E9 and C6 are the most common tunings. The most common implementations of these are as two necked ten stringed instruments. The “universal” (E9/B6 being the most popular) is usually a twelve stringed (or fourteen stringed ) instrument that attempts to combine the E9 and C6 into one neck = a far cry from the six stringed E and A major triad tunings that came from the Pacific Islands back when.
The E9 absorbed the A6 tuning by adding P1 which was later split into P1P2, and the B6/EM7 by lowering the E’s…so E9 is not just E9!
Other P’s and L’s were added to get other intervallic relationships for other musical sounds. The 6th based structures found a home in Western swing, which was more oriented toward Big Band than Nashville/Bakersfield music which preferred E9.
It appears that Jerry Byrd did not care for either Pedals or E9. He used a variety of tunings to get the sound(s) that he wanted.
Alvino Rey also used a different approach to the PSG by having a chord oriented Pedal structure to get chords similar to what he used on the standard guitar.
The E7 and C6 both added the 2 or 9 intervals to become E9 and C69.
The number of famous PSG players/performers that use something different (with the exception of a Pedal or Lever or string interval change here and there) are few…why do you think that this the case?
What is your favorite tuning and variation thereof…and why?
How much of the above is based upon the music that you listen to?
How much is based upon the teaching materials that were available to you?
How many music theory based pickers out there?
Don’t forget the ZIRC bar holiday sale…info at:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=214462
Tunings
Moderator: Dave Mudgett