My "new" Alkire Eharp - from before there *were* pedals

[Jeffrey McFadden]

I've been looking at a ten string lap steel tuning, and whole instrument to support it, invented by a gentleman named Elbern (Eddie) Alkire back in the 1940s, before either the pedal steel or I were born.
As it came to pass, shortly after I got interested in this tuning, I found (here on the forum) an original vintage "Elkire Eharp" for sale.
And I bought it.
It came yesterday. New strings for it are supposed to come this week.

[Jeffrey McFadden]

This tuning is, as most tunings, usually discussed in terms of tuned notes. From skinny to fat strings, the tuning goes E, C#, B, A, G# (Ab), G, F# (Gb), E, C#. Viewed in those terms it's kind of hard to grasp.
If, however, you view it in Nashville Numbers, it suddenly makes a ton of sense.
8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 3m, 2, 2m, 1, 6.

[Bill McCloskey]

Enjoy Jeffrey. It's a great tuning and a great instrument.

[Jeffrey McFadden]

Enjoy Jeffrey. It's a great tuning and a great instrument.

I was going to get around to giving Bill credit for starting me on this path, and here he is.
Thanks, Bill!

[Jeffrey McFadden]

So, for instance, you can play any entire major scale, except the 7th or minor 7th notes, on one fret.
The fret for a given major scale will have the root on strings 1 and 9, and the 6th on strings 2 and 10.
If you want your minor 7th you move up one feet. For the major 7th, move up 2.
But that's just for playing scales.
Chords come in another whole glorious pattern

[Jeffrey McFadden]

Chords are maybe even more fun.
I'm mostly not going to discuss augmented or diminished chords here, except to say there is virtually no chord you can't make somewhere on this neck, and it will be in a repeatable pattern for whatever key you're working in.
But speaking of diatonic chords within any key, by numbers:
Your tonic is 1,3,5. Your fourth is 4,6,8. Your minor 2nd is 2, 4, 6. Your minor 3rd is 3, 5, 7, and your dominant 7th is 5, 7, 9, b11. Oops, no 7th or b11 on the home fret.
In other words, you can get your entire harmonized scale except iii and V/V7 without leaving your home fret.
To get your iii and V7 you move up 2 frets, just like on a pedal steel. Your VIIdim is there too.
All with no pedals.

[Jeffrey McFadden]

The only "problem" with this is that the player has to learn several different grips to get all the chords. However, if you think in terms of needed scale degrees for various chords or melodies, instead of grips, it's easier.
I have almost ruined hands, from a lifetime of too many power tools, so I'll never be a great player. I've accepted this. That said, I'm really looking forward to exploring this universe more deeply. I'll probably add new details to this thread. I already have a couple in mind, but I've gotta go fix a tractor.

[Bill McCloskey]

I have tons of similar spreadsheets. I'd share mine but it looks like you don't need it plus it is a good exercise to work these things out yourself. Grips take time and the 4 finger picks, but after a while it will become second nature. Study the Alkire Steps. Great info there.

[Jeffrey McFadden]

I have tons of similar spreadsheets. I'd share mine but it looks like you don't need it plus it is a good exercise to work these things out yourself. Grips take time and the 4 finger picks, but after a while it will become second nature. Study the Alkire Steps. Great info there.

I've mostly been working them out for exactly that reason - thinking them through enables me to better understand what's there. Once I have them I barely need them, but I strongly needed to make them.
Oh - and - I used to play 4 fingered, 3 finger picks. I quit because "nobody else did it." So I'm happy to have an excuse to try it again.