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Topic: Tunning for general playing on lap steel |
Bob Bleifus
From:
Wildomar, California, USA
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 12:09 pm |
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| I just received my new Melobar SXL Lap Steel. Now I have to learn to play it. I currently have it tuned as if it were a Dobro D,B,G,D,B,G. Is there any disadvantage to this tunning for general play. I would appreciate any comments or advice. Does recommended tunning have more to do with the style of music? |
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Jesse Pearson
From:
San Diego , CA
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 12:44 pm
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| Get Dewitt Scotts "Basic Lap Steel" for C6 tuning. It's on the Mel Bay books and comes with a CD. You need the right gauges for the strings. This C6 tuning does so much and is very easy to use once you study it. Look thru the archieves with the search button up in the upper right side of the main page, there is alot to study if you want. The C6 is great for country, Hawaiian and anything else if you learn the neck real good. Good luck... |
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Billy Wilson
From:
El Cerrito, California, USA
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 1:14 pm
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Bob, The 6th type tuning is a great way to go. Here's two that will work well with a 6 string instrument.
High to Low C6th E C A G E C
A6th E C# A F# E C# |
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Bob Bleifus
From:
Wildomar, California, USA
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 1:33 pm
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Jesse, If I go with the C6 tunning do you know what string gauges I would need. My lap is currently strung with 016, 018, 026w, 034, 042, 056.
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Roger Shackelton
From:
MINNESOTA (deceased)
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 2:08 pm
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Hello Bob, These gauges should be correct for C-6th.
C-6th
1. E .014
2. C .017
3. A .021
4. G .024w
5. E .030w
6. C .036w
Roger
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 4:51 pm
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Bob to answer one question, yes the disadvantage of bluegrass tuning is minors, which are a basic chord function, are very incomplete in this tuning. Yes you can play over minor chords, but you can't really play complete minors easily.
While the C6 you have minors quite easily, plus lots more.
And it's not far off from The Leavitt tuning, which is hard, but extremely powerful.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 28 December 2003 at 04:52 PM.] |
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Jesse Pearson
From:
San Diego , CA
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 5:07 pm
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Bob, alot of guys with 22.5" short scale necks will go to the bigger side of the possible string guage choices for a particular pitch. I do this and I get a better tone, but I have cheapo Magnatones and this gets the most out of the pick up. It sounds great to me. Dewitt Scott has lighter strings than me on his C6 fry pan because he has a long scale neck, I think? When you go to the heavy side of the guages, you have to be aware that you can't tune much higher, so alternate tunings might be affected.
C6
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E - .016
C - .022
A - .024
G - .026
E - .032
C - .038 |
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Travis Bernhardt
From:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 28 Dec 2003 6:53 pm
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If you're new to steel guitar it won't kill you to stick with the high bass G tuning you're using now (or raise it to A). You won't have a straight bar minor chord but you'll still have major and minor third intervals and slants in sixths, plus you'll have a full major chord you can move around and strum.
Nothing wrong with going to C6, I would just say that if you're a total beginner a straight high or low bass G or A tuning MIGHT be easier to learn on, at first. The logic of it is probably a little easier to grasp.
-Travis |
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Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Posted 29 Dec 2003 9:58 am
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| Scotty's Music in St Louis makes a 6 string C6 set under their "SIT" name. They are semi-flats so reduce string squeak on the low strings. You can purchase them from Scotty's or juststrings.com (a little cheaper at the latter I think). They will work well on you Melobar. |
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George Rout
From:
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 29 Dec 2003 3:28 pm
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| I'm glad I'm not you Bob, because you'll probably get everybody's personal preference. For 70 years, some folks, like me, have been using E C# A E A E (high to low). If you're going to play a lot by yourself, this tuning allows you to accompany yourself. If you want additional info, send an email to me. Geo |
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