I just figured it out ! I am playing in C6th !

Ed Altrichter · From: Schroeder, Minnesota, USA

I've been having fits for months trying to figure out how to play in C6th tuning, and tonight It just came to me ! Ka-wham ! I had sent for Jerry Byrd's instructuons, and that never came, and I tried tuning the Dobro and the Remington to 6th, and that didn't work... it just sounded like a dis-chord. I've been playing my Remington Steelmaster in open A like my Dobro and feeling guilty about it ! I posted on here about having probs with it, and some kind people tried to help, but nothing was getting through my thick skull. Then tonight I was changing strings and diddling around and B L A M M O !! There it was !
All of a sudden It hit me, and I found myself playing "Bubbles In My Beer" ! I am now playing Western Swing in the right tuning and I am so proud ! At least I think it's pretty close to right; from the bottom: EGACEGAC . Close enough ? I might have to make some adjustments, what do you think ?

Y I P P E E E E E !

Now all I have to do do is get it running smoothly... but I'm only 62, and people are living longer now-a-days; by the time I'm 100 I'll be ready to go public !
Thanks for the help, everybody !
Ed

Bill Bosler · From: Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, USA

Ed - Way to go! I use an A6th tuning, low to high, F#AC#EF#AC#B, that's a little different. I like the chromatic B on the top string, but it's whatever you like. That's the fun of non-pedal steel. You can try all sorts of tunings and all it costs you is a few minutes of your time and maybe a couple of busted strings.

Dan Sawyer · From: Studio City, California, USA

Ed, yes that's a C6 tuning. Most of us put a high E above your 'c'. Straight C6 would be (high to low) E-C-A-G-E-C-A-G. There are many variations on this and a lot of folks use a high G. If you go to the top of the page and click on "links", you will see another link that says "Tunings". That will show you many of the popular ones.

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

Ed; You are never too old to learn to play a musical instrument. I am sixty four and I just started playing the steel about two months ago. I got Cindy Cashdollar's video instruction; sets #1 & #2 and have been practising for a minimum of five to six hours per day. Though I have a little better than 40 years experience of playing chromatic and blues harmonicas, and do have a minimum understanding of acoustic guitar chording, I very much consider myself a ground zero beginner on the steel.

I am have tuned my D8 to C6th “G,E,C,A,G,E,C,A” (lower neck) and E13th “E,C#B,G#F#D,G#,E (upper neck) and have been working on playing chords as much as my brain will absorb. Your age should have nothing to do with it. If, as you say, you already play a dobro, you are 3/4s ahead of the game and should have no reason not to step out and do some jammming sessions with some friends. Even getting together with a single friend who plays acoustic will help tons in learning the chords on the steel. You will most certainly screw up as I did (read thread “A real beginner’s question”) but, hey, that’s how one learns. Keep your nose to the strings, listen to how others do it and set your goals.

------------------
(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

[This message was edited by Les Anderson on 10 November 2004 at 08:47 PM.]

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

Ed....once you learn basic music theory, (scales and chordal structures), discoveries like you mention will be the norm. C6th presents no mystery, 'nor do any other tunings once you learn the very basics of music. It's easy ! Honest !!

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Congrats to you. Now you can forge ahead with "Bubbles In MY Tub"

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

congrats Ed. you give me hope. I too have been working my lap steel with C6. at first I couldn't hear the note relationships. then one day it happened. I put on a Hank CD and jam away.
C6 is great when I wwant to swing.

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Ed-Congratulations! Way to go. I like a little more jazzy bottom that you could try. High to low. Try this, which is more used by top guys.
E-C-A-G-E-C-A-F. Lots of goodies there....al

------------------
My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Howard Tate · From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.

I've been watching the Cindy Cashdollar videos too, and I'm curious, is it practical to tune a six string(dobro) to c6? Got the videos from the library and they don't have the booklets.

------------------
Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum S12U, Vegas 400 Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

Howard; The dobro player who has been letting me jam with his friends tunes to C6th for part of the jam then re-tunes to something else later on. I have no idea what his second tuning is or why he even changes halfway through the jam session.

There are also several variations to the C6th tuning as well so that can add to the confusion. No doubt the experienced players in here will shed some light on your question. I have tuned to the C6th as per my post above because that is what Cindy Cashdollar teaches to. It's sure worked for me.

------------------
(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

Delvin Morgan · From: Lindstrom, Minnesota, USA

Hi Ed,
Glad you got it figured out,good for you. Hey, by the way Ed is really pretty good on the Dobro.

I probably shouldn't even be here, I have a pedal steel, anyway, way to go Ed.

Ed Altrichter · From: Schroeder, Minnesota, USA

M O R G !
How ya doin'? Nice to see that you made it in here ! How's that Profex workin' ?
Ed

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Good on you Ed. Congratulations on the epiphany.
I love C6, I became an E9 player because my C6 PSG came with an E9 neck on the other side!

Now you may be ready for the mojo C6 thread
THREADZILLA !

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/003549.html

Denny left some real cool stuff on the net,
check his site and print out the sliders and chord pocket charts.

In the thread there are contributions from many many people.

Now that you suddenly SEE the possibilities, you are ready to delve deeper.

But only worry about 1... JUST one issue at a time,
so you don't get over-loaded.

Just book mark the thread and go back from time to time.

Howard no problem using C6 on dobro, I have used it for decades from time to time.
But you can also use G6, E6 or A6 as you see fit etc. just use the same relationships.

C6 is good for looking at the tuning in a learning sense,
because it's base is no sharps or flats at all.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 13 November 2004 at 08:52 AM.]

Tim Whitlock · From: Colorado, USA

Ed - Finding the right notes is an epiphany that opens up a world of fun. I would recommend that you go to the top of the page and click on strings. The Forum sells C 6th string sets. A properly guaged set will make your guitar play much better -Tim

Forum Index > Steel Without Pedals		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: