The Steel Guitar Forum

Super job on a great song. Made that E9th sound very jazzy.

Thank you for posting the link, Scott. I'll never have to buy another chord book...

Thanks for posting about this, Kristen. I couldn't find the app you mentioned, but I was able to locate a free app on Amazon called smartChord for my Kindle. It lets me set up a custom 8 string tuning, then shows scales, arpeggios and one fret chords (not many). It also includes a metronome, tuner, ...

I tuned my first string to F and the eighth string to A for my Nite Life video on You Tube. Works out great for those intro chords, etc.

Hi Roy, Thanks for asking...I used the standard Leavitt tuning with an added low A string and a high F string giving me from low to high - A C# E G Bb C D F. Lately, I've been practicing on an old 6 string acoustic guitar with the nut raised. Still inspires me to see what is available with the origi...

It's been a while, but I put a video on YouTube featuring "Nightlife" played on an 8 string lapsteel with an expanded Leavitt tuning. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvwBZSaub70 The nice folks at the sanitarium are letting me practice now so I may be posting more tunes in the near future. T...

Beautiful instrument!

Great job, as usual, Bill. You have inspired me to get my steel out of the case and start playing again.

Therman

...or as my ol' Granpappy used to say' "Some days it's chicken...some days it's feathers." I know the feeling you get when you wake up all inspired and excited...hurry to get online and log in to the Forum to see what wonderful things are happening. And the only posts are from someone want...

Thanks Roy, I hope you like it. The video is now on line at YouTube. For the tab I used Open Writer, an application in the Open Office Suite. This is a free open source project that includes wordprocessor, spreadsheet, and several other applications. I set up a template with my 8 string tuning and b...

In keeping with all the storms here in Oklahoma and across the midwest, I recorded this song using my 8 string Artisan with extended Leavitt tuning. I use F D C Bb G E C# A High to Low, but the song can be played with the 6 string Leavitt by making a couple of changes. My tab arrangement is availabl...

I've been experimenting with tabbing tunes and converting to PDF files. This is my arrangement of "Here's That Rainy Day" using my expanded version of the Leavitt Tuning. I use F D C Bb G E C# A Hi - Lo but you can still play the song if you have a six string D C Bb G E C#. Also, just to p...

I just bought one of these amps and posted a review on the 'Electronics" section under Ron Whitfield's thread. If you are looking for a good small amp for steel, this is the one! I'll have mine at the Tulsa show this Saturday if anyone wants to check it out. Maybe we can talk one of the perform...

Thanks to this thread I ordered one of these amps from my Friend in Kansas City. He's real good about letting me return stuff that I don't like. I received the amp yesterday, and he won't have to worry about me returning this. I love this amp! When I unpacked the amp I plugged in my Artisan lap stee...

Man!!! That is one SWEET looking steel!!! The TruOil finish is really nice and I bet the TrueTone pickup sounds great.

Good job, Sonny

Therman

I am a little biased, but I would recommend you try the Leavitt tuning. The 6 string tuning D C Bb G E C# Hi to Lo gives a nice selection of 'big sounding' chords perfect for jazz and standards. Mike Ihde and Roy Thomson have instruction material available. Also Roy and Bill Hatcher have experimente...

Many thanks to all who expressed interest in this project. Here are some photos of the guitar in "playable" condition. First, a few disclaimers. This project started in November of last year. The tuning keys were replaced with mandolin tuners and photos were placed here on the forum. (See ...

Thanks everyone for your interest in this project. I am starting a new thread with updated pictures.

Therman

I was unable to play the song using Mozilla Firefox browser, but it worked OK on MS Internet Explorer.

Using the link provided by Brad it now plays on Firefox.

Thanks

Thanks to everyone for your kind responses. I hope that my postings will encourage others to explore the Leavitt tuning and perhaps carry the torch a little farther. I began with the 6 string lap steel a little over a year ago and first worked with a C6 tuning, using tabs found here on the forum and...

Great job, Roy! I love that song and I have played thru it a few times on the Leavitt tuning. It sounds like the Alkire tuning has plenty of nice chords. I have read about it but haven't tried to play it yet. With my limited learning capacity I think I will concentrate on the Leavitt tuning....I'm s...

BRAVO!! Absolutely brilliant performance of a classic melody. Having seen several of your videos, I realize this is just a 'par for the course' outing for you, Basil. But I continue to be impressed with your seemingly effortless technique and 'touch'. Alan has created a marvelous instrument in the B...

I just put a video on youtube of my latest experiment using the Leavitt tuning. I used my Artisan that I recently converted to 8 strings and an expanded Leavitt tuning ... lo to hi...A C# E G Bb C D F. Using the two extra strings makes it possible to get the cool turnaround chords used by Buddy Emmo...

Played on a cheap Artisan lap steel that I converted to 8 strings. Using an extended Leavitt tuning.. Lo to hi: A C# E G Bb C D F This was an experiment to see if I could get those cool turnaround chords using a lap steel. No bar slants needed with the Leavitt tuning...but... uses a lot of open stri...

Hi Dave, The C6 is probably closest to the Leavitt tuning, but Basil brings up a valid point...the string sets would be designed for a scale length of 22" - 24" while your guitar is probably 25" to 25 1/2". To be on the safe side you should consider a lighter set...you might emai...