1/2 tone raise on 1st string D

Ken Williams · From: Arkansas

I was wondering how many of you raise your 1st string(D) 1/2 tone on C6th. Do you have it on a pedal or a lever? It's a pretty important change for me. I have it on the same floor pedal that lowers the 5th string 1/2 tone. Kinda wish I had it on a lever sometimes. I find this change very useful, but I've sat down at several demo guitars and was unable to locate a lever that raised the 1st string 1/2 tone. Maybe I just missed it somehow.

Ken
http://home.ipa.net/~kenwill

Jim Smith · From: Midlothian, TX, USA

It's not a "standard" change yet, but since Buddy Emmons has it on his guitar, it probably will be soon.

He has that raise on his boo-wah 8th pedal. I have it as my 5th C6 lever on the middle LKV (MKV).

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Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Ken-That usd to be a very common change on C6, and a good one too. I used to use it on songs like "take the A train".

But now the high G is not on most C6 tunings and replaced by the D first string. This is a more versatile and modern change and Guys like BE are using it so it must be important.

I can give you a lot of instances where it can be used to great advantage. There is a way you can have both. Jr. Knight for one drops the 2nd String E a whole tone to D and still has the G on the first string. Works pretty good.....al")")

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Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

I recently added it to P6, and it is a keeper!

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I have it on the lever that raises my 6th string half a step.

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Mike Sweeney · From: Nashville,TN,USA

Jim,

Buddy's been doing that for at least 20 years. It's a usefull thing to have on that pedal. I'm surprised more people don't have it there.
Mike

[This message was edited by Mike Sweeney on 30 September 2003 at 10:21 AM.]

Ken Williams · From: Arkansas

The reason I have it on the same pedal that lowers the 5th and raises the 9,10 strings is, years ago I had a G for the first string, and it had a 1/2 tone raise. When I switched over to using a D on the 1st string, I just left it on there. I don't have any extra levers hangin' around anywhere, else I might move it to lever. Sometimes I have to move my foot quickly. For instance, on an up tempo lick where you want to lower the 5th string, but a few notes later want to play the 1st string with no raise. But, it works okay, at least for now. In a way, I'm kinda glad it's on that pedal though. I use it quite often and I'm lazy. I would hate to have to press a lever every time I wanted that note.

Ken
http://home.ipa.net/~kenwill

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

David, I had a D10 Carter with 8 knee levers and it used to be Jr.Knights. He had that 2nd string E to D pull on the RRK and also pulled the 6th String E to D with it. I believe Curly Chalker had that pull too.That is pretty important pull too.All kinds of ways to go. that top string pull with the C to B 3rd string drop gives a Maj7 that can be used with P5 and P6 ,That can be used instead of P7 so you dont need both feet on the pedals...lots of ways to go...al

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Buck Dilly · From: Branchville, NJ, USA * R.I.P.

I have used that for many things, especially chromatic grace notes on string one. On an instruction tape Buddy pointed out that this change can be done with a finger or two behind the bar. It is kind of painful with my current guage string but works when I dont want to engage the rest of the changes on pedal 8.

Jim Smith · From: Midlothian, TX, USA

Buck, which instruction tape would that be? I thought I had all of Buddy's C6 instruction material, but I don't recall hearing that on any that I have.

Buck Dilly · From: Branchville, NJ, USA * R.I.P.

I think that he mentions this string pull on the C6 instruction tape.

Jeff Lampert · From: queens, new york city

Ken,
It's interesting that you raise the D note a 1/2 tone on pedal 5. One of the main arguments for changing the G note to D has always been that you can get the 5,7 pedal combo without using two feet by including the high D string. Since you raise the D note on pedal 5, do you continue to use two feet for the 5,7 sound, or do you have an unusual setup that allows you to get the 5,7 combo without two feet, or do you just ignore those voicings? Thanks .. Jeff

C Dixon · From: Duluth, GA USA

Excellent question Jeff,

carl

Ken Williams · From: Arkansas

Jeff, I guess the short answer is that I, for the most part, disregard that change. With the exception of a few times when I was trying to get a certain sound on a recording, I never play with both feet on the pedals. I assume that you mean playing a chord in which all the strings played are sounding at the same time,and you are using the 5th string lower and a D note played either with the 7 pedal or the 1st string. Kinda hard to describe but, I do play licks that use those notes. They are just not all ringing at the same time. For example I may play strings 8,6,5 with the 5th pedal down. Then play the 1st string(D), but at the last faction of second, I block 8,6,5 and let the pedal up before playing the 1st string. Then, I may go back to 8,6,5 with pedal down, or somewhere else to finish the phrase. The same idea would apply to single note phrases. If I played string 5 with the 5th pedal down,then 3,then 1, I would let the pedal up before I got the 1st string, in order to get that D note. Sounds awkward, but it's not as bad as it sounds. One of the main reasons that I changed to a D 1st string years ago was being able to play single note riffs more easily because the D note between the 2nd string(E) and the 3rd string(C). Also the 1st string D can be used in many other chord combinations, not using the 5th pedal. When I changed the 1st string from G to D, I just left that 1/2 tone raise where it was. I really don't know anywhere else that I could put that change without adding another lever, as I don't want to modify any changes that are on the levers or pedals I already have. In a way, I kinda like it where it is, although I wouldn't mind trying it on a lever. I use that 1st string raise quite a bit in conjuction with 5 and/or 6th pedals being down. Raising it on the 5th pedal just means one less thing to press when I want that combination. I hope all this makes sense, and at least in part, answered your question.

Thanks,
Ken

[This message was edited by Ken Williams on 03 October 2003 at 06:41 PM.]

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

quote:
2nd string E to D pull on the RRK and also pulled the 6th String E to D with it. ......
top string pull with the C to B 3rd string drop gives a Maj7 that can be used with P5 and P6 ,That can be used instead of P7 so you dont need both feet on the pedals...lots of ways to go...al

Interesting I have the 2nd to B on RKL
I could add it there. But I am not sure the Bud will like the split, P6 pulls E to F and then RKL would pull back down to Eb... more or less, there's the rub.

I am trying to get all the changes I feel I am missing, before I get locked into a fashion of playing.
I am getting pretty close now. I am waiting for some hex bellcranks right now.

Jeff Lampert · From: queens, new york city

Ken,
Basically, you don't play the 5,7 combo chord voicing. That's fine. I was just curious if you somehow got around it without having the D note on top. Thanks.

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