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Topic: Question about Strings |
James Tyner
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Jeff Mead
From:
London, England
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Posted 14 Feb 2019 1:23 pm |
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There are a couple of different E13 tunings but Don didn't actually use an E13 anyway (he called his main tuning E6 which it also wasn't!)
He mostly used the top 6 strings of his main neck which was tuned to E6 (the 8th string made it something other than E6):
G#
E
C#
B
G#
E
This is the same relative tuning (i.e same intervals) as C6 but every string 4 semitones higher.
E
C
A
G
E
C
This means that the tab as written would work for standard C6 (with E on top) but of course you'd be in a different key - all the licks would work though if playing them on their own. If playing along to a backing track you'd need to adjust so you are playing everything 4 frets higher than written.
If you want to re-tune to E6 you'll need new strings which I don't think are available off the shelf but you can buy individual guages using this handy chart...
https://www.hawaiiansteel.com/learning/gauges.php
If you're interested in Don's tunings, here they are as written by the man himself with the guages he used (though if your guitar isn't the same scale length as a Gibson Console Grand you might have to tweak).
Actually, I just found another image with the low two strings changed (by Don???).
The guages listed in the book are different to either of these. To be honest, I'd use the guages on John Ely's page!
Last edited by Jeff Mead on 14 Feb 2019 1:36 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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James Tyner
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 14 Feb 2019 1:31 pm
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| Thanks Jeff for the great answer. |
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Jeff Mead
From:
London, England
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Posted 14 Feb 2019 1:32 pm
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| James Tyner wrote: |
| Thanks Jeff for the great answer. |
I just edited it while you were writing that (re string guages).
BTW, Don's playing is an absolutely brilliant starting point to explore the 6th tunings. |
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James Tyner
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 14 Feb 2019 1:49 pm
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Thanks again.
I am having a hard time finding a place online to order single guitar strings. Do you know of any websites that sell single strings? |
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James Tyner
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Fred
From:
Amesbury, MA
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Posted 14 Feb 2019 2:21 pm
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| You can use the top five strings and just get an .011 for high G# |
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James Tyner
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 14 Feb 2019 2:27 pm
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| Thanks Fred! |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 14 Feb 2019 2:28 pm
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You can order single strings here on the Forum from b0b. 
Erv |
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James Tyner
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 14 Feb 2019 2:32 pm
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| Thanks Erv I will do that |
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Joe Breeden
From:
Virginia, USA
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Posted 14 Feb 2019 8:30 pm
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| Also, Bob you can order that Don Helms book from the forum. |
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