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Topic: Dobro retune G to Gm/Bb6(no 5th)..exciting stuff |
Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 9 Mar 2006 7:19 pm |
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I just ran across something that most Dobro players probably know, but it’s new to me because Dobro is not my main instrument.
I’m getting ready for an upcoming Dobro session on which I’ll be playing backup on 13 songs. A couple of songs are in the key of Am, with the main part of the song based around the Am chord.
For these songs I retuned from standard G to Gm (tune the B's down to Bb) and put a Capo on fret 2. So I now have "open" Am (with Capo)… and C6, no 5th.
The retune to a minor chord with the capo on fret 2 is pretty obvious, but the added bonus of the C6 is great for one who already plays C6 lap steel. Strings 1, 2, and 3 are the same as standard C6 tuning. The G is missing, but the lower E and the lower C are there, and there is an additional A on the bottom. So it’s like a standard C6 lap tuning with the G removed and a low A (6th tone) on the bottom. Unfortunately there’s no full major chord, but in a band situation that’s okay IMHO. It’s such a delight to have C6 sounds and intervals on Dobro, along with full (three note) minor chords. And it’s a quick, easy change from standard bluegrass G tuning. This may be common knowledge to Dobro players and it may have been mentioned here in the past… If so, please forgive my repetitious redundancy! 
G tuning Gm tuning (or Bb6, no 5th)
1. D D
2. B ------------->Bb
3. G G
4. D D
5. B ------------->Bb
6. G G
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CAPO FRET 2 with B’s tuned down to Bb
Am tuning (or C6, no 5th)
1. E
2. C
3. A
4. E
5. C
6. A
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Standard C6 Lap Steel
1. E
2. C
3. A
4. G
5. E
6. C
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My Site | My SteelTab
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David L. Donald
From:
Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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Posted 10 Mar 2006 2:47 am
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Shades of Sol Ho'op'i'i!
Glad you found another cool tuning.  |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 10 Mar 2006 5:25 am
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It really comes down to....how you see things, and one thing is that you have to keep your mind open.
I would (past tense) view the tuning as Am, not realizing that it's a 5th shy of C6. I would play, or try to learn my way in the Am mind set.
Realizing what you have stated, I can see it differently, and the palette is now wider. [This message was edited by HowardR on 10 March 2006 at 05:26 AM.] |
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Larry Phleger
From:
DuBois, PA
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Posted 10 Mar 2006 9:46 am
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| I normally tune my reso to C6. IMHO it gives me a lot more options than the G tuning |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 10 Mar 2006 9:47 am
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| I didn't realize the C6 connection at first. Playing along with the demo in Am worked fine. Then I tried this tuning over a different song in the key of C and the sounds were suddenly... C6! and very familiar and comfortable. I feel like I have a new relationship! Hopefully this one will be cheaper to maintain. |
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Gary Shepherd
From:
Fox, Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 10 Mar 2006 7:19 pm
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Hey Doug,
On that Gm tuning, try leaving the 5th string tuned to B. That way, you still have an easy way to get the V chord (major triad on strings 4 5 6).
Just something else to try. Auldrige showed me this today. Cool stuff.
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Gary Shepherd
Carter D-10
www.16tracks.com
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 10 Mar 2006 8:52 pm
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Yes, that works pretty well. In that case it would probably be better to Not use the capo because the V chord would be played 2 frets below the ‘capoed’ position. In other words open G (V) is two frets below C6 (I), which is on fret 2 w/Capo. This is gettin' kinda confusin'
TUNING:
1. D
2. Bb
3. G
4. D
5. B
6. G
------------------------------0----------2~~~
--------------7---7----------------------2~~~
--5---5-------7---7-------0---0------5---2~~~
--5---5-------7---7-------0---0------5------
--5---5-------------------0----------5------
--------------------------------------------
C F6 (or Dm) G C C6 (or Am)
-----------2-----
-----------2-----
---5-------2-----
---5-------2-----
---5-------------
---5-------------
C C6 (no 5th)
For this project I think I'll go with the full Gm tuning though, because I already have some stuff worked out using that Bb on string 5. That would be the root for the C6 (Capo 2).
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My Site | My SteelTab[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 10 March 2006 at 09:06 PM.] |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 10 Mar 2006 10:51 pm
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| or choke the Bb (2nd string) up to B for the major triad. |
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Gary Shepherd
From:
Fox, Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 13 Mar 2006 7:39 am
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Howard, don't we have rules against choking?
I played on one of the Mike Auldridge 8-string dobros at Dallas this weekend. My favorite was the G6 tuning (dobro tuning with 2 E strings) but there was also an E9 and a C6.
I can't wait to put together an 8-string lap steel to play around with the G6 idea.
I think I'll start on it today.
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Gary Shepherd
Carter D-10
www.16tracks.com
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