Maui Chimes - which tunning?

Garry Vanderlinde · From: CA

Anyone play this tune in C6th tuning? I've got two recordings of this tune in the key of "A", one by Jerry Byrd and the other by Billy Hew Len, Barney Isaacs Jr.(Steel Guitar Magic CD).
With all the harmonics I'm assuming they are in "A6" tuning?

[This message was edited by Garry Vanderlinde on 21 May 2005 at 12:28 AM.]

Blake Hawkins · From: Florida

OOPS!

[This message was edited by Blake Hawkins on 21 May 2005 at 05:48 PM.]

Rick Aiello · From: Berryville, VA USA

It is one of his "Pro-Arrangements" ...

It is written in A7th tunin' ...

Lo to hi

C# E G A C# E

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Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

Any tuning with a lo to hi 5-1-3-5 at top will do. The ol' G major (lo to high GBDGBD), A6, C6 with a high G, etc.

[This message was edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 22 May 2005 at 03:47 AM.]

Garry Vanderlinde · From: CA

Say you're in a jam session and someone calls out "Maui Chimes", does it depend on what tuning you're using as to which key is used or does everyone assume it will be played in "A" because Jerry and others did? Like "Steel Guitar Rag" it's almost always played in the key of "E" or "Panhandle Rag". Even in C6 tuning I am compeled to play those tunes in the key of "E".

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

If there were a Hawaiian steel fakebook, "Maui Chimes" would surely be in "A". But in my experience, it's still best to let the others know you're doing it in "A" as most people know diddly about anything steel. They'll ask anyway... "What key?"

I think "A" is the standard key for Maui Chimes mainly because A maj. or A6 is the most common tuning that affords the 1-3-5 inversion on top, and that tuning is the closest retune from any other tuning with a high E string. "A" seems to have been the standard long before Jerry recorded it.

I believe slack key guitar players usually do the tune in G since that is their basic open tuning, so if jamming with a slack key player it would be best to suggest he/she capo up 2 frets.

Or you could just keep modulating between G and A.

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