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Topic: Don Helm Intonation |
Paul McEvoy
From:
Baltimore, USA
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Posted 4 Mar 2018 5:39 pm |
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Hello all
Newb here. Working on transcribing Don Helm on Your Cheating Heart. Wondering about the first note he plays, it seems exceptionally microtonal. I’m just wondering if I’m hearing it correctly (this is the very first thing he plays). Seems like he’s halfway between the 19th and 20th fret. It’s super cool but just sounds very...fragrant. I’m not sure if he’s sharping the 19th fret note or playing a really flat 20th fret note.
Or am I missing it entirely? It’s so out for me it’s in, I am having a hard time hearing what I’m hearing. Maybe he’s squarely on the 20th. It’s vexing me.
Your thoughts? |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 4 Mar 2018 6:16 pm E6th or E13th Tuning?
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Hi Paul,
He was in E6th or E13th tuning with the G# as the top string.
If your in C6th then, yes it's way up the neck.
Heck he played a lot way up the neck even in E6th anyway.
His stuff sounds simple, but it's not so easy to get it right.
If your in E6th I believe the first two notes played are on fret 16, strings 1 & 3.
In E13th with the high G# string, then it's still at fret 16 but may be different strings depending on the E13th tuning you have? There are several variations.
Good luck in your adventure.
Andy 
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Brad Davis
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2018 9:34 am
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| Yes, 16th fret strings 1 and 3 in Helms E13/E6. How are you tuning your strings - ie are you attempting some form of "just" tuning instead of spot on tempered scale pitches your tuner gives you? This is something a lot of newbs don't know about and not all materials will explain. And I do find with any form of steel the frets are not always where you want to go, there is a lot of character and expression to be had between the frets. Although when I remember what I think Don Helms said about Audrey Williams singing I'm reminded you don't want to get carried away. |
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Nikolai Shveitser
From:
Louisiana, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2018 8:28 pm
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| Steel has complex overtones, especially non pedal. It seems there's definitely an initial hurdle of differentiating tone and intonation (as is the case with most any variable pitch instrument). Then there's also the issue of playing in the stratospheric regions of the neck, where visual reference only counts for so much.i do find tuning straight up works best for the non-pedal steel. The advantage gained i.e. a sweetened third in the straight bar position goes out the window when slants are thrown into the fray. The pedal steel is a better candidate for tempering since there's control of individual notes' offsets for specific harmonic functions. |
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