C6 triad harmonized scale positions?

[Greg Gefell]

I don't play in a 6 tuning but am thinking of taking it up. Can anyone tab out the basic 3 string grips you would use for I, IIm, IIIm, IV, etc. to cover a full octave of a scale. I think that will help me wrap my brain around the tuning a bit better.

Suggestions of books/websites that demonstrate 6 theory also appreciated.

Thanks

[Jim Hankins]

Greg, I think Bob Hoffnar (sp) offered something in the tab section at one point that might be what you are looking for, if it is C6 pedal. I dont know how to search for it, but from memory, one example he provided is: open strings, fret 2&4 wP6, fret5&7, fret 9 wP6, fret 11 wP5&6, resolving with your tonic at fret 12. So climbing up the fret board in this manner gives you I-IIm-IIIm-4-5-6m-7dim-I. He had a similar example using the boo wa, and hopefuuly Bob or someone else can point you to that tab!

[Greg Gefell]

Thanks Jim, I should have specified that I'm looking for non pedal examples of the scales.

[Jim Hankins]

Greg by chance have you not checked out the "Threadzilla", surrounding Denny Turner`s Modal approach? though its not scales per se, it was an eye opener for me in seeing the C6 (or in my case B6)neck using the same CEGACE intervals, and no pedals needed.

[CrowBear Schmitt]

http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/003549.html

[David Simenson]

Oof! Pardon my small brain, but I didn't find the links mentioned above very helpful. I've been playing C6 tuning on a non-pedal steel for about 6 months now, first on 6-string, and now on 8-string (ACEGACG, low to high).

Here are 3-note chords for the C-major scale, in an ascending scale:

[tab]
I II III IV V VI VII I
E|-----5--7----------12----------|
C|-----5--7----------12--17------|
A|-----5--7----------12--17------|
G|-12--------17--19----------24--|
E|-12--------17--19----------24--|
C|-12--------17--19----------24--|

[/tab]

There is no diminished 5th interval (a tritone) in this tuning unless you use a slant, so the VII chord above is really only a 2-note interval. You can, of course, add or subtract 12 from any fret position and get the same chord. BUT, this is not how I play the steel guitar.

On each fret is a major chord and a relative minor chord--it's what I like most about this tuning. So here are all the notes of the chords in a C-major scale (just 3-note triads without the 7th tone):

[tab]
I II III IV V VI VII I
E|-0--5--7--5--7--0-----12--|
C|-0--5--7--5--7--0--5--12--|
A|----5--7--------0--5--12--|
G|-0--------5--7--------12--|
E|-0--5--7--5--7--0-----12--|
C|-0--5--7--5--7--0--5--12--|

[/tab]

When I want a 3-note chord, this is how I find it. Pick any 3 strings (no two of the same pitch) and you've got your chord. You can use this as a reference, for where to find the relative chords.

Much of the time, though, I'm playing 2-note intervals rather than 3-note chords, and I'm using slants. Here's an example:

[tab]
I II III IV V VI VII I
E|-----------------------------|
C|-0--2--4--5--7--9--11--12----|
A|-----------------------------|
G|-----------------------------|
E|-0--1--3--5--7--8--10--12----|
C|-----------------------------|
[/tab]

Is this at all what you were looking for?

[Greg Gefell]

Yes - thanks for all the suggestions.

[Steve Norman]

this is going to come out bad...but one way without pedals:


in the c6 tuning you have the number 6 minor along with the number one major if you strum across the strings/

in c this is the open strings,,so if you skip the a string you get your one chord.

up in the 4 chord position (fret5) play the a string with the 2 above it for your 2 minor,,up 2 frets for 3 minor,,

back to fret 5 skip the a for 4 major,,up 2 skip a string for 5,,then up to the 12 with the a for 6,, cant remember of the top of my head the 7 diminished, but stay on 12 no a for the root octave.

[Greg Gefell]

Thanks Steve, that is helpful as well.

I'm doing my best to relate C6 to E9. (a tuning I know pretty well) Seems to me that they are not really that different if you approach E9 with new string groupings and a different starting point - playing it like B6 with the one being a 1,2 and 5 grip. The 6m is then right there by playing 2,3 and 5 or 2,5,and 6. In addition you get the IV chord at the same fret with 3,4,5,6, 2 frets up to V, etc.

At that point I think it becomes a question of whether you find it easier to learn and apply new string grips, or add the 6 tone to the tuning and make larger jumps on the fretboard.

I think I will start a new thread in specific reference to what I'm looking for.

[Steve Norman]

I,ll be looking forward to seeing what you come up with,,I usually dont use the pedals on my c6, and treat it like a consol.