What 6 string tuning would you use?

Scott Duckworth · From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies

I play predominately traditional and southern gospel.
The tunes are usually in F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb.

What tuning would you use to cover those?

Currently, I'm using E6, low to high, B, C#, E, G#, B, E.
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it

I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus!

David M Brown · From: California, USA

Well, I am from the Deep South, but not raised on Gospel, so....

First, your version of E6 should be able to play all of those keys. You may be playing in some less familiar keys, but it should be OK.

But you might try these variants of your tuning - instead of, L to H,
B, C#, E, G#, B, E, both popular in the pre WWII era of Hawaiian and steel playing:

B, D, E, G#, B, E for the classic E7, like the Mel Bay book, lots of old sheet music/TAB, and such. Plus some version or other of E7 seems popular in Sacred Steel, pedal or non.

I think we all talked about tunings on your thread

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=299760&sid=5109f3972d2e8bae7b2026f280150e5a

Stefan's chart is useful for 6 string too.

And of course from there to

B, D, E, G#, C#, E.

Also, depending on your string gauges, you could go to C6 or A6.

B, C#, E, G#, B, E to C, E, G, A, C, E or C#, E, F#, A, C#, E.

Then again, if you want low notes you could use these old tunings:

E, B, D, G#, B, E or E, B, E, G#, C#, E.

I'm not sure but Sol Hoopii may have used that last tuning for his work when he became an evangelist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb0A2RLE32U

I still think you could use your own basic tuning and tweak it as needed based on the what the song's chord changes do, not so much the key itself..

Scott Duckworth · From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies

Thanks David. I'm planning to build a 6 string lap. When I do, I may put some type of tuning device on that 5th string to change it from the E6 to the E7.

Something like this... https://www.elderly.com/accessories/instrument-parts-accessories/resonator-instrument-parts-accessories/pitch-key-quick-change-alternative-tuning-tool-for-guitar.htm.
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it

I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus!

David M Brown · From: California, USA

Scott Duckworth · From: Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies

I know I'll have to leave some space between the keys and the nut to fit that device in place.
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it

I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus!

James Phillips · From: Michigan, USA

David M Brown · From: California, USA

John Ed Kelly · From: Victoria, Australia

I play predominately traditional and southern gospel.
The tunes are usually in F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb.

Whilst I still consider myself to be a newcomer, I set out to play SG in the brass keys as most of the jazz tunes I want to learn are in F, Bb, Eb, Ab, C and the occasional G.

My tuning is (L-H) Eb-F-A-C-D-F

This tuning seems quite OK for an amateur like myself as you can get to most chords quite easily, with sixths, sevenths and minors being a piece of cake. Eb is a bit high on the neck, but a slant on the Bb chord at the 5th fret works adequately.

James Phillips · From: Michigan, USA

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