More on C6th (C13th) Tuning

Dana Duplan · From: Ramona, CA

In looking at what variations of the 8-string C6 (C13) tunings are most commonly used by Hawaiian players, its seems 99% have an E on top and LOW C on bottom. I can't seem to get by without having that high G on top, and would gladly sacrifice the low C to get it. Am I missing something? I understand that the arguement could be that the G string is too thin sounding, but you could just omit it most of the time and use it when needed. (I personally don't find the high G thin sounding with my setup).Is the bottom low C that useful other than for hitting the BIG chord every once in a while like on endings?
Thanks,
DD

[This message was edited by Dana Duplan on 17 July 2001 at 06:56 AM.]

Michael Johnstone · From: Sylmar,Ca. USA

Thin? I don't think so. Plus,I play a lot of melody on that string and also could not do without it. And don't forget that that tuning can be transposed down to A - which would make the 1st string an E which could be a .014 or so and that certainly would not sound thin. -MJ-

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

Personally, I could never get used to the high G string. I prefer having E as my highest string for all tunings. Having played standard guitar for 20 years before I took up steel I suppose it gives me a certain comfort level to have that E on top. Psychologically speaking, No matter what the situation, I'll never get caught; I can always find something to play in any situation due to my familiarity with that e string as my "anchor". The low root on the bottom of the C13th comes in handy for Hawaiian tunes but I guess it's not essential. The low B of the B11th tuning produces a particularly rich. deep strum sound. The voicing in C13th tuning is not as rich IMHO.

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Gotta go along with Andy on this one. And indeed most Hawaiian players do have the E on top. Plus MOST players who go back to the 40's (30's

) never had anything but an E on top on any tuning.

I feel it is just too thin a sound to blend in with all the other strings on a laptop.

Further evidence of this is the ever increasing number of players doing away with it on C6 (D-10 PSG's), and replacing it with a D instead.

That alone says to me that most were NOT needing it that much, else NO way would they give it up for a note that was NEVER part of any tuning I ever saw, before BE put it on.

The standard C6 tuning for years and years (excluding the Hawaiians), on an 8th string tuning was:

E
C
A
G
E
C
A
F

That F note came into Vogue around the country in the early 50's. I have not a clue who started it. I just remember every body had to have it.

carl

Rick Collins · From: Claremont , CA USA

Playing Hawaiian tunes, I like my first string to be E and use a .015" in that position on my 22&1/2" scale guitar. But I play just about all Hawaiian on the nonpedal.

If I played a lot of Hank Williams I would certainly use the high string. The high string fits a lot of other songs also; but to me, it's not for Hawaiian.

Rick

Paul Crawford · From: Orlando, Fl

I'm doing this from memory, so I could very well be wrong, but doesn't the high G over the C6th give the same top string spacing as Byrd's B11th? I use the G on top of a C6th/A7th tuning and it seems like I adapted some of the few Hawaiian tunes I know from B11th. It may just be my novice ear for Hawaiian music sticking out all over.

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

Junior Brown puts the G on top:

I like to have the third of the chord on the second string. These are the tunings that I use regularly:

 E13    A6    C6   D13


  F#    E     D     E


  G#    C#    E     F#


  E     A     C     D


  C#    F#    A     B


  B     E     G     A


  G#    C#    E     F#


  E     A     C     D


  D     F#    A     C

Each has a different timbre, but the intervals between the middle 6 strings are all the same. That's how I keep from getting confused.

------------------

Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (E9, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Paul, you are correct.

Also, putting a major third on top of E13th is nothing more than a C6 with an E on top. The reason Don Helms and later Roy Wiggins put that high G# on there was to get that "hillbilly fever"

that embellished HW's voice.

Interesting story. Little Roy did not want to put that high G# on there but Eddy got ticked off one night when the crowd clapped louder for Roy's ting-a-ling than than they did for Eddy's singing. So Eddy told him to change it.

Roy not wanting to move too far (HE had the better wisdom) from what had "brung" the two of them to the show, simply stuck that G# up there and used it occasionally to please the boss. He did it because Roy thought the world of Don Helms, and "ya caint knock success!"

Roy told me that Don Helms could tune a steel guitar better and faster than anyone he ever saw. Talk about a tribute huh?

carl

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

The "old guy" that I am.....I prefer the "E" on top of all my tunings with the exception of my E9th chromatic tuning. I broke the top string on the Emmon's C6th neck a year or more back and have never replaced it. It's easier to play my JB stuff without that higher string on top. Just an "old habit"...nothing technical about it.

Al Braun · From: Dunnellon, FL, R.I.P.

Ray, it sounds as if you could really get used to having a D on top if you no longer use the 1st string. I've been tuning D on top and E on 2nd for as long as I can remember. (last week, maybe?)
Back in the '80s I bought some Herby Wallace tabs for C6th. He used the G on top but almost never did he touch it, same with several other C6th tabs back then. Then I bought a Newman video and he explained his reasons for using the D on top. I tried it and liked it. Al

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Thanx Al for the "tip" and I do appreciate it. I believe I did use that for a short awhile bck and it still messed with my mind. I'm just too set in my ways, I guess.

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