G6 or C6 for Dobro?

[Bob Watson]

I picked up a new Dobro awhile back and I decided to tune my old one to G6 ( G B D E G B low to high )to check out what a 6th tuning sounds like with a bluegrass band. I am considering going to a C6 tuning ( C E G A C E )just because I am more familiar with it having played a doubleneck psg for years. I was thinking that a C6 might cut through a little better, it being a higher pitched tuning. For me, the G6 tuning is cool for the basic root 6 position but I tend to get confused when I go into other scale positions that I am familiar with on C6. I have also been experimenting with the C6/A7 tuning ( tuning the low C to C# ) and I find this to be more confusing when I try it on the G6 tuning. I was wondering if anyone has tried the G6 and C6 tunings and if I could get some input, pros and cons, to each tuning.

[Edward Meisse]

I would say that for general use you will find the C6 gives you alot more to work with. I tune my tricone to C6 and know of a couple of others here who do also. The one place where a G tuning really shines out above all others is in the bluegrass genre. For the life of me I cannot figure out how to do a respectable sounding banjo style roll in C6. But I would use something like (D-B-G-E-B-G) hi to lo for bluegrass. IMHO the G6 you're currently using is just in a bad register for steel.

[AJ Azure]

IMHO the G6 you're currently using is just in a bad register for steel.

but, he said dobro not steel. Why would you say it's a bad register. Seems to me that GBDEGB is the same refister as GBEGBD if it were a 7 string tuning.

[Mark MacKenzie]

I've considered having a Dobro tuned to C6.

Isn't the G6 tuning exactly the same as the C6 tuning only a 5th down? So every pattern and scale is the same only a 5th down or a 4th up depending on which way you're going.

Now string gauges and tension are a different matter. Seems C6th is too light for Dobro and G6th too heavy for lap. I however do have a lap in G (Dobro tuning) and really like how the heavier strings play.

Is there a chart showing actually pounds tension with various gauges at different pitches? I guess scale length of the guitar comes into play too.

I think the best way to go is to have several guitars tuned in several tunings......

[John Burton]

Not to hijack a thread, but I have a round neck resonator that I keep an extension nut on and tune it for open D.
I would like to tune it C6. What would be a resonable string gauge that will play good and not overstress the neck and/or the cone?
oh, and it's not a spider cone, it's the biscuit type.

OR...

would I be better served tuning it A6? (same intervals as c6 but shifted down in pitch 3 half steps)I'm think this because of the 25 inch scale.

[Edward Meisse]

but he said Dobro, not steel.

A Dobro is an acoustic steel. And that B note on the top of the tuning he mentioned is a minor 3rd lower than the D in the one I mentioned. To my ears that's too low. And the only reason I suggested the G6 tuning that I did was for purposes of bluegrass playing. I think that a C6 or even an A6 from hi to low (E-C#-A-F#-E-C#) would be much better for general puposes.


On that other subject, I have no personal experience on this. But I've heard C6 in particular referred to as a high tension tuning. I've been told that it shouldn't be used on converted round necks. But that is strictly hearsay. You might want to start a thread of your own that is titled to attract the attention of some of the members who are knowledgeable in that area.

[Steinar Gregertsen]

But I've heard C6 in particular referred to as a high tension tuning.

No tuning is more high tension than others as long as you adjust the string gauges accordingly.

[Charles Davidson]

On Cindy's dobro vidio to get a g6th ,she raises the fourth string from D to E,on the G tuning DBGDBG,just raising that one string,gives a good swing tuning.her vidio has a nice arrangment of Panhandle Rag in this tuning.easy to switch from the G tuning to G6th by just raising or lowering the 4th string.DYKBC.

[Brad Bechtel]

I put a set of C6th strings on my 1993 Dobro® Hound Dog, but I don't really like the tone I'm getting out of it. I think this particular guitar sounds better with the standard open G tuning.

Another suggestion for open G tuning is to lower the third string to F#:

1. D
2. B
3. F#
4. D
5. B
6. G

This gives you a B minor chord and a G major 7th chord.

[David McAnelly]

I like to think of the tuning that Brad mentions as a sort of D6 tuning (minus the 'A'). I learned it from Tut Taylor, who showed me how he uses it to play Wabash Blues in D.

[AJ Azure]

but he said Dobro, not steel.

A Dobro is an acoustic steel. And that B note on the top of the tuning he mentioned is a minor 3rd lower than the D in the one I mentioned. To my ears that's too low. And the only reason I suggested the G6 tuning that I did was for purposes of bluegrass playing. I think that a C6 or even an A6 from hi to low (E-C#-A-F#-E-C#) would be much better for general puposes.

