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Topic: Questions on Tom Morrell E13th tuning |
Steve Ahola
From:
Concord, California
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Posted 18 Jan 2012 12:06 pm |
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For the Tom Morrell E13th tuning Doug B. among others recommends tuning the #10 string to B rather than the low E. I agree that the B is much more usable.
My question: Billy T. recommends swapping the 1st and 2nd strings since that will give you the slant positions of the G#, E and C# strings. Has anybody here tried that? I did notice that there are not a lot of slants with the G# on top, probably since most of the modal chords can be played in straight positions.
I just strung up my new Valco Alkire E Harp 10 string to the Morrell tuning and really like it. So much so that I decided to tune one of my 8 strings to a variation on it- I use the top strings of Morrell but with the 8th string tuned to D rather than E.
| Tab: |
Tom Morrell E13th tuning
.011 G#
.014 F#
.015 E
.017 C#
.020 B
.024W G#
.026 F#
.030 (E) omit for 8 string
.034 D
.038 (B) omit for 8 string |
Steve Ahola
_________________
www.blueguitar.org
Recordings on electric guitar:
http://www.box.net/blue-diamonds
http://www.box.net/the-culprits |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 19 Jan 2012 12:08 pm
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Steve, I swapped strings 1 & 2 and I like it!
(First I tuned all strings down a whole step so I wouldn't break the high strings, and then retuned strings 1 & 2.)
The big advantage IMO... placing the 2 (9) note (F#) in the string 1 position makes for easier harmonies, licks, and slants on strings 2,3,4,5. And if you play E9 pedal steel guitar, you're used to reaching out to string 1 to play the F# (9th), so it will feel very comfortable. As soon as I made the switch I was able to play some fast rolls on strings 1 through 5 that I couldn't play before (on the Morrell tuning). After making the switch the tuning is just like E9 PSG, except there is no D# (string 2), and there is a C# (which is made with pedal A on a pedal steel guitar).
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Steve Ahola
From:
Concord, California
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Posted 19 Jan 2012 2:57 pm
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| Doug Beaumier wrote: |
Steve, I swapped strings 1 & 2 and I like it!
(First I tuned all strings down a whole step so I wouldn't break the high strings, and then retuned strings 1 & 2.) |
That's a good way to test it without wasting strings for something that you might not like. Glad to hear that you like it- I just changed it on mine, too.
With the F# on top the intervals of string #2-#6 plus #8 correspond to the intervals of 6 string C6 (with the E on top.) Lots of familiar territory in there!
Steve Ahola
EDIT After a few days I decided that the modified Tom Morrell tuning was not for me (at least at this time.) Right now the tuning that I have been most comfortable with is been the 8 string E9th (E-G#-B-D-F#-G#-B-E high to low.) So I figured why not give that a shot on my 10 string, adding in the F# and G# for the first strings, with the F# on top.
One "tuner tweak" for E9th is raising the high B to C# as Noel Boggs did to get an E13/C#m7 tuning. This really changes the whole character of the tuning. Another tweak is lowering the middle F# to E for a more straightforward/less jazzy sound for rock, blues and older country western.
| Tab: |
10 string E9th tuning
.013 F#
.011 G#
.015 E
.020 B (can raise to C# for C#m7/11)
.024W G#
.026 F# (can lower to E)
.032 D
.038 B
.046 G#
.056 E
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BTW strings #2-#7 is how I have my Fessenden Six Shooter tuned for E9; with the two pedals down you have A6.
_________________
www.blueguitar.org
Recordings on electric guitar:
http://www.box.net/blue-diamonds
http://www.box.net/the-culprits |
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Steve Ahola
From:
Concord, California
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Posted 24 Jan 2012 12:51 am Another twist on the Tom Morrell E13th tuning
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After being very pleased with the F# and G# added to the 8 string E9th tuning I've been using, I think that would also work great with the Leon McAuliffe E13th tuning:
F#
G#
E
C#
B
G#
F#
D
B or G#
G# or E
(or just skip the bottom notes for an 8 string version of this)
I think that the Tom Morrell tuning (like Leavitt tuning) requires very precise picking, a goal that I am still working towards. In learning the notes and harmonies for various tunings, I usually focus on what notes to avoid- those sour notes which stick out like a sore thumb. With so many scalar notes in the Morrell tuning, there are a lot more notes for me to learn to avoid. BTW I think that the Morrell tuning would be excellent on a 12 string with the low G# and E added (once my picking is more precise.  )
Steve Ahola
P.S. Having F# & G# on top really expands your harmonic options and allows for more complex riffs. And I really like Billy Tonneson's suggestion of using F# for the 1st string- it is out of the way and easily avoided when you don't want to use it. |
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