8 string tuning question....

[Jonathan Lam]

Just curious, I use C6 and like having a D on top with my 10 string lap steel, but wanted to know what you use for 8 string tuning? the D on top or the E on top.....

[b0b]

I use E on top because it's easy to retune to A6th when necessary.

[Jonathan Lam]

I guess, I was interested in reasons to have an F on the bottom or an A, becauseI still have an E, and ability to tune to all the C6 variants....

[Stephen Abruzzo]

I use (low-to-high)...Bb-C-E-G-A-C-E-D. The Bb on the low end gives me a dom C7 chord and the E-D combo on top gets into some nice bluesy stuff.

[b0b]

I usually have F on the bottom, but I change it to E or F# when I retune to A6.

[Matthew Warman]

I'm working with D on top with 8 strings in C6. My tuning from high to low is:

D,G,E,C,A,G,E,C.

Actually a C6 with the high G, then a D on top of that. Georgeboards has a DVD, 'D On Top' which is packed with cool tips and examples on using the D at top which I found really useful.


While I'm here I was wondering if you know of a source of contemporary C&W tabs for C6 which makes full use of the high G. Most tab books for C6 seem to use only the E to C set up, for 6 strings. Having the high G opens up a lot more harmonic possibilites.

[Jonathan Lam]

I feel like i am not being clear, what am i gaining or losing by having an F on the bottom or an A....


I dont use a G on my pedal steel, I use the D on top instead.
I am not interested in a G and a D.

[George Piburn]

I think you will like Low to High

F-A-C-E-G-A-C-E-G-D for a 10 string tuning Then you get most every thing with the D as a Chromatic.

The Low F makes for the Dom7 chord - You can always lower it 1/2 step between songs if you want.

Wanted to take this opportunity to say how much I like the NYC Jazz Videos.

Hope this adds to the discussion.

[Stephen Gambrell]

I tune my 8-string (low to high) E-G-B-D-E-G-B-D. That E on the bottom gives me a reference point. I tune to G6, FWIW.

[b0b]

I feel like i am not being clear, what am i gaining or losing by having an F on the bottom or an A....


I dont use a G on my pedal steel, I use the D on top instead.
I am not interested in a G and a D.

I tune C6 F-A-C-E-G-A-C-E. The bottom 4 strings F-A-C-E are an Fmaj7 chord which is very useful.

For songs in minor keys I retune the low F to E and treat the tuning as Am7, with a low 5th bass note.

From there, I can also raise the low C to C#, which makes the popular C6/A7 tuning, again with a low 5th for alternating bass note rhythms.

And as I said before, the same string gauges are easily retuned for a full A6th tuning, the standard of old time western swing music.