Virtues of E13 tuning?

Peter Goeden · Post by **Peter Goeden** » 3 Apr 2009 5:52 am

Hello All. I'm told Tom Morrell used "E13" consisting of
G#
F#
E
C#
B
G#
F#
E
D
E

Using the number system, this would be (from bottom) 1 7b 1 2 3 5 6 1 2 3 . What are the virtues of this tuning compared to C6?

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 3 Apr 2009 6:13 am

There are many players here more qualified to opine on TM's tuning. But that won't stop me.

TM had an evolved style using chromatics in his chords and lines. Looking at his tuning there are lots of close intervals occurring (E-F#-G#), more than standard non-pedal C6.

Peter Goeden · Post by **Peter Goeden** » 3 Apr 2009 7:27 am

Drew, do you mean TM played a lot of runs and that this tuning allows you to play runs at a single fret?

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 3 Apr 2009 7:37 am

No, but I'm guessing the whole tone intervals in TM's tuning made it easier to find melodies. Again, I would defer to name players like Ricky Davis, Johnny Cox and others, who have played his guitars and tunings, which I haven't. If we're lucky, they will see this post and comment.

Do a search for Tom Morrell on this forum.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 3 Apr 2009 8:11 am

Yes, closer intervals, which is handy for playing melody and scales. If you already play pedal steel guitar, this tuning will seem very familiar. I play this tuning on my 10-string lap steel, except I tune string 10 to B.

Below are a couple of audio clips of this tuning. E13 Blues features the minor pentatonic scale. Sleepy Lagoon is more melodic.

-----> E13 Blues

-----> Sleepy Lagoon

Peter Goeden · Post by **Peter Goeden** » 3 Apr 2009 9:27 am

so what three-note chords can you get without slanting? (BTW, nice playing, Doug)

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 3 Apr 2009 9:57 am

Doug, I really like the Sleepy Lagoon. Interesting tuning. I'll have to check it out.
Nice job on that

Could I get most of that on a 7 string??

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 3 Apr 2009 11:07 am

Thanks Peter and Bill,

More E13 10-string info ---> E13 10-string

And More ---> CLICK

what three-note chords can you get without slanting?

I don't have my guitar with me now, but just off the top of my head... major, minor, 7th, 9th, major 7, minor7, 13, add9, and probably more. I think diminish and augmented chords require slanting on this tuning. It's a very comfortable all-round tuning, as is C6, in my opinion, but I prefer an E based tuning because I'm used to that on regular guitar and on pedal steel.

Doug, I really like the Sleepy Lagoon. Interesting tuning. I'll have to check it out.
Nice job on that

Could I get most of that on a 7 string??

It's possible to play any song on any tuning, but you won't get the sustained, ringing strings of the 10-string tuning, as heard in my version of Sleepy Lagoon. That song lays out beautifully on the Morrell E13 tuning. You just lay the bar across the fret and the 16 notes of the melody are right there, on the same fret, all sustaining... for a harp-like effect. On 7-string you'll have to move the bar from fret to fret to get all those notes, so the effect will be different. It will still sound nice, just a differnt kind of sound. That's not to say Morrell's E13 is great for everything. For Hawaiian tunes I prefer B11 or C6. Different flavors for different styles.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 3 Apr 2009 1:02 pm

Peter:

I used a similiar tuning for years, only at the top I had the G# after the E, and the F# as the last top string.

Peter Goeden · Post by **Peter Goeden** » 4 Apr 2009 7:12 am

Would the E9 PEDAL steel get closer to TM's "sound" than the C6 nonpedal?

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 4 Apr 2009 12:51 pm

The most common PSG tuning is E9, and I would say that E13 lap steel is closer to that than C6 lap steel is. Of course, the back neck of a PSG is usually tuned to C6. Neither E13 nor C6 lap steel can duplicate the sound of a pedal steel though. PSG is a different animal.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 4 Apr 2009 8:08 pm

Very nice performance on "SLEEPY LAGOON".......

Enjoyed it immensely.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 4 Apr 2009 11:38 pm

Thank you, Ray. I appreciate it. It means a lot coming from you!

Walter Seaman · Post by **Walter Seaman** » 16 Jun 2009 9:26 am

Hello all I am new to this forum. I have just started playing a lap steel 6 string recently, although I've play guitar and slide guitar in open tunings for a long time.

I love Tom Morrell's cover of Steel Guitar Rag which is on the cd Legends of The Incredible Lap Steel Guitar. It seems TM used the tuning under discussion on that take:

1.G#
2. F#
3. E
4. C#
5. B
6. G#
7. F#
8. E
9. D
10. E

I seem to be able to play some of the notes, chords and sounds TM got using open E tuning. Is there a better tuning to try for a 6-string lap steel to approximate as much of TM's Steel Guitar Rag as possible?

Thanks!

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 16 Jun 2009 7:34 pm

Doug, I couldn't get the E13 Blues to play, for some reason.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 16 Jun 2009 8:37 pm

Alan, the link is working now: E13 Blues

Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 17 Jun 2009 9:35 am

HI DOUG,

What kind of device are you using on "E-13th Blues" to give it that Extraordinary Sound.

The "E-13th Blues" is way too short.

ROGER

Scott Henderson · Post by **Scott Henderson** » 17 Jun 2009 1:52 pm

I am no authority on TM either but I believe he used an Eb13. Whether he did or didn't I use it because it allows me room to play with open strings when I play in the key of C. Great tuning!

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 17 Jun 2009 8:05 pm

HI DOUG,

What kind of device are you using on "E-13th Blues" to give it that Extraordinary Sound.

Thanks Roger, it's a DigiTech multi-effects processor.... a combination of chorus and overdrive.

The lap steel is a 10-string Alkire Eharp (Epiphone, 1940s) patched directly into the multi-effects processor and then into the computer (no amp, no volume pedal). The backing track is band-in-a-box, Audacity recording software. The tuning is Tom Morrell's E13, except I tune string 10 to B instead of low E. I'm glad you like it!

Post by **Brad Bechtel** » 18 Jun 2009 6:54 am

Walter Seaman wrote:Hello all I am new to this forum. I have just started playing a lap steel 6 string recently, although I've play guitar and slide guitar in open tunings for a long time.

I love Tom Morrell's cover of Steel Guitar Rag which is on the cd Legends of The Incredible Lap Steel Guitar. It seems TM used the tuning under discussion on that take:

1.G#
2. F#
3. E
4. C#
5. B
6. G#
7. F#
8. E
9. D
10. E

I seem to be able to play some of the notes, chords and sounds TM got using open E tuning. Is there a better tuning to try for a 6-string lap steel to approximate as much of TM's Steel Guitar Rag as possible?

Thanks!

Probably the closest thing you could get with just six strings is something like this:
1. G#
2. E
3. C#
4. B
5. G#
6. E

Obviously you'd need a custom set of strings with this tuning.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 24 Jun 2009 4:36 pm

To me one of the main things I like about the E13 tuning is that there is a tritone built in. Also with the closer intervals there are some very nice harmonic options.

I find myself playing the E13 neck on my console when I want a higher, brighter sound.

I am better on the C6 but the E13 is getting more attention these days.

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 25 Jun 2009 12:13 pm

Peter Goeden wrote:Would the E9 PEDAL steel get closer to TM's "sound" than the C6 nonpedal?

Yes.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Virtues of E13 tuning?

Virtues of E13 tuning?

Sleepy Lagoon...................

Steel Guitar Rag tuning

Re: Steel Guitar Rag tuning