Am I the only guy who tunes the 9th string to D#?

Daniel Vorp · Post by **Daniel Vorp** » 2 May 2002 10:49 am

Hello folks! I am new to the forum and have been looking around reading what is here and also based on having never met anyone else who does it, I am curious regarding the above question. It makes all the sense in the world to me. I lower the 9th string the same as the 2nd string, D#/D/C# with a knee lever and a half-stop. Comments?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 2 May 2002 2:03 pm

Most pedal pushers I know lower the 8th string to D# with a knee lever (LKR). I find this to be more practical. FWIW
Uff-Da!

Bengt Erlandsen · Post by **Bengt Erlandsen** » 2 May 2002 3:24 pm

I sometimes tune the 9th string on my S10 to Eb so my kneelever do Eb to D instead of D to C#.
I find it very nice to have the Eb on the 9th and E on the 4th string at the same time.
Example open strings (tune 9 to Eb)
Play strings 9 6 5 w/B pedal and squeeze in Apedal, let ring and play 4th string and release pedals and lower 9th to D

Bengt

Daniel Vorp · Post by **Daniel Vorp** » 3 May 2002 6:55 am

I'm lowering both E's to D# with a different kneelever. The D# on string 9 also falls nicely into place when considering the B6th
tuning.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 3 May 2002 7:39 am

<SMALL>The D# on string 9 also falls nicely into place when considering the B6th tuning.</SMALL>

In B6 the 8th string is already lowered to D# so you would have two adjacent strings tuned to the same pitch. It is much more useful to lower the 9th string D-C#, giving you the 2nd scale tone of B, similar to a middle D in C6, as Buddy Emmons and many others are experimenting with.

I have and use that change on my 13 string, which can be looked at as either a Universal that keeps the 9th string D, or as an extended E9 with an extra low B.

------------------
Jim Smith jimsmith94@charter.net
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden Ext. E9/U-13 8&8=-

Daniel Vorp · Post by **Daniel Vorp** » 3 May 2002 7:46 am

Yes you're right, I do lower the 9th from D# to C# using the lever I first mentioned. That same lever has a half stop at D.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 3 May 2002 11:47 am

I have never tuned my 9th string to a D#. But I once pulled it to a D#. I liked this arrangement quite a lot. It opens up some interesting changes.

I got rid of it in lieu of lowering the D to C# change, which had more possibilities. However, I think both changes would be good.

carl

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 3 May 2002 1:06 pm

I have both on my Zum. If I had only 5 knee levers, I wouldn't raise the D string.
http://b0b.com/tunings/ebovine.html

John Swain · Post by **John Swain** » 4 May 2002 1:24 pm

Lynn Fraizer,when played in "Best Little Whorehouse--" had 2nd and 9th string on his Super Pro tuned to Eb lowering to D on RKR..I did this for about 10 years...It does make 5 chord available on open position w/o using knees and some single note runs easier on low strings..JS--"many ways to skin a cat!"

Daniel Vorp · Post by **Daniel Vorp** » 4 May 2002 3:54 pm

That's what I'm talking about John.
The 5 chord is there and the D# is right for single note scale playing.

Thanks for all the responses.