Rogers Tuning - E7 w/high G#

Bill Leff · From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

I restrung my Bakelite Ric yesterday for the Benny Rogers tuning. The tuning is (low to high):

D E G# B E G#

A very high pitched tuning to say the least, but it really works well for style of playing that Benny and Feet Rogers used(and later, Herb Hanawahine and Alan Akaka when they played with Auntie Genoa Keawe). It seems like a good tuning for playing "chang a lang" and "backyard" styles of Hawaiian where the guitars are playing major triads instead of 6th chords (though the tuning can work with any chord backup chord).

The D is seldom played in this style, used only for the occasional "jazzy" dominant 7th chord move. Most of the work is done on the top four strings, with lots of harmonics.

Anyone else play this tuning?

Bill

Mike Neer · From: NJ

I love E7, but not with the high 3rd. I like the E on top, like Andy Iona.

Bill Leff · From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Mike:

I play that one too, or something like it:

(low to high) E D E G# B E

Harry Dietrich · From: Robesonia, Pennsylvania, USA, R.I.P.

I use B E G# B E G# (low to high). Been using this tuning for years.

String guages

1. G# .011
2. E .014
3. B .018
4. G# .018 or .020 plain (has to be plain for finger pulls behing the bar)
5. E .035 wound
6. B .038 wound

This is what I use on my Gibson EH150. Easiest tuning to play in that I ever found, and I used them all in my 55 years of playing.

Happy picking.

Harry

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

I have always been an E7th fan. This tuning has a real Hawaiian sound. Dick McIntire used it in the majority of his recordings. However, I prefer E on top as the G# has a very thin sound

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I never did like anything other than an E for the top string on my T-8 Stringmaster.
Erv

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

I agree about the thinness of the high G#.

E
B
G#
E
D
B

is what I like, because a V7 chord is just NOT a V7 chord (to me) unless that awesome 7th is in there. And whether or not someone else in the band plays the note, I just gotta hear the steel player get it.

This is why I love JB's "split" slants and his A7/C6 tuning so much. "Cocoanut Grove" would not be the same without it, just as one example, IMO.

carl

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

how about E maj w/added 7th?

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

There is such a chord?

c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

e b g# add d 7th throw ina low B and sounds good.

Harry Dietrich · From: Robesonia, Pennsylvania, USA, R.I.P.

I often wonder why a high G# on a lap steel is any "thinner" then a G# (3rd string) on a peddle steel tuned to E9th?
It's exactly the same thing. You play your majors on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings, but you don't have to do any bar slants for your runs, and you are truly "playing in the box".
If anyone has any questions please feel free to E-Mail me, and I'll try to answer them.

Happy picking

Harry

nick allen · From: France

Also, of course, if you really like Harry's tuning, but *really* want the E on top, you could make it a C tuning:
E
C
G
E
C
G
... same intervals, just 4 frets difference on the chords...
Nick

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Harry,

You are exactly right. It is thin on an E9th PSG. And that is the point. Didn't like it the day I first put it on and still don' lack it, but soooo necessary.

"lack" it even less on Hawaiian music. But that is my opinion. If you like it, by all means go for it. Who made the rules?

carl

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

I use the same tuning as Carl on both my lap steel and Dobro. What I like is the fact that you can lower the 1st string to D and the 3rd string to G and you've got a very nice G6th tuning...Have a good 'un, JH

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

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