Tuning for 7 string national lap steel

colinmcc · From: Vancouver, BC, Canada

I have a prewar National lapsteel with 7 strings. I normally play in open G on my six string, can anyone please offer advice on a suitable tuning? These 7 string Nationals seem fairly common, so was there a specific reason for National to have added them to their six string electric line, but never to have offered a 7 string accoustic instrument?

Thanks for any help,

Colin McCubbin

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Hey Colin,check out the 7 string tuning topic posted on April 26 in the No Peddlers section.This should answer your question very nicely.

[This message was edited by HowardR on 25 June 2000 at 12:25 AM.]

colinmcc · From: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Thanks Howard! Time for me to put some new strings on & experiment ;-)

Colin

Ric Nelson · From: Silver Spring, Maryland

Coln:
Try E.
Top to bottom: E,B,G#, E,B G#, E

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I think that Jerry Byrd led the move from six strings to seven. His tuning was

E


C


A


G


E


C#


C

I'm not saying that it's the best tuning for your music, but it's probably the one that the guitar was built for. If you're used to an open G, I think that you should just add an E in the middle:

D


B


G


E


D


B


G

That's a G6 tuning. It will give you minor triads and some easy blues scales, as well as all of the open G stuff.

------------------

Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session S-12 (E9), Speedy West D-10 (E9, D6),
Sierra 8 Laptop (D13), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (D13, A6)

[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 30 June 2000 at 11:33 AM.]

Mike Ihde · From: Boston, MA

Colin,
If you haven't heard of it, try the Leavitt tuning, from low to high, F#, C#, E, G, Bb, C and D. It may seem a little weird but you can play all the Jazz chords you want without any slants. If you like old standards like Satin Doll, Misty, Moonlight in Vermont etc. This is a very cool tuning. E-mail me for more info.

colinmcc · From: Vancouver, BC, Canada

Thanks, everyone, I'm having fun and confusing myself with all these ideas, I haven't thought much about the theory behind music for years, just played stuff I've perfected parrot fashion. I really appreciate the information!

Colin

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