Tuning for dobro with same interval as C6?

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 11 Feb 2014 9:36 am

This could be a dumb question, I'm trying to work out a good tuning for a dobro with the same intervals as C6, since I'm used to playing my steel in that. I've strung and tried the dobro in actual C6, but just didn't like the sound of that too much. I'm thinking something a little lower with the same intervals would be better. Doing a little transposing I came up with a six string tuning (lo to hi) of : A C# E F# A C# . Would this be A6th? I don't have my dobro handy to try this, but is this a standard tuning and has anyone tried it? Would I be able to play the material I've learned in C6 directly in this tuning, at just a lower key? Thanks. Also, would it be ok to tune the regular strings like this or would I need a different set of strings. The maximum raise of pitch or lower of pitch seems to be no more than 2 steps...G to A, B to C#, etc. Thanks.

Ray Langley · Post by **Ray Langley** » 11 Feb 2014 11:08 am

Yes it is A6. It is the same as C6, tuned two steps lower. You will need a new set of strings. I have a "regular" guitar strung with A6th strings while waiting for my SX2 to arrive. With the fatter strings you also get better tone.

Ray Langley · Post by **Ray Langley** » 11 Feb 2014 11:15 am

Here is a recent post for A6 string gauges:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=260471

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 11 Feb 2014 12:18 pm

Ray Langley wrote:Yes it is A6. It is the same as C6, tuned two steps lower.

Well... A step and a half, at least.

L. Bogue Sandberg · Post by **L. Bogue Sandberg** » 11 Feb 2014 1:07 pm

The A6 tuning you mention is the first 6th type tuning I used when I broke away from straight G dobro. My string gages were:

C# - .017
A - .020
F# - .028w
E - .032w
C# - .038w
A - .050w

It sounded pretty good, but I ended up going to G6 with a D on top to be closer to what I was used to. Then a 7 string in G6, then an 8 string in G13. That's what happens when you start experimenting. Starting from scratch, A6 or A13 might be a better choice. See this old thread started by Guy Cundell:

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... 5c90858781

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 11 Feb 2014 1:41 pm

Thanks for the comments. I mostly play and practice on the lap steel in C6, but go to a lot of jams where they don't like electrics, so I thought of stringing the dobro up in a more familiar tuning. This way I could get some practice comping and doing background stuff. At some point I want to try and get a small group together with a mix of electric and acoustic instruments to play old country stuff and some western swing. By the my resonator is a solid square neck, so I'm unlikely to hurt it, but I would like to keep a suitable amount of pressure on the other parts to get the best sound.

Ray Langley · Post by **Ray Langley** » 11 Feb 2014 1:45 pm

Righto Stephen! Three frets lower.

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 11 Feb 2014 2:01 pm

Counting never was my strong suit...

Jack Aldrich · Post by **Jack Aldrich** » 12 Feb 2014 12:07 pm

My pal Kona Bob Stoffer uses a G6 tuning, like the A6 mentioned above but easier to go back and forth from high G to G6.

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 12 Feb 2014 12:33 pm

The G6 I see for dobro is D B G E B G (hi to lo) which doesn't work out to the same intervals.

John Rosett · Post by **John Rosett** » 12 Feb 2014 1:16 pm

I play my 8 string lap steel in G6, and I was tuning my 6 string dobro D-B-G-E-D-B. I wanted to have that root note on the bottom, so I added another string!

L. Bogue Sandberg · Post by **L. Bogue Sandberg** » 12 Feb 2014 6:54 pm

Like John Rosett, I have a 6 string dobro tuned to G6: D-B-G-E-D-B. It is easily retuned to Bb6: D-Bb-G-F-D-Bb, one step below std C6. If I'm looking at a C6 arrangement I just play it two frets higher than tabbed. Alan Akaka and John Ely do some nice C6 arrangements in the HSGA quarterly, and once in a while they'll use open strings for some otherwise impossible voicings. I need to get a capo for the 2nd fret. Poor man's C6 dobro!

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 14 Feb 2014 5:47 pm

John Rosett wrote:I play my 8 string lap steel in G6, and I was tuning my 6 string dobro D-B-G-E-D-B. I wanted to have that root note on the bottom, so I added another string!

I felt exactly the same way so I built myself an 8-string Resonator.

Adam Tracksler · Post by **Adam Tracksler** » 15 Feb 2014 4:06 am

GBDEGB (Low to high) puts you 5 frets below c6… IM using it now and like it a lot.

Jim Williams · Post by **Jim Williams** » 15 Feb 2014 3:38 pm

Adam Tracksler wrote:GBDEGB (Low to high) puts you 5 frets below c6â€¦ IM using it now and like it a lot.

What string gauges Adam?

Adam Tracksler · Post by **Adam Tracksler** » 16 Feb 2014 10:45 am

The heaviest elixirs, I think they are :
.013 .017 .026 .035 .045 .056

Greg Booth · Post by **Greg Booth** » 16 Feb 2014 11:14 am

Those top 3 gauges are pretty thin for those pitches. You could go (low to high) 56, 45, 35, 32, 26, 18. The standard dobro string set provides a 28 and 18 for G and B, the 3rd and 2nd strings.

Todd Clinesmith · Post by **Todd Clinesmith** » 17 Feb 2014 9:57 pm

I use a 8 string A6. Its a bit brighter than G6 and not as thin sounding as C6 with a high G.
I think it has a good ratio of Dobro and Steel quality.
E 15
C# 17
A 22
F# 26
E 30
C# 34
A 42
F# 56

The strings could get beefed up a bit if so inclined, but I like them as is.
Todd