| Author |
Topic: Preferred Tuning |
Wayne D. Clark
From:
Montello Wisconsin, USA
|
Posted 10 Dec 2010 7:07 am |
|
What is your preferred tuning on a 6 string Lap Steel, Why
What is your preferred tuning on an 8 string Lap Steel, Why
When I had my 6 string National I used E7th, Played a lot of Hank Snow. When I had my Fender D8 I had my front set to "E7th" also and my back set to "A" never did get into "C6th"
Wayne D, Clark
Sears 30's Acoustic Hawaiin. |
|
|
 |
Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
|
Posted 10 Dec 2010 8:54 am Preferred TUNING?
|
|
I think you'll find that most of the real, early day, steel guitar trailblazers utilized C6th tuning.
You can play almost anything your heart desires on C6th/7th. Everything lays there for you and it's a great melody tuning.
C6th on a six string guitar is a different cat than on a 10-12 string pedal steel.
You really owe it to yourself to explore it in depth.
I'm suggesting a six month stint at least.
Listen to JERRY BYRD and Billy Robinson back in the days of Red Foley, etc., and you'll immediately discover a rich and versatile tuning at your finger tips. Visit: JerryByrd-FanClub.com/ |
|
|
|
Mat Rhodes
From:
Lexington, KY, USA
|
Posted 10 Dec 2010 11:32 am
|
|
| I play an 8 string A6/F#7. I can still get the Jerry Byrd voicings, but I put the 5th (E) as the first string. I prefer the fatter, "old school" tone I get with the heavier strings. |
|
|
|
Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
|
Posted 10 Dec 2010 12:04 pm
|
|
I use B6, 1/2 step lower than C6.
Low to high:
B-D#-F#-G#-B-D#
This tuning is the same (more or less!) as on an E9 PSG when hitting the E-lower lever.
It puts the root of the major chord on the B string, which after 30 years of standard 6-string allow me to find any major chord without thinking. Then the relative minor is at the same position.
ex: C and Am are both at the 1st fret, F and Dm are at the 5th fret, G and Em are at the 7th. This gives you all the chords in the key with only 3 positions -- obviously minus the Bo chord 
There's a lot more to the tuning, but knowing this will allow you to play on any tune quickly and easily.
I can also get around in open G and E7 though in a much more limited fashion.
_________________
Primitive Utility Steel |
|
|
|
Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
|
Posted 11 Dec 2010 10:09 am
|
|
| I echo what Ray and Twayn said. Most of my lap steels/console steels have the main neck tuned to B6. |
|
|
|
George Keoki Lake
From:
Edmonton, AB., Canada
|
Posted 11 Dec 2010 2:15 pm
|
|
I have never used C6th. B6th is far more convenient...it
puts the C chordal formation on the first fret and, if you
are using E6th on another neck, the two necks will then
have a 5th relationship.
Also, many novices who play rhythm guitar often have difficulty handling the Db chord without resorting to a capo. Playing a tune (i.e: Steeling the Blues) using the C6th tuning will put the rhythm guitarist in the key of Db. Use the B6th tuning, voila...key of C which makes a lot of rhythm guitarists much happier.
JMHO for what it's worth. |
|
|
|
