C6 on Dobro

Tony Davis · Post by **Tony Davis** » 8 Jul 2012 3:25 am

Hi Guys..
I normally play my Dobro in G...have two....both tuned to G
I thought ,just for interest I might tune my old one to C6 to see what I could do with it.
Could someone please give me a 6 string tuning..Low to High..and the string guages..
Thanks
Tony D

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 8 Jul 2012 5:48 am

Tony, Junior Barber, whose playing blows me away every time I listen to it, uses C6 often, and he gave gave me the following info:

LO to HIGH W/036-G W/030E- W/026-G P/024-A P/018-C P/015-E

Don McClellan · Post by **Don McClellan** » 8 Jul 2012 7:31 am

I don't think the 6 string C6th tuning makes much sense unless you put a C# at the bottom making it a C6/A7. Then it makes perfect sense and is a very, very good choice. My 2 cents. Good luck

Greg Booth · Post by **Greg Booth** » 8 Jul 2012 9:00 am

I recorded a dobro version of Junior Brown's "Peelin' Taters" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r91Iha3tc80 on this variation of C6 tuning: GCEGAC low to high. I used my same strings for G tuning, tuning the low B and D up to C and E and the high B and D down to A and C. Unfortunately that's all I've done with that tuning...spend most of my time these days in EBDGBD.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 8 Jul 2012 9:11 am

I did an entire tour with Michael Martin Murphey with a C6 on an Aura-equipped Gold Tone. The gauges, as I recall, were .014, .018, .022W, .026, .030, .038.

I had the 6th string tuned to C. The reverse slant to a C# note is an easy one.

At one concert, my old friend Steve Weisberg (formerly dobro player for John Denver) came up to me and asked what tuning I was using since "your hands and Murphey's didn't jive with the chords you both were playing... and you were getting minors and diminisheds."

If others don't know you're playing in C6, it can really do a number to their heads.

William Lake · Post by **William Lake** » 8 Jul 2012 9:17 am

If you go on youtube and search Jerry Byrd and Marty Robbins, you will find a few videos of Jerry playing dobro. I don't know for sure, but I imagine he was playing C6 or C6/A7.

Brian Hunter · Post by **Brian Hunter** » 8 Jul 2012 11:53 am

Greg Booth wrote:I recorded a dobro version of Junior Brown's "Peelin' Taters" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r91Iha3tc80 on this variation of C6 tuning: GCEGAC low to high. .

That was GREAT!

Steve Ahola · Post by **Steve Ahola** » 8 Jul 2012 3:08 pm

There was another thread on this topic last October that you might want to check out:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=214103

My own thoughts are that a regular C6 tuning works great on a hollow-neck acoustic but I want a dobro to be pitched lower than that so I would drop the C6 tuning a few frets (it would have the same intervals). You might try out a G6 tuning (the same as C6 but 5 frets lower.)
G-B-D-E-G-B (lo to hi) The gauges on the John Ely chart would range from .018 to .048 although you might want to go a little bit heavier for dobro.

I guess you could go as low as E6, which incidently would be the same notes as the top 6 strings of the high E13 tuning but down an octave. G#-E-C#-B-G#-E (hi-to-lo). Gauges on the John Ely chart would range from .024 to .058.
E-G#-B-C#-E-G# (lo to hi)

For those two tunings you may need to make up a custom set of strings. However if you do not need to stick with the same intervals as in C6, I like the tunings that Greg Booth listed (which will work with any of open G string sets sold at SGF.)
[tab]G6 C6 G
D[5] C[R] D
B[3] A[6] B
G[R] G[5] G
D[5] E[3] D
B[3] C[R] B
E[6] G[5] G[/tab]

I added a column for the open G tuning- the notes are the same except for the bottom string lowered from G to E.

Steve Ahola

P.S. Has anybody else noticed that when you say "lo to hi" the pitch rises but when you say "hi to lo" the pitch drops? Or maybe that is just me...

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 8 Jul 2012 3:54 pm

I use an 8 string C6 on my McKenna resonator. But the middle 6 strings is what I used to use on my Tricone before I went to 8 strings. From low to high CEGACE. String gauges recommended by Mike Auldridge are- 45, 34, 26, 24, 18, 14. I could do anything on it that I'm currently doing on my 8 string. But it is easier on 8. Still, I keep being tempted to get a national tricone 6 string and just make it work. I play great american songbook and jazz age pop for the most part. Maybe I should write a book on this. I'm very high on it.

Jean-Sebastien Gauthier · Post by **Jean-Sebastien Gauthier** » 8 Jul 2012 5:38 pm

Edward Meisse wrote:I use an 8 string C6 on my McKenna resonator. But the middle 6 strings is what I used to use on my Tricone before I went to 8 strings. From low to high CEGACE. String gauges recommended by Mike Auldridge are- 45, 34, 26, 24, 18, 14. I could do anything on it that I'm currently doing on my 8 string. But it is easier on 8. Still, I keep being tempted to get a national tricone 6 string and just make it work. I play great american songbook and jazz age pop for the most part. Maybe I should write a book on this. I'm very high on it.

What about an 8 strings Tricone? I'm thinking a lot about that these, maybe a wood body.

Robbie Daniels · Post by **Robbie Daniels** » 9 Jul 2012 1:32 pm

I am in agreement with Don. I have been using C6 with bottom string tuned to C# for sometime and like it very much. Keep in mind that you probably won't or would have a hard time getting the sounds of the G tuning with a C6 but I find C6 much more friendly for all around stuff.

