom two? |
I think it depends on what you are looking. Plus with the typical six string C6 tuning you drop the top and bottom string of the 8 string C6 tuning with the G on top, or the bottom two strings of the 8 string tuning with the E on the top. And for the 8 string E7 you can skip the 5th and 7th string for open E tuning or the 7th and 8th strings for a six string E7.
If you must have the high notes then drop some of the low notes and vice versa. So what tunings are you considering?
Another factor- if you are planning to learn songs, etc., from tab or a book you probably want to stick with the most popular tunings.
Steve Ahola
P.S. One thing great about lap steel is that there are no rules! 
_________________
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Recordings on electric guitar:
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Thomas Temple
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 17 Feb 2012 5:58 am
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Steve,
Thanks for the reply, I just got my second Melbert (#238) and had it tuned to an open E. I am very impressed with the guitar, the tuning not so much. Not sure what I really expected but guess I thought that an open tuning would allow me to pick out melodies a bit easier than the C6th tuning. So far not the case and I don't need two guitars tuned to C6th so looking for some other tuning that might be easier for a newbie.
Thanks
Tom |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 17 Feb 2012 6:14 am
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If you keep the E tuning and tune the second string up to C#, you'll have C#min7 tuning. A lot of great early Hawaiian music was played on that tuning and many of the guys like Joaquin Murphey learned it. It was the first tuning I ever really learned.
Sometimes it really helps to learn a few tunes in the tuning before you can reach a conclusion about. Sol Hoopii and Dick McIntire both recorded some great stuff with it. Look them up on YouTube and see if any of it appeals to you.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Thomas Temple
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 17 Feb 2012 7:40 am
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Mike,
The guitar is strung a bit heavy, 48,38,30, 24, 20, 15 (E,B,E,G#,B,E) the bottom sting seemed a bit "slack" and I was told to tune it up to a G# which I did, but now it seems like I am running out of notes when I get to the bottom string. I'll try your suggestion of the C# and I have no intentions of giving up, just guess I wqas hoping for something to "fall into place".  |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 17 Feb 2012 7:52 am
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I would get the .038 and the .048 out of there and replace them with a .042 and .054 (maybe even a little heavier than .054). Short scale guitars need heavier strings for those low notes.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Thomas Temple
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 17 Feb 2012 8:02 am Then What
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| Mike if I replace the strings you suggested then what do I tune the new strings to? |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 17 Feb 2012 8:11 am
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The same notes, B and E. The tuning would be
E
C#
G#
E
B
E
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Thomas Temple
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 17 Feb 2012 8:23 am
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Mike,
Is that top to bottom or visa versa? |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 17 Feb 2012 9:07 am
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Top to bottom. C# is the second string.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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