Poll: What percentage play C6th

[b0b]

Inspired by http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=312549

[Ken Pippus]

Well designed poll. Results will be interesting.

[Jack Stoner]

I checked half and half as that was the most applicable. Its something less than 50/50 but I do play a lot of C6th - instrumentals and some backup.

[Herb Steiner]

I'm pretty much a 50/50 guy on regular gigs here in TX, though on steel shows I play mostly to totally C6 for my sets. I do pick my tunes based on the skill level of the backup bands, however. If the guys can handle it, I'll do Sinatra or Great American Songbook. If it's basically a straight ahead "corn" group, I'll stick to steel guitar standards and toss in 50% E9 ballads.

I generally eschew songs associated with the Heroes of Steel Guitar, like Danny Boy (E9 version) or Wills Point. Doing tunes like those only bring comparisons to the original, and why do that? It's a losing proposition since few amongst us can be compared favorably to the classic versions. And since I'm no longer a speed-picking Orange Blossom Specialist like Doug or Sigler, I leave the fiddle tunes to the more facile pickers and differentiate myself by choosing melodies that are from deeper in the audience's memory banks.

[Richard Alderson]

I voted "None of the above"! I know this doesn't really count cause you guys are trying to see how many use a c6th neck. I engage my E flat knee lever and do b6th all the time, especially with the lowers for strings 2 and 9 down to C#; Its straight non pedal c6 style except for a nice B to B-flat lower that I've got on the floor.

[Richard Sinkler]

With my current band, I play zero C6. I have forgotten a lot of what I knew. I have thought of maybe going to a 12 string Uni. I can barely carry my D10, so a lighter guitar that can play both necks would be perfect for me

[Steve Green]

I play C6th exclusively.

I also play non-pedal exclusively.

And . . . since this poll is in the "Pedal Steel" sub-forum, I did not cast a vote.

[b0b]

I generally eschew songs associated with the Heroes of Steel Guitar, like Danny Boy (E9 version) or Wills Point. Doing tunes like those only bring comparisons to the original, and why do that? It's a losing proposition since few amongst us can be compared favorably to the classic versions.

I've been steeling some of your C6th tunes lately, Herb. When I used to announce "Here's a tune by one of my steel guitar heroes, Herb Steiner", I got blank stares. So now I say "Here's a song I stole from Les Paul".

By the way, I chose "mostly C6th" even though my tuning is D6th. It has all the same pedals (and a couple of extras).

[Brint Hannay]

I chose "None of the above". To explain:

I've owned a D-10 since 1984 and gigged throughout on guitar and steel, but have never once done any song on C6 on a gig. I was eager to learn C6 when I got the first D-10, and got a bunch of instructional material, but bands I was in never did material that called for C6, and I stopped trying to learn it for many years. But lately I am once again trying to work toward at least a functional knowledge of C6; making progress, but still can't get competently through a whole song at home--still hoping I'll get there, and will one day use C6 on a gig.

So I can't say I don't play C6 at all--but can't say I really "play" even some C6--yet! So I chose "None of the above".

[Greg Cutshaw]

I play whatever tuning most easily adapts to the genre I am trying to play. Note that the E9th tuning can well be considered to be a powerful C6 tuning with certain pedals activated!

http://www.gregcutshaw.com/C6th%20On%20 ... 0E9th.html

[Tom Gorr]

Ttt

[Ethan Shaw]

I mostly play A6 pedal steel. Since b0b says D6 is "mostly C6", I guess this qualifies, too.

[Ian Rae]

It's heartening to see how many spend equal time. I always have although I haven't been playing long. I soon recognised the scope for playing old standards for my own amusement - kind of makes up for never learning to play the piano. To be able to play close-harmony swing is great for a trombone player who doesn't get around much anymore.

[Tiny Olson]

I checked Half & Half also. I love both tunings pretty much equally.

When I worked for Gene (a great gig) I avoided the C6 in his presence as he loves steel guitar... but NOT the C6 neck..!!! Working for Commander Cody, I got to hammer down on C6 with as much aggression as I wanted. That was cool !!

I just wouldn't be musically or for that matter, physically comfortable not playing a D-10.

Chris "Tiny" O.

