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Topic: 7-String Tuning Recommendations |
Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 20 Sep 2020 11:58 am |
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I recently acquired another basketcase postwar Gibson carcass with the intention of converting it to a 7-string, like I did with this one:
A6 seems an ideal tuning for a 7-string. That's what is on mine. Aside from the obvious raising three half-steps to C6, does anyone have any other 7-string tunings that they favor? E-based or G-based tunings, for example? |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 20 Sep 2020 1:36 pm
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I usually play 6 or 8s...with a 7 string I'd probably go C6 high E but with a low Bb added. But in terms of interesting other tunings...sometimes I wish for an extended B11.
So your standard B11 is
E C# A F# D# B
5-3-1-6-x-x (A6)
or
11-9-b7-5-3-1 (B11)
Tack on a high G# string, and all of a sudden you've got maj7 options:
G# E C# A F# D# B
7-5-3-1-6-x-x (AMaj7/A6)
or
13-11-9-b7-5-3-1 (B13)
Basically it'd be a B13 tuning.
*note, I'm just throwing that out there conceptually, I've never strung a guitar up with this tuning. My teacher has given me a couple tunes in a similar tuning just in a different key (so retuneable from C6) ECAFDB, what he calls FMaj7/G13. You could extend that with a low G and have something similar.
_________________
Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 21 Sep 2020 1:47 pm
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| Nic Neufeld wrote: |
| I usually play 6 or 8s...with a 7 string I'd probably go C6 high E but with a low Bb added. But in terms of interesting other tunings...sometimes I wish for an extended B11. |
I usually play 6; had an 8-string for a couple years but could not get comfortable with it. A6 on a 7-string has not been a problem. I like the proposition of an extended B11. Will give it a try when it's time to string up my new project. Thanks, Nic! |
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J Fletcher
From:
London,Ont,Canada
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Posted 21 Sep 2020 2:10 pm
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| Well there's Jerry Byrd's 7 string diatonic tuning . |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 21 Sep 2020 2:20 pm
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I have a seven string tuning that’s pretty unusual, but it works for me. It’s a reentrant G9.
gGBDFAD
If you like 6th tunings and G tunings, you might want to try GBDEGBD
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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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Scott Thomas
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Posted 21 Sep 2020 2:35 pm
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| Nic Neufeld wrote: |
| I usually play 6 or 8s...with a 7 string I'd probably go C6 high E but with a low Bb added. |
I always thought that would be a good 7 string tuning. On my six string I keep the 6th string tuned to a C# for a dominant 7 on the bottom. With the 7 string I'd get a C and C# and not have to compromise.
I never really did know what to do with an 8th string. Too low and I never really used it. |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 28 Dec 2021 7:58 pm
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Waking this thread up to add a couple more 7 string tunings that I really like.
1) Dobro tuning with a low E, E G B D G B D. This adds the ability to play minor chords and minor 7s without slants or gaps.
2) C6+, either G C E G A C E or A C E G A C E. The first is my favourite because it turns C6 into a great big-bottomed blues tuning. The latter is great for jazzier music as it gives you the major and minor roots in two octaves. |
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