\


true true it is an acoustic steel

I use the G6 for all purposes especially jazz/swing and hawaiian as well as rock. It works just fine. The third on top is a bit iffy. GBEGBD is my choice.

[AJ Azure]

I like to think of the tuning that Brad mentions as a sort of D6 tuning (minus the 'A'). I learned it from Tut Taylor, who showed me how he uses it to play Wabash Blues in D.

I've seen this misnomer before. it's a Gmaj7 tuning. No need to complicate it with something that doesn't exist in the voicing.

[David McAnelly]

I didn't mean to say that it should be called a D6 tuning, I was just refering to how I was using it in one instance. It can be used to deliver a very nice 6th tuning sound.

[Robert C. McKee]

Most bluegrass dobro players in this part of the country tune straight DBGDBG hi to low, same as Charles Davidson suggests. Also in alliance with him, raising the 4th string, D, to an E, makes for some good swing stuff, (especially for us dummies). I finally started tuning a different dobro to the "G6" as I was always breaking the D string after 2-3 trips up and down in tuning it. Btw, I sure admire, (jealous, lol), all of you people who understand music theory. Seems it would either make things a lot easier..aka..knowing what you're really doing, or harder because it would catapult you into yet another realm of music. Bob

[Jerry Hayes]

I have two Dobros, one slotted headstock model in regular "bluegrass" G tuning and the other is a solid headstock model in G6th tuning but mine is B=D=E=G=B=D low to high. I have Keith/Scruggs banjo tuners on strings 1 and 3 for the purpose of raising the 1st string to E and the 3rd string to G#. That way I can get the G6th tuning and an E7th tuning which is B=D=E=G#=B=E low to high. With the tuners it can be done right in the middle of a song as well. With this setup you can play some nice swing things as well as the good old open E..... I'm thinking of doing the same thing to my other guitar and just concentrate on this setup exclusively.........JH in Va.

[Robert C. McKee]

Jerry, I just happen to have 2 spare sets of Scruggs. I'm gonna go put 1 set on and try your setup. It sounds good. Bob

[AJ Azure]

I have two Dobros, one slotted headstock model in regular "bluegrass" G tuning and the other is a solid headstock model in G6th tuning but mine is B=D=E=G=B=D low to high. I have Keith/Scruggs banjo tuners on strings 1 and 3 for the purpose of raising the 1st string to E and the 3rd string to G#. That way I can get the G6th tuning and an E7th tuning which is B=D=E=G#=B=E low to high. With the tuners it can be done right in the middle of a song as well. With this setup you can play some nice swing things as well as the good old open E..... I'm thinking of doing the same thing to my other guitar and just concentrate on this setup exclusively.........JH in Va.

This look promising! What gauges are you using?

[chris ivey]

jerry..sounds good to me, too...though i haven't tried it yet. i've always thought the scruggs pegs idea was good and wondered why i haven't seen more of it!
how do you think that G6/E concept would sound on a lap steel? (this is how lazy i am...asking instead of just trying it!!)

[Jerry Tillman]

I would like to pipe in on the open g tuning - gbdgbd,I look at this tuning as e minor 7th for certain phrases and songs.E6 ,strings 4 and 2 second fret,It seems to help me get some differet things going on.This is probly a tip for less exsperienced players.

[Michael Papenburg]

The other is a solid headstock model in G6th tuning but mine is B=D=E=G=B=D low to high.

I've been using this tuning on electric lap steel for a few years now and really love it. I find it to be very versatile. I've been considering using it on my dobro as well.

[Jerry Hayes]

Michael, I love the G6th tuning too as it's so versatile. You can do the vast majority of Dobro stuff as well as swing. Just that extra E string right in the middle eliminates a lot of bar movement and gives you a lot more to work with.....As far as the string gauges go, I really don't remember what they are as I just used a regular set of Dobro strings, dropped the low G and added a .030w for the E string other than that, the rest are the normal gauges for a G tuning......JH in Va.

[Ken Pippus]

I'm fortunate to have the perfect answer to this question: a Beard 7 string. I don't like the sound much in C6, but DBGEDBG gives you the full high G standard bluegrass tuning, plus a 6 with all the same relationships as C6 with a G on top. And it seems to work for Gary Morse (if you're following this thread and haven't heard it, you need his CD "Resophonic Rodeo", available right here on the Forum.)

Anybody know any sources for tab for this tuning?

KP

[Erv Niehaus]

I learned Hawaiian guitar years ago on the A, high bass, tuning.
Later on, I picked up an 8 string Dobro and tuned it to an A6th tuning. I like it a lot.
Erv