C6th

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 4 Oct 2019 5:29 am

Hi everyone,
Most of you know how much I love the C6th tuning...I use it on sessions every chance I can....On Midland's newest single "Mr. Lonely", which incidentally is the first steel solo in a very long time on Today's Country radio, was played on C6th....

Behind the scenes on that session, first let me explain I was the senior citizen on the date in a band full of much younger players I was at least 25 years older than the oldest one of them...So when the band requested I play a steel solo instead of the usual rocking guitars that play that roll these days, I decided to switch necks to play the pure C6th with a rockin' attitude and delay instead of distortion....After the solo the younger cats wanted to know what I was playing, what made it sound that way, which we know is the sound of the tuning, which provides so many more chordal choices in a thicker range....The C6th is my favorite of the tunings because of its lower timbre and how easy it is to play. So I got to introduce a room full of younger musicians into a love for hearing that tuning....The C6th tuning won the day in this situation as it has throughout my career. I urge everyone to brush off the dust on your D10's and join the party. Its been so long since the tuning has adapted to modern bands that it is a "New" direction for the instrument.....Try it out for yourself!

For anyone curious about learning the C6th I urge you to please watch this clip for my insights into the tuning....The clip from my Dallas seminar gives some suggestions into the way I learned the tuning which I truly believe is an easier way to view and learn the tuning. At least it was for me....Regardless find someone to introduce it to you, Its a great tuning and a very useful tonality in the toolbox...Thanks for your time....Paul Franklin

https://paulfranklinmethod.com/c6-essentials-course/

Mr. Lonely Solo @ 2:18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-hpA9wwIw4

Hook Moore · Post by **Hook Moore** » 4 Oct 2019 7:50 am

I like it ! Hopefully it will start a trend !

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 4 Oct 2019 8:33 am

I will say that the C6 Essentials is a great course, and did get the dust off my other neck.
I also hope there is a follow up course, or some more tab like the PFM Blues.

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 4 Oct 2019 11:56 am

Just when I was considering trading my double neck for an SD10.

Joe Drivdahl · Post by **Joe Drivdahl** » 4 Oct 2019 11:57 am

Just when I was considering trading my double neck for an SD10.

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 4 Oct 2019 12:03 pm

If you play a universal you don't have to dust it off as it's right there! The band I play in does a variety of rock, pop and swing and I call upon those denser sounds all the time.
There must be a lot of folk out there who think they know what pedal steel sounds like but have only heard E9

Ian Worley · Post by **Ian Worley** » 4 Oct 2019 12:19 pm

I keep watching that Midland video but I always forget to listen to your solo Paul. I'm not sure what it is, better watch it again...

Kevin Fix · Post by **Kevin Fix** » 4 Oct 2019 2:26 pm

If I lived for another 100 years I would never be able to play C6 like you Paul! Always love hearing you play. I do love to play on C6 when ever I can fit it in when I am playing live. I know the group I am playing with really enjoy it when I use it on songs I know it will fit in.

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 4 Oct 2019 2:31 pm

Ian's right about the video. It took me several attempts.

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 4 Oct 2019 2:47 pm

What solo?
There was a lovely distraction taking place.

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 4 Oct 2019 4:42 pm

Thanks Paul for schooling the boys

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 4 Oct 2019 8:42 pm

Steel ALWAYS fits in a good dance tune!

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 4 Oct 2019 8:43 pm

Steel ALWAYS fits in a good dance tune!

Jerry Horch · Post by **Jerry Horch** » 5 Oct 2019 5:10 am

Started playing bass when I was 12.dont ask me why I went to a steel after about 19 yrs old, I've always had a love for the lower register.Able to play C6 but not taking the time to wrap my head around it,Paul's instruction material is very helpful for me...thanks a bunch...

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 5 Oct 2019 5:54 am

i love C6TH been at it for 28 years opens up alot of things on that neck i will never be up to paul franklin level but i try to keep up with what i know every day.
buy the way i also like pretty girls too

p.w

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 6 Oct 2019 12:52 pm

Gotta start using my back neck for something more than an arm rest......
Maybe this will help.

Thanks Paul!

David Ball · Post by **David Ball** » 6 Oct 2019 1:35 pm

I have two single neck pedal steels--one set up C6 and the other set up A13. They were both set up E9 when I got them.

I play (sort of) E9, but I come from a lap steel background and the 6th and 13th tunings just feel right to me. I also tend to play more thirties vintage tunes than more modern stuff, and the big chords you can get with the back neck just work great.

Dave

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 6 Oct 2019 2:05 pm

That's why I like the uni - those big chords are right there any time you feel the need.
I see you play an Excel, David - clearly a man of great discernment!

Marc Muller · Post by **Marc Muller** » 6 Oct 2019 5:25 pm

I'm not qualified to carry Mr. Franklin's steel but, doing this session (and honestly, only because I can be to his house in 10 minutes) and planning on using a distorted slide tone on my G tuned Gibson BR-6, there was way too much P90 hum. Stupid me says let me try it on my frypan (C6). Had to basically learn how to work that tuning into that style on the fly. Rik thru a Marshall was pretty great sounding and hope Adolf wasn't turning over in his grave to hear his invention in this context!

Leitz playing 1st half and I enter for solo/fills out 1:47 in. https://youtu.be/0RtJHZwDpXc?t=107
You can hear me blow a line because of the tuning and was surprised they didn't edit out (at 3:08. Doh)

He liked the sound asked me to bring back and ended up on title track of new record, Western Stars using Rik C6. https://youtu.be/_IXzAAKrsFE://youtu.be/_IXzAAKrsFE

But, back to OP, C6 on lap steel is one thing. C6 on pedal steel is, to me, anything but easy. I'll let Paul, Buddy and all the cats handle that.

Tony Dingus · Post by **Tony Dingus** » 6 Oct 2019 5:44 pm

Sounds great as always Paul. I liked how
he introduced you for your solo. Oh play that steel Paul. Cool.

Tony

Johnny Cox · Post by **Johnny Cox** » 6 Oct 2019 9:15 pm

Paul, from all of us steel players thank you for going out on the limb for the instrument. I know how hard it has been in this modern era to do that.
BTW I'm about to enroll in your C6th coarse.

Tore Blestrud · Post by **Tore Blestrud** » 8 Oct 2019 10:41 pm

Big fan of the Midland records and Pauls playing on them. Quality all the way.

C6 is a great tool to have live and in the studio. I love putting a song or two an a record with the C6-neck. I find it hard to understand the tuning as much as I would like, but getting something on tape that sound "different and cool" is not that hard.

Joel Martin · Post by **Joel Martin** » 11 Oct 2019 2:28 pm

that sure sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing and all the inspiration! I agree that the C6 might be the real soul of steel guitar. I mean, theres a reason The Big E's last guitar was a single C6!

Buck Reid · Post by **Buck Reid** » 13 Oct 2019 6:48 am

Paul, thanks for all the hard work that went into putting your online course together... what little I've seen is just brilliant. I agree and also think the C6th tuning is much easier to understand musically speaking, with it's range providing the lush and rich chord voicings. Great stuff my friend... much success!

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 15 Oct 2019 5:37 pm

This is great news, and Paul is the right picker to bring the tuning to the forefront.

I'm looking forward to the day when a band full of musicians young enough to be my grandchildren calls me up for a gig because I play that "new sound" steel guitar style.

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C6th - Very Easy To Play

C6th - Very Easy To Play

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