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Topic: 8 string C6th tuning dilemma |
Bill Atwood
From:
Kingsland, TX. USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Apr 2001 6:39 am |
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I have just switched from 6 to 8 strings (am less than a year into steel). I first strung C6th, I believe more accurately, C13th with a third C (low) in the #8 position. I then got some tab that uses a G in the first or top position but at the expense of the low C.
Which tuning is prefered? I fully expect contradictory opinions on this so would appreciate your reasons.
Thanks in advance for the help.
Bill Atwood |
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Rick Collins
From:
Claremont , CA USA
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Posted 13 Apr 2001 9:08 am
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Bill,
If you play "other than Hawaiian", I'd opt for the high G on top for an eight-string C6th tuning. Most of the melody is done on the finer strings and unless you need a lot of bottom chords, the fine G will give you more versatility.
If I play Hawaiian I like my first string to be E on the C6th.
Rick |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 13 Apr 2001 2:08 pm
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Prior to 10 string PSG's it was rare to see a high G on top using a C6 tuning. The standard C6 tuning for 8 string steels for many years was:
E
C
A
G
E
C
A
F
Which is of course, strings 2 thru 9 on a D-10 PSG, in most cases. The low C and the High G did not come along until the advent of the PSG. There were a few isolated cases of a player having a G on top before 10 string pedals. But most had an E on top.
I have had a G on top ever since my first 10 string PSG. If I went back to an 8 string, I would have to sacrifice that G. The F on the 8th string is just too valuable to do with out in my opinion. This excludes Hawaiian music where many tuned C6 to C13th meaning there was a Bb somewhere near the bottom.
God bless you all,
carl |
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Cliff Swanson
From:
Raleigh, NC
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Posted 13 Apr 2001 4:41 pm
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I've had this C13 tuning on the front neck of my D-8 Stringmaster for a couple of years now, and I really like it. Notice the first string...Great for melody picking.
D
E
C
A
G
E
C
Bb
Cat |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 13 Apr 2001 4:46 pm
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| I use that same tuning on my lap steel, Cliff, only moved up a step to D to get a brighter timbre. |
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Paul Crawford
From:
Orlando, Fl
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Posted 14 Apr 2001 12:51 pm
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For those Golden Years swing songs, including Western Swing, I let the bass guitar take care of the bottom end and go with Rick on that top G with the Byrd 7 string tuning for the rest:
G
E
C
A
G
E
C#
C
It seems to get me the best of most worlds.
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Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 24 Apr 2001 7:42 am
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I've tried all these tunings and keep coming back to the one in Carl's post- besides the inherent C6 and Am7 in the upper voicing, from the bottom string up you have a beautiful 4maj9 chord. And the Scale possibilities from the low F are really nice.
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Mark van Allen-"Blueground Undergrass" Pedal, Non-Pedal, Lap, and Dobro |
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Bill Atwood
From:
Kingsland, TX. USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 24 Apr 2001 8:50 am
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Thanks to all for the good advice, as you might expect, I'm now playing standard C6th with A & G in the 7-8 position!
This one can be shut down. Much appreciated. |
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