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Topic: Alternate C6 tuning? |
Jeremy Glasgow
From:
Greensboro, North Carolina
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Posted 11 May 2024 8:51 am |
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Hi all,
I've been getting into C6 nonpedal lately and just bought Cindy Cashdollar's homespun tapes. I had always assumed that 8 string nonpedal C6 tuning had 2 lower strings, and was surprised to learn that she uses ACEGACEG. I'd like to follow along with her lessons but I don't have an 8 string guitar right now.
Does anyone use EGACEG as a C6 tuning? Is there a 6 string set, or should I just buy an 8 string set and toss the bottom 2? I've just got a cheap Rossetti 6 string lap steel right now, but my plan is to get an SX Lap 8 Ash 3TS model before long. Not an incredible guitar, but one I could afford sooner than later. Thanks y'all! |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 12 May 2024 8:50 am
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I’ve looked through my tuning database, and most of my sources for the database, and have not found any references to C6 in that form. If it works for you with the lessons you might want to try it. But…
I think you’d be a lot better off using standard C6 (CEGACE) though. It doesn’t seem like you want to reinvent the wheel, and there are tons of lessons available online for standard C6 tuning.
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | D – D A D F# A D
7 String | D9 – D A D F♯ A C E
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
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Joe A. Roberts
From:
Seoul, South Korea
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Posted 12 May 2024 11:05 am
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| I believe Bobby Ingano plays C6th like that, and with 7 strings adds a Bb on the bottom. |
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Sebastian Müller
From:
Berlin / Germany
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Posted 12 May 2024 12:00 pm
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C6 with a Hi G is actually not that uncommon, in a way it is a variation of A6 but higher in pitch. I am using it at the moment because I like the Major Triad on top , that makes navigating easier for me because it is pretty similar to the A Major tuning that I use a lot. Yes, Bobby Ingano is using it, Joaquin Murphey also did use a High G on top for a certain period in his career.
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https://hawaiian-steel-guitar.com |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 12 May 2024 1:51 pm
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| Sebastian Müller wrote: |
| C6 with a Hi G is actually not that uncommon, in a way it is a variation of A6 but higher in pitch. I am using it at the moment because I like the Major Triad on top , that makes navigating easier for me because it is pretty similar to the A Major tuning that I use a lot. Yes, Bobby Ingano is using it, Joaquin Murphey also did use a High G on top for a certain period in his career. |
A question for Joe and Sebastian then, to keep my database up to date. Did/do Bobby and Joaquin play it on six strings, exactly as Jeremy inquired about, EGACEG?
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | D – D A D F# A D
7 String | D9 – D A D F♯ A C E
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
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Sebastian Müller
From:
Berlin / Germany
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Frank Leppert
From:
Portugal
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Posted 20 May 2024 3:50 am
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| I am learning with three courses, Don Helms E6, Jerry Byrd Course (only with the C6 part) and Cindy's C6 (with high G). I have a home built 8 string instrument, tuning A C E G A C E G. For the C6 (JB and other) material I ignore the high G. For the Don Helms course I retune it to E G# B C# E G#, ignoring the two lower strings. I must say I really like, all courses are great in their own way, getting the styles I like, Hank, Western Swing and Hawaiian. |
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Tony Oresteen
From:
Georgia, USA
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Posted 20 May 2024 4:05 am
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For 6 strings I use regular C6 (CEGACE) (L to H).
My 7 strings are tuned with the high G:
L to H C6 CEGACEG.
I find it very useful. At some point you should give a 7 or 8 string a go. I've never played an SX lap steel but I am sure others here have. Get one!
_________________
Tony
Newnan, GA
Too many guitars, not enough time to play
'72 Sho-Bud 6139, '71 Marlen 210
'78 Fender Stringmaster T8 black
PedalMaster D8 |
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J D Sauser
From:
Wellington, Florida
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Posted 23 May 2024 3:18 am
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| Joe A. Roberts wrote: |
| I believe Bobby Ingano plays C6th like that, and with 7 strings adds a Bb on the bottom. |
I use a Bb on the bottom too. Whole tone lower than the BE PSG C6th 10th string.
I should add that I play 12 string and my lower strings go from a "Jerry Byrd"-C (# on down:
#8 C (Maj->)
#9 A (minor ->)
#10 F (Maj ->)
#11 D (minor ->)
#12 Bb (Maj->)
A and D are the respective relative minor "root-trackers" (Maurice Anderson "Jargon") to their Major root-trackers C, respectively F above, and are thus also a 4th/5th apart respectively from each others as the Major trackers are.
F(Maj) is the IV to C(Maj) as Bb is the IV(Maj) to F(Maj).
So I can root thru all changes in all 12 keys, Major, Dom, minor, halfDim & dim, within 3 frets... so four times over along a 12 fret octave.
Bb on the bottom has been a major "Aha" moment for me.
... J-D.
_________________
__________________________________________________________
Was it JFK who said: Ask Not What TAB Can Do For You - Rather Ask Yourself "What Would B.B. King Do?"
A Little Mental Health Warning:
Tablature KILLS SKILLS.
The uses of Tablature is addictive and has been linked to reduced musical fertility.
Those who produce Tablature did never use it.
I say it humorously, but I mean it. |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 23 May 2024 6:41 am Re: Alternate C6 tuning?
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| Jeremy Glasgow wrote: |
... just bought Cindy Cashdollar's homespun tapes. I had always assumed that 8 string nonpedal C6 tuning had 2 lower strings, and was surprised to learn that she uses ACEGACEG. I'd like to follow along with her lessons but I don't have an 8 string guitar right now.
Does anyone use EGACEG as a C6 tuning? Is there a 6 string set, or should I just buy an 8 string set and toss the bottom 2? |
If you want to work on the high end of Cindy's tuning, then I would go with EGACEG. Nothing wrong with that. As stated, this is the top 6 of the standard A6 tuning, but a minor third up. Of course, it's missing the root on the bottom, but again that depends on what you want to specifically work on. The other two standard options are, of course, the standard C6 = CEGACE; or, if you wanted to work on the bottom 6 ACEGAC.
If you want to just buy a set of strings that works, a set for standard E6 = E G# B C# E G# would work fine - the tensions for the C6 you suggest are not that different. Personally, I went to just getting single strings for nonpedal steel and slide guitar. I've never been happy with any pre-made sets for open tunings. One can get get true single strings, but I just get them by the dozen at juststrings.com. Plains come to around a quarter per string, and wounds vary from about 3 bits to a buck per string. Getting true singles anyplace I know runs 3-4 times higher, per string. I use a string tension calculator to figure out the gauges based on what tension I want. This calculator works pretty good for me - https://tension.stringjoy.com/. For lap/console steel, I am usually in the 28-30 pounds per string range, plus or minus. But there are many considerations - if you want to pull strings with your fingers, that's pretty tight - I'd probably go quite a bit lower for a guitar I was pulling strings. |
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