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Topic: First gig w. Brownell Tuning |
Don Crowl
From:
Medford, Oregon, USA
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Posted 5 May 2021 8:56 pm |
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Yesterday was the first gig our group had in 14 months. Also it was my first gig using the Brownell tuning on my 8 string lap steel. I did fair. Missed a few grips by one string. At first I found learning the tuning too difficult and I gave up for a short while but a little later decided to continue to learn it. Now I am really enjoying the tuning and the options it provides. It seems a little like playing my former Bb universal peddle tuning. Before I used 13th tunings on lap steel & the Leavitt tuning which I still like for some songs.
My instrumentals were greenlight, just a closer walk with thee, midnight in Amarillo, & Bubbles in my beer. It was fun to play out again. I mean outside on a large patio. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 5 May 2021 9:28 pm
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Isn't the Brownell tuning the same as the Alkire Eharp tuning, except on a longer scale? Claude Brownell was a master player.
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Joe A. Roberts
From:
Seoul, South Korea
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Posted 5 May 2021 10:42 pm
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| How did you scale back the tuning for 8 strings? |
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Bill McCloskey
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Posted 6 May 2021 5:14 am
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Yes, the Brownell tuning is the eharp tuning tuned down a 5th.
the top two strings of the 10 string tuning repeat on the bottom two strings, so it is possible to just use the top 8 strings of the Eharp tuning and get the same chords, just not all the inversions. |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 6 May 2021 8:19 am
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Perhaps someone is willing to spell the tuning out in this thread?
Low to high, or better yet, stacked vertically? |
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Don Crowl
From:
Medford, Oregon, USA
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Posted 6 May 2021 9:35 am
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Actually, I tune one fret lower than Claude BrownellΓ’β¬β’s tuned down Alkire tuning. The reason I did that is because for years I played a 12 string Bb 6 Universal so I wanted to use basically the same frets. I credit Bill McCloskey for inspiring me to play the tuning.
The Brownell Version of the Alkire tuning is based on 10 strings so I dropped the bottom two strings for the eight string version.
My tuning low to high: B C C sharp D D sharp F G Bb
Claude Brownell had a custom made console steel guitar with a 30 inch scale neck. The lap steel I used for convenience has a 22.5 inch scale. I also put the tuning on one of the necks on my fender Stringmaster quad that has 24 inch plus necks. That seems a little better for me when playing those high positions. Later I hope to get a single eight string with a little longer scale like the stringmaster. |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 6 May 2021 9:56 am
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Don; Those chromatic low strings would be fun to work with!
I would love to hear some sound clips of you playing with this tuning. It looks like a major triad is easy to grip on strings 4-2-1 a minor chord is a bit more tricky with strings 5-2-1 and there are so many other cool chords and harmonized runs possible.
Do you use a lot of slants with this tuning as well?
 I would be completely lost... Dom
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 6 May 2021 10:28 am
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| Don Crowl wrote: |
My tuning low to high: B C C sharp D D sharp F G Bb
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Mixing sharps and flats in a tuning makes my head hurt.  Here it is as one or the other
| Tab: |
Bb A#
G G
F F
Eb D#
D D
Db C#
C C
B B
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Following Alkire, the 9th string would be Bb (A#) making it a complete octave. The 10th string would be G.
_________________
-πππ- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 6 May 2021 12:06 pm
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| i listened to what i could find of brownell and i liked his playing. the 30" guitar has a very nice sound to it. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Don Crowl
From:
Medford, Oregon, USA
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Posted 6 May 2021 4:01 pm
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Dom: I've only used a slant for one inversion of a diminished in "Midnight in Amarillo" & that being in the bridge where it is convenient to play all the spreads/grips within a few frets. I've only been working with the tuning this year. During that time I went from quitting for a short while due to intimidation to inspiration. I would get inspiration listening to CB's playing, which I often did. My way of learning the tuning is probably unusual, that being a combination of by ear and studying a contrived matrix. I really should make basic tabs because if I don't play a song for a few days I find it difficult to remember the grips and fret positions where I captured the sounds I want. It is a continual learning & memory challenge for me but I get real satisfaction & pleasure from the sounds.
B0B: You are right with the 10 full string tuned down Alkire tuning & more logical in describing the tuning. I often have an unusual way of thinking so I wrestle with how I make a matrix or describe a tuning. |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 28 Feb 2022 6:41 pm
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| In addition to his wonderful playing......he is some entertaining personality...... |
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