8 string g tuning

[Michael Johnstone]

Yeah I know it's technically an 11th. That's why I've always called it a G11 tuning.

Thanx for the kind words. I like that record. A lot of the better stuff I did gets cut off because the CD Baby teasers fade out in the middle.

After some experimentation,here's how the gauges lay out best on my 24" scale Stringmaster:

1. D - .015
2. B - .017
3. G - .022p
4. D - .032w
5. B - .036
6. G - .046
7. E - .028
8. C - .034

Besides all the standard cheeseburger Dobro stuff on the first 6 strings,you get some onion rings on the side - for starters:

6,7,8 = C triad
4,6,7,8 = C9
5,6,7,8 = Cmaj7
4,5,6,7,8 = Cmaj9
3,5,7 = Em
3,4,5,7 = Em7
1,2,3,7 = G6
6,7,8 to 5,6,7 = Gsus4 & resolve
1,2,6,8 = G11

etc,etc

It lacks a lot of chromaticism and a strong extended dominant chord like a 13th tuning has. But for what it can do,it has a place on my Stringmaster.

[Alex Burns]

Hi John
sent you an e :mail,however i mainly play hawaiian music,it is important for me to keep the standard 6 string g tuning intact as the melody often is duplicated on the bass strings,also for finger picking dobro style,having a e string 6th in the middle wont help that,my other neck is tuned to c#m7th 8 string e g# b d e g# c# e low to high,plenty of 6 th and 9 th chords there,looking for something on those 2 bass strings to compliment what i already have,how about an f in there?

[Michael Johnstone]

having a e string 6th in the middle wont help that

Take another look - it's not in the middle - and the core dobro G tuning is intact on the first 6 strings.....

You could substitute an F for the C and get some nice things but it wouldn't have as much to add as a C IMHO.

[Joel Bloom]

Hi all, Alex is a bit of a legend here in Australia and I've always really enjoyed his shows, also with Nick Burns as a duo. He's played and recorded with Bob Brozman amongst others. Good to see you here Alex, I played on the same bill with you at a slide guitar themed night in the Dandenongs years ago.

Cheers, Joel