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Topic: How would you set this up? |
Nick Adamson
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 6 Jan 2022 12:27 am |
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I'm looking at taking some chords in C6, and seeing if I can tune them so that I have two versions of one chord. For instance the Am9 chord at the nut from strings 8-3 using the knee lever to lower the 3rd string C to B - ACEGAB. The first version of the chord would be tuned in Hz like this:
B - 247.5
A - 220
G - 198
E - 165
C - 132
A - 110
(a 5-limit JI minor 9 chord)
The second version would be tuned in Hz like this:
B - 247.5
A - 220
G - 192.5
E - 165
C - 128.333...
A - 110
(A 7-limit JI subminor 9 chord)
So, my question is - what would be the best way to achieve this?
My first thought was - Would it be possible to set up some kind of half stop on the knee lever, so that halfway gives you the first version of the chord by just lowering string 3, and the full extension gives you nothing new for string 3, and the slight lowering of strings 7 and 5 to form the second version of the chord? But, maybe that won't work, and maybe there's a better way to do this. I've never heard of someone setting up a half stop like that, but it would definitely be easier to remember, than having a separate pedal or lever to do this. |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 6 Jan 2022 1:34 am
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Anything is possible if it matters enough. What would be the function of the second version of the chord? When is the first one clearly inappropriate?
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Bengt Erlandsen
From:
Brekstad, NORWAY
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Posted 6 Jan 2022 5:24 am
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Yes you can....if there is a lowering-limit screw(split tuning screw) on the 3rd string that stops the 3rd string from going lower than 247.5
From that point on the lowering of strings 7 and 5 should engage until the lever itself comes to a full stop.
It would even be possible to allow for some slack once the 3rd string reach 247.5 before strings 7 and 5 start to lower.
Bengt Erlandsen
Zumsteel S12extE9 7+7
There are many different minor 3rd intervals that a piano player never gonna experience  but steel guitar players might be aware of them and how they sound. |
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Nick Adamson
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 6 Jan 2022 2:31 pm
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Ian, I don't think there's much in the way of analysis out there for subminor chords, so it might just be one of those 'use your ears' things, but here's my opinion: in terms of functional harmony, the first version is more conventional, and more 'in key' as a ii or vi chord in a major key chord progression. The subminor chord is darker sounding; it might work well as the i chord of a minor chord progression. You could definitely use it as a modal Aeolian chord, or maybe a modal Dorian chord, too. The subminor chord might sound a bit jazzier or bluesier to you; I think it would work well in a II-V-I with a harmonic 7 chord for the V (Harmonic 7 is a dominant chord with the lowered b7 as well, 192.5 Hz if your root was A). You could also use the two chords back to back, creating a contrast, similar to going from major IV to minor iv in a major chord progression - a 'borrowed chord' kind of sound where the subminor chord is the borrowed one.
Bengt, thank you! That's great to hear - I'll read up on how split tuning screws work so that I really understand what's going on there. And, yeah, piano players are gonna have to sit this one out  |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 6 Jan 2022 4:39 pm
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That's interesting, Nick.
I sometimes use a minor third that's like harmonics 6&7 instead of 5&6, but yours is pretty extreme.
I'm going to have to try it now! 
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Nick Adamson
From:
North Carolina, USA
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Posted 6 Jan 2022 9:10 pm
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| Ian, it's sounds like you're already there actually! Harmonics 5 and 6 is the minor third in the first chord, 6/5, (110 Hz * 6 = 660, 660/5 = 132 Hz) (the same third occurs between the 5th and the 7th of the chord) and harmonics 6 and 7 is the minor third in the second chord, 7/6 (110 * 7 = 770, 770 / 6 = 128.333... Hz) (the same third occurs between the 5th and the 7th of this chord, too). |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 7 Jan 2022 2:43 am
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If you tune the 7th in a 7th chord as a 7th harmonic (confusing or what?) you do indeed get a beautiful beatless dominant chord.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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