| Author |
Topic: C6 to E6? |
Scott Rogers
From:
Andalusia, AL
|
Posted 11 Jun 2007 9:52 am |
|
Wondering about tension on the strings.. I've got a 6string tuned with a set of C6 strings.. can I just everything up to E6, or should it go down? b0b, got the Don Helms book in today, a nice surprise for my birthday! Thanks!
Scott |
|
|
 |
John Dahms
From:
Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA
|
Posted 11 Jun 2007 11:56 am
|
|
That's pretty tight going up to E6. Maybe go down to A6.
_________________
Time flies like an eagle
Fruit flies like a banana. |
|
|
|
Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
|
Posted 11 Jun 2007 12:01 pm
|
|
| Assuming that you have a low C6, that is, from top to bottom, E-C-A-G-E-C, you don't really have to change anything. Don"s 6 string E6 tuning is G#-E-C#-B-G#-E. The exact same intervals a major 3rd higher. If you're in high C6, that is G-E-C-A-G-E, you probably don't need to change strings. With the possible exception of the A sting going up to B, everything will tune up. If you intend to play Hank's songs out, in Don's style, you may want to tune the strings up to E6. But I think b0b has said he has done very well covering both the E6 and C6 repertoires by using the D6 tuning, which is, once again, the same intervals, halfway in between. |
|
|
|
Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 11 Jun 2007 12:21 pm
|
|
Tuning all 6 strings up a third like that would be way too tight and would put major stress on the strings, tuners and neck.
For proper gauges and tunings, check out Tunings.
_________________
BIG STEEL |
|
|
|
Scott Rogers
From:
Andalusia, AL
|
Posted 11 Jun 2007 12:25 pm
|
|
| cool.. thanks for the advice. I'd probably go down then, plus that'd make it a little more twangy'er for behind-bar pulls. I know its the same intervals no matter what tuning (A6, C6, E6, D6 etc), but I'm thinking I might have a better sense of "home base key" in E6, plus the Don Helms book tabs are in E6 (for a 6 string purposes, E13 I know with the 7th & 8th) I've been playing C6 for a while now and I still lose my place from time to time. Seems like E6 would have been an easier transition from standard guitar tuning. Thanks again! |
|
|
|
Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
|
Posted 11 Jun 2007 12:46 pm
|
|
There's something here I don't get, but I can't put my finger on it - perhaps that's why I don't get it....? 
I have used the Jagwire C6 strings that b0b sells here on the forum for both C6 and E6, but then I tune the first string to an E in both tunings, like this (low to high):
C6 - C E G A C E
E6 - C# E G# B C# E
Obviously, the intervals are not the same this way since C6 has the 3rd on top while E6 has the root, but besides that I've never had a problem going between these tunings with the same strings.
Steinar
PS - I guess there's a reason why I stick to major chord tunings...... 
_________________
"Play to express, not to impress"
Website - YouTube |
|
|
|
Michael Papenburg
From:
Oakland, CA
|
Posted 11 Jun 2007 12:49 pm
|
|
As a guitarist turned lap steeler, I find that I always know where I am with G6. Here's the tuning that I use for 6 string:
D
B
G
E
D
B
Hope this is helpful. |
|
|
|
Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
|
Posted 11 Jun 2007 1:44 pm
|
|
Steiner, your E6 is AN E6 alright. But we were talking about a specific form of E6. To wit: Don Helms's E6. The 8 string version, from top to bottom, is G#-E-C#-B-G#-E-C#-A. Don got a very jazzy/bluesey chordal sound out of that particular tuning that is just out of this world.  |
|
|
|
Michael Papenburg
From:
Oakland, CA
|
Posted 11 Jun 2007 1:50 pm
|
|
| I've read that many people do not like how high & thin the "G" is in a high C6 tuning. It seems that G# would be even thinner sounding but I haven't tried it. Does this tuning work best with warmer toned instruments? |
|
|
|
Drew Howard
From:
48854
|
Posted 11 Jun 2007 4:04 pm
|
|
| CALLING AL MARCUS TO THE WHITE COURTESY FORUM PHONE... |
|
|
|
Jude Reinhardt
From:
Weaverville, NC
|
Posted 11 Jun 2007 5:19 pm
|
|
I tried a set of Scotty's E13 (E6) six string set E .030, G# .020, B .017, C# .017, E .014, G# .010 on my Melobar and didn't care for them. I didn't have them on more than fifteen minutes and if you'd like to try them I'll give them to you.
Jude
_________________
"If we live in fear of banjos, then the banjos have won".
"Man cannot live by bread alone, he must have Peanut Butter". - Kruger Bear |
|
|
|
Scott Rogers
From:
Andalusia, AL
|
Posted 12 Jun 2007 4:21 am
|
|
For what it's worth,, I've tuned this set of C6 up to E6,,, granted, its pretty tight, but nothing has broken yet! I'm playing one of those cheap'o Artisan models from Musician's Friend. Total of $70 I think it was..
1st E - .015
2nd C - .018
3rd A - .022
4th G - .024SF
5th E - .030SF
6th C - .036SF |
|
|
|
Todd Weger
From:
Safety Harbor, FLAUSA
|
Posted 12 Jun 2007 6:06 am
|
|
| Scott Rogers wrote: |
| For what it's worth,, I've tuned this set of C6 up to E6,,, granted, its pretty tight, but nothing has broken yet! I'm playing one of those cheap'o Artisan models from Musician's Friend. Total of $70 I think it was.. |
I think you can get away with that on the Artisan, as it's only about a 21" scale instrument. I'd have to think that on a 24.5" scale, those puppies would snap if tuned up a full third, and even a 22.5 would be waaay tight.
The way Steinar does it is about the only way I know of to re-tune C6 to E6 with the same gauge strings on a longer scale instrument, and not get Rice Krispies.
The added advantage of that 'root-on-top' E6 tuning is that it's fairly close to the C#m tuning, but with the seventh in there (B on the third string), making it C#m7. That root on top really has that old-fashioned C#m sound to me when I hear it, but that root up there really screws me up, too.
_________________
Todd James Weger --
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, E13, A6); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Custom-made 25" aluminum cast "fry pan" with vintage Ricky p'up (C6); 1938 Epiphone Electar (A6); 1953 Oahu Tonemaster; assorted ukuleles; upright bass |
|
|
|
