C 6th to B 6th tuning

Lyle Clary · From: Decatur, Illinois, KC9VCB

After playing E 9th for 40 plus years I have it on my bucket list to learn C 6th. After telling a pedal steeler friend about the difficulty of learning the fret positions he suggesting lowering the strings
to B 6h which would be easier to learn as I could associate some of the relative positions on both necks. Do I have to change strings or would slacking off the strings be OK? Any suggestions would be welcomed.
_________________
2006 Zum D10 8x8,1969 ZB Custom D10,
10 3x4 Peavey Nashville 112 Peavey LTD 400 2014 Zum Encore Wood Grain 4x5 Stage One pot pedal

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

i would say don't waste your time. start learning c6 the normal way. it will start to make sense just as easily. if you lower the pitch you'll then have to adapt that position to any c6 learning material, making it even harder.

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

If B6th makes more sence to you, I would go with B6th.
This allows you to play in the key of C at the 1st fret.
Alot of guys think C6th is some kind of other tuning.
As a Universal player, to me it's an extension of E9th with a few more pedals/levers/strings added, so you can play some really cool stuff that is more in the Swing/Jazz realm.
On the other hand...
It really depends on your goal.
If you want to learn from C6th Tab and play along with original recordings that incorporate hammer-ons in C6th, then you would want to go with C6th.
Just remember that a good way to learn the 6th tuning is to play the identicle positions on E9th.
For example, if you have a D10, set it so both necks are on, then play an open C6th chord on the C-neck, and lower your E's to Eb and play the same chord on the E9th neck at the 1st fret.
There are a ton of identicle or analogous positions between 6th and 9th necks.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I suspect most of is can mentally add a fret to the numbers on tab: that's not a challenge.
Biggest drawback to B6? Good luck finding folks that'll play "Remington Ride" or "Raising the Dickens" in C#.
_________________
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

Lyle, I did this for several years. I once played Uni's and D10's off and on during the same period. All I did was tune the C neck down a half step. Used the same string set, just needed to tweak a few of the pedal tuners and not by much either.

I liked it, many similarities to the E neck in that your E out of the B tuning is at the 5th fret v 4, same as on your E9th neck with pedals and KL 2 frets back 6th. Same positions as Universal E9/B6.

Joerg Hennig · From: Bavaria, Germany

It depends on what you want to play. I personally wouldn't do it because I play along a lot with old recordings that sometimes require open strings and would not be possible in B6 (unless I had a capo on the 1st fret...)

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Well, lots of Universal players have been using B6 for decades. I don't hear any of them complaining about B being an impediment. It's pretty easy to get used to.

Every tuning has some limitations and some advantages. Just depends which works best for you.

F.I., you can play the A section of Steelin' the Blues in C instead of C#.

Lyle Clary · From: Decatur, Illinois, KC9VCB

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I was never into tabs much so that is not an issue. I think I will bite the bullet and stay with C6th a while and see if I can get it. At the very least I can practice my grips which would be the same on either one. Thanks again.
_________________
2006 Zum D10 8x8,1969 ZB Custom D10,
10 3x4 Peavey Nashville 112 Peavey LTD 400 2014 Zum Encore Wood Grain 4x5 Stage One pot pedal

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

Lyle, for what it's worth, I started digging into C6th about six weeks ago and the fret positions are coming together pretty quickly. I concentrated on playing a lot in E; this got my mind off of E=0 very quickly and got me used to playing at the 4th, 9th, and 11th frets, which are less common territory on E9. I'd give C6 a shot.

Dan

Lyle Clary · From: Decatur, Illinois, KC9VCB

I have already learned a few things on C6. Kickoff to Night Life in D, I Go Out Walking After Midnight in C so I am coming along. Thanks!
_________________
2006 Zum D10 8x8,1969 ZB Custom D10,
10 3x4 Peavey Nashville 112 Peavey LTD 400 2014 Zum Encore Wood Grain 4x5 Stage One pot pedal

Eugene Cole · From: near Washington Grove, MD, USA

Lyle Clary · From: Decatur, Illinois, KC9VCB

Eugene For years I played in a band which had a member who called me Sneaky Pete because I played steel. My wife asked me one time why they called me that. I think I have satisfied her curiosity with the explaination as we have been married almost 51 years.
_________________
2006 Zum D10 8x8,1969 ZB Custom D10,
10 3x4 Peavey Nashville 112 Peavey LTD 400 2014 Zum Encore Wood Grain 4x5 Stage One pot pedal

Eugene Cole · From: near Washington Grove, MD, USA

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

On the E9th neck you've got 3 tunings in one. Wanna play C6th on the E9th neck, very easy. Lower the E's and I lower the 9th string with them also. As mentioned earlier, now you have C at the 1st fret. That's all a U-12 is, except for the added pedals. Everything from the 40/50's era right up to 2012 is there. Nothing to it.

Joerg Hennig · From: Bavaria, Germany

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

There wouldn't be much of a learning curve if you can figure out the difference between C and B.
Pedals operate the same and there are a few advantages.
I like the Universal tuning..
If you can play Remington Ride I doubt would have any problems only preferences
Here's Remington ride on A6th
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nH_DFZuUpw
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes

Jackie Anderson · From: Scarborough, ME

I tune my second neck to A6 for two reasons: I like the positions on the neck for the keys I most often play in with the band where I use that neck/tuning the most; and I get most of my "6th" sounds in a "9th" tuning with A and B pedals down instead of lowering the E strings, so I can move straight across to the same fret position on the 6th neck for the same chord. Works for me. Conversely, if I lowered the Es on my E9 neck to get 6th sounds, I would tune the other neck to B6 to line up the frets. Other players who don't use their E9 neck for 6th sounds line up the frets by tuning the other neck to E6. (The open strings issue doesn't matter to me because I just don't use them, or hammer ons, on PSG). YMMV.

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

The main thing is, If you already know E9th, don't think of the 6th tuning as some unkown tuning that you have to learn from scratch.
Have someone take a minute to show you the similarities.
As far as using C6th or B6th or Bb6th or A6th or E6th, it's just an "offset" from E9th.
Throw a switch in your brain so that the offset is the standard, and... yer off to the races.

imho, Hammer-ons requiering a certain open tuning are only important if that is part of your personal bag 0 tricks... kinda like "chimes".
Some guys like to do 'em all the time, some guys think it's something other guys do, and not important for evey style of playing.

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic