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Topic: D9 Tuning |
Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 22 Feb 2020 4:58 pm |
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Here are a couple interesting, and I believe useful tunings, that I haven’t seen referenced before. I won’t call them “new†as they are based on a tuning from Brads Page of Steel Tunings ADF#ACE low to high. Reference tuning info is at the end of my post.
For 7-string, a “no-brainer†DADF#ACE
For 6-string, modified for blues/rock DDF#ACE
The bottom two D strings are an octave apart.
REFERENCE INFO:
| Quote: |
Bill Reid writes, "Makuakane, Billy Reid Sr. played a D9th and I have followed suit:
E
C
A
F#
D
A
"You have your major DF#A with an optional lower bass A also the seventh with the C. The top three strings give you the minor chord like the C6th The F#AC give you the diminished chords. When slanted, the top three strings give you the 6th chords and slanted 5,4,3 give you the related major chords. In some respects it's like the B11th . He played C#mi for many years and E7th and AMaj .The D9th is a fast melodic tuning and and great for popular as well as Hawaiian." |
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Current Tunings:
6 String | G – G B D G B D
7 String | G6 – e G B D G B D (re-entrant)
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 23 Feb 2020 8:26 am
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Answers to Unasked Questions:
Q: The low A has the advantage of a low root note for A minor. Why not just leave the A on String 6?
A: I like having the D root twice, and the low D allows for some nice rumble and growl when rocking out on Major chord strums.
Q: Why not use the “standard†D9 tuning of D E F# A C E?
A: That low E string doesn’t seem to serve much purpose in that position. Don’t really need a low 5 for the A minor, or another, lower 9, for D9. I could see putting another A at string 5, but if I’m gonna change things up, I may as well use the voicing that appeals more to me.
Q: If you want easy minor triads under your straight bar, why not just tune D6?
A: I like having dominant 7 chords under the straight bar too. Tuning D7 gives that, but you lose the minor triad. D6 you lose the 7. D9 gives you both. |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 9 Mar 2020 10:36 pm Further Adventures in D9
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This tuning definitely works best on 7 strings
DADF#ACE
On 6 strings I’ve tried
ADF#ACE (I missed having another D)
DDF#ACE (not bad but a full octave between strings 5 & 6 is tricky)
DADACE (D7sus2 — you lose the 3rd in the D chords, has advantages and disadvantages)
Haven’t tried DF#DACE yet. Not sure if I will. |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 24 Mar 2020 2:35 pm Update
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Tried DF#DACE MUCH to “dark†sounding.
Tried a cool C7, DADF#AC Excellent for blues, but no minor triad.
Currently sticking with D7sus2 DADACE very versatile, don’t really miss the F#
The 7 string tuning is still great!
DADF#ACE |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 24 Mar 2020 3:22 pm
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The D9 tuning I know doesn't actually use D at all! It has an implied root, as a single string flattening from C6. C E F# A C E. I guess that would be b7 9 3 5 b7 9. But the top three strings still work in the usual C6 ways for melodies and simplified chords. I'm not fluent enough in it to improvise in it but it's a nice D9 variant from C6 as it gives some great chordal alternatives. An easier switch to that from C6 than to B11, the other usual C6 alternate with 9th chords on the bass side.
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Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 5 May 2021 4:05 pm
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While looking into D9 tuning info today (May 5, 2021) I came across my own post from over a year ago. I guess I was on to something, because I’ve returned to D9 again. My own 7 string version DADF#ACE and the D9 previously referenced by Brad for my 6 strings, ADF#ACE.
Probably shoulda stuck with these since back then. I might be half-decent by now. 
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Current Tunings:
6 String | G – G B D G B D
7 String | G6 – e G B D G B D (re-entrant)
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
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