The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic What is this tuning? (8 String lap steel)
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  What is this tuning? (8 String lap steel)
John Larson


From:
Pennsyltucky, USA
Post  Posted 7 Jan 2023 7:09 pm    
Reply with quote

I was trying a Gold Tone LS-8 at a local music store. Crazy nice guitar.


I noticed on Gold Tone's website its supposed to be tuned to DFACDFAC.

What tuning is this?
_________________
Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Give praise to the Lord with the harp, chant unto Him with the ten-stringed psaltery. Sing unto Him a new song, chant well unto Him with jubilation. For the word of the Lord is true, and all His works are in faithfulness. The Lord loveth mercy and judgement; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.
- Psalm 33:1-5
View user's profile Send private message

Allan Revich


From:
Victoria, BC
Post  Posted 7 Jan 2023 7:27 pm     Re: What is this tuning? (8 String lap steel)
Reply with quote

John Larson wrote:
I was trying a Gold Tone LS-8 at a local music store. Crazy nice guitar.

I noticed on Gold Tone's website its supposed to be tuned to DFACDFAC.

What tuning is this?

Dm7 (D minor 7) which would also be F6.

Not a very common tuning AFIK
_________________
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

Ken Pippus


From:
Langford, BC, Canada
Post  Posted 7 Jan 2023 9:59 pm    
Reply with quote

Probably E6 with somebody overtuning it.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Rich Arnold

 

From:
Tennessee, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2023 6:34 pm     Re: What is this tuning? (8 String lap steel)
Reply with quote

John Larson wrote:
I was trying a Gold Tone LS-8 at a local music store. Crazy nice guitar.


I noticed on Gold Tone's website its supposed to be tuned to DFACDFAC.

What tuning is this?
F6. If you go up one step you have my favorite tuning, the G6 EGBDEGBD But be careful to use the appropriate string guages.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Dave Mudgett


From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
Post  Posted 14 Jan 2023 11:43 am    
Reply with quote

Definitely F6. That is a very unbalanced set of strings for that tuning. Using a typical string tension calculator like this one, which will get you close (tension at a given pitch and string type/gauge do vary a bit by maker) - https://tension.stringjoy.com/ - they come to, lo-hi, rounded to nearest pound

Note: D2 F2 A2 C3 D3 F3 A3 C4
Tens: 32 25 27 28 25 23 20 16

Nothing wrong with the tuning, but not a standard by any means. I assume that's just what they decided to put on the guitar. It's actually pretty low. It has to be this particular F6 - neither D1 or C5 on a 25" scale are in a usable range for any set of guitar strings.

Using a string tension calculator like this one, you can figure out appropriate gauges for any tuning you want to use. I think between 25 and 30 pounds per string is pretty typical, unless ya' wanna bend strings behind the bar, in which case something lighter on those strings would certainly make that easier.

Lycoming County, eh. I'm in State College.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail


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