| Author |
Topic: "E" Tuning Suggestions For 6-String Lap Steel |
Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
|
Posted 28 May 2015 11:14 am |
|
Been playing 6-string C6 now for about a year and a half, and am considering a complimentary E-based tuning, but not a straight open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E, high to low). Would prefer a high E string as opposed to G#, which always seems weak and "zingy" to me.
Curious to know if anyone has adapted one of the more common 8-string E-13 tunings for 6-string. If so, which two notes do you omit and why. |
|
|
 |
John Limbach
From:
Billings, Montana, USA
|
Posted 28 May 2015 11:27 am
|
|
E7th is a good tuning for 6 strings.
High to low: E-B-G#-E-D-B |
|
|
|
Frank James Pracher
From:
Michigan, USA
|
Posted 28 May 2015 11:42 am
|
|
I've been playing around with E C# B G# E C# (E6th?) It's a lot of fun.
_________________
"Don't be mad honey, but I bought another one" |
|
|
|
Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
|
Posted 28 May 2015 12:24 pm
|
|
Then there is the 6 string version of the Leon McAulliffe E13
E
C#
B
G#
F#
D
B
I would also recommend Jerry Byrd's C# minor 9th tuning, which I can't find right now. Ray Monty can tell us about it though, I'm sure.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia |
|
|
|
James Kerr
From:
Scotland, UK
|
Posted 28 May 2015 12:27 pm
|
|
Jack,
I imagine you will get as many different suggestions as you get replies, try to hear what each sounds like if possible, there are lots of players here who never post a recording of themselves to let you hear what their favourite tuning can do.
Here is my E7th tuning, with the unwanted G# string on top, the top 4 strings are the same as an E9th Pedal Guitar so if you have experience of that it will be familiar, I'm playing an 8 string, just discard the two bottom strings.
Here is what it can sound like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWVll5SxZ7M
James. |
|
|
|
Jamie Mitchell
From:
Nashville, TN
|
Posted 28 May 2015 3:16 pm
|
|
take the E7 listen above, use it for bluesy tonalities, and drop the low strings to A and C# for the rest. I've been doing that for a few years, works well, lotsa chords...
j |
|
|
|
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
|
Posted 28 May 2015 3:44 pm
|
|
Jack, try E9:
E
B
G#
F#
D
B
Really a supremely musical tuning. It is the top 8 strings of the first E9 tuning that Speedy West, Bud Isaacs and Buddy Emmons used (they had pedals, though). I think I have some examples of myself playing this tuning, including Bud's Bounce.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
|
|
|
Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
|
Posted 29 May 2015 7:28 am
|
|
| James Kerr wrote: |
| I imagine you will get as many different suggestions as you get replies... |
Yes, and that's what I was hoping for! Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.
I have a pretty good stash of strings and a couple of extra guitars, so I'm planning to give each and every tuning suggested a shot.
Very much enjoyed your playing on "Once Upon A Time In The West," James. The photo montage was great, too. Both the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley are special places to me. |
|
|
|
Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
|
Posted 29 May 2015 7:32 am
|
|
| Edward Meisse wrote: |
Then there is the 6 string version of the Leon McAulliffe E13
E
C#
B
G#
F#
D
B |
Thank you for your reply, Edward. Which string would you recommend eliminating to make it a 6-string tuning? |
|
|
|
Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
|
Posted 29 May 2015 6:28 pm
|
|
 The B string on the bottom. I've made a couple of obvious errors on posts lately. Maybe old age is catching me faster than I want to admit.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia |
|
|
|
Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
|
Posted 29 May 2015 9:47 pm
|
|
| Edward Meisse wrote: |
| Maybe old age is catching me faster than I want to admit. |
You're not alone in that regard, Edward. Thanks for the update. I definitely plan to experiment with that tuning. |
|
|
|
Stephen Abruzzo
From:
Philly, PA
|
Posted 30 May 2015 6:21 am
|
|
E7---lo-to-hi---E-B-D-G#-B-E
E9---lo-to-hi---E-F#-G#-B-E-D with the D being lower than the adjacent E. Not as versatile as Mike Neer's E9 version (lo-to-hi---B-D-F#-G#-B-E) but can be fun as there is no string skipping needed to grap the E, E7 and/or E9 chords. |
|
|
|
