Tuning down to Eb – Looking for info & previous posts

Marc Friedland · From: Fort Collins, CO

I’m having problems using the Search function successfully –

I’m pretty sure I remember reading about this previously on The Forum…
Can anyone help me find posts from the past related to addressing issues in regards to tuning the entire pedal steel guitar down a half–step to Eb9 – which string gauges to try, potential problems to be aware of, etc.
In lieu of any of these past postings, if anyone would care to explore this subject again – your input is appreciated.

Thanks,
Marc

Additional info:
The band I play with has asked if it’s possible for me to tune down a half step to accommodate the lead singer’s vocal range while still allowing the guitar player(s) to play in all their typical open positions. That’s the way they did it before I joined the band a couple of months ago. If they decide they need to go back to that method again, yes, of course I’m aware of the option of simply playing the song in F# while the rest of the band is playing in “G” and that’s not a problem – but I’m interested in exploring the possibility of tuning down my 15 year old Carter S10 E9 3&5 just to know whether I truly have that option or not.

BTW
And if it does happen -- I’ll have to make sure my keyboards allow me to transpose keys as well because I don’t want to have to go back & forth on different instruments having to think about which key I’m playing on each particular instrument as I can imagine getting confused as I get tired later in the evening.

Robert Parent · From: Gillette, WY

Marc,

I tuned my first steel to Eb9th as it was an old Fender 1000 and tuning a high G# just was not going to happen. I kept the string gauges the same as normal and everything worked fine. If I were to do it again, I would likely tune to a D9th. I would just play a standard tuning and adjust to fit whatever the band plays.

Robert

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

Closest I ever got to that was tuning my C6 necks to B6 so I could take either one of the doublenecks or the U-12 to work depending on which was handiest to my truck.But it all worked fine and I can't see any reason it wouldn't work just as well on the E9 side.Seems to me somebody here(don't remember who) has had their E9 neck tuned down a half-step since forever.

Keith Currie · From: Shellbrook, Saskatchewan, Canada

Ditto Dave I know who you mean. thought some one would have said some thing.

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

We used to tune down on the Yoakam tours. Gary Morse tuned down to Eb with no problem. Everything went down a half step... bass, fiddle, dobro, banjo and all the guitars.
It helped the stress on the vocal as well as giving a serious twang to the sound.

John Peay · From: Cumming, Georgia USA

Here's a thread about tuning down two half-steps, to D9....this is what came to mind as far as recent discussions in this area:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=228935

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

John,I remember that thread and something of a kerfuffle over tuning down.IMVHO the biggest reason the 9 tuning has settled at open E is that it relates most easily to the six-string-friendly "cowboy chord" keys and thus makes things a little more convenient for us.For the OP it'd make eminent good sense to have one steel tuned down a half step so he doesn't have to play in four or five flats to compensate for his lead singer's weak high end.Hopefully his keyboards have switchable transposition too.Seems to me Buck Owens and Led Zeppelin tuned down a half-step a lot of the time.

Marc Friedland · From: Fort Collins, CO

Thanks everyone for your help & ideas.
To this point no one seems to be talking about needing significantly different string gauges or any mechanical issues to be aware of – so I guess it’s safe to experiment & see what happens.
But as I mentioned - first I’m going to check out my keyboards to make sure I can transpose them as well, because I’d really prefer to not have to play the same song in two different keys as I go back & forth between instruments.

Thanks again,
Marc

Marc Friedland · From: Fort Collins, CO

I found out it is possible for me to transpose the pitch of my keyboards, though they reset to normal default tuning every time the units are turned off & then on again, but now that I know the process - it only adds a couple of minutes to set-up time. Now I'll experiment with tuning down my psg a half step - I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

-- Marc

Chris Buchanan · From: Macomb, IL

I play in Eb. The most you'll need is a few twists and tweaks of the tuners. I have found that heavier strings compensate for the slight decrease in tension. You may find without heavier strings, the action gets mushy and there's a lack of sustain. If the band is in Eb, you def. want to detune.
_________________
GFI Ultra S-10, Nashville 112, stuff.

Skip Edwards · From: LA,CA

Marc, Of course I don't know what keyboard you're using,
but usually if you program the pitch shift into that particular program/voice/performance..or whatever the particular terminology is...it will stay stored in the memory, and you won't have to shift the keyboard globally every time you power up.

Gary Walker · From: Morro Bay, CA

I have tuned to Eb since the 70s and it works very well for me. Okay, you don't get to use open strings for some things that are in E, A and D. I use just regular gauge strings and breakage is nada and they last a very long time Cool

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