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Author Topic:  String bender with C6? clip
James Mayer


From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
Post  Posted 14 Nov 2011 2:19 pm    
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWBE_e2UFe8

This guy has a string bender that appears to raise the C to a D in C6 (CEGACE). I thought about doing that but couldn't see a point in it. Just doesn't seem very useful.
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Eugene Cole


From:
near Washington Grove, MD, USA
Post  Posted 14 Nov 2011 8:01 pm    
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He put this guitar together on the cheap and he seems to be doing very well for a guy that is new to lap steel.

He will figure out how to bend the C-string behind the bar for the same change in few weeks. I think that having a lever for an Asus4 and Csus9 in addition to a C-Major seems like a pretty cool addition for brand new lap player to dream up.
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Steve Perry


From:
Elizabethtown Ky, USA
Post  Posted 15 Nov 2011 11:40 am    
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There's a cracked headstock waitin' to happen! Very Happy
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James Mayer


From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
Post  Posted 15 Nov 2011 12:49 pm    
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Eugene Cole wrote:
He put this guitar together on the cheap and he seems to be doing very well for a guy that is new to lap steel.

He will figure out how to bend the C-string behind the bar for the same change in few weeks. I think that having a lever for an Asus4 and Csus9 in addition to a C-Major seems like a pretty cool addition for brand new lap player to dream up.


I dreamt up the same change and didn't think it was really worth it. I've tried to to find a way to use my Multibender (three levers, raise or lower) in that tuning and it just seems unnecessary with the intervals as close as they are.

I notice he only engages it a couple of times, so I don't really think he's found it all that useful either. I was excited when I saw this, hoping to have inspiration to try my benders on C6 again.
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Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 15 Nov 2011 12:59 pm    
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I think a good use for the bender would be on string 1--tune the string down to D and utilize a raise up to E. You will find the D very useful, too. There was a time that I played C6 with the E lowered to D and it is great for Rock and more ethereal sounds.
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James Mayer


From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
Post  Posted 15 Nov 2011 1:48 pm    
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Interesting. I hadn't thought of that. I had thought of bending the E up to F to get a major triad on the top three strings. Using the second lever (without the first lever engaged) to raise string 2 a semitone gets another major inversion on the top three strings.

So, holding down lever one to get C major at the 7 fret, followed by sliding up one fret while releasing lever 1 and engaging lever 2 gets a I-IV transition. That's the only useful thing I've ever though up in C6 but haven't tried it to see how it sounds.

I'm thinking of your CEGACD idea and don't see how I would use it. I feel like I would be playing with my lever engaged most of the time so I would be in standard C6. I feel like the comfort zone/most useful tuning should be there without the extra effort of the levers. Then the levers are employed for a little extra spice.

Can you give me an example of how you would use the D->E raise?


Last edited by James Mayer on 15 Nov 2011 2:37 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 15 Nov 2011 2:37 pm    
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Just some ideas--personally, I don't have a need for it, but I can see the value in it. I think I'd probably look to create more interesting sounds rather than emulate a pedal steel (which you can dio with slants and pulls to some extent).

I'm not sure I could describe many scenarios, but having the 1st string tuned to D (I would only tune string 1 to D) gives you a great ability to play pentatonics:

Tab:

Dmin pentatonic

------------------------12--
--------------------12------
---------10----12------------
-----10---------------------
-10------------------------
----------------------------


Here's a 2 string I or i to V7:

Tab:


----12*-------12------------
---------------------------
----12--------11------------
----------------------------
--------------------------
---------------------------
*means lever is down


Also, you have the ability to push the lever down half-way, so at the 12th fret, you'd get an F7--push down fully and you have a C. Release and you have G at your disposal

Tab:

---12*----12**----12-----
-------------------------
----------12-------------
---12-------------12-----
-------------------------
-------------------------
** = 1/2 lever


More importantly, though, you can get that nebulous sound of 4ths, or quartal harmony

Tab:

--12---10---7----
-----------------
--12---10---7----
-----------------
--12---10---7---
----------------

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James Mayer


From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
Post  Posted 15 Nov 2011 2:58 pm    
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Ok, I'll look into it. So, why not leave the 1st string in E and have the lever drop it down to D?
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Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 15 Nov 2011 3:02 pm    
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I didn't know you can lower the strings. If that's the case, then "Ya!" Also, I'd consider adding a 1/2 step lower for the G string.
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James Mayer


From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
Post  Posted 15 Nov 2011 3:04 pm    
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I've never tried a full-step lower but the half-step lower works fine.
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James Mayer


From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
Post  Posted 15 Nov 2011 3:09 pm    
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I have three levers, but I have to set them all up at the same time. Any other suggestions?
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Mike Neer


From:
NJ
Post  Posted 15 Nov 2011 3:40 pm    
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C to C# on string 6.
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James Mayer


From:
back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)
Post  Posted 16 Nov 2011 9:30 am    
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Mike,

I didn't get a chance to try the lowers, last night. However, I've been also thinking of the following tuning. I guess I can't get my head out of trying to get E9 changes out of C6.

This one was suggested by Bob, at some point.


E->F
C
G->A
E->F
C
G

I had my six-string pedal steel set up like that just before I stopped playing steel entirely, so I never really gave it a good evaluation. I see that the one lever puts it in C6, but I'm wondering why others haven't tried something so obvious.
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