Is C6 the most musical tuning?

[Joseph Lazo]

I don't know why, but C6 just seems to bring out more interesting melodic and harmonic things in my playing than open D, E, and G. Rank novice here with only a couple months dabbling in C6. Hated it at first, but am now drawn to it.

Is there just something about the 6th tuning?

[Bill McCloskey]

C6th isn't a scale. It is a chord. Having the minor gives you a lot more harmonic possibilities which is why you are experiencing more melodic possibilities.

[David M Brown]

I don't know why, but C6 just seems to bring out more interesting melodic and harmonic things in my playing than open D, E, and G. Rank novice here with only a couple months dabbling in C6. Hated it at first, but am now drawn to it.

Is there just something about the 6th tuning?

I recall when I was shown the A6th tuning when I had been using open A or open E, many years ago.

I realized that the sounds I was hearing on my favorite recordings needed a 6th tuning.

Of course it led me to other tunings too, like the old E7, C#m7, and so on.

C6th isn't a scale. It is a chord. Having the minor gives you a lot more harmonic possibilities which is why you are experiencing more melodic possibilities.

Exactly!

Simple open major key tunings have their place, but I'd find it hard to be satisfied with only those tunings.

[Joseph Lazo]

I "misspoke" in my header when I wrote "C6 scale". I meant to write "C6 tuning." Doh!

I edited the header just now.

[Tony Oresteen]

I use both C6 and A6 tunings





The A6 tunings are the same as the C6 tunings but are dropped 1 1/2 steps. Makes it easier by having the same relative intervals between strings.

[Mike Neer]

A tuning is only as musical as the person playing it.
One has to understand the music they are trying to play and the tuning that is best to help them achieve that objective.
C6 is one of the most versatile tunings but it won’t work in every situation.

[Tony Oresteen]

A tuning is only as musical as the person playing it.
One has to understand the music they are trying to play and the tuning that is best to help them achieve that objective.
C6 is one of the most versatile tunings but it won’t work in every situation.

+1 !

Well said Mike

[Andy Volk]

It's not the tuning in most cases, it's the melodic ideas and the rhythms being expressed that stick with the listener. Each tung has strengths and weaknesses.

[Joe A. Roberts]

Each tung has strengths and weaknesses.

That's what she said! ...

C6th is a tuning with one of the best compromises of playability, harmony, and familiar classic sounds since it's been used so much. Very musical indeed!

[Allan Revich]

It's not the tuning in most cases, it's the melodic ideas and the rhythms being expressed that stick with the listener. Each [tuning] has strengths and weaknesses.

Every tuning involves compromises, usually between simplicity and possibility. Every time you add a note you expand the musical possibilities. You also increase the possibilities for screwing up

I think the reason for C6 popularity is that it is a tuning that maximizes possibilities while minimizing complexity. But there is interesting and beautiful music to be made with any and every tuning.