G6 tunings for 6, 7, and 8 string squarenecks(?)

Mike Harris · From: Texas, USA

I'm finding the trad. GBDGBD tuning great for playing fiddle tunes, but lacking when I accompany a singer/strummer. I'd like to go to a G6 and I'm aware of the
GBEGBD alternative. I'm wondering if anyone has tried GDEGBD.

Also, those of you with 7-string and 8-string dobros, how are you tuning?

thanks,

Mike

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

Mike Auldridge tunes an A6 orchestra tuning down two notches to get his G6. From bottom to top it's E-G-B-D-E-G-B-D. He's been known to do alright with it on occassion. Winking

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

I like G6 & here's how I tune.....

1....D
2....B
3....G
4....E
5....B
6....G

1....D
2....B
3....G
4....E
5....D
6....B
7....G

1....D
2....B
3....G
4....E
5....D
6....B
7....G
8....F (.032)1/2 tone higher than string 4

Ray Langley · From: Northern California, USA

The most versatile accompaniment tuning I have seen is the B11th family.

Low to Hi: B-D#-F#-A-C#-E

If you would like to keep three of the strings tuned the same way as regular dobro tuning, you can use:

G-B-D-F-A-C (G11th)

--or==

A-C#-E-G-B-D (A11th)

Here is a chart for B11th. If you use one of the others, you will need to move all the notes up or down accordingly. All of the chords are moveable in any key.

The advantage of this tuning is that you have:

Full 3-note major triad, in two locations.
Full 3-note minor triad
Full 4-note minor 7th chord
Full 4-note dom. 7th chord.
Full 5-note 9th chord
Full 6-note 11th chord

You also have a 4-note 6th chord, etc.

All of the above chords have the root note on the bottom. All of them are straight under the bar with no slants required! Here is the chart for the 1-6-2-5 chords in the key of C, in B11th tuning:

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Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

Way to go, Ray! That shows B11 in an excellent light. It looks like we're getting 10 strings for the price of 6 here. According to Andy Volk (see his book on lap steel guitar) B11 was the second tuning on the great Don Helms' double 8 Gibson. And Don said he used it for accompaniments. He favored his E6 (an 8 string version of high C6 cranked up 4 notches) for solo work.
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Twayn Williams · From: Portland, OR

Ray, I really like the looks of that tuning! Especially the A11 version. I might have to get some new strings from my dobro and give it a try!
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AJ Azure · From: Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.

Ray Langley · From: Northern California, USA

Thanks Edward... I plan to put together a series on my LapSteelGuitar group comparing this tuning with some of the other more complex tunings like Leavitt and C6. I still prefer Open E/D for blues and some country songs like "Crazy", "Sweet Dreams", "Help Me Make It Through The Night", etc., but the 11th tuning looks really good for a chord-melody system I am trying to develop for my own style.

Twayn, if you would like to PM me, I'll send you the diagrams/charts for A11th. The strings are pretty fat for A11th, that's why I went to B11th. And I like having the "E note" on the first string. But, A11th should be ideal for someone looking to expand from the dobro or Open G tunings. Another thing I like about this tuning is that there are no reverse slants, unless you want to use them. There is no "string-skipping" or fancy grips, unless you choose to use them. Smile

This is more of a strumming or chord melody tuning. It is not an alternating bass type tuning.....
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Twayn Williams · From: Portland, OR

Drew Howard · From: 48854

E-G-B-D-E-G-B-D on my Guernsey 800. Sometimes I raise the lo E to F fer a big fat 13.

Michael Papenburg · From: Oakland, CA

I use 6 string G6 99% of the time as follows:

D
B
G
E
D
B

While I occasionally miss the low G, it works really well for me.

Mike Harris · From: Texas, USA

That 6-string B11 tuning looks interesting, I may try that (or a transposition of it) on my lap 6 electric.

Ray Langley · From: Northern California, USA

Good luck with that tuning, Mike! I've recently gone through a few sets of new strings searching for that perfect elusive tuning. Smile

Another reason I went with B11th, instead of one of the other variations, is that you can use the same string set for B11th, C6, and Leavitt tunings....
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Stephan Miller · From: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA

A6 as well...lo-hi C# E F# A C# E
Also D9... C--D(or E)--F#--A--C--E
And E7...B D E G# B E
C6/A7 of course, and the list goes on.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

On one of my six stringer resos I use G6th which is B D E G B D (low to high). I also have Keith/Scruggs banjo pegs on strings 1 and 3 so I can change the 1st string to E and the 3rd to G# which gives me a nice E7th tuning when needed.....JH in Va.
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Mike Harris · From: Texas, USA

Jerry,

I've been using the GDEGBE for a few days and I've been thinking of trying the BDEGBE to see if I like it as well...on the other hand, I'm trying to figure a way to get a 7th string into the mix (that's another thread)

Ray Langley · From: Northern California, USA

Mike, if you raise the 3rd string to G#, you can play those cool 6ths harmony licks on strings 3 and 1. It is an E7th tuning.
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