I like this 7 String G6 Tuning

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Allan Revich
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I like this 7 String G6 Tuning

Post by Allan Revich »

My tuning is:
D
B
G
E
D
G
D

Similar to the more conventional GBDEGBD, but adding a low D and removing the low B. This makes the tuning a little nicer for blues music.I get the low D for more bass rumble, and the absence of the low B seems to make the E string feel more like a 6th chord, than a low root when playing in major keys. Ignoring the low D string, or sliding up to the minor root, ensures a minor feel in minor keys.

Like any 6th tuning, there is no reason that DGDEGBD can’t be used for genres beyond blues and rock.
Current Tunings:
DADF#AD
fDADF#AD

https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
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Mark Eaton
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Location: Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California

Post by Mark Eaton »

Cool tuning - I'll have to give it a shot. 8)
Mark
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Allan Revich
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Post by Allan Revich »

Mark Eaton wrote:Cool tuning - I'll have to give it a shot. 8)
I think it’s a great tuning for blues and rock, but there are probably a lot of other tunings that are more versatile. Since blues, rock, and free improv are the only genres that I play, it works very well for me.

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on it after you try it.
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Allan Revich
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Post by Allan Revich »

This G6 tuning works quite nicely on 6 strings as well,

D
B
G
E
D
G

The low D on string 7 (DGDEGBD) is nice to have for solo projects, but I think I’d be fine without it in a band with a bass player.

I came to this after first experimenting with other versions of G6 that I thought I’d like better,
GBEGBD, EGBGBD, and especially DGEGBD with the nice low D on the bottom. I guess it’s purely subjective, but the version I’m using sounds best to my ears, especially when practicing with backing tracks.
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Andrew Frost
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Post by Andrew Frost »

Hey Allan
I used that six string G tuning for quite a while on lap steel

D
B
G
E
D
G

It’s great. The low D would be an interesting.addition.
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Allan Revich
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Location: Victoria, BC
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Post by Allan Revich »

Andrew Frost wrote:Hey Allan
I used that six string G tuning for quite a while on lap steel

D
B
G
E
D
G

It’s great. The low D would be an interesting.addition.
I’m always happy to learn that I’m not the only person here using a tuning. Should we call this the Canadian Tuning?
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