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Topic: Question for Mike Neer (or other triconers) |
Patrick Newbery
From:
San Francisco, California, USA
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Posted 19 Jul 2005 8:05 pm |
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What's the most versatile tuning for playing Hawaiian on a National Tricone?
I play mostly A6, C6 and E13 lap and have experimented with C#m, E7. Basically I want a versatile tuning that can support a lot of chordal melodic playing.
is it possible?
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Dana Duplan
From:
Ramona, CA
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Posted 20 Jul 2005 5:18 am
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I'll put in a vote for G Major (low or high bass). It's the main tuning Bob Brozman uses in his traditional Hawaiian playing. And, if you've heard Tom Morrell or Orville Johnson on Dobro, it's amazing how much is in there. I just did a workshop with Orville, and he plays a HUGE range of things, including jazz chord voicings, all in standard Dobro tuning.
DD |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 20 Jul 2005 5:43 am
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Hi Patrick. I'm no authority, but here's my 2ยข:
I think it all boils down to the sound you're after and what you're most comfortable with. If you're looking to play in the style of Sol Hoopii or Sol Bright, etc., then I think you can't avoid looking at A, E7 or C#m. If you're into the later lush chordal styles, then C6 is probably your best bet. Personally, I think on a tricone a lot of the subtleties of big chords gets lost. Best to stick with harmonized lines and triads (of course this includes upper extensions of chords). I like the E based tunings because I fake a lot of rhythm guitar and I play a bunch of lower register stuff. With my group, I play only a small amount of Hawaiian music, and what I do play can be traced back to the Golden Era.
My preferences are C#m, E7 and high bass A (or G). That's pretty much it. I think you can get most of what you need there unless you're trying to recreate the later guitar styles.
Most tricone players (not all, I'm talking about the 20s and early 30s), have either played in A or E (with variations). After really listening to King Benny (on Triolian), I'm convinced he tuned up to B. Just about everyone went electric when they could and the earlier style of playing (Sol Bright, Sol Hoopii, Jim and Bob) essentially died. Shame--I really love the energy and attack.[This message was edited by Mike Neer on 20 July 2005 at 06:44 AM.] [This message was edited by Mike Neer on 20 July 2005 at 06:45 AM.] |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 20 Jul 2005 6:43 am
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I have A, high bass on mine.
Erv |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 20 Jul 2005 7:11 am
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Just to be clear here, these are the tunings being discussed, with strings listed from bass to treble:
C6:
C E G A C E
G Major (high bass):
G B D G B D
G Major (low bass):
D G D G B D
A Major (low bass):
E A E A C# E
C# minor:
E C# E G# C# E
E7:
E D E G# B E
If I've written any of these incorrectly, please let me know.
I personally use open G (high bass) on my tricone, and find that I can play almost anything I want to play using this tuning.
------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 20 July 2005 at 08:14 AM.] |
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Patrick Newbery
From:
San Francisco, California, USA
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Posted 20 Jul 2005 8:21 am
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Thanks everyone! Great insights!
My 1930 National Style 1 tricone arrives Friday. Can't wait. |
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Colin Brooks
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Posted 20 Jul 2005 8:59 am
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I keep my 1930 III in Gmaj mostly, but sometimes slacken the G's to F# for the later Hoopii/ Sol K Bright sound. I think that makes it G6/Bminor. I'm rubbish on theory!
Split slants really help extend the straight G tuning. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 23 Jul 2005 8:34 am
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| F# will give you a Gmaj7. Raising the fourth string D to E will give you a G6. You have an Em on strings 2,3,& 4. |
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Eric Gearhart
From:
Bellingham, Massachusetts, USA
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Posted 23 Jul 2005 4:52 pm
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| I use high G on my 1928 Tricone. I switched to E maj. for a little while, but like the G tuning better. E and G on my'52 Fender Dual Pro 6 (walnut). |
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