ACEGCE C6 variant

[Mark Evans]

My normal M.O. for tunings is str8 up… open G, E, D etc.

While randomly untuning a lap that had been in A, I ended up with a very pleasant sounding set - ACEGCE. Was surprised to find this is a C6 variant or ‘alternate.’ I never pursued C6 - despite its popularity due to it being overly Hawaiian. But this feels more workable for my style.

Anyone use this tuning? Pros and cons? Resources?
I’m likely to just woodshed it a bit, but am curious to get input.
Thanks!
Mark E

[Mike Neer]

"I never pursued C6 - despite its popularity due to it being overly Hawaiian."

Mark, this is a common misconception. C6 is not overly Hawaiian or overly Western Swing, it's just a tuning that has been widely used in those styles. I was in your shoes at one time, very much averse to using C6 for reasons I can't remember, but mostly because I didn't know how to use it. It does lend itself more to refined playing of harmonies and melodies, with a lot of chordal options available via slanting, but I think there are a number of players including myself who have proven that C6 can be much more than just a hawaiian or country tuning. It is really dependent upon how much work you are willing to put into it. I believe it is the most versatile tuning there is.

However, there are styles of playing that aren't really suited to the 6 string version of the tuning, particularly if you are a D tuning/dead thumb type of player, for lack of a better description. An 8 string C6 tuning (especially with a low C) can be used for just about anything IMO.

But anyway, I think the Amin7 tuning you mention would be a very cool option.

[Mark Evans]

"I never pursued C6 - despite its popularity due to it being overly Hawaiian”

But anyway, I think the Amin7 tuning you mention would be a very cool option.

I shoulda said ‘Hawaiian sounding’

You mention Amin7 tuning I mentioned… perhaps this may be why I’m sonically intrigued. It definitely has a smooth jazz/swing/islandish feel, but I found my way around.
I think I just need to explore

[Mike Neer]

You mention Amin7 tuning I mentioned… perhaps this may be why I’m sonically intrigued. It definitely has a smooth jazz/swing/islandish feel, but I found my way around.
I think I just need to explore

This could be your gateway drug into C6. Once you have the G and A strings adjacent, the whole world opens up.

[Michael Kiese]

Aloha Mark,

I concur with Mike Neer.

In my opinion, just my 2¢, C6 should be viewed as standard tuning for steel guitar the same way EADGBE is standard tuning for regular spanish style guitar. Every type of chord you need for contemporary music is on it.

It's super versatile. While it's true that C6 has its roots in Hawaiian, Western Swing, and Jazz...it's just a tuning. All the notes you need are there. It's up to you to find them, and make music with them.

No one says EADGBE sounds too country, or too shred metal, or too classical, or too jazz, or too bluegrass. It's just a tuning.

It's up to you to make music with it.

By the way, you can play Hawaiian music on EADGBE too. It sounds Hawaiian when you play it right.

I've been finding lots of immediately useable and pragmatic uses going between C6, A6, and B11. If you pick your string gauges carefully, you can easily go between all 3 tunings on the same steel guitar. Those 3 tunings are so close to each other. It's very pragmatic to use them all.

[Mark Evans]

Appreciate the, as always, sage replies from the group.
I will see about getting the G and A strings adjacent to each other, Mike. I tried swapping - going ECAGCE - to keep in near the other tuning… but I think it’d be best to leap in an actual listed C6th tuning and study on it.
For now, I’m going to explore this tuning ( I guess it’s being called Amin7?). The major/minor in each fret is worthy. I might also migrate another lap to a dedicated C6.