E sacred steel tuning - unison strings question

Greg Gefell · From: Upstate NY

I have this on an S10 guitar where strings 8 and 7 are both tuned to E. When raising or lowering the string 8 E's, I'm left with a half step difference between the new note on string 8 and what's on string 7 which is still at E. This gets ugly when strumming or even just moving the bar around due to sympathetic ringing. It seems like the solution would be to add the E raises and lowers to string 7 as well.

This change doesn't seem to be common at all in any of the sacred steel copedants I've seen while searching for this. The autoharp strumming (framming) is really fun to play with but its kind of a deal breaker to lose the A+F position and the E's lowered.

Anyone else add the E raises and lowers to 7 as well?
_________________
https://www.facebook.com/ggefell/

David Doggett · Posted 10 Dec 2021 4:32 pm

I think the point for Sacred Steelers is to strum when the Es are in unison. The pedal or lever that changes one of the Es is used for playing melodies, not strumming. On guitar or keyboards when a flat 7th, major 7th, or 9th chord is used, it is an octave from the E, or the E is simply not played. You can skip the adjacent E if you pick the chord, but not while strumming. If you want to strum one of those chords, you have to put the change on both adjacent Es.

Greg Gefell · From: Upstate NY

David, that makes total sense and I figured as much. I might add those pulls to be able to get backup rhythm chunky muted strumming when needed. Just can’t do that with skip strings in the way.
_________________
https://www.facebook.com/ggefell/

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: