| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Lowering string 9 with E- lever?
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Lowering string 9 with E- lever?
Fred Treece


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 3 Jun 2023 5:27 pm    
Reply with quote

Does anybody do this? I ask because my E lower lever is on the right knee along with the D lower lever. In other words, it is not possible to lower both at the same time. Just wondering if anyone lowers strings 9-8-4 with the E lever (to C#-D#-D#) on RKL, while also retaining the independence of the D lower lever (to C#) on RKR. Pros and cons, how do you do it, etc.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
John McClung


From:
Olympia WA, USA
Post  Posted 3 Jun 2023 7:23 pm    
Reply with quote

I do. Gets rid of that 9th string clam note when lowering E's for a major 6th chord. Makes string 9 the 2nd or 9th in a B6 chord. It's on my RKL. F's raise on RKR, by the way. I've done this for years and there's no significant downside that I've ever heard.
_________________
E9 INSTRUCTION
▪️ If you want to have an ongoing discussion, please email me, don't use the Forum messaging which I detest! steelguitarlessons@earthlink.net
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Mike Preuss


From:
Mount Vernon, Washington, USA
Post  Posted 3 Jun 2023 7:47 pm    
Reply with quote

LKR + RKR is my go to for a minor 9 chord. I like the idea of adding string 9 D-C# lower to LKR. Nothing lost, except the awkwardness of both knees pushing right. I'll be adding this change to try it out.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Fred Treece


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 3 Jun 2023 10:42 pm    
Reply with quote

What I mean is putting a D-C# lower on the same lever as E-D#. All 3 on RKL.

You got it John ; I want to lose the minor 3rd clam (and gain the major 2) in my B6 mode.

I realize I could just swap E+ and E- levers. With E- on the left knee, right knee could do the D-C# (and D#-C# on str 2) lever on RKR. Might try that first.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 4 Jun 2023 5:01 am    
Reply with quote

Apart from location (I lower my Es on LKL), I am enthusiastic about this idea; lowering the 9th along with the Es.

It's a good idea, Fred and, in my case, there's no issue with losing anything. My 9th/2nd (and 10th, incidentally) lower is on RKR so I would retain independence were I to add the D to C# to my E lowers.

The only fly in the ointment is that I only have two 'lowers' on my LeGrande and they're both in use (P4 and RKR.

I love the idea, though; like John, I can't see a downside; quite the opposite, in fact.

My new (and imminent??? Sad ) Williams D13th 12-string has three lowers in its changer but I fear they're already spoken for too with the hybrid D9th/D6th setup I've ordered. I'll have to live without it, as clever as it is.
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, Quilter TT-12 & TT-15, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
----------------------------------
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 4 Jun 2023 5:58 am    
Reply with quote

PS: Of course, I can get this combination now with LKL (Es - ) and RKR (2-/--, 9 -, 10 --). I just never thought of it.

Silly Roger!
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, Quilter TT-12 & TT-15, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
----------------------------------
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Steve Leal


From:
Orange CA, USA
Post  Posted 4 Jun 2023 9:06 pm    
Reply with quote

I lower D to C# on same lever as lowering Es. I also lower strings 2 and 9 on a different lever (same knee - different direction). Works flawlessly for me.

Only thing you will miss out on is the possibility of 3 chromatic notes together on the low end for quick chromatic runs. I can live without that.

Steve
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
J Fletcher

 

From:
London,Ont,Canada
Post  Posted 5 Jun 2023 8:13 am    
Reply with quote

I am probably the low man on the totem pole here , but I use that low D when in B6 mode , ie with the 8th string lowered. I use the strings 9, 6 and 5 to get the E7 , so I have a 4 chord at the same fret as the 1 chord , strings 8 , 6 and 5 . I can play a bunch of stuff with just that E lower lever engaged and the low D gets used a lot .
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Fred Treece


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 5 Jun 2023 8:57 am    
Reply with quote

J,
I imagine that’s pretty much what everybody with similar setups does, myself included. I don’t think the proposed change does any permanent damage to that capability.

It’s probably just a mental thing, but I usually release the E lever when I go to the (4) dom7 chord at the same fret anyway, so I figure why not just lose the low b3 of of the maj6 with the E lower engaged.

Don’t forget, E’s lowered also creates a m7 chord. So the unchanged 9th string represents a b5, which can be equally useful or annoying depending on context.

Plus, as Steve Leal mentions, gaining another 3 adjacent strings (10-9-8) with whole steps between them is more valuable to me than having them a half step apart (with the addition of Pedal A). I literally never use that.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 5 Jun 2023 10:17 am    
Reply with quote

I found myself considering adding the 9th lower to the E lower: common sense prevailed when I realized I could lower 9 simultaneously on my RKR. What with lowering 2, 9, and the Es (along with pedals-down), I get a very rich B9 across all ten strings.

There's no need to compromise things by adding the 9th lower (not that I can on the Emmons - both 'lowers' are used up); I can engage the A and B pedals, RKR and LKL, and get a fat B9 chord across all ten strings. There are advantages to keeping them separate, as others have pointed out.

(NB: My RKR also lowers 10 to an A but engaging the A pedal returns the string to its open B.)

Strings 10 to 1 with the above combination (in scale tones): 1,9,3,5,7,9,3,7.9.5.

PS: Apologies for the scattered and ungrammatical post that I wrote yesterday; I posted it while on dialysis! Smile I must watch out for that. Edited a day later, hopefully clarifying what I'd tried to say. Confused
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, Quilter TT-12 & TT-15, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
----------------------------------


Last edited by Roger Rettig on 6 Jun 2023 4:10 am; edited 1 time in total
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Fred Treece


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 5 Jun 2023 4:05 pm    
Reply with quote

Right, Roger. I wouldn’t change anything with that setup. Although, with my proposition, I could retain the D- on RKL, which removes the b9 clam in AF mode. You want the b9 with just F lever engaged for diminished chords, but I like to lower string 9 when playing a straight C# major or dom7. With F lever on the right knee that would not be possible.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 6 Jun 2023 4:13 am    
Reply with quote

Note amendments to my reply of yesterday. I wasn't quite myself. Smile
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, Quilter TT-12 & TT-15, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
----------------------------------
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Fred Treece


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 6 Jun 2023 8:15 am    
Reply with quote

Even in a dialysis fog, your posts are more coherent than much of what passes the final edit here, Roger.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 6 Jun 2023 9:26 am    
Reply with quote

Most kind, Fred.

Yesterday, I was incapable of composing a sentence; today, I can barely play my steel. If only I could combine all my faculties on the same day!

My new Tascam 8-track recorder arrives later today. That will put the cat amongst the pigeons, as we say where I come from. All weaknesses will, no doubt, become very apparent when I press the red button.

Don't hold your breath waiting for 'OBS' at 120 bpm!!! Smile
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, Quilter TT-12 & TT-15, B-bender Teles and Martins - and, at last, a Gibson Super 400!
----------------------------------
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron