Mapuana Hawaiian Leavitt tuning

[Don McClellan]

I'm playing a lap steel I made about 10 years ago. This was recorded about 2 years ago in California. Thanks for watching, Don
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wfzMYHXe4c

[Doug Beaumier]

Very nice! And a beautiful setting for a beautiful song.

[Jack Aldrich]

Nice. I play it on my B11 neck. It sounds good because of the chord combinations on B11.

[Roy Thomson]

Very nice Don!
Could you spell out the Hawaiian Leavitt tuning.
I seem to recall that one of Japan's Hawaiian Steel
players uses it and tunes the first string E maintaining the Leavitt intervals after that?
Thanks for your musical contributions and help.

Roy

[Don McClellan]

Hi Roy, The Hawaiian Leavitt tuning is a name I made up (I thought). I call it that because it has all the same intervals as the 8 string Leavitt tuning but its very slightly reconfigured which makes it a little bit more strumable. The good news is that it starts with the very common and popular 6 string C6th/A7th tuning. All you need to do is add two more strings, a major 7 (B note) to the top and a dominant 7th tone (Bb note) to the bottom. Top to bottom - B, E, C, A, G, E, C#, Bb. I do it, however, a half a step lower. Mine is Bb, Eb, B, G#, F#, Eb, C, A. The first string in either case is 1/2 step below the third string. This makes it a C13/A9/Gdim or in my case a B13/G#9/F#dim. These two extra strings probably tripple the number of chords you get without slanting. With slants, even more! And if you come to this tuning from the C6/A7 you can still play everything you allready know including slants. You loose nothing and its not hard at all to make the transition. I will post a few more YouTube videos showing what I've learned on this tuning so far very soon. Thanks for asking. I was just about to post my version of Beyond The Reef and then I saw your's and decided to wait. Thanks, Don

[Roy Thomson]

Thanks Don!
Interesting approach.

RT

[Billy Wilson]

That tune is just what I need right now. Love it! Thanks Don.