Back Neck...Suggestions

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 5 Jul 2010 11:43 am

Hi All,
I have owned a Zum D10 for a few years and have just about given up on learning the C6 neck.
Can anyone suggest perhaps an open tuning for the back neck which could be played without using pedals and levers?
Would it be practical?
Any Ideas would be welcome
Best regards
Billy

George McLellan · Post by **George McLellan** » 5 Jul 2010 11:55 am

How about E13th? You'll have to put differant guage strings on but you may like that tuning.

Geo

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 5 Jul 2010 12:15 pm

Billy,
What kinda music do you wanna play on that back neck? That would help a lot in making a suggestion.

Bill Ladd · Post by **Bill Ladd** » 5 Jul 2010 12:26 pm

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 5 Jul 2010 12:56 pm

Thaks Guys for the early replies.
My first(steel)love is Classic Country which I can get on the E9 neck.I also enjoy swing type and I do not too bad on the front neck with the C6 sounds.
I had thought on a setting which would be ok for Dobro sounds,again I am getting not bad sounds on the e9 neck using a match bro when I remember not to use pedal type licks.
Perhaps a suggestion for Hawiian type music would be good.
I just feel the guitar is not being utilised as it should.
Billy

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 5 Jul 2010 1:27 pm

How about an A6th tuning using pedals to give you a good diminish, Augmented, and 7th Chord. Then, move up and down the neck for your melody, backup, and rides. This is a good setup for Western Swing Style.

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 5 Jul 2010 4:16 pm

I've been going at C-6 real hard for about 10 yrs now. The technique you have on the E-9 neck makes it so much easier. You just have to learn the neck and not worry so much about technique. I would say the relatively short time I've worked on C-6 has made me a better player on that neck than on E-9. Personally I started on Steve Palousek's Emmons tapes and went on from there. I'd really like to chat with you when we get together for a few brews at the next show.

Your Friend

Wayne Franco

Ryan Barwin · Post by **Ryan Barwin** » 5 Jul 2010 4:41 pm

An extended Sneaky Pete B6th maybe?

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · Post by **Archie Nicol R.I.P.** » 5 Jul 2010 4:52 pm

Is nothing Sacred?
Except an ideal tuning for the back neck!

Arch.

Jesse Adams · Post by **Jesse Adams** » 6 Jul 2010 4:23 am

If you love classic country you should try the Don Helms "High E6" it's an 8 string non pedal tuning but I'm sure it can be extended in some cool ways.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 7 Jul 2010 9:04 pm

Billy - another option would be to tune it to D6 and use a Goodrich Matchbro to pretend you have a Pedabro !! Might sound pretty good .... set the pedals and knees for the same changes as your E9th neck.

Gee you guys from the UK give up on the old C6th a bit too easily don't you ....

Probably why you can't play Rugby either

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 8 Jul 2010 3:27 am

Billy
I lament your decision to abandon the C6, because knowing you, I'm sure that with a little basic coaching a player of your intelligence would have epiphanies galore on that tuning.

Regardless, my suggestion to you is this: Don't modify or dismantle the mechanism underneath the guitar. You'd lessen the value tremendously if and when you wanted to sell it.

Les Green · Post by **Les Green** » 8 Jul 2010 6:14 am

I would stick with the C6th. Doesn't get any better than that.

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 8 Jul 2010 7:32 am

I'd go with an E6th, E13th, A6th or B6th as they all relate to the E9th neck and you'd have less trouble in learning the chord positions. I've always thought that C6th wasn't the way to go as an open D chord for instance would be on the 2nd fret....

I can't get rid of the chord positions of a standard guitar when I'm playing steel as they're ingrained in my feeble mind! E9th is perfect as it relates to guitar as is the A or B tunings as they're the IV and V chords of the E. Jeff Newman even advocated tuning the inside neck to B6th if you had a double neck........JH in Va.

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 8 Jul 2010 7:37 am

Thanks everyone for Your input.
Herb Your ability to recognise intelligence is a lot less than I imagined

Please make Yourself available at the bar in the Sheraton next March and We will discuss this over a small libation.I am sure Paddy will force Himself in once again if there are a couple of beers involved.
Seriously though,I never did want to alter the mechanics of My lovely Zum. I can get some melodic stuff from the C6 neck(without pedals) but My head is so wrapped up in E9 I find it hard to think C6 when it comes to pedals.I know I am not alone in this,I have met a few folk who have the same (one thought)brain.
I have always been a positive thinker and I never say I cannot, I always say I can try so I guess it is Keep on trying.
Best regards
Billy

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 8 Jul 2010 9:56 am

Just leave the changes as they are and lower the tuning to A6. You might not even have to put on heavier strings. A now deceased friend did that, and the sound was breathtaking. He had been a nonpedal A6 player before going PSG.

If I acquired a D10, I think I would go D9 Nashville up front, and D6 Texas in back. to keep my head straight when jump between necks.

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 8 Jul 2010 6:14 pm

If leaving everything (pedals and knee levers) the way it is, I think the best tuning would be just to tune down one fret (half tone) to B6th. Then when you lower your 4th and 8th strings on E9 it'd be the same chord as your inside neck (B6th). Your 3rd, 4th and 5th strings on your B6th would be the exact same pitch as your 5th, 6th and 7th strings on E9. Your 7th string on your B6th would be the same as your 10th string on E9. On the inside neck you have a pedal that raises the 2nd string a half and lowers the 6th string a half to give you a IV chord with a dom. 7. On the B6th it'd be an E7th chord and the 6th string lowered would be the same as the 9th string D on an E9 setup and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings would be the same as the 4th, 5th and 6th strings on your E9 tuning. See the logic of a B6th tuning as opposed to a C?.....Logically it's the best way to go to combat confusion as a lot of the notes are the same and you can find your chord positions better as you'll already know where they lie........JH in Va.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 8 Jul 2010 9:20 pm

Billy there is a plan B ... If I make it over to the Irish festival next year (maybe) ..I will come and visit with you and Anne .. and show you lots of C6th stuff ... all it will cost will be that brown stuff in large quantities :-}

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 8 Jul 2010 11:44 pm

It's a deal Paddy,You'll have to sleep with the dog and eat haggis though.

Billy

Allan Thompson · Post by **Allan Thompson** » 9 Jul 2010 2:05 pm

Hey Billy,
What's the dog done wrong !!!!!!!

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 9 Jul 2010 2:49 pm

B6

You could play tons without pedals. Then add the help of the pedals. Wow
I vote B6 because it makes sense musically.

B and E are related. Instruction material should not be a problem. As long as you know where C is.

My 2c

Steven Finley · Post by **Steven Finley** » 10 Jul 2010 5:30 pm

Most players begin on E9th tuning, but as their musical ability progresses they will branch out to other tunings. C6th tends to separate the men from the boys.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 10 Jul 2010 8:44 pm

Billy and Alan -- that dog has exceptional taste

C6th rules Billy -- hang in there mate, once you get a grasp of the basics it will fall into place ---you just need some seat time !!

PS: Who is Haggis ??

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 10 Jul 2010 9:47 pm

lEAVE it as is,Never ubderstood why so many tried to make the BIG BAD WOLF out of the 6th neck.much more simple that the 9th neck.

simple

NOT debateable.

YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 11 Jul 2010 1:10 am

you could use it as a barbecue Billy

otherwise , yes, C6 neck is a great neck - i would agree that some coaching could get you right

The Steel Guitar Forum

Back Neck...Suggestions

Back Neck...Suggestions

Hi Billy

Tunings