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Topic: Newbie |
James Venverloh
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 6 Mar 2021 11:18 am |
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| I am total beginner on the lap steel. I’m getting an 8 string model. I was looking at all the different tuning options, so I’m totally confused. I have played the guitar for about 40 years and I am a pedal steel “owner“. What tuning should I start out with? Thanks, Jim |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 6 Mar 2021 11:38 am
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That's a great question that will get as many different answers as respondents!  Welcome, btw. I would say deciding on a first tuning to explore depends on what kind of music do you want to play? Any particular player or style you want to emulate?
A lot of folks (for good reason) will recommend starting with an open tuning (dobro open G, open A high bass, open E, etc) that are just root, third, fifth. On an 8 string I might lean more to a sixth type tuning to give you more harmonic options, since you've got extra strings available.
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Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Posted 6 Mar 2021 12:50 pm
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Since you have to start somewhere... even if you change tunings down the road, the experience playing with the bar and picks will translate directly to any other tuning.
So I strongly suggest C6th because it is the most popular non-pedal steel tuning, and it has tons of tablature and instructional materials and videos available. Additionally a 6th tuning has the advantage of full minor and major chords enabling you to play nearly every song ever written.
I personally play A6th, which is not as popular but offers all the advantages of the C6th. My A6th videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdXiUP6-_Wh9Fr8JZbGhhoGGg3FmNze2f
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYG9cvwCPKuXpGofziPNieA/feed?activity_view=3 |
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Travis Brown
From:
Florida, USA
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Posted 6 Mar 2021 1:22 pm
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| What style of music do you want to play? |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 6 Mar 2021 6:37 pm
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C6 is the most common 6 string tuning these days. For 8 string you might want to consider a C13. The standard C6 strings are still there in exactly the same order. Plus you gain dominant 7 chords.
C13 – G Bb C E G A C E
C13 – Bb C E G A C E G (Junior Brown)
C13 – C Bb C E G A C E (Low C – used by Jerry Byrd)
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Current Tunings:
6 String | G6 – e G D G B D
7 String | G6 – e G B D G B D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
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