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Author Topic:  Going from 6 strings to 8
Frank James Pracher


From:
Michigan, USA
Post  Posted 29 Jul 2014 6:46 pm    
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I have an 8 string Magnatone on the way. I've really only been a 6 string player. I figure I will stick with a C6th tuning because that's been "home" for me.

What do you guy's do with those two extra strings?
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Stephen Cowell


From:
Round Rock, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 29 Jul 2014 9:18 pm    
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For C6 it's going to be more of the same... your big choice is where to put the ends. I use the standard Western Swing tuning where the high note is the 5 (G)... this puts the bottom note on the minor root (A) and makes a lot of sense for the tunes I play in C6. The other alternative has the 3 on top and the 5 on bottom, good for boom-chick 1-5 Travis picking stuff, and with the top 6 you'll be right at home.

Eight strings gives you the opportunity to go farther, though... I find I like E13 for almost everything except straight country and songs with lots of minor chords. You've made the leap to 8... now you need a D8! And I want a 10 now...
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Ken Pippus


From:
Langford, BC, Canada
Post  Posted 29 Jul 2014 11:39 pm    
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Or you could put an A on the bottom of your C6 and a D on the top, and people would either think you were displaying pedal envy or were the rebirth of Joaquin.
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Paul Arntson


From:
Washington, USA
Post  Posted 29 Jul 2014 11:59 pm    
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I have ACEGACEG.

I don't think it matters too much as long as you learn a tuning inside and out. I settled because it was easier to visualize the repeated pattern.
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Dom Franco


From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2014 12:12 pm    
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I vote for Low to Hi: F A C E G A C E
I find any string thinner than the hi E is too skinny and sounds wimpy...

The lower F and A give you lots of sweet chords (a full major 7th)

Plus: everything you already have learned is still there, just avoid the low strings.

DOM
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Doug Beaumier


From:
Northampton, MA
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2014 12:33 pm    
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I like either this:

G
E
C
A
G
E
C
A

or this:

G
E
C
A
G
E
C#
C

Some players prefer to have E on top. I like the high G.
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James Kerr


From:
Scotland, UK
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2014 2:49 pm    
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What Doug says. Avoid tunings that require gap picking and lots of slants.

James.
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Ron Whitfield

 

From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
Post  Posted 31 Jul 2014 4:56 pm    
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Quote:
Avoid tunings that require gap picking and lots of slants.
IF you want to miss out on the best parts of steel guitar, especially slanting.

What kind of Magnatone 8 string are you getting, a Varsity?
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Frank James Pracher


From:
Michigan, USA
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2014 8:19 pm    
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Thanks for suggestions everybody

I tried a few, but I really like the low F like Dom suggested. Real pretty sound. I think I'm going to stick with it a while.

Ron, I got a Magnatone Troubadour, I love it!
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Dennis Detweiler


From:
Solon, Iowa, US
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2014 9:37 pm    
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I'm using:
A 6/9, but in C it would be:

D
E
C
A
G
E
C
A
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Earnest Bovine


From:
Los Angeles CA USA
Post  Posted 12 Aug 2014 10:04 pm    
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Dennis Detweiler wrote:

D
E
C
A
G
E
C
A

Almost the same here:
D
E (highest)
C
A
G
E
C#
A
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