The Steel Guitar Forum

FWIW, the scale that the author of the first article refers to as ("newer, fresher") "jazz minor scale" has been around for ages and is properly known as the ascending melodic minor scale. That said, there's a lot of good stuff in both articles. Thanks for pointing that out - ma...

I've actually tried a few times. It works better when I can see the fingerboard markers!

Paul Seager wrote:Its Bavarian Zither.

Yup. Think "Third Man Theme".

You pluck the melody on the fretted neck using a thumbpick while the other right hand fingers hit the bass and chord strings.

David M Brown wrote: Raise the 2 lower strings a half step

G Bb C# E F# A C# E

Joe A. Roberts wrote: Mikiya Matsuda tunes to E C# A F# E C# Bb G .... I think Billy Hew Len did too.

yes, it's a Billy Hew Len tuning, that's where I first heard of it. thanks.

I have 2 options for the A6 tuning:

Drop the low string to E

E A C# E F# A C# E

Raise the 2 lower strings a half step

G Bb C# E F# A C# E

Here's one:




Nioma branded Magnatone.

Not according to what I've read. Erv It's what I've read for many years. https://tinyurl.com/2nwt9sn2 from John ely's page "The A major low bass was the first steel guitar tuning ever, developed by Joseph Kekuku in the 1890s." http://www.simonboxes.com/history-of-lap-steel.html "The ...

Erv Niehaus wrote:The original Hawaiian tuning was A high bass and I still use it.
Erv

I was under the impression the oldest steel tuning was A low bass.

B D E G# B E E7 is one tuning I use somewhat often - and I also use the related B D E G# C# E tuning.

Both can give a certain older style feel to appropriate music.

interesting link

http://www.lapsteelin.com/2014/07/30/ol ... s-tunings/

Use the old Hawaiian E13th spelled E C# G# E D B (often called C#min7th) and you can retune to A high-bass fairly easily when needed, unlike the slightly earlier E C# G# E B E. Good points, including the comment about the E C# G# E D B - which is also a quick retune to plain E7, E B G# E D B high -...

One of the things about Jules' tone that I find compelling is the fat sound of his top string. Remembering that this is more or less in same era as Barney Isaacs' and Santo Farina's overall tone that was pretty thin. I've noticed he gets a nice fat sound quite often. Out of a Magnatone. The Magnato...

Mike A Holland wrote:As I understand it, Bud Tutmarc only used one tuning....C#m. I assume it would be a straight E major tuning with the 2nd string tuned up C#. EBEG#C#E low to high. I am not quoting with any authority here so if anybody knows better please chime in!

I recall that was his tuning.

Allan Revich wrote:...
Thank you David. I have heard good things about that tuning. But what would the gauges be on the two low (thickest) strings?.

John, 56-13 will not work for Dave’s suggestion, but a C6 set will.
.[/quote]

Yeas, a C6 set would work - and you can retune to C6 if needed.

John Chadwick wrote:Can anyone on this thread recommend tabs for G6 or some tips on to think about the tuning if we know a little C6?

The BDEGBD tuning may be better for you

You can use A6 TAB, since it's the same pattern up a whole step.

Plus the top 3 strings still match your Dobro G tuning.

I believe that the most common versions are; GBEGBD EBDGBD But these all work too; EGBGBD EGDGBD GDEGBD DGEGBD GBDEGB And a couple more that might also work… GBDGBE DGDGBE My current favourite is DGEGBD Oddly, none of those were the 6th tuning I was taught many years ago! I don’t use the low root w...

I recently discovered that I have an extra copy of this book that I don't need (Complete Steel Guitar Method by Roger Filiberto): https://img.thriftbooks.com/api/images/m/caa070fa2a657aa4a32c339fa593cbb854dd36d9.jpg It teaches E7 tuning (low-high: BDEG#BE). -Dave Lots of useful info in that book......

2. I play on and off with a band. They play country/Americana type stuff. I have heard two things about tuning. Some said for "Classic Country" to go with C6 tuning but others have said E, G or A would work better for the modern stuff. I guess it depends on how much old-school Country mus...

I like having the 5th of the chord on top, but I find the high G a little too “whiny” in C6. Much better suited for A6, or G6. I usually have a b7 on the 8th string. Lots of C6 players will stick with the high E and add two lower notes. Yes, G on top is the same pattern as A6. but.... Bobby Ingano ...

Jeremy Reeves wrote:

David M Brown wrote:

Jeremy Reeves wrote:I'm guessing string 7 is Bb

So maybe

1 - E
2 - C
3 - A
4 - G
5 - E
6 - C
7 - Bb
8 - F
9 - C
10 - A
11 - F
12 - D

I think you got it!

Only with your help, thanks....and I'm still not sure.

Jeremy Reeves wrote:I'm guessing string 7 is Bb

So maybe

1 - E
2 - C
3 - A
4 - G
5 - E
6 - C
7 - Bb
8 - F
9 - C
10 - A
11 - F
12 - D

All great ideas.... For a double 6 I'd have the closer neck strung with a set of strings that could be tuned to C6, A6, C6/A7, the B-D-E-G#-B-E E7 and the variant B-D-E-G#-C#-E, etc. The far neck would have a set of strings for open A low bass, open E, the E-B-E-G#-C#-E E6, and F#9 F#-A#-C#-E-G#-E, ...

I haven't completely figured out the upper and middle sets of strings, but the lower 5 strings seem to be tuned open to L-H D F A C F, a Dm7 or F6 chord, open at at the 12th fret. The upper 3 strings could be tuned to 1st string E, 2nd string C, 3rd string A, like a typical C6 tuning, and would give...

I would recommend C6/A7. Pull your second string from C up to C#, drop your fourth string From G down to F# and you have A6. You can tune the lowest string to either A or C (tuning it to C gives you a full C6… AND between that low C string and the C# string next to it, you can use twelfth fret harm...

One could tune to A6:

A C# E F# A C# E

and easily retune to C6 w/ Bb:

Bb C E G A C E

with the same set of strings.

Best of both worlds.

JB Bobbitt wrote:Here's someplaying one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhEyu04vs-Q

That's cool - I've also seen people use the bass and chord strings to do more of an oom-pah accompaniment too.