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Post new topic 8 string lap g tuning advice
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Author Topic:  8 string lap g tuning advice
Reinhard Brodesser

 

From:
New York, USA
Post  Posted 25 Nov 2021 8:28 pm    
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I'm in the process of putting together an 8 string lap steel with a Hipshot Guitar b bender and drop D lever. The drop D lever will be used to raise / lower the d to e string. I plan to tune the instrument to standard dobro tuning on the inside six strings. What should I tune strings 1 and 8 to?
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Joe A. Roberts


From:
Seoul, South Korea
Post  Posted 25 Nov 2021 8:50 pm     Re: 8 string lap g tuning advice
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I would put maybe a low E on the bottom, and a reentrant A or C on the top. Or a high E on top if you like the 6th sound. Or a high F on top if you want a dominant 7th, etc.
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Allan Revich


From:
Victoria, BC
Post  Posted 25 Nov 2021 11:28 pm    
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I’d look at it as, XGBDGBDX, and ask myself what’s missing? What comes to my mind is a 6th/m7 and a dominant 7 or maybe a M7.

You’ve taken care of the 6 with the drop D lever that can raise the D to E. Still, a “permanent” E string might be nice on the bottom. Then perhaps an F on top, or even a high G.

I’m sure there is lots of interesting fun to be had experimenting.
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | G – G B D G B D
7 String | G6 – e G B D G B D (re-entrant)

https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
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D Schubert

 

From:
Columbia, MO, USA
Post  Posted 26 Nov 2021 8:59 am    
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High G on top, also returnable to E, F, F# for special occasions? Probably have to use a 0.010 or 0.011 string, which might sound thin and whiny.

It's not in your plan, but an E in the middle (GBDEGBD) is worthy of consideration. Gives you the traditional A6 or C6 intervals, but lower.
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Brian Evans

 

From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
Post  Posted 27 Nov 2021 8:43 am    
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Any time you have a G chord, a low E is interesting just because it makes the G into an Em7. Of course E is also the 6th of G so doubling it higher up gives options if you like the 6th tunings. If I could get a nice dominant 7th chord that would always make me happy.
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