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Author Topic:  E9th tuning songs
Joshua Hicks


From:
Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2017 9:07 pm    
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Hello everyone I'm new to lap steel playing. I've played 6 string guitar for 15 years and I've gotten to the point where I realized that this whole time I've been trying to emulate a pedal steel. So I figured, why not play one? So I am saving the money up for a stage one but in the mean time I built a 10 string e9th lap to pratice on. My question is do any of you know of any song recommendations with tab? I have a good source for chords and major scales. However I figured if there is a song I could learn it would help me figure how to play along since I can't sit and strum around on chords like I do with my electric. Any help is appreciated! P.S. I tried the search bar first...oh yeah here are some pics of my lap I built.

Thank yall


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Scott Duckworth


From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2017 3:58 am    
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Joshua, you did an awesome job on that guitar!

I tell you a not so well kept secret... I started out playing C6 lap steel. I went to D-10 pedal steel (E9 and C6), then back to S-10 pedal steel (E9), then back to 6 string lap steel. I now play an E6 variant (which I will post below) and am having more fun with it than I ever did pedal steel.

It's possible, you may have the steel you need and are comfortable with right there. Don't be afraid to try different tunings.

Tuning I use: (closest string to furthest):
B, C#, E, G#, B, E

An old traditional E7 tuning is:
B, D, E, G#, B, E
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Scott Duckworth


From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2017 4:00 am    
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I can't help myself, again, you did an awesome job on making that guitar! Whoa!
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it

I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus!
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Jeff Mead


From:
London, England
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2017 5:21 am    
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I don't think E9 without the pedals is a particularly useful tuning but there is lots you can do to practice.

If I was in your position, I'd use your practice rig for some of the following.

Practice moving the bar up and down the fretboard, getting all the chords in tune.

Right hand technique - especially palm blocking and pick blocking.

Right hand grips - strings 3-4-5 4-5-6 5-6-8 6-8-10

In standard tuning there are nice harmonised scales using strings 3&5 and 4&6

I'd retune the strings to A&B pedals down position by raising Bs to C# and G#s to A (a lot of A6 stuff available).

I'd retune to A&F engaged position (Bs to C# and Es to F).

The grips I mentioned work in those tunings.

Lots of work on volume pedal technique you can do.

I wish I'd had the discipline to concentrate on my right hand more before diving into the more interesting stuff with the pedals. How have the perfect opportunity to learn this thing properly Smile
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Stefan Robertson


From:
Hertfordshire, UK
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2017 5:21 am    
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Take first 10 strings of my tuning and its essential pedal steel with minimal changes.

https://ilapsteel.wordpress.com/the-bebop-tuning/
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Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com

"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist"
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Joshua Hicks


From:
Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2017 5:54 am    
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Good deal thank you for the kind words! I will try all of yalls suggestions. I have been practicing palm blocking with a whol tone scale on strings 8,7 and 6 that has been giving me a run for my money, trying to mute out each string after I play it. I do have a volume pedal I ordered that should be here this week. I am looking forward to using it.
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Stefan Robertson


From:
Hertfordshire, UK
Post  Posted 11 Jan 2017 2:19 am    
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Joshua Hicks wrote:
Good deal thank you for the kind words! I will try all of yalls suggestions. I have been practicing palm blocking with a whol tone scale on strings 8,7 and 6 that has been giving me a run for my money, trying to mute out each string after I play it. I do have a volume pedal I ordered that should be here this week. I am looking forward to using it.


I would say don't use a volume pedal until your technique is on point. So like in a year or so.

Also if you must use one be very careful how you use it as it can really mess up recordings and upset audio engineers.

Also don't pump the pedal. Only use it when you really need to.
_________________
Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com

"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist"
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Stefan Robertson


From:
Hertfordshire, UK
Post  Posted 11 Jan 2017 2:19 am    
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Your build looks awesome. Great job.
_________________
Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com

"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist"
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Brett Lanier

 

From:
Madison, TN
Post  Posted 13 Jan 2017 12:47 pm    
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Here's a little move...

At fret 12 play strings 3,4,5

Drop back one fret and play strings 2,3,5

Drop back one more fret play 2,3,5 again

Go back up to fret 12 and play strings 4,5,6

It's a pretty standard way of moving around on one chord but a lot of pedal steel players use a knee lever or pedals to do it, which allows them to stay on the same strings. It's more difficult to hop around on different string groups but because of what you have to do with your right hand to pull it off, it has a different sound. You can hear it in Lloyd Green and Hal Rugg's playing a lot.

You could also try playing an E major/dominant scale starting on fret 2 string 9. There's some good pedal-less scale/chromatic stuff in there going from fret 2 to 3 then 5, 7...
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Wayne D. Clark

 

From:
Montello Wisconsin, USA
Post  Posted 13 Jan 2017 7:34 pm    
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Scott, that is the tuning I have on my 6 string, and also on my 8 string. c#, b, g# e. bottom 4 on the 8. Every time I try to get away from this tuning, it draws me back, so I finally quit. As you mentioned it is a take off of the E7th I used when I first learned Steel, Many, Many, Many years ago.
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Joshua Hicks


From:
Oklahoma, USA
Post  Posted 13 Jan 2017 8:33 pm    
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Can e9th strings handle c6th tension? I didn't want to try it and break the strings. Ive got the maj chords figured out and the four main grips. I've also got 7th and minor chords figured out. Is there a scale you guys would recommend? The only one I have figured out is thd maj scale. Sorry if my lingo is off.
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Stefan Robertson


From:
Hertfordshire, UK
Post  Posted 15 Jan 2017 4:53 am    
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In any tuning.

Chord Scales

Major

Minor

Dominant

Melodic

Harmonic

Thats it
_________________
Stefan
Bill Hatcher custom 12 string Lap Steel Guitar
E13#9/F secrets: https://thelapsteelguitarist.wordpress.com

"Give it up for The Lap Steel Guitarist"
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