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Topic: A good 6 string lap tuning other than c6 |
J. David Carrera
From:
Los Angeles, CA
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Posted 19 Mar 2019 8:47 pm |
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Hi, I've been playing C6 lap steel for 7 or so years (in addition to E9 pedal). I just picked up a National Dynamic and am looking for suggestions on a second lap steel tuning to get into. I've consider doing an open D or G but I'm curious to what some other traditional tunings that would be good to look into.
Cheers.
JD |
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Tony Boadle
From:
Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland
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Posted 19 Mar 2019 11:16 pm
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| E6th! It works for me. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 20 Mar 2019 1:24 am
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Check out this version of E9th:
E
B
G#
F#
E
D
Jerry Byrd used it to great effect on his Admirable Byrd LP and a lot of Leon McAuliffe's bluesier playing can be heard on this tuning (it's the top 5 strings of his 8-string tuning). It's a very versatile tuning.
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Jeff Mead
From:
London, England
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Posted 20 Mar 2019 1:48 am
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| Keeping the same string set (assuming you are playing C6 with a high E) you can retune to A6 - having the 5th note on top really makes a difference to how the tunig feels. Also Am6 is cool for songs in a minor key like Rambling Man (High to low - E C A F# E C). |
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Scott Duckworth
From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
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Posted 20 Mar 2019 1:59 am
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This E7:
High to low-
E
B
G#
E
D
B
_________________
Amateur Radio Operator NA4IT (Extra)
http://www.qsl.net/na4it
I may, in fact, be nuts. However, I am screwed onto the right bolt... Jesus! |
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 20 Mar 2019 8:15 am
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| Jeff Mead wrote: |
| Keeping the same string set (assuming you are playing C6 with a high E) you can retune to A6 - having the 5th note on top really makes a difference to how the tunig feels. Also Am6 is cool for songs in a minor key like Rambling Man (High to low - E C A F# E C). |
| Scott Duckworth wrote: |
This E7:
High to low-
E
B
G#
E
D
B |
Which can also be E13 by raising the 2nd string B to C# --and it can retune to A6 also.
I often use A6, C6, E7 and E13 on the same steel as one set of strings can handle all these tunings.
This is a good option.
Last edited by David M Brown on 21 Mar 2019 6:00 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Dom Franco
From:
Beaverton, OR, 97007
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 20 Mar 2019 11:46 am
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If you're into Hawaiian, the original Hawaiian tuning was A, high or low bass.
This is what I use, high bass:
E
C#
A
E
C#
A |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 20 Mar 2019 12:12 pm
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B11th! A beautiful tuning that is deserves more play than it seems to get. Great for dominant sounds and you still have A6th on top.
E
C#
A
F#
D#
C# or B
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 21 Mar 2019 6:00 am
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| Andy Volk wrote: |
B11th! A beautiful tuning that is deserves more play than it seems to get. Great for dominant sounds and you still have A6th on top.
E
C#
A
F#
D#
C# or B |
and an easy re-tune from A6 |
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Mike Harris
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 21 Mar 2019 7:17 am tuning up from A6 to B11
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| David, what about the extra tension on the strings and neck if you tune up to B11 from A6? |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 21 Mar 2019 7:20 am
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What extra tension? 
Erv |
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Keith Glendinning
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 21 Mar 2019 9:19 am
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| Actually Mike, the B11 tuning drops the E down to D# from a standard A6 tuning, so the half note isn't a problem with tension for either tuning. I have used the same gauge of strings for C6, A6, E13 and B11 and it's not too bad. |
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Mike Harris
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 21 Mar 2019 4:29 pm
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| Keith, of course, thanks--I was having a moment of confusion (my usual six-string tuning is dobro GBDGBD so I was thinking AC#EAC#E rather than C#EF#AC#E). It did say A6 but I misfigured. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 21 Mar 2019 5:01 pm
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David, Andy Volk posted here earlier - I have no idea how familiar you are with his lap/non-pedal related books, but I am going to put in a plug for the one below. It's my well worn copy of his Slide Rules book. Thin, inexpensive, but loaded with great information.
Regarding just the 6 string tunings, and we know more than this total exist but you have to stop somewhere - it would be enough to keep one busy for a few lifetimes - there are 42 included in the book. There are also quite a few 8 string as well as a handful of 10 string tunings.
Everyone who plays lap or non-pedal steel would benefit from Slide Rules.
http://www.volkmediabooks.com/products-books/slide-rules
_________________
Mark |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 21 Mar 2019 5:19 pm
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If you are into c. 1930s Hawaiian sounds a la Dick McIntire and Andy Iona, then you might like C#m7
E C# G# E B E (hi to lo)
You can also get to F#9 from there:
E C# G# E A# F# (hi to lo)
Really lush sounding 9th chord strum on the bottom. |
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Paul McEvoy
From:
Baltimore, USA
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Posted 21 Mar 2019 6:47 pm
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| Wow I just tried A6 as described here after only using C6 previously (on an 8 string) and it seems far superior. Other than losing a bit of range maybe, what’s the disadvantage? Why is c6 so much more popular? |
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2019 6:00 am Re: tuning up from A6 to B11
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| Mike Harris wrote: |
| David, what about the extra tension on the strings and neck if you tune up to B11 from A6? |
| Keith Glendinning wrote: |
| Actually Mike, the B11 tuning drops the E down to D# from a standard A6 tuning, so the half note isn't a problem with tension for either tuning. I have used the same gauge of strings for C6, A6, E13 and B11 and it's not too bad. |
That's correct. Add E7 to the list too.
| Scott Thomas wrote: |
If you are into c. 1930s Hawaiian sounds a la Dick McIntire and Andy Iona, then you might like C#m7
E C# G# E B E (hi to lo)
You can also get to F#9 from there:
E C# G# E A# F# (hi to lo)
Really lush sounding 9th chord strum on the bottom. |
This works with a set of strings that could also tune to A low bass, and open E. |
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2019 6:01 am
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| Mark Eaton wrote: |
David, Andy Volk posted here earlier - I have no idea how familiar you are with his lap/non-pedal related books, but I am going to put in a plug for the one below.
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Andy's books are great! |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2019 6:27 am
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The trouble with adding extra notes to a 6 string tuning is you limit the range.
When I got into the alternative tunings I went to an 8 string guitar.
When I play a 6 string guitar I stick to the straight major tunings. 
Erv |
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Scott Thomas
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Posted 22 Mar 2019 3:59 pm Re: tuning up from A6 to B11
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| David M Brown wrote: |
This works with a set of strings that could also tune to A low bass, and open E. |
Right David. On an old Sol Hoopii comp on Rounder, the liner notes describe his evolution from an A major, to E to C#minor. Jerry Byrd's big book also teaches tunings in the order of how they evolved. I look at this stuff as part of the history of the instrument. |
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2019 5:47 am Re: tuning up from A6 to B11
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| Scott Thomas wrote: |
| David M Brown wrote: |
This works with a set of strings that could also tune to A low bass, and open E. |
Right David. On an old Sol Hoopii comp on Rounder, the liner notes describe his evolution from an A major, to E to C#minor. Jerry Byrd's big book also teaches tunings in the order of how they evolved. I look at this stuff as part of the history of the instrument. |
Well, it is part of the history of lap steel.
I found that I keeping 2 steels, one with strings for the A6-C6-E7-E13-B11 family and a set of strings for the A low bass, E, C#m7, F#9 tunings, allows for easy tuning to any of those tunings. |
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