6 string tunings and why you use it?

Will Houston · From: Tempe, Az

Along the lines of Fred Browns post, what 6 string tuning do you use and why?

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

If you search the Forum you'll see lots of good discussions to answer your question.

Here's a good article too ...

http://www.hawaiiansteel.com/learning/tunings.html

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

A6, E, E7, C6, C6/A7, low bass G, G.
TUNINGS

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

I used the standard 6 string C6 tuning. E-C-A-G-E-C (from high to low). I found it an excellent tool to learn the basics of playing a 6th tuning. I found it so effective that I almost didn't go to 8 strings. But now I have. And I'm not going back.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I've found that the top four strings of the C6th tuning with the A7th on the bottom.........are all of the strings I need to play the majority of things I do. It was sufficient for the three Award Winning Hawaiian CD's we did with Manny Fernandez.
Just how necessary do you really find a 7th and 8th strings?

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

As I said earlier, the basic 6 string C6 tuning was so versatile that I almost didn't go to 8 strings. There are still alot of songs on which I only use the middle 6. I don't really find the 8 strings necessary. But it does make things easier. I think it is more helpful for players like me who have a greater tendency to use single strings. It reduces the need for long jumps up and down the neck. I think it also reduces the tendency to want a second tuning. There are new (to me) songs on which I only use the top 6. "Let's Fall in Love" would be an example. But I did play that in the basic 6 tuning also. It's just not as easy. I rarely use string number 8. But my repertoire is still pretty small. I've seen how I'm going to use it. And I expect to use it more as my skill improves and my repertoire expands. From time to time I consider raising string 7 up to C#. That would give me a C6 version of Billy Hew Len's favorite tuning. But right now, I consider that move to be unlikely.
It doesn't suprise me at all that a large number of better players can get as much or more out of 6 than I do out of 8. But I have only had a serious interest in the instrument for about 3 years. In spite of my ongoing need for a full time job, I feel like I'm making good progress. I'm hoping my son will be able to help me post my version of, "Cold, Cold, Heart" on the appropriate thread when I visit down there in October.

Charley Wilder · From: Dover, New Hampshire, USA

Dobro G (DBGDBG).Being completely self-taught, When I bought my first steel I tuned it like my Dobro. I didn't know any better. Once I found out about other tunings I tried E (EBG#EBE)for fun. I've never found anything I wanted to do that I couldn't in G. Ray brought up a point. I have a D8 but every time I tried some sort of eight string G tuning it never seemed worth the effort. So I've stuck with six. Smile

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

It's my understanding that Tom Morrell recorded a knockout version of, "Sweet Lorraine," on a resonator guitar in G tuning. It's probably on the CD, "Wolftracks."

Charley Wilder · From: Dover, New Hampshire, USA

Thanks for the tip Ed. One problem I've had with G tuning is that most of my listening influence early on came from the Dobro. Most professional non-pedal players had switched to pedal by then. I'm at this late date working on techniques, etc. to get some of the "Hound Dog" out of my playing. But I'll keep some for sure!

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

You probably already know about this other stuff but alot of the early hawaiian swing players were doing some hot stuff in what amounted to G tuning as well. Sol Ho'opi'i, Jim of Jim and Bob, Benny Nawahi and others that I can't think of offhand. It's not limited to "Steel Banjo," sounds by any means.

Michael Papenburg · From: Oakland, CA

G6 has been my main tuning for the past year. I am able to play pretty much anything I want in this tuning. I use G6 rather than A6 because I play with a lot of singer/songwriters and find that having similar open strings to a guitar is very helpful. I also like open E but always gravitate back to G6.

Here's the tuning:

D
B
G
E
D
B

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