changing tunings

Dion Stephen · Post by **Dion Stephen** » 21 Oct 2007 5:10 pm

can a steel set up for E9 be changed to a personal tuning or does it need to stay where it is?

Tucker Jackson · Post by **Tucker Jackson** » 21 Oct 2007 5:30 pm

You can set up any tuning you like on the guitar. See this link for various tunings of other players:

http://b0b.com/tunings/index.html

Keep in mind, however, that instruction material becomes less available when you stray away from one of the more common tunings:

E7
E9
C6
B6

If you have a better idea for setting up your guitar, go for it! You have to make it work for you regardless of what others are using. Also, the style of music you're wanting to play will help determine which tuning makes the most sense.

If you don't already have an idea in mind, then it might make sense to wait until you have a little playing time under your belt so you can better decide what tuning would be best. It can be easy for a beginner to charge off in a certain direction with a customized tuning only to find they've reinvented the wheel... and sometimes it's a square wheel. But it doesn't cost anything to experiment a bit.

Bill Dobkins · Post by **Bill Dobkins** » 21 Oct 2007 6:06 pm

How many Levers and pedals do you have ?
I have expirmented a lot and found some neat things that I like. That doesn't mean someone else will like it. Do what you like and don't let anyone tell you different, after all its your steel and its your life.

Don McClellan · Post by **Don McClellan** » 22 Oct 2007 8:51 am

Also, most pedal steel guitars can accommodate additional pedals and knee levers. So if your steel has only one or two knee levers you can buy more and have them installed. The sky is the limit. Good luck. Don

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 22 Oct 2007 12:10 pm

Some student level E9 pedal steels cannot be changed much from the original setup. Any pro model will be designed to accept setup changes. More modern models will accept more changes, but that may require new parts. And parts may be hard to find for setup changes and additions to older models.

I think most players would advise a beginner to start with a very standard setup. With a little experience, you will begin to have ideas about setup changes that might work better for you. This can be largely guided by the types of music you want to play.