Texas swing tuning for dobro ?

[Brad Norris]

I'd like to play Texas swing music on my dobro but find the gbdgbd tuning limiting.
Could anyone suggest another tuning ?
Sorry for the novice question
Brad

[Jim Sallis]

Simplest thing's to raise that fourth string from D to E, giving you a 6th tuning.

[Webb Kline]

The most popular way is from low to high: GBDEGB. When on dobro, I just tune the 4th string D up to E (GBEGBD). It's not perfect, but when you're playing in a band format it actually works quite well--better than when just playing alone. Cindy Cashdollar uses this tuning too, and she knows a little bit about Texas Swing. The nice part is that you can do it on the fly between songs without wasting any time.

[Andy Volk]

The C6th tuning intervals (ECAGEC) tuned down to A works well for acoustic steel. Check out what the late Tom Morrell could do with swing music on a standard tuned Dobro - fantastic. Cindy does a great version of panhandle rag in that G6th tuning. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie5J1ODvvdE

[Brad Bechtel]

A slightly different approach would be to tune to A6 thusly:

1. C#
2. A
3. F#
4. E
5. C#
6. A

The strings are all within a whole step of the equivalent notes in open G tuning, so you can use the same string gauges, plus it's the same intervals as C6th but pitched down to A.

Otherwise the quick and easy suggestion above works well.

[Brad Norris]

Thankyou all very much for the tuning information.
Ill start playing with the new ones tonight.
Brad