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Topic: C6 tuning |
Rich Gardner
From:
Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Posted 21 Oct 2009 5:56 pm |
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| I'm just curious. I took lessons from a teacher who was a big Jerry Byrd fan. I went through a lot of tunings until finally settling in on E7th(E B G# E D B G# E), hi to lo and C6th(G E C A G E C G)hi to lo. I play a double 8 Ric c. 1963. Is my C6th tuning unusual? I notice other C6th tuning having an E on the top string. What's the scoop? Thanks! |
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Josh Cho
From:
New York, NY (orig. Honolulu, HI)
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Posted 21 Oct 2009 6:17 pm
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Rich,
Your tuning is not unusual, I would actually venture to say that it's more common than the other C6 tuning you mention, which is called low C6 ECAGECAF and also ECAGECAG hi to lo.
Check this vid out for more info
Josh
_________________
Lap-n-Console Steel Guitar Lessons |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 21 Oct 2009 8:49 pm Well Rich......................it all depends on whom you're
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Everyone you speak to is going to have their own slant on exactly HOW to tune EACH and EVERY Tuning.
If you're happy to play the 10-string version of C6th like all of the Emmons followers, and other notable recording artists.......you're in the ball park.
On the other hand, if you're interested, per chance, in playing more of the JERRY BYRD type of style, I believe you're going to find every string above the "E" string to be in exess and also actively defeating your efforts to make those perfect slants that is so much a part of that tuning.
In the JERRY BYRD style, SLANTS are where the music comes from......
A knowledgeable player can get more out of a 6-7 string C6th tuning than a hundred of the 10-12-14 string guru's of steel guitar.
You can take that to the bank! TRUST ME! |
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Richard Brandt
From:
Waymart, Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 21 Oct 2009 11:36 pm C 6th tuning
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Ray,Your right on.
I took lessons a few years ago in Harrys music with Jerry and one of the first questions i asked is why he didn't use a G on the outside.His answer was he didnt like the thin sound and didn't need it. |
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Bill Hampton
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 22 Oct 2009 5:04 am
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| Derrick that just makes me think once again that the tuning, equipment, etc. is much less important than who is playing the music! Just my opinion. |
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Jon Nygren
From:
Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 22 Oct 2009 5:06 am
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| Bill Hampton wrote: |
| Derrick that just makes me think once again that the tuning, equipment, etc. is much less important than who is playing the music! Just my opinion. |
Couldn't agree more. |
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seldomfed
From:
Colorado
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Posted 28 Oct 2009 12:17 pm
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| Quote: |
A knowledgeable player can get more out of a 6-7 string C6th tuning than a hundred of the 10-12-14 string guru's of steel guitar.
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Sort of a 'slanted' opinion eh Ray? 
I'll agree a 6 string C6 is a versitile tuning in the hands of a good player. Working with a 6 sting constantly reminds me that less is more (sometimes), and picking one tuning and sticking with it, is the best way to improve and grow.
_________________
Chris Kennison
Rhythm Cats - steel, guitar, banjo, dobro
Gold Canyon, AZ
www.rhythmcatsshow.com
www.seldomfed.com |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 28 Oct 2009 12:28 pm
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I find the outside G /G# lends itself to many more tones and options, thus very worthwhile.
Needed? Depends on what you're going for.
In Jerry's style of playing, HE didn't need it because he wasn't going for what could be gotten from that set up, and he would find a reasonable compromise somewhere else on the neck if it was called for. |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 29 Oct 2009 2:21 pm
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| Ray Montee wrote: |
| Everyone you speak to is going to have their own slant on exactly HOW to tune EACH and EVERY Tuning. |
Boy did you ever get that one right, Ray.
The great fault with the 6 - 8 & 10 string non-pedal steel guitar players is the myriad of tunings that everyone thinks works the best. I have a D8 & a D10 and can use no less than six C6 tunings to play music. This past six months I gave up on it all and I have settled on "one" tuning for the D8 & D10 and work with the bar to make those tunings work. With a little extra bar work, one tuning (mainly C6th & E13) can nail pretty much all music I play on my steels. (I will deliberately tune to Don Helms tuning on the D8 if and when I Know I am going to be doing Hank Williams music because that tuning makes the H. Williams Sr sound come alive .... ""B13 & E6th"". I will even go as far as to change string gauges for the Don Helms sound)
Other than that, I personally like a more mellow and deeper tone of my steel guitars and I am willing to sacrifice the much over used concept of sustain to get that mellow tone. (my volume pedal works just fine to push the sustain if needed)
Find a tuning you like and stick with it until you can make it work for most of the music you play. Ninety percent of even long time steel guitarists can't tell which tuning you are using anyhow. |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 31 Oct 2009 11:51 pm
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I use JB's 2-main Sho-Bud Tunings, but; I play a Triple-10-str. Non-Pedal Steel. Therefore, I'm sticking to Jerry's tunings and adding 2-extra strings on the top, which doesn't interfer with the Basics! On the 8-str. C6/A7 tuning I've added a B & D on top, which is quite useful to me! Lo–Hi: Lo-A~C~C#~E~G~A~C~E~[B~D] And to his 7str. C-Dia. Tuning I've added 1-str. to the bottom and 2-strs. to the top, which also leaves the basic-tuning in tact! Lo-Hi: [C]~E~F~G~A~B~C~E~[D~F] So, there are really no strings to get in the way! The only tuning that doesn't follow this proceedure is my E9. Lo-Hi: E~B~D~E~F#~G#~B~[C#]~E~[G#].
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<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster |
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