Tunings for 6 string lap steel

Felix Blevins · From: Dunlap, Tennessee, USA

What would be the best tuning for country or gospel songs on the 6 string lap steel?

Roger Shackelton · From: MINNESOTA (deceased)

Hi Felix, I think C-6th is the most common tuning. Hi to low G,E,C,A,G,E OR E,C,A,G,E,C.

Roger

Paul Arntson · From: Washington, USA

I was going to post open E, as in Sacred Steel, but Roger, I think you are right.

[This message was edited by Paul Arntson on 17 August 2004 at 05:17 PM.]

Chuck Fisher · From: Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.

also notable is D In D tuning the 5th fret is G position (the 4th of D)

D tuning is very nice for songs in G or in D

E tuning is good for songs in A or E keys.

its not like you can't play other keys with these tunings, these are just the easiest to hit in tune, (especially if you dont practice a bunch but you want to have fun playing with others.)

btw - forward slants in these tunings are a nice 7th chord

Dont get me wrong c6 and E13 are great, I like them both - and others.

George Rout · From: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

And again fellas, I must stick up for us old folks who have used the A Major tuning E C# A E C# A for over half a century. My CD has Harbour Lights, Just A Closer Walk With Thee, I'll Hold You In My Heart and about 12 others in A Major, three are in C6th, and a couple like Steel Guitar Rag in E Major. In my humble opinion, there is NO easier tuning to learn to play in than A Major, follwed by E Major. You can always learn C6th or all the hundreds of others later. Ask any of my students!!!! Geo

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

Personally, I don't know what all the fuss is about in regards to tunings. You can play most any song in any key on any tuning....just a matter of knowing the tuning you are using thoroughly. I have never been excited about C6th. It's fine, however there are many tunings out there which are just as versatile if not moreso.
The other factor to consider is what style of music you wish to concentrate upon. JMHO.

Travis Bernhardt · From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

That's an good point, about being able to play any song in any tuning, but the tuning does affect how you can arrange the song--especially if we're talking about solo playing on an acoustic instrument. It would be pretty hard to play an alternating bass fingerpicked tune in the key of B on a C6 tuning. You could probably work up a passable arrangment but you've got to admit that tuning to some kind of B tuning would probably make it a lot easier.

Also, the interval of a major second and the 1-b3-5 minor chord in a tuning like C6 obviously offers certain slants and melodic possibilities that would be hard or impossible to achieve with a straight A major tuning. Of course, A major will have its own strengths.

Incidentally, what tunings would you say are more versatile than C6? I'm not arguing that C6 is the greatest tuning ever, I'm just curious as to what your opinion is.

-Travis

[This message was edited by Travis Bernhardt on 18 August 2004 at 06:06 PM.]

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

Well, my all-time preferance is the E9th.

I have used, and occasionally still use the "C6" however I tune it a half step lower ... it becomes the B6th. My main reasoning, a few years ago I was asked to play "Steelin' the Blues". The rhythm guitarist accompanying me at the time informed me (quietly) he had difficulty with the key of Db which is "Steelin's" key when played on the C6th tuning. So I simply made a quick switch and lowered all my strings one half tone to put him into the key of C which went over well. I have stayed with B6 ever since.

Travis Bernhardt · From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Interesting. Which version of the E9 tuning do you use? Also, can you describe why it's your favorite?

-Travis

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

Hi to Lo: E C# B G# E F# D E

I find it is particularly suitable for Hawaiian and most other forms of music...(old standards, gospel and the like), also western swing although I seldom play w/s anymore. Hawaiian has taken presidence over all other styles for the past 20 years or so.
"To Each His Own".

Chuck Fisher · From: Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.

another that I omitted is the popular LOW-BASS G that has a D bass. Nice for alternating bass lines under chords as is common in some of those tunes, good if you're the only instrument.

[This message was edited by Chuck Fisher on 19 August 2004 at 04:00 PM.]

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

C6 = C–E–G–A–C–E
C6/A7 = C#–E–G–A–C–E
A6/D9 = C#–E–F#–A–C–E
E6 = B–E–G#–B–C#–E
E7 = B–D–E–G#–B–E
B11 = C#–D#–F#–A–C#–E
E9 = D–E–F#–G#–B–E
C#m7 = B–D–E–G#–C#–E
E = E–B–E–G#–B–E
E = G#–B–E–G#–B–E
E13 = D–F#–G#–B–C#–E
And more!
Everyone happy now? ------------------
“Big John” Bechtel
(2)-Fender ’49–’50 T–8 Customs
Fender ’65 Reissue Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here
click here click here click here

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 20 August 2004 at 06:18 PM.]

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 30 August 2004 at 10:39 PM.]

Chuck Fisher · From: Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.

Big John,

Who plays Em7 with that layout?

Just curious,
CF

basilh · From: United Kingdom

Hi Keoki... the tuning you use and call the E9th is actually E13 (the C# note is the 13th of the scale)
It's my own favourite by the way..

The tuning listed by John Bechtel as E13 can't be as it's missing the important seventh.
E6/9 maybe...

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Terry VunCannon · From: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

I have been using the David Lindley "Jackson Browne" tuning with great results...EBG#EBE high to low...a lot can be done with this.

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