| Author |
Topic: 7 String options? |
Jerry Wagner
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 14 Dec 2018 3:43 pm |
|
Hi Allan,
I use a variation of your (Lo to Hi) GBEGBDG tuning on my Rick bakelite.
My Gmaj6/C7 tuning is (Lo to Hi) BbCEGBDG. I like having the F, G & A chords around the middle of the fretboard in the bass register. Easy for you to try out by just changing your 2 low strings. BTW, I use a .013 for my Hi G string. |
|
|
|
Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
|
Posted 14 Dec 2018 4:02 pm
|
|
| Jerry Wagner wrote: |
Hi Allan,
I use a variation of your (Lo to Hi) GBEGBDG tuning on my Rick bakelite.
My Gmaj6/C7 tuning is (Lo to Hi) BbCEGBDG. I like having the F, G & A chords around the middle of the fretboard in the bass register. Easy for you to try out by just changing your 2 low strings. BTW, I use a .013 for my Hi G string. |
Thanks Jerry,
I also use a 13 for the high G, and like you, like having that G major chord on the top 4 strings.
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | G – D G D G B D
7 String | G9 – D G B D F A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
|
|
|
Jerry Wagner
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 15 Dec 2018 10:46 am
|
|
| Tuning Evolution: I had played Dobro (GBDGBD) originally. When I started fooling around with a 6 string electric I decided that the Hi G (Cajun tuning) would be more useful than the low G. Then I changed the lo D to E to get the 6th. Then, with 7 strings, I came up with my current Gmaj6/C7 tuning (BbCEGBDG). This has the same overall range as Bobby Ingano's C6 tuning with Hi G on the top & Bb (7th) on the bottom (BbEGACEG). |
|
|
|
Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
|
Posted 22 Dec 2018 9:23 pm
|
|
The more I learn, the dumber I feel!
I think I need to get more comfortable on this instrument in a simple open D tuning before I get fancy and experiment with other tunings - even is f those tunings are more flexible and “usefulâ€
At 62 years old, I’ve set my goal as being good enough to sit in on lap steel with bands and jams playing blues and the occasional pop songs. And to be good enough to play lap steel instead of harmonica once in a while in the blues bands that I’m now in.
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | G – D G D G B D
7 String | G9 – D G B D F A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
|
|
|
Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
|
Posted 16 Feb 2019 8:14 pm
|
|
Latest 7 string experiment:
1 - D
2 - A
3 - F#
4 - D
5 - B
6 - G
7 - D
So this gives me open G on the low 4 strings and open D on the high 4, plus a D6 on the high 5. And for a special bonus, a full B minor triad on the middle 3.
Still playing with it, but seems useful enough.
Edit: A search of the forum turned up a post from b0b in 2012 where he was using the 6 string version of my tuning here. GBDF#AD
https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=228821&sid=5235ff4f7e131ee4218f042c0b750c8c
Looks like a couple others have used and liked this tuning too.
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | G – D G D G B D
7 String | G9 – D G B D F A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
|
|
|
b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
Posted 18 Feb 2019 3:27 pm
|
|
I add a high B for D6/G instead of a having a low D. If a song requires low notes, sometimes I drop the low G to E (E11th tuning). - D
- B
- A
- F#
- D
- B
- G or sometimes E
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
|
|
|
Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
|
Posted 18 Jan 2020 6:09 pm
|
|
Well I’m dumbing it down as much as possible for this old dummy.
D F# A D F# A D
Straight ahead Open D, and not too far removed from 6 string Open D
D A D F# A D
Still plenty of music in these tunings!
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | G – D G D G B D
7 String | G9 – D G B D F A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
|
|
|
Glenn Wilde
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 19 Jan 2020 4:22 pm
|
|
| Nothing to add, cept that is a great guitar and picture. |
|
|
|
Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
|
Posted 19 Jan 2020 5:15 pm I agree and....
|
|
I agree with Bob Lee & David Brown and A6th is my favorite tuning for 8 string lap steel. C6th would be the same with a high G on the 1st string.
I prefer having the 5th tone on top.
With a 7 string you loose the low note, but it's not used all that much by me so I'd hardly ever miss it.
You can't spend too much time practicing forward and reversed slants and the 6th tunings are so versatile.
Also those ever important harmonics! It's a love hate relationship for me because I love it when I get them and hate it when I flub it! 
One thing you'll learn (If not already) is that for every tuning you use you will loose something you liked with another tuning. 
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
|
|
|
Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
|
Posted 19 Jan 2020 6:16 pm
|
|
This afternoon I went with a “what-the-heck-why-not†tuning...
1) D (high)
2) B
3) F#
4) D
5) A
6) F#
7) D (low)
***edited***
Wow! For the first time I didn’t find the 6 to be awkward. It just seemed to be wherever I needed it, whenever I needed it—playing against blues and jazz backing tracks in major and minor keys.
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | G – D G D G B D
7 String | G9 – D G B D F A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
Last edited by Allan Revich on 19 Jan 2020 7:54 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
Posted 19 Jan 2020 6:54 pm
|
|
| Allan Revich wrote: |
This afternoon I went with a “what-the-heck-why-not†tuning...
D (high)
F#
A
D
F#
B
D (low)
Wow! For the first time I didn’t find the 6 to be awkward. It just seemed to be wherever I needed it, whenever I needed it—playing against blues and jazz backing tracks in major and minor keys. |
Looks like a typo. Do you have some strings reversed? I would expect:
D (high)
A
F#
D
B
F#
D (low)
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
|
|
|
Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
|
Posted 19 Jan 2020 7:52 pm
|
|
Thanks for noticing the mistake b0b!
I had the order reversed. The B is on string 2 though, not string 5. I tried the tuning that you have above, but for some reason it didn’t “click†for me.
Edited my original post to get strings in the right order. I usually just post tuning horizontally, low to high. Managed to confuse myself by trying something different.
Just in case, my 7 string tuning experiment looks like this,
DF#ADF#BD |
|
|
|
b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
|
|
|
Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
|
Posted 3 Feb 2020 3:33 pm
|
|
The 7 string is gonna be the death of me!
I keep waffling between simplicity and versatility. Today’s tuning favors simplicity. Since I just acquired an acoustic dobro, I decided to try dobro tuning + a low D.
DGBDGBD. So far I like it. I know I could get more versatility by adding an E somewhere.
...but like I said, today’s tuning favors simplicity 
EDIT: (additional info)
Probably should mention that the dobro (Gold Tone PBS) is a a regular six string square neck, tuned GBDGBD. My 7 string is a Rickenbacker B7, and that’s what’s now tuned DGBDGBD.
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | G – D G D G B D
7 String | G9 – D G B D F A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
Last edited by Allan Revich on 3 Feb 2020 11:17 pm; edited 3 times in total |
|
|
|
b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
|
|
|
|
Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
|
Posted 4 Feb 2020 12:26 pm
|
|
I've done that on occasion Bob.
I think Greg Booth put's an E on the lowest string. He gets a great warm sounding 6th. |
|
|
|
Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
|
Posted 8 Mar 2020 11:49 am The Obsession Continues
|
|
For the past couple weeks I’ve tuned my 7-string D9 like this:
E
C
A
F#
D
A
D
Super versatile, and I find it quite intuitive.
Dmajor on the lowest 5 strings, D7 when you include the C string, and on the top 3 strings there’s the same A minor you get with a C6 tuning.
And D9 is a pretty chord too!
_________________
Current Tunings:
6 String | G – D G D G B D
7 String | G9 – D G B D F A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database |
|
|
|
