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Topic: Newbe Help |
Charlie Vegas
From:
Tampa Bay, FLA, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2003 10:24 am |
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I'm fairly new to lap steel even though I've had a six string 1953 Gibson UltraTone in my custody for some time now.
I'd like to start woodshedding and incorporate this in my current band. We play a hybrid of Blues, Jump, Rockabilly & Swing. I'm looking for opinions on tunings and instructional videos.
I could go with the obvious slide guitar tunings like open G, D, or E. I'm thinking maybe a Texas Swing tuning, although we don't play any Cowboy cords. We mostly shuffle in E or swing in A with lots of 7ths & 9's. |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 17 Jan 2003 10:45 am
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Charlie, I'm trying to follow your thread, but my friend you are off base when you equate western-swing with "cowboy" tunings. Cowboy is Gene Autrey and Roy Rogers and Sons of the Pioneers...(Riding Down the Canyon" etc),.....western-swing is more kin to improvisational jazz!
You won't be able to play it unil you "feel" the difference! [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 17 January 2003 at 11:23 AM.] |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 17 Jan 2003 10:49 am
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Check This Post for lots of good info on 6 string tunings. Everyone has an opinion. Mine is... go with C6 for western swing, pop, rock, and all round stuff (there is a fair amount of instructional material for C6). Go with E for blues and rock.
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My Site - Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories
[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 17 January 2003 at 10:51 AM.] |
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Charlie Vegas
From:
Tampa Bay, FLA, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2003 11:56 am
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Gene, point well taken. Although I wasn't trying to equate western-swing with "cowboy" tunings. I was trying to equate the key of the songs. All my experience with different tunings is with slide guitar in which the tuning is the key of the song. If the song is in a different key, you retune or capo. In my thinking (flawed or not), "C" is Cowboy key. I play very little in "C". I was trying to say that a C6 tuning may not work for me. Now if you's guys tell me that the tuning has no relation to the key of the song when playing lapsteel, then this whole point is moot.
By the way, I have no intention of playing Cowboy music, but think Western Swing licks would fit in well with some of our material. I'm thinking along the lines of Bill Haley or Big Sandy. |
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Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2003 2:42 pm
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E13 would be a good place to start. Easy to sound swingy and since it's in E you won't get lost on the neck if you play guitar in standard tuning.
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Ron Randall
From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2003 2:48 pm
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Charlie,
FWIW
I have played guitar and bass for a lonngggggg time. Have been picking up non pedal and having lots of fun.
I assume your are not talking about dobro, or bluegrass.
The 6th tuning, is very versatile, whatever key you want to tune the guitar to. You have the capability of minor chords and that sweet 6th chord.
Also, since you play with a band, think about what keys you would be playing in. Just because a steel is tuned C6 does not mean you will play in the key of C. The bar is always(almost) on the strings. You can't slide below the first fret.
A good playing position is frets 4 to 11 for your song keys. From fret 4, you will have room to back up 3 frets, have a full four chord at fret 9 and a full five chord at fret 11. If you have a choice, stay off the 12 fret for your song keys. This is the harmonic fret, and more difficult to get a good sound there.
The group I play with uses the key of Eflat alot. The guitars and bass detune down to Eflat. I tune the 8 string to B6. This puts my Eflat position on the 4 fret, my Aflat on the 9 fret, etc.
I hope this helps. |
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