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Topic: Joaquin's C6th/A7 tuning |
Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 29 Nov 2016 8:31 am |
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Would anyone care to share or direct me to a link for Joaquin's Murphey's 8 string C6th/A7 tuning from top to bottom?
Thanks in advance.
b. |
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 29 Nov 2016 10:30 am
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I found this.
Joaquin Murphey
C6th+A7 C6th + D9th
E (64) E (64)
C (60) C (60)
A (57) A (57)
G (55) G (55)
E (52) E (52)
C# (49) C (4
A (45) A (45)
B (59) F# (54)
Last edited by Bobby Boggs on 29 Nov 2016 9:06 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 29 Nov 2016 1:43 pm
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| Quote: |
| Midi Numbers in parentheses to clarify tunings where the string pitches are out of order (for example, chromatic strings at the top or bottom of the tuning). |
That is from John Ely's site.
From what I gather the 8th string, counting from the top. Was not a bass string but was tuned more mid-range for single string work with the first 3 or 4.
I could be wrong. Just gleaning bit's and pieces.
b. |
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Guy Cundell
From:
More idle ramblings from South Australia
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Posted 29 Nov 2016 2:38 pm
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Murphey reveals this tuning in a couple of interviews, one of which was to Michael Johnstone and is documented in Andy Volk's book.
From high to low:
G
E
C
A
G
E
C#
B
...with the bottom string B being pitched between the A and C. |
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 29 Nov 2016 5:10 pm
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| I have nothing to add but I would use a "like" button if available. Thanks. |
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 29 Nov 2016 9:08 pm
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My thanks to Guy Cundell.
b. |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 30 Nov 2016 8:43 am
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The tuning Guy posted is the one I'm most familiar with.....with the pitch of the B string tuned just below the high C
_________________
www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns |
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Bobby Boggs
From:
Upstate SC.
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Posted 30 Nov 2016 10:11 am
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Just curious why most seem to think he started his tuning with an E on top. I know just because it's on the net. Don't make it correct. Could the G on top be a later version? Again, not trying to start an argument. Just learn. Thanks to all who have shared.
b. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 30 Nov 2016 10:46 am
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The tuning Guy posted tuning is what Andy Volk lists in his book Slide Rules.
I'll put in a plug for Andy - this is a great little book, I've owned my copy for several years.
He calls it C6th + A9th.
I quote Andy:
"Used by Western Swing steeler extraordinaire, Joaquin Murphey. The low B is an out-of-sequence plain string that would normally be pitched between the A & C. Murphey used this string for major 7th chords and other harmonies. Scale degrees listed are for the key of C.
Note: * 6th string B is pitched between the 3rd & 4th string."
5th - G
3rd - E
root - C
6th - A
5th - G
3rd - E
b9 - C#
maj7 - *B
Having that B available for major 7th chords strikes me as genius. When I was speaking with Bobby Black last Saturday evening during the intermission when he was playing with The Rhythm Rangers, a group where b0b is normally the steel player and Dave Zirbel a former member, Bobby told me on his 12 string West Coast Steel (non-pedal) the bottom 10 strings are the same as on C6th pedal steel but one of the top 2 strings - don't remember which, maybe someone here knows - is tuned to a B. So it gives one the potential for the lush, pretty major 7th sound which of course is a great tool to have in the box.
Though I have to say I'm having a difficult time fathoming how Joaquin fashioned the grip to play for example a C maj 7 with the 7th (B) on the 8th string. The notes in the chord are C-E-G-B. Would he play strings 5, 6 & 8, and leave off the root C? Or would he do something like use fingers 1, 2 and 3 on the top 3 strings (C-E-G) and get the 8th string B with his thumb?
I'm a thumbpick and two fingerpicks guy max. I just never have really had the desire to add a fingerpick to my right ring finger. i've fooled around with it in the past but it has yet to really "take." For me it would be just one more thing to attempt to get good at - and I already have too many musical "irons in the fire" as it is. 
_________________
Mark
Last edited by Mark Eaton on 30 Nov 2016 10:49 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Mark Roeder
From:
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 30 Nov 2016 10:47 am
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There are a few people that got to know him before he died, they would probably know the most about his tunings. He did play a triple neck Bigsby for some of his career, I have know idea what the other tunings were on the other necks, but it could add some confusion.
I know the tuning Guy posted works for Murph's version of Honeysuckle Rose perfectly. Couldn't do it with the same feel without it.....
_________________
www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns |
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Todd Clinesmith
From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
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Posted 30 Nov 2016 12:56 pm
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I use this tuning in the A6/F#9 form just 1.5 steps lower. I look at it as two 5 string tunings in one, and have not got into the major 7 side of it.
Playing the A9 or in my case the F#9 side of it has a very similar feel to a grip on the B11.
roll strings 7,6,5,4,8 in that order and you will see/hear a lot of possibilities.
It's lot of fun for Hawaiian and Jazz Standards
This tuning has inspired me to build a D-9 for myself so I can get the full F#9 side of the tuning:
E
C#
A
F#
E
C#
Bb
F#
G# (high)
_________________
face book page:
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 30 Nov 2016 1:58 pm
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Todd, you're a walking encyclopedia of tunings. 
_________________
Mark |
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Todd Clinesmith
From:
Lone Rock Free State Oregon
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Guy Cundell
From:
More idle ramblings from South Australia
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Guy Cundell
From:
More idle ramblings from South Australia
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Posted 30 Nov 2016 10:14 pm
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Also, the graphic that Bobby had on his initial post and later removed was one that I did years ago. Here it is, updated. It shows some of the harmonic implications of those bottom four strings. Pretty powerful stuff!
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Former Member
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Posted 26 Mar 2017 4:59 am
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Thanks for this info!
See that's why I NEEDED one of Todd's 10 strings, just didn't know it..
I could put that B in sequence..
Nice playing there Guy.
Mark, I remember you had some out of sequence thing going on a couple of years ago..
Im looking for a 10 string tuning that covers the most ground, never messed with A6th don't know the benefits. |
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Tim Heidner
From:
Groves, TX
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Posted 26 Mar 2017 5:18 pm
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| I've seen those numbers in parentheses before on tunings, I believe they are midi numbers, useful when you have a string thickness that's out of the usual low to high sequence. |
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