easy way to transpose A6 to E6?

[Matthew Warman]

anyone come up with an EASY way to transpose 6 string A6 tabs to 6 string E6 (from high G#,E,C#B,G#,E)? thanks.

[Brad Bechtel]

If by A6, you mean this tuning:

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

Then it should be pretty much the same tab. The intervals are the same in both tunings (1-3-5-6-1-3 bass to treble).

If you mean a different tuning, please expand on your question. If you have a specific tab in mind, that'd be helpful too.

[Matthew Warman]

Brad- if the A6 was with the C# at the top that you mentioned it would be fairly straightforward to transpose to an E6 tuning with high G#.

I have a few tabs that are tuned for A6, from high:
E,C#,A,F#,E,C#

[Brad Bechtel]

That is why I asked. If your A6 tuning is an inversion of your E6 tuning, like this:

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

Then the problem is going to be much harder. Without an example of the tab you're trying to use, it's hard to say what to do. You could consider this as the same tuning interval as in your E6 tuning, but with the root note moved to the third string. In other words, the root note (A) would, if present, be on a missing seventh string pitched below your sixth string.

It's really a question of intervals. If you know the melody of the song you're trying to learn, try playing it without using the tab.

If you don't know the melody, you can approximate it by thinking of the A C# E portion of that tuning as the same intervals as the E G# B of your tuning.

[Jack Aldrich]

If you learn the number system, then transposition is easy. The A tuning has the following:
E V
C# III
A I
F# VI
E V
C# III

now, down to E:

V B
III G#
I E
VI C#
V B
III G#

Ta Da!