The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Interesting Tuning
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Interesting Tuning
Allan Revich


From:
Victoria, BC
Post  Posted 17 Feb 2019 1:57 pm    
Reply with quote

I’d like to say that I invented this, but b0b posted about it in 2012, and I believe that he found earlier references to it. https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=228821&sid=5235ff4f7e131ee4218f042c0b750c8c

1 - D
2 - A
3 -F#
4 -D
5 - B
6 - G

It’s pretty cool for a steel n00b like me who plays a lot of blues.
It gives you a G major on the low 3 strings, a D major on the high 4 strings, a D6 on the high 5 strings, and a B minor on open strings 5, 4, and 3.

With your 1 chord on the strings of the open G triad, your 5 chord ends up on the same fret over the D triad, which is also kinda neat.

Wondering if anybody else uses this tuning regularly, or has tried it out and either liked or disliked it? It doesn’t appear on any of the websites or web pages that list common and favorite tunings for lap steel or dobro.

I’m also using a variation of it on my 7 string DGBDF#AD - basically the same plus a low D.
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | G – D G D G B D
7 String | G6 – D G D E G B D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Bill Sinclair


From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
Post  Posted 17 Feb 2019 7:57 pm    
Reply with quote

I use those same intervals tuned up a whole step:

1 - E
2 - B
3 - G#
4 - E
5 - C#
6 - A

It's an Amaj9 tuning but I believe bOb calls it E over A.

With your D over G tuning, in addition to the chords you mentioned, you have a Gmaj7, Gmaj9, Bmin7 and a dominant 7 grip (2,3,5) that skips the 3rd. I'm sure there are others that I'm not smart enough to see yet. I started using it after reading one of bOb's posts a while back and it has become my favorite six string tuning. Very versatile for a lot of different styles.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Paul DiMaggio

 

From:
Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
Post  Posted 18 Feb 2019 7:20 am    
Reply with quote

I use the D over G on my resonator a lot. I sing a little and having access to full minors is a bonus. It is also a quick retune from high bass G. I have recently tuned my s8 to the E over A tuning and I put an A&B on the bottom. Good for blues and rock.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jerry Wagner


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 22 Feb 2019 6:13 pm    
Reply with quote

Not saying this tuning is "The greatest thing since sliced Wonderbread" (If it's good, it's a wonder!), but I'm playing harmonics, slants, & all over the neck with it. Maybe I'm just an improving player?

The intervals in b0b's 6-string tuning are identical with my GM6/C7 7-string tuning; I've just added the flatted 7th (Bb) on the 7th string. One of the interesting aspects of this tuning, aside from the overall range, is the array of open (straight-bar) chords. b0b alluded to this in his comment:

"I like that it has a minor chord (Bm) on strings 5, 4, 3. Also the GM7 is surprising to hear from a dobro."


View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 22 Feb 2019 6:46 pm    
Reply with quote

I've reached the point where all of my steel guitars, save an E9th pedal steel I use for teaching, are tuned this way.
Tab:
number of
strings:  10   8    7    6
          E
          F#   F#
          D    D    D   
          B    B    B    D
          A    A    A    A
          F#   F#   F#   F#
          D    D    D    D
          B    B    B    B 
          G    G    G    G
          D

It makes it easy for me to go from one instrument to another.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website

Allan Revich


From:
Victoria, BC
Post  Posted 23 Feb 2019 8:36 pm    
Reply with quote

Cool stuff. I see that b0b’s 6 string tuning is the same as mine, which is comforting to a n00b like me. I can also see that his and Jerry’s 7 string tunings are more versatile than mine. For now I think I’m going to keep my seven string with the low D, I like having access to that low note, and I think that I have maxed out on my capacity to adjust to any more complexity.

Thanks for your helpful info!
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | G – D G D G B D
7 String | G6 – D G D E G B D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Bill McCloskey


From:
Nanuet, NY
Post  Posted 24 Feb 2019 8:59 am    
Reply with quote

check out forum member Luke Cyrus Goetze's work. He plays in this tuning. Be warned: you are going to want to get some benders after you hear him play
_________________
Check out the Steel Guitar Union Hall Facebook group for you daily dose of Steel https://www.facebook.com/groups/steelguitarunionhall
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Mark Evans


From:
Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 28 Feb 2019 3:49 pm    
Reply with quote

If I’m correct, this would be an easy retune from open D? With only changes up from the 2 lowest strings...yes? Prob doable with the same string gauges?

I play weissenborn, so always looking for tweaks to get interesting tone changes.

Mark
_________________
Larry Pogreba Baritone 'Weissenheimer
Lazy River mahogany standard Weiss
Lazy River ‘Tear Drop” weissenborn
2017 Richard Wilson Style 1 Weissenborn
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Bill Sinclair


From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
Post  Posted 28 Feb 2019 7:06 pm    
Reply with quote

Mark Evans wrote:
If I’m correct, this would be an easy retune from open D?


Probably not. Tuning your 6th string up from a D to a G might hurt something. Sad
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Mark Evans


From:
Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 1 Mar 2019 9:49 am    
Reply with quote

Bill Sinclair wrote:
Mark Evans wrote:
If I’m correct, this would be an easy retune from open D?


Probably not. Tuning your 6th string up from a D to a G might hurt something. Sad



So if I drop my low string from a 58 to, say... a 40 gauge... might work?
I’d think the A up to a B would be ok
Appreciate the advice!

