Pros/Cons of Various E13th Tunings

Chris Bauer · From: Nashville, TN USA

As I've become progressively more addicted to the sound of E13th, I've also gotten progressively more clear that I'm missing advantages and disadvantages of different versions of E13th.

Obviously the bottom line in choosing a tuning is always to simply live with various versions to see what we like most. That's a work in progress for me. In the meantime, though, I'm curious to hear what you do and don't like about whichever version(s) of E13th you're using.

Jerome Hawkes · From: Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA

what are you gonna be playing musically? if you are playing retro honky tonk, then the hi-G# Helms E13 version is almost a necessity, no matter what you have to give up - thats the sound of that style. i have to keep it on one neck just for that purpose.

i think there are 6-8 variants on this tuning - its all over the tonal map. i've got to where i use the standard hi-E version that i can retune from the C6 string gauge set - i.e. i can get everything i need: A6 / C6 / E13 / B11, all from that same gauge. at some point you have to see things economically too (not as in $, but in most functional under various conditions) - esp when you only have 1 or 2 necks

i was playing a version of Tom Morrells E13 for a while and really liked it, but kind of went back to C6 as my main tuning. i think Toms version is as good as you will find - course, thats 10 strings. my 8 string version dropped the low E&B, but there are a few ways to adapt it to 8 strings. i found it unbeatable for "hot" type uptempo playing - its very tetrachord friendly.
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Mike Neer · From: NJ

Here is my 10 string version of E13:

E
C#
B
G#
F#
E
D
B
G#
E
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Stephen Cowell · From: Round Rock, Texas, USA

I play 8-string Leon:

E
C#
B
G#
F#
D
G#
E

I just love the middle four... real fat jazz chord with no tonic... but that's the problem, no tonic. If you're melodizing in that range you have to dip down (or go up) two frets for it. Usually I dip down, makes it easy to get the blue notes around the 3rd as well.

There's a different version with the low G# changed to a B... since they're both doubled in the strum it's much of a sameness, except that with the Leon you can do the C6-style diatonic two-fret box using the bottom two and the 3rd and 4th strings... missing the tonic in the middle, you can't just do that without either jumping up two frets for the 1-3 interval or slanting on adjacent strings (always hard and usually funky sounding). I haven't played with the 1-5 E13 so I can't discuss it much... just the advantages of the 1-3.
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Chris Bauer · From: Nashville, TN USA

I'm currently using G#, B, D, F#, G#, B, C#, E and I'm feeling the need to move to a high G# but love the sound of this tuning as is. I can also make arguments for various alternatives to the low G# - especially easy imagining an E there - and I guess that's a matter of fiddling around for a while till I find what I most like.

I guess my dilemma is that it's helpful to have the Don Helms licks close at hand but what my ear most wants to hear is Joachin... Smile

I love the look of your ten string tuning, Mike.

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

I have been using Bob Lee's E13 on my 8 string lap steel.

.013 F#
.012 G#
.015 E
.018 C#
.020p B
.024w G#
.034 E
.036 D

It has a nice feel and can be tweaked easily on the lower strings for a different vibe

Stefan Robertson · From: Hertfordshire, UK

C#
B
A
F#
D
B
G
E

That is my Em13. Has all the chords you need with their root notes.

Stefan Robertson · From: Hertfordshire, UK

Be prepared for uncharted territory and study anytime you move away from C6. It's truly a labor of love.

My 8 string tuning requires lots of string pulls. Slants and straight bar techniques to pull it off. But it's fun and challenging and lots if self study.

Mark Roeder · From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Can anybody mention a song they like to play in the E13 tuning and point to why it works better than a regular 6th tuning. That could help me see the functional part of the tuning besides the obvious 2 and flat7 and the 4 in some cases.
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Stefan Robertson · From: Hertfordshire, UK

anything

Stefan Robertson · From: Hertfordshire, UK

Start off with 1st positions of chords and once you've got that down you can start playing recognisable songs.

And songs on your own. Just like a guitar.

Know the difference between CM and Cm then tackle any music in its most basic forms.

After many years away I've decided to publish a complete book for my tuning but have a way to go before it's ready.

Hate to say it but I don't believe there is such a thing as too many chords or voicings. Imagine telling that to a guitarist if he were choosing a tutorial book. Learn as much as you can then select what you do/don't need.

Stefan Robertson · From: Hertfordshire, UK

If your tuning doesn't accommodate all music most of the time it's you and not the tuning. However I am happy to play whatever I'm interested in learning.

I don't have the patience to tab out stuff note for note. Just identify main moves.

Jerome Hawkes · From: Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA

mark - the way i have started to look at the E13 is thru the historical evolution of the 6 string tunings. i see how the early players combined the E7 and the C#m, which were, along with the A major tuning, the main tunings of the time period. when players started going to 8 string tunings, they were now able to combine the E7 & C#m into the E13. i know a lot of players just think of E13 (E6) as a hi-C6th variant (with b7), and you can think that way too - i'd like to think its a little more than that though. you can learn A LOT about tunings from studying them in their "organic" 6 string form.
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Mike Neer · From: NJ

Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

Mike, the first 8 strings of your 10-string E13 are exactly like my current E13 setup. Or to put it another way... My current 8-string E13 is exactly like the first 8 strings of your 10-string E13. It's also very close to E9 pedal steel guitar. Six strings in a row are just like E9 PSG. I agree with you about the interesting sounds available on the four strings in a row tuned in whole steps and the harmonies, thirds, etc. in the tuning. I especially like the low, rich 7th and 9th chords. There are definitely some sounds and voicings that are not available on C6 tuning. However, I tend to default to C6 because I think it's a slightly more versatile tuning. Let just say that each tuning has it's strong points. When I play my E13 tuning I feel like I'm playing E9 pedal steel (without the high F# and D#).
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Jerry Gleason · From: Eugene, Oregon, USA

E13 is such a fascinating tuning. There are so many ways it can be tweaked to emphasize certain sounds and timbres. I, too, was searching for a more "Joaquin-like" sound, and came up with this, which I like for the time being:

G#
E
C#
B
G#
F#
D
G#

The high G# makes it very playable, similar to my C6/13 tuning, but the tuning is pitched pretty high, which makes it unsuitable for some things. It has a nice strum, and is a good compliment to my other tuning, but I wouldn't want it as my only tuning. I'll probably continue to experiment.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

The E that's not there in the middle of what Mr. Cowell calls the "Leon" tuning seems to be almost characteristic of the sound. Pop that E in there and you're essentially playing C6th a bit higher up. This middle:

B
G#
F#
D

You can add things on top or on the bottom, but the un-rooty areas are what makes it interesting.

Mark Roeder · From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Thanks to all for sharing...it is infinitly helpful to learn why someone chooses what they do...........
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Thiel Hatt · From: Utah, USA

I use a slightly different version based on the pedal steel E9th, which is my personal preference. It adds more strings on the high end thus it takes away from the lower register. I like the diotonic intervals on the top becasue of the versitility it adds. Starting from string one (high to low) I use:
F#-D#-G#-E-C#-B-G#-E-D . I play a nine string triple neck, that's why there's 9 intervals. If I had a 10 string I would add B to the bottom. I've tried other E13th versions but prefer my current set up.

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