[Ian Rae]

The Commander showed what a great rock 'n' roll instrument it is. Heard him live when they came over here in '74. Bobby Black was with him.

(For the benefit of a British audience they explained all the different styles they played. More than a concert - truly a lecture recital!)

[Judson Adair]

I had been playing pretty much just E13 for the first couple of years I was playing but for about the last year it has switched and I play mostly C6. I started playing non-pedal acoustic with my friends in C6 and once I figured that out the C6 neck just suddenly made a ton of sense.

[David Mason]

I stuck myself in the 1% land - Seasick ONLY - but I've been very fond of A6th. Same diffie... I do fool around with variants of the "E13" tuning where you got (ascending) your 5, b7, no root, 9th, 10th (upper 3rd) in a row somewhere in the middle, but it's JUST fooling around, not even "mistress" status. Desert island me, it's SURELY C-F-A-C-E-G-A-C-E-G only.

[Anthony Locke]

I play mostly C6. Mainly because I started out with Console and Lap steel with early country (pre-PSG,) Hawaiian, Western Swing, Swing being my biggest influences. Lately I have been wanting to learn more E9 tuning though just to be a more well rounded player and because it would be fun.

[Gary Roda]

I have always admired the "big chord guys" like Doug Jernigan and others, and would love to blaze on that neck with authority. Having played E9 only most of my career, I can get around fairly well on basic swing stuff in E's down B6 mode. Since acquiring a D10 a few years ago, I am getting better and better on C6th (though I would need another lifetime to get to Doug land). Real mastery of C6th requires a much higher understanding of chord chemistry, and that takes a lot of study. I will always love the sound of well-played C6th, and that keeps me motivated!

[Archie Nicol R.I.P.]

The Commander showed what a great rock 'n' roll instrument it is. Heard him live when they came over here in '74. Bobby Black was with him.

(For the benefit of a British audience they explained all the different styles they played. More than a concert - truly a lecture recital!)

I saw Bobby with George and the lads on the '76 tour. Managed to get a seat right in front of Bobby and his new Emmons D-12. Happy daze.

Arch.

[Ian Rae]

Real mastery of C6th requires a much higher understanding of chord chemistry

That is such a great way to describe it!

The E9 is physics - you can "see" the notes you're playing and any chord you play is likely to contain its root.

On C6 it's much more mysterious - chords are often rootless, and any bunch of notes you grab can be different things at different times, such as C6/Am7/Fmaj9

Chemistry indeed! (at school I was better at the maths and physics)

[Charley Hill]

You should add the option of " Want to learn to play C6th".

C6th or the back neck as it is so wonderfully called, seems to be a lost language of sorts except for Texas music of which I love! Hoping to increase my vocabulary at the show in a few weeks.

Charley

[Ian Rae]

Yes, Charley - "I don't play C6th at all" could be interpreted as a total lack of interest, although I can tell from remarks made by several people that they are curious about it but not sure how to find their way in. It certainly requires a different manner of thought.

[Ron Funk]

I agree with the comment that one "has to think C6th."

C6/Am7/Fmaj9 are also enharmonic on the E9th neck.

Many times on E9th, we do not play the root note of the chord.

Many strict E9th players might be surprised as to how easy learning basic C6th positions and moves can be. Remember when we all learned E9th ? It didn't come easy at first either.

I sometimes think that if a newbie player was learning C6th on a single neck C6th PSG, the newbie might feel less intimidated.

[Dave Mudgett]

I'm "Mostly Other" (E9). And I do play C6 (or B6 on my universal) some.

But the answer to the question, "Is he a C6 player?" depends primarily on "What your definition of 'is' is". But I'm definitely a C6 owner.

Whenever I listen to Chalker, it froths me up to play C6 more. Curly was da bomb, to me. But on the other hand, whenever I listen to Grant Green, Wes, Kenny Burrell, Barney Kessel, Cal Collins, and so on, I inevitably just go back to my Super 400. I dunno, it's just that dark straightahead jazz sound and the cool bluesy jazz feel that grabs me, and that just seems so much more natural for me on guitar. I guess almost 50 years in the trenches with the guitar is the difference for me. E9 is definitely what brought me to pedal steel.