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Topic: Dearth of 8string C6 instruction and tab. Should I go 6? |
Jim Fogarty
From:
Phila, Pa, USA
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Posted 24 Oct 2015 4:23 pm |
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Hey kids,
I've been wanting to learn non-pedal C6 8string for a while. Picked up a cheapy SX Lap 8 (pretty decent!) and I'm having fun. But.......I'm noticing that 90% of the C6 lap learning material and tabs are for 6 string. There seems to be very little out there for the 8 string (ACEGACEG low to high). I'm surprised. I thought this was the defacto standard 8 tuning?
So, moving forward, should I just keep working with the 8.....using most the 6 inner strings.....or should I try taking a couple off, or even picking up a 6? As of now, early on, I'm finding the 6 strings tab doable, but sometimes confusing.
Also, most of the tabs I DO see are for chord melody stand-alone versions of tunes. I'm a bit more interested in actual transcriptions of what was played on, say, the early Hank records.....or advice on playing real-world back-up and solos. Any thoughts?
Just for perspective, I'm a long-time working pro guitarist/bassist/mandolinist and teacher. I play a lot of slide and have dabbled in dobro and lap steel (mostly G tuning blues stuff) over the years.
Thanks! - Jim |
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 24 Oct 2015 9:41 pm
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| I believe the Cindy Cashdollar instruction DVDs are for 8-string in that tuning. |
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Jim Fogarty
From:
Phila, Pa, USA
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Posted 24 Oct 2015 10:41 pm
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| Thanks.......I meant to mention I had ordered that one. Looking forward to it! |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 2:03 am
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I feel crippled by anything less than 8. Just leave 'em there if you don't need them, until you eventually (will) need them. If they're making extra noise and getting in the way, why, that's exactly what they're there for right now - to teach you not to make extra noise.  Non-pedal 6th tunings LIVE for the forward and back slant chords, and more strings make them more visible to me, too.
Addendumdum: Re "visible", open a table in your word processing program and make one up with, maybe 11 cells down and 14 across (extra for string gauge, numeric designation etc.) Print the table and write in all the diatonic note names in that tuning (NOT every note!), and all the slants magically appear. On-the-paper, not-in-the-ear... hint. |
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Jim Fogarty
From:
Phila, Pa, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 11:12 am
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After another long session last night/this morning, it's starting to make more sense to me......especially the high G string. Still not convinced about that low A, but I'm guessing it will come, in time. Part of me thinks a Bb would be better, so you can get a fat slantless Dom 7th chord.
Still looking for some old-school transcriptions of Hank, etc......and maybe some ideas of what we'd play, real-world, on the bandstand.
Thanks. |
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Troy Brenningmeyer
From:
Bethalto, IL
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 11:34 am
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Hi Jon, I have an new Asher Student ("Haumana") model 8 string Lap Steel and plan on doing some lessons on it. Anything in particular you want me to cover?
I have it tuned to Alan Akaka's tuning of (CBbCEGACE).
_________________
www.LessonsWithTroy.com - Dobro, Weissenborn, C6 and Open D Lap Steel, & Beginner E9 Pedal Steel Lessons by Troy Brenningmeyer |
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Jim Fogarty
From:
Phila, Pa, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 12:52 pm
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| Troy Brenningmeyer wrote: |
Hi Jon, I have an new Asher Student ("Haumana") model 8 string Lap Steel and plan on doing some lessons on it. Anything in particular you want me to cover?
I have it tuned to Alan Akaka's tuning of (CBbCEGACE). |
Thanks, Troy.
I'm gonna check out your C6 Lap Basics #3 and #8.......they seem to be pretty much what I'm looking for, other than 6 vs 8. when learning a new instrument, after learning where the notes and positions are (which I do fairly quickly at this point), I find it real helpful to nail a bunch of the idiomatic, standard vocabulary on the instrument........before I naturally begin adding in what I know from my experience and making it my own. I might be a little different from some of your students, since I'm coming from a pro-level background on other axes.
BTW....I like your site, methods and pricing. In fact, you just reconnected me with my old account just the other day, when I couldn't sign on. Thanks! |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 1:10 pm
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Hey, Jim.
Well, I guess turnabout's fair play: if I can study guitar, you can study steel. Who knows, maybe one of these days we'll even end up in a band together! 
My only advice: stay away from the heavy kind with pedals. (I wish someone had told me that when I was young and now it's too late for me; I'm doomed.)
_________________
www.JimCohen.com
www.RonstadtRevue.com
www.BeatsWalkin.com |
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Jim Fogarty
From:
Phila, Pa, USA
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Posted 25 Oct 2015 2:15 pm
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| Jim Cohen wrote: |
Hey, Jim.
Well, I guess turnabout's fair play: if I can study guitar, you can study steel. Who knows, maybe one of these days we'll even end up in a band together!
My only advice: stay away from the heavy kind with pedals. (I wish someone had told me that when I was young and now it's too late for me; I'm doomed.) |
Well, Jim........maybe sometime in the future (a couple decades or so), when I fill-in with Beats Walkin', we could switch off for a few tunes. Not that I could ever take your place......dude, you're a MONSTER!!
Pedals? Nuh-uh, not for me! When I look at you maniacs, I always imagine this:
Whereas, we guitarists are more like this:
Much more my style! |
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Abe Levy
From:
California, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2015 7:44 am
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That's funny! I always describe pedal steel as playing chess in 3d like on Star Trek.
_________________
Mostly Pre-1970 guitars. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 26 Oct 2015 9:25 am
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| Jim Fogarty wrote: |
| Still looking for some old-school transcriptions of Hank, etc... |
Check out this book:
Mr. Helms employs an 8-string E13 tuning, which has exactly the same intervals as the top 6 strings of the standard (E-C-A-G-E-C, high to low) 6-string C6 tuning, only 4 half-steps higher. Given your background, it should be a relatively simple transition to adapt to this material. All you gotta do is play your middle 6 strings 4 frets higher than the written tab to match Don's playing on the enclosed CD. |
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Jim Fogarty
From:
Phila, Pa, USA
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Posted 29 Oct 2015 8:52 pm
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Thanks, Jack......the Don Helms book is on it's way.
Also, I got the Cindy Cashdollar DVD's. Excellent. Just what the doctor ordered. Some people have complained it's not for beginners, but it pretty much starts up just where I happen to need....and it's great seeing all this stuff, close up.
I appreciate all the advice! |
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