Tony Davis · Post by **Tony Davis** » 9 Jul 2012 3:05 pm

Thanks for all your help guys.
I will give it a try and see how I go.
Tony

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 9 Jul 2012 11:20 pm

Jean-Sebastien Gauthier wrote:
Edward Meisse wrote:I use an 8 string C6 on my McKenna resonator. But the middle 6 strings is what I used to use on my Tricone before I went to 8 strings. From low to high CEGACE. String gauges recommended by Mike Auldridge are- 45, 34, 26, 24, 18, 14. I could do anything on it that I'm currently doing on my 8 string. But it is easier on 8. Still, I keep being tempted to get a national tricone 6 string and just make it work. I play great american songbook and jazz age pop for the most part. Maybe I should write a book on this. I'm very high on it.
What about an 8 strings Tricone? I'm thinking a lot about that these, maybe a wood body.

National refused to make one for me. Greg McKenna had quit making guitars last I heard. If you find somebody who will make you an 8 string tricone, please tell me about him or her. I'd love to have one.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 10 Jul 2012 2:40 am

This one was recorded in the standard ECAGEC C6th tuning dropped down to G. I've also used Bb6th and A6th. C6th on Dobro jis pitched too high for my taste.

http://www.reso-nation.org/audio/andy-v ... ic-karaoke

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 10 Jul 2012 2:41 am

Hey Tony, someone mentioned a G6 tuning. I have that on one of my Dobros which is (low to high) B D E G B D .....I just dropped the normal low G string and moved the D and B from the 4th and 5th position to the 5th and 6th slots and added the E note at string four. What's nice is that you can retune the 1st string D to E and the 3rd string G to G# and you have a very useful E7th tuning. I had one guitar set up with Keith/Scruggs Banjo tuners on those two strings for just that purpose but have since moved 'em to another instrument..........JH in Va.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 10 Jul 2012 6:37 am

Edward Meisse wrote:National refused to make one for me. Greg McKenna had quit making guitars last I heard. If you find somebody who will make you an 8 string tricone, please tell me about him or her. I'd love to have one.

Contact Amistar in the Czech Republic......

http://www.amistar.cz/

Jerry Tillman · Post by **Jerry Tillman** » 10 Jul 2012 7:28 am

I like what Greg did to get the c6 with the same string gauge.Great job on that tune also Greg.

Jean-Sebastien Gauthier · Post by **Jean-Sebastien Gauthier** » 10 Jul 2012 8:18 am

Hugo Tremblay from Tremblay guitar is willing to making one. You can ask him. www.tremblayguitars.com I'm planning asking him to make me one but I'm waiting to be sure to know what I want.

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 10 Jul 2012 11:42 pm

There were no tricones or even square necked acoustics of any kind on the Tremblay site. What makes you think they can make a decent 8 string? And Howard, I wonder what shipping costs and risks are from czech republic. Have you seen or played any of their instruments. I'm hoping to make the Southwest Steel Guitar Conference in Phoenix, Az this January. Might I see anything interesting in the way of instrument makers there?

Jean-Sebastien Gauthier · Post by **Jean-Sebastien Gauthier** » 11 Jul 2012 3:37 pm

Edward Meisse wrote:There were no tricones or even square necked acoustics of any kind on the Tremblay site. What makes you think they can make a decent 8 string?

He make custom order, he made me 2 custom lap steel and I can tell that he is easy to work with, he work well and is price is right.

Greg Booth · Post by **Greg Booth** » 11 Jul 2012 5:02 pm

Rayco Resophonics likes to make one of a kind instruments and has already made a tricone. I'm sure they would do an 8-string. Copied from their web page:http://www.rayco.ca/indexmain.html

February 2011

Hello All

I love it when we are given artistic license to create something unique. We have just finished the tricone squareneck we have been working on. Pics attached. It is now on its way to be shown at Wintergrass then on to its new home.

This was a real treat to design and build. Thanks Bruce. The sound is all we were hoping for. Punchy throughout with warm wood overtones, enhanced lows mixed with that traditional tricone tone. (I'll provide sound clips). I hope to have someone photograph it while in Washington but thought I might send along these quick pics for now.

Best regards

Mark, Jason and Chris.

Jean-Sebastien Gauthier · Post by **Jean-Sebastien Gauthier** » 11 Jul 2012 5:48 pm

Wow this Rayco is a pure beauty but the price must be very high!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 11 Jul 2012 6:44 pm

Jean-Sebastien Gauthier wrote:Wow this Rayco is a pure beauty but the price must be very high!

We usually get what quality we are willing to pay for. The Rayco is a beautiful instrument, no lie.

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 11 Jul 2012 8:21 pm

I have C6/A7 on mine just like on my nonpedal steel and I like it a lot. Sometimes I lower the low C# to C, or high C to B, or whatever.

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 13 Jul 2012 6:32 am

Herb Steiner wrote:
Jean-Sebastien Gauthier wrote:Wow this Rayco is a pure beauty but the price must be very high!
We usually get what quality we are willing to pay for. The Rayco is a beautiful instrument, no lie.

I doubt it's higher than the $3500.00 National ballpark figure.

The Steel Guitar Forum

C6 on Dobro

C6 on Dobro

I like Gregs tuning.