| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Lap Steel Tuning
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Lap Steel Tuning
Wayne D. Clark

 

From:
Montello Wisconsin, USA
Post  Posted 18 Mar 2011 3:26 pm    
Reply with quote

Just Got my new Melbert 8 string Counsol to day, more on that later.

Does any one set their tuning as follows. botton to top. G,C,E,G,A,C,E,G, rather than A,C,E,G,A,C,E,G.?
Wayne D. Clark
usnyn2nd@frontier.com
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Steve Green


From:
Gulfport, MS, USA
Post  Posted 18 Mar 2011 3:52 pm    
Reply with quote

Congrats on the Melbert, Wayne!!

I'm not familiar with that tuning.

I tune my bass string to a B, creating a C6/Maj7 tuning. This allows me to get a minor 6th interval on the B & G strings.

I think Joaquin Murphey used a B in this position, but perhaps he used a lighter guage string tuned to a B an octave higher.

I've read on the forum that Junior Brown tunes his low string to a Bb, creating a C13th tuning.

If you'd tune your low string to an F, then you'd be able to get a I chord, IV chord, and VI minor chord without moving the bar.

Lots of possibilities!
_________________
Some songs I've written
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 18 Mar 2011 3:57 pm    
Reply with quote

You should only worry about the top 5 or 6 strings--be flexible with the bottom part of your tuning, because you may want to change it around a bit to get different chords. A Bb for string 8 is nice and gives a C13 tuning. A C# string 7 and an A string 8 gives you a C6/A7. There are many other variations that I use.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Terence Palmer

 

From:
Maine, USA
Post  Posted 18 Mar 2011 3:58 pm    
Reply with quote

I think lots of people change the tuning on the lower string depending on what suits the song. Tuning the 8th string to G takes away the root position minor chord (and minor seventh, etc) that the A gives you, and I'm sure what it gives in return.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Robert Jette


From:
Dallas, Tx.
Post  Posted 18 Mar 2011 4:29 pm    
Reply with quote

My tuning, low to high. F/G,A/Bb,C/C#,E,G,A,C,E. I reserve the right to change the bottom 3 strings' tuning according to the song. I prefer the low C6 tuning because of 1)the tension of the strings and 2)I try to stay out of the fiddler's way!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Yahoo Messenger

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron