Tuning Hawaiian

Jason Schofield · Posted 20 Jan 2015 1:54 am

If you only had one lap-steel guitar (6-string)for a Hawaiian gig and wanted to cover as many tunings as possible. What would be the best ones for a single guitar...As in, easy to re-tune between songs. Thanks and hope that made sense. J

Matthew Dawson · From: Portland Oregon, USA

C6 with an E on top can be retuned to A6, B11, E9, E13, and more.

Jason Schofield · Posted 20 Jan 2015 2:07 am

oh sweet. I've been playing only c6 for years on the steel. Can't wait to try these other tunings. Btw.. I live in Portland too. Do you play out anywhere or give lessons?

Jack Aldrich · From: Washington, USA

Jason Schofield · Posted 20 Jan 2015 8:17 pm

Thanks, I've been wanting to get that book for years. I always wondered about the gauges.

Dom Franco · From: Beaverton, OR, 97007

Hi to low C6 = E C A G E C
Hi to low A6 = E C# A F# E C# you only have to change 3 strings ( a half step each) C's up to C#'s and G lowered to F#. Very easy.

I always play A6th but I have to change when I teach lessons. (Most of my students prefered C6th)
I live in Beaverton...
Dom
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Jason Schofield · Posted 20 Jan 2015 11:01 pm

Thanks Dom. Yes, I've played almost nothing but c6 since I bought a lap steel. Can't wait to check out the new tunings. BTW I play tennis in Beverton 4 times a week. I might have to bring my guitar with me soon and get a lesson with you. J

Matthew Dawson · From: Portland Oregon, USA

You definitely don't want lessons from me! I'm happy to get together and work on steel playing any time though. Lately I'm doing a bunch of listening and transcribing. The Jerry Byrd book is highly recommended.

Blake Hawkins · From: Florida

Jason, I use a lap steel six string tuning like Matt and Dom.
PM me and I'll send you my chart with six tunings plus string gauges.

Tunings are: A6, E9, C6/A7, C6, B11, C#mi9

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

While I have a dozen or so six string Ric's, I've found that the seven string model gives me EVERYTHING I could possibly hope to find in C6th/A7th.

Personally I have no need for an eighth string and a string above the first or E string I found to be a definite hindrance in three string forward slants.

The low C# string allows me all of the LOWS I require.

Top to bottom: E C A G E C# C

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

X2 on seven string steels Very Happy

It may be a challenge to fool with a bunch of tunings on one gig.
C6th seems to be the all-around tuning...

Jason Schofield · Posted 23 Jan 2015 11:11 pm

Thanks guys. I've played standard tuning on my regular guitars for 25 years now it's still a life's work. Just wondering how you guys manage to learn all new scales and chord positions for all these different tunings. Makes my head spin. I played a bit of E9 pedal steel and it's so close to a regular guitar tuning it wasn't too much to handle. Lap steel is another beast altogether.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I realize this is going to catch a lot of flack but my suggestion to you is merely try to play a melody of some SIMPLE tune like Red River Valley or similar song, and try doing it on but one, single string, namely your "E" String.

If you run out of notes that you can't reach, drop down and see if you can continue the melody by using
a second string for the note.

Don't worry about trying to play songs like "CRAZY" and other more complex tunes. Don't go on to the next song until you've successfully figured out how to play this simple tune.

I'd start that above tune on the 5th fret, the Key of "F".

Give it a try. Learn the guitar is a matter of persistence in experimentation.

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