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Topic: A Tale of D6 Tunings |
Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 3 Dec 2021 8:35 pm |
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Which of these two would you use?
I recently started using D F# B D F# A D on my 7-string lap steels, and like it a lot. I had my 6-string tuned to D B D F# A D, which was OK, but recently tried F# B D F# A D, also OK.
I found that for playing unaccompanied the D on string 6 was more intuitive, but for some reason when jamming to backing tracks the F# seems to work better.
So…. D B D F# A D or F# B D F# A D?
_________________
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 29 Jan 2022 12:02 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Phillip Hermans
From:
Berkeley, California, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2021 1:59 am
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I am inclined to agree with you. Having a low D is nice for a drone/root note when playin unaccompanied. I really enjoy this on an acoustic guitar.
And the low F# is nice when playing with a backing track / ensemble. You can get chunky 4ths on the lowest strings and nice minor/major 6ths with a straight bar / slant between strings 6 and 4. This is great for arpeggios, melodies and chords (oh my!)
Retuning the lowest strings between songs is no big deal, although I don't think I've ever retuned a minor third during a set. That might take a an extra joke to occupy the crowd while I make sure the other strings didn't go out.
Safest bet is just to keep acquiring guitars until you have one in every tuning  |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 4 Dec 2021 4:23 am
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| Phillip Hermans wrote: |
| Safest bet is just to keep acquiring guitars until you have one in every tuning. |
Bingo! Especially when fixer-uppers are generally available for less than the cost of a bag of groceries or a half-tank of gas. One can never have too many lap steels. |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 4 Dec 2021 10:52 am
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| Jack Hanson wrote: |
| Phillip Hermans wrote: |
| Safest bet is just to keep acquiring guitars until you have one in every tuning. |
Bingo! Especially when fixer-uppers are generally available for less than the cost of a bag of groceries or a half-tank of gas. One can never have too many lap steels. |
I hate to admit, but I’m doing extremely well already on the acquisition side of the lap steel equation. 
On the other hand… maybe I need a double six? Open D on one neck for straight ahead rock and blues, a fancy D6/Bm7 with F# on the bottom for the other neck. Hmmm….  |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 13 Dec 2021 12:26 am
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A quick update, simplified matters by just keeping the 6-strings in open D. I’ll leave those fancy sixes for my seven string guitars.
_________________
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 |
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Marc Muller
From:
Neptune,NJ USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2021 5:46 am
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| Being that the lowest lollipop tuner on my double 8 is stripped, I ended up 7 string tuning of low to hi D, A, B, D, F#, A, D. I think if I can get the tuner fixed I'd add an F# on top. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2021 11:13 am
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I tune the low string to G because it gives me another major chord position.
6 string: G B D F# A D
7 string: G B D F# A B D
8 string: G B D F# A B D F#
Also some very pretty major 7ths. 
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-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 13 Dec 2021 9:24 pm
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| b0b wrote: |
I tune the low string to G because it gives me another major chord position.
6 string: G B D F# A D
7 string: G B D F# A B D
8 string: G B D F# A B D F#
Also some very pretty major 7ths. |
Those tunings make a lot of sense. It’s easy for me to see how useful they are, but unfortunately, as soon as a fifth note is added to the four notes I’m using, all my fingers turn to thumbs. 
On your 8 string tuning, did you ever consider adding to the bottom instead of to the top, for: D G B D F# A B D ? |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2021 9:36 pm
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| Allan Revich wrote: |
| b0b wrote: |
8 string: G B D F# A B D F# |
On your 8 string tuning, did you ever consider adding to the bottom instead of to the top, for: D G B D F# A B D ? |
No. I like having a high F# because it's the same intervals as the C6th tuning. With the kinds of music I play, it's more useful than low D. I occasionally lower my low G to E. That's as low as I ever need to go.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Allan Revich
From:
Victoria, BC
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Posted 25 Jan 2022 9:38 pm
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This week D6 (A D F# A B D) seems to hit the mark on six strings.
On seven strings I'm using F# A D F# A B D, though sometimes I’ve added a reentrant 7th to make a D13 tuning, c A D F# A B D.
These tunings seem to provide a nice balance between versatility, simplicity, and sit sonically in my personal comfort zone.
_________________
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 1 Feb 2022 12:32 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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