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Topic: C6 8-string Tuning with an F at the bottom! |
Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
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Posted 25 Nov 2012 9:16 pm |
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I was shown a couple grips (Thanks, Hank Ruf!) that include the low strings - including an F on the bottom! (C6 pedal players already know this, I know).
Tuning low to high: F, A, C#, E, G, A, C, E. It's super helpful to me and kinda of a breakthrough in terms of scale patterns for me. So maybe it can help others too. I dunno.
Here's a sample of me playing it. I play the C major scale then play a couple familiar melody phrases to demonstrate the same chords within the scale. Super jazzy.
http://soundcloud.com/natehofer/c-scale-for-8-string-lap-steel
Grip 1
E
C x
A
G x
E
C#
A x
F
Grip 2
E
C
A x
G
E x
C#
A
F x
Any thoughts on this are welcome. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 25 Nov 2012 9:27 pm
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This is the tuning I've been using for the last 2 or 3 years--this and C13 (also with an F on the bottom).
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Dennis Smith
From:
Covington, Georgia, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2012 12:26 am
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Hi Solomon
I like you version of Crazy. Nice playing. What tuneing are you in on it.
Dennis |
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 26 Nov 2012 9:37 am
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Have you try the C13 with a low Bb? Thats what I use now and I like it for 7th chord and diminish chord. G.E.C.A.G.E.C.Bb
What is the advantage between the low F and low Bb? The 2 are very good option to me.
The major scale sound very nice!!! Wow I have to try to do the same in C13. |
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Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
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Posted 26 Nov 2012 11:00 am
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To be fair I did know about using the F in the bottom (Russ Wever showed me at one point) but it wasn't until more recently when I decided to give up the high G string that I understood this approach - cant' have both on an 8-string tuning. (Frankie Kay told me he preferes the lower register.) Actually it was Hank Ruf at our last steel jam who showed me how to play White Christmas in C around the 7th fret (in a C tuning using the F string).
Mike, I knew you were in this neighborhood of tuning (and in fact your blog and downloads have really sold me on the low C#.)
Dennis, Thanks! On Crazy I used (low to high) C#, E, G, A, C, E.
Jean,
I'd like Mike Neer to explain the difference between the two. I have little experience yet with the low Bb string. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 26 Nov 2012 11:04 am
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For jazz, I find the high G string unsuitable, at least for my own taste. Yeah, it makes some licks and chords convenient, but it's just too thin. I would consider using an A6 based tuning instead, if I really needed the 5th on top (or minor 7th, depending on how you look at it).
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Jerome Hawkes
From:
Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2012 11:42 am
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one of the main side advantages of the standard 8 string C6 F>E tuning is that you can get so many other tunings from that same string gauge. i sort of understood this at first, but figured I was so in over my head with C6 i'd never have the mental energy left for other tuning experiments.
When I did finally get into learning tunes and transcribing / arranging, its real cool to already have the right string gauges on the steel to be able to change tunings on the fly.
I figured out once that you could get 7 different "standard" tunings from that set including A6 / B11 / old E9 / Byrd E9 / E13 / D9 ... etc,- just about anything you need.
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'65 Sho-Bud D-10 Permanent • '54 Fender Dual-8 • Clinesmith T-8 • '38 Ric Bakelite • '92 Emmons D-10 Legrande II |
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 26 Nov 2012 5:45 pm
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If I understand;
grip 1 give : Am7
grip 2 give : FMaj7
What other grip the you use for the major scale? |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 26 Nov 2012 6:18 pm
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Here is a rhythm track I did a while back for Steely Dan's Deacon Blues using that same tuning. There are a lot of big chords in that tune, and yet with a good amount of workable harmonic knowledge, you can get all the right chords just with that one tuning.
http://www.mikeneer.com/deacon_chords.mp3
I thought I was the only one using it at one time, but I guess not.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 26 Nov 2012 6:25 pm
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Great! I will try this tuning tonight (low to high) F, Bb, C, E, G, A, C, E
Do you see an advantage of C# VS Bb? |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 26 Nov 2012 6:32 pm
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C13 low F and C6/A7 low F are completely different tunings. I switch between both of them, but when I'm doing an arrangement or playing on a tune I know which to choose--they have a distinct sound in the bass, and I play a lot down there. It's simply a matter of me finding 2 tunings which work best for my style of playing. Most people don't comp chords like that on steel.
When I eventually get my D10 Clinesmith, it will have both of those tunings, but extended versions.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 26 Nov 2012 6:38 pm
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Good! I will start with the C13(low F).
It will be great to see you plain that D10! |
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Chris Gabriel
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2012 8:36 pm Mmmm mmmmm
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Man, u guys with your great ideas, loved it. Good stuff on the forum tonite, lots to soak in!
_________________
MSA Classic 1973
BMI D-10
chrisgabriel.com
chrisgabrielpdx |
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Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 5:19 am
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| Jean-Sebastien Gauthier wrote: |
If I understand;
grip 1 give : Am7
grip 2 give : FMaj7
What other grip the you use for the major scale? |
Yes and I use those two grips in a pattern up the neck:
Fret 0: grip 1
Fret 5: grip 2
Fret 7: grip 2
5: 1
7: 1
12: 2
14: 2
12: 1 |
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Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 5:42 am
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| Hey, do we know who used the F in the C6 tuning first? Bogg's with his lap steel or was it until like Emmons with pedal steel? |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 6:05 am
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I don't think Noel really used C6, at least as far as what I've heard of his playing (quite a bit).
I was always under the impression that it was someone like Emmons or Day or Chalker.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 9:36 am
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| Solomon Hofer wrote: |
| Jean-Sebastien Gauthier wrote: |
If I understand;
grip 1 give : Am7
grip 2 give : FMaj7
What other grip the you use for the major scale? |
Yes and I use those two grips in a pattern up the neck:
Fret 0: grip 1
Fret 5: grip 2
Fret 7: grip 2
5: 1
7: 1
12: 2
14: 2
12: 1 |
Cool! thanks you for this great tips, simple and effective! |
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Jack Aldrich
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 5:09 pm
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| Jerry Byrd says in his autobiography that he invented the C6 tuning. IMHO 6th tunings in many key showed up in the 30's. After all, Sol Ho'o'pi'i's "C# minor 7 tuning" is an E6. - Jack |
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 27 Nov 2012 7:51 pm
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| Solomon Hofer wrote: |
| Jean-Sebastien Gauthier wrote: |
If I understand;
grip 1 give : Am7
grip 2 give : FMaj7
What other grip the you use for the major scale? |
Yes and I use those two grips in a pattern up the neck:
Fret 0: grip 1
Fret 5: grip 2
Fret 7: grip 2
5: 1
7: 1
12: 2
14: 2
12: 1 |
I'm a little confuse because when I play the major scale I need a least 3 grip:
1: Maj7
2: dom7 (and the minb5)
3: min7 |
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Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
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Posted 28 Nov 2012 10:51 am
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Jean-Sebastien,
Show me what you're talkin' about.  |
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier
From:
Quebec, Canada
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Posted 28 Nov 2012 6:14 pm
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I have mess a little with the C13 with low F and come to that:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAUWDEg8_40&feature=youtu.be
Thanks a lot Solomon to have bring this subject, I learn a lot on the steel just by trying to the this scale. I realized how much chord voicing and chord leading is different on steel than on regular guitar, I'm still in the transition. |
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Nate Hofer
From:
Overland Park, Kansas
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Posted 28 Nov 2012 8:33 pm
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JSG,
Hey, I'm with you, man! In fact, I don't really play guitar. So you're one up on me there! |
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