Mark in frigid Wisconsin
_________________
Larry Pogreba Baritone 'Weissenheimer
Lazy River mahogany standard Weiss
Lazy River ‘Tear Drop” weissenborn
2017 Richard Wilson Style 1 Weissenborn
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Bill Sinclair


From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
Post  Posted 1 Mar 2019 11:17 am    
Reply with quote

Mark Evans wrote:

So if I drop my low string from a 58 to, say... a 40 gauge... might work?
I’d think the A up to a B would be ok
Appreciate the advice!

Mark in frigid Wisconsin


What is the scale length of your Weissenborn and what is the current gauge of your A string? You'll want your G string to be a little bigger than the A/B string. Maybe 42 or 44?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Mark Evans


From:
Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 1 Mar 2019 1:36 pm    
Reply with quote

Bill Sinclair wrote:
Mark Evans wrote:

So if I drop my low string from a 58 to, say... a 40 gauge... might work?
I’d think the A up to a B would be ok
Appreciate the advice!

Mark in frigid Wisconsin


What is the scale length of your Weissenborn and what is the current gauge of your A string? You'll want your G string to be a little bigger than the A/B string. Maybe 42 or 44?


Scale is 25”
John Pearse Weiss strings, 3120, 58/47/39/27/18/15
Guess I’ll have to rethink and plan it out. Essentially the top 4 strings are ok gauges for this, but the 2 lower ones not... which means I’d have to rescale the set?

ME
_________________
Larry Pogreba Baritone 'Weissenheimer
Lazy River mahogany standard Weiss
Lazy River ‘Tear Drop” weissenborn
2017 Richard Wilson Style 1 Weissenborn
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Mark Evans


From:
Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 2 Mar 2019 1:34 pm    
Reply with quote

Bill Sinclair wrote:
Mark Evans wrote:

So if I drop my low string from a 58 to, say... a 40 gauge... might work?
I’d think the A up to a B would be ok
Appreciate the advice!

Mark in frigid Wisconsin


What is the scale length of your Weissenborn and what is the current gauge of your A string? You'll want your G string to be a little bigger than the A/B string. Maybe 42 or 44?


Solved it. Pearse has a Weiss set for G, with a 47 on that string. I dropped a 40 for the B and put an 18 on the high string for oomph. Hasn’t blown up yet harhar

I am digging this tuning. Melodic note phrases all over. I find myself playin New Riders of the Purple Sage from their first recording. A hoot!
_________________
Larry Pogreba Baritone 'Weissenheimer
Lazy River mahogany standard Weiss
Lazy River ‘Tear Drop” weissenborn
2017 Richard Wilson Style 1 Weissenborn
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jamie Mitchell

 

From:
Nashville, TN
Post  Posted 3 Mar 2019 11:35 am    
Reply with quote

Bill Sinclair wrote:
I use those same intervals tuned up a whole step:

1 - E
2 - B
3 - G#
4 - E
5 - C#
6 - A

It's an Amaj9 tuning but I believe bOb calls it E over A.


that's my tuning on 6 string, but i shift the bottom string to B and D for funky stuff.
I view it as open E with some chord extensions on the bottom. nice flexible tuning, for me.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Jamie Mitchell

 

From:
Nashville, TN
Post  Posted 3 Mar 2019 11:44 am    
Reply with quote

Mark Evans wrote:
Bill Sinclair wrote:
Mark Evans wrote:
If I’m correct, this would be an easy retune from open D?


Probably not. Tuning your 6th string up from a D to a G might hurt something. Sad



So if I drop my low string from a 58 to, say... a 40 gauge... might work?
I’d think the A up to a B would be ok
Appreciate the advice!

Mark in frigid Wisconsin


you're gonna have a really weak low string if you try to accommodate both tunings of those low strings. personally, I feel like the Wesienborn/acoustic lap stuff benefits from really heavy low strings (and strings in general). the low string on my acoustic thing moves between a low B and C. i use the heaviest acoustic string D'Addarion makes, a .70
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Mark Evans


From:
Colorado, USA
Post  Posted 3 Mar 2019 12:30 pm    
Reply with quote

Paul DiMaggio wrote:
I use the D over G on my resonator a lot. I sing a little and having access to full minors is a bonus. It is also a quick retune from high bass G. Good for blues and rock.


Agreed
After just a couple days horsing around with this tuning, I’m digging how easy it is to find song structures - especially minor chords. Nicely intuitive with a bunch of sonorous arpeggios and turn around nuggets.
_________________
Larry Pogreba Baritone 'Weissenheimer
Lazy River mahogany standard Weiss
Lazy River ‘Tear Drop” weissenborn
2017 Richard Wilson Style 1 Weissenborn
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Allan Revich


From:
Victoria, BC
Post  Posted 5 Mar 2019 8:10 pm    
Reply with quote

Mark Evans wrote:
Paul DiMaggio wrote:
I use the D over G on my resonator a lot. I sing a little and having access to full minors is a bonus. It is also a quick retune from high bass G. Good for blues and rock.


Agreed
After just a couple days horsing around with this tuning, I’m digging how easy it is to find song structures - especially minor chords. Nicely intuitive with a bunch of sonorous arpeggios and turn around nuggets.


Right! The more I learn about using major 9 tuning the more elegant they seem. With Gmaj9, I get G major & D major, plus B minor triads. Then you have Gmaj7, Bm7, and D6 too, and with all that, I still feel like I’m just scratching the surface. The other nice thing is that the strums are all very forgiving. Accidentally het the A string in a minor blues? No prob, it’s still a nice 7th. Accidentally hit the B string while strumming a D? You could do a lot worse than playing a 6. Obviously, one would rather have enough control to NOT hit wrong strings, but it’s nice to know you can so easily get away with it once in a while with this tuning.
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | G – D G D G B D
7 String | G6 – D G D E G B D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP