My Stringmaster Has Landed !!

Bob Snelgrove · From: san jose, ca

Hi Gang

Came yesterday exactly as described. Looks like the music store threw some assorted mismatched strings on so it would have something on it.

I'll prolly go some type of E tuning on top and C on the bottom. Unfortuneatly, my friend Bobby Black who uses this setup is in Nashville visiting his brother Larry, so I can't ask him for tuning/gauge info.

Last time I talked to him, he gave me this for the C tuning (I think):

C# E G A C E B D

Did I write this down correctly? (The B doesn't seem right (G maybe?)

If this looks ok, can you give me some string gauge help so I can play this sweetheart??!!

Thx for everyones' help. I wouldn't have it if it hadn't been for all the help I have got here

Thx!

Bob

Bob Knight · From: Bowling Green KY

Here's a Guage Chart Bob
Courtesy of CARTER Steel Guitars http://www.steelguitarinfo.com/strings/stringgauges.html

[This message was edited by Bob Knight on 14 November 2001 at 07:32 PM.]

Doug Beaumier · From: Northampton, MA

Bob, Congratulations on your new acquisition! If you ask 10 players what tuning you should use... you'll get 10 different answers

My suggestion would be C6 and E13. I use the "Jerry Byrd" C6/A7 combination on the rear neck and E13 on the front neck.

There are a number of ways to set up a particular tuning. C6 must have the following notes: C, E, G, A. Those notes also spell out the Am7 chord. Below is one way to set up your 8 string C6. It's the same as strings 1 through 8 of the standard C6 pedal steel tuning:



C6/Am7





1)  G  .011


2)  E  .014


3)  C  .017 plain


4)  A  .022 wound


5)  G  .024


6)  E  .030


7)  C  .034


  A  .042

Jerry Byrd's C6/A7 tuning is an offshoot of the above tuning and it gives the player a nice full dominant 7th chord which is not available on the standard C6 tuning. I use this tuning (and E13) on my D-8 Rickenbacker:

 


C6/A7





1)  E  .014


2)  C  .017 plain


3)  A  .022 wound


4)  G  .024


5)  E  .030


6)  C# .034


7)  C  .034


  A  .042

If you play E9 pedal steel, the 8 string E13 tuning will seem pretty familiar. E13 must have the following notes: E, G#, B, C#, D. Here's how I set mine up:



E13





1)  E  .014    


2)  C# .017


3)  B  .018


4)  G# .024 wound


5)  E  .030


6)  D  .034


7)  B  .038


  E  .056

John Ely has a great STRING GAUGE CHART on his site.

Enjoy your new toy! If you ever get bored with it... let me know and I'll buy it! db

------------------
My Site

Doug's Free Tab

[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 14 November 2001 at 08:02 PM.]

Robert · From: Chicago

Bob:
I've been watching your various posts about your new guitar with some interest - you got a good one. www.scottysmusic.com has page after page of tunings/gauges to peruse and print. Do check it out - it will be very helpful. I use an A6 tuning on the neck closest to me (F# A C# E F# A C# E - same intervals as the C6, just lower in pitch), and the "Don Helms" E13 on the front neck (E or B, D E G# B C# E G#) - I tried the "Leon" E13 that I think was spelled out in the last post, then switched to "Helms". b0bby Lee uses this tuning, as well. In fact, he has a tuning/gauge chart at the top of the pages of this forum marked "Tunings". Have fun . . .

Rob Yale

Keith Grubb · From: Petaluma, CA, USA

Hey Bob,

Congratulations on the new guitar. The tuning you wrote down: C# E G A C E B D is right. I remember an old post where Bobby Lee wrote about it. I haven't tried it out yet but it look to be full of posibilities.
On strings 8 to 5 you have a dom. 7th chord and if you throw in the B string you get a 9th chord.

The B and D strings are pitched between the A and C string so you have a lot of melodic work you can do. I addition because they are out of sequence you can strum 6th chords on strings 7 to 3.

Do you happen to know what other tunings Bobby Black is using? As far as what gauges to use, the above links are a good place to start. You may want to adjust the thickness of some strings depending on how tight or loose you like your strings.

Good Luck,

Keith

[This message was edited by Keith Grubb on 15 November 2001 at 08:54 AM.]

Bill Leff · From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

I don't know how you guys play these tunings where you have lower pitched strings following higher ones. I'm so used to going towards my body if I want hit a lower note, and away from my body to hit a higher note. Guess this comes from 35 years of playing standard and alternate tuning guitars, none of which used a tuning with lower pitched strings that follow higher ones.

nick allen · From: France

It's the PEDAL steelers! they're all used to it...

I don't remember seeing anyone who got seriously into lap steel before pedals recommending these types of tunings -although Joaquin Murphy and I believe Herb Remington, and possibly others, had the occasional high string on the bottom (nearest the body) which I guess is the same principle...
Nick

Bill Leff · From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Nick:

OK now I understand, and yet another reason why the pedal steel is considered by some to be a completely different instrument than a "real guitar"

Of course, I personally do not share this opinion

Mikel Nelson · From: San Diego, CA

Got to agree with you Bill!

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