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Topic: A major 9 or b0b's E over A tuning, Lap 6 string guage? |
Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2015 11:17 am |
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I've been playing (at) lap steel for a little over a year now. Any playing out I've done has been in open E: E,B,E,G#,B,E, although I'm also trying to get familiar with C6. A few weeks back there was a thread about what six-string lap tuning was best for a guitarist switching over. b0b mentioned the E over A tuning that he liked: A,C#,E,G#,B,E, low to high. I've been playing with it and I really like it.
The tuning is the same as open E on the first four strings so I can still play most of the blues licks I've already learned but with a lot more possibilities for chord voicings. On the open strings you've got an Amaj triad, an Emaj triad, an Amaj7,Amaj7+9,C#minor,C#min7 and a nice 1,5,-7 interval (triad?) if you need skip the minor 3rd. A lot of bang for the buck by just changing two strings.
first question: What string gauges should I use for my 23" scale Oahu lap steel? I'm currently using a GHS C6 set but the low strings feel kind of flubby to me.
next question: Anybody know of any you tube videos or instruction using this tuning? I bought b0b's cool CD Stella on which he uses the same intervals tuned down a step (D over G)and have been learning a lot just by trying to play along with those tunes on an acoustic that I put a nut riser on. b0b even provides chord charts, which are a big help. Anything else out there?
Yeah, I know a lot of you will want to chime in to tell me that I can do all this and more with C6 but my plan is to eventually bring out my D6 Stringmaster with C6 on one neck and either open E or this tuning on the other. One thing that I like about this tuning over C6 is that you don't have to work so hard to avoid that sixth interval when you don't want it but you can still grab that interval pretty easily with a forward slant on strings 1 & 3 or a back slant on 2 & 5.
I'm really looking forward to some of your comments on this tuning. Note: Please don't hesitate to correct me if I'm getting my nomenclature wrong, I'm still learning. |
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Chase Brady
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2015 12:07 pm
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I've been using the D/G version of this tuning for several weeks now. Strings 1-4 are just open D, which is my most comfortable tuning, but I still get all those extra chords when I want them. I like it a lot. On my 25" scale Johnny King I use an Ernie Ball Power Slinky 7-string set, #2620. (Made for standard electric guitar, not lap steel.) I throw the .011 away and use the other 6. They work well, they're cheap and readily available. Since your Oahu is shorter scale, they might work for E/A on it. You might want to try one of the online tension calculators. The gauges are .014, .018, .028, .038, .048 and .058.
I'm also using this same tuning on my Dobro with a standard set of Dobro strings. |
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Paul DiMaggio
From:
Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 16 Sep 2015 12:37 pm
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| I used a set of Dean Markley semi flats either mediums or Jazz. 13-56 replaced the 13 with a 16. My 6 stringer is 23" scale. I like that tuning , works pretty good for singing and playing solo. It put Como Fue and Scotch and Soda back on the playlist. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2015 12:59 pm
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I don't pull strings behind the bar, so I like them to be pretty tight.
E .015
B .018
G# .024 wound
E .030
C# .036
A .042
On Stella (acoustic D6/A), I've been trying various dobro sets, slacking the 2nd and 3rd strings. Haven't settled on an ideal yet.
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Bill Sinclair
From:
Waynesboro, PA, USA
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Posted 16 Sep 2015 8:03 pm
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Thanks for the response, guys. I'll be hittin' the music store this weekend for some strings.
Chase: Can you point me to one of the online tension calculators?
If any of you have any recordings in either the E/A or D/G tuning, I'd love to hear them. Or if you can point me to any interesting bar slants you've discovered in this tuning. |
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Chase Brady
From:
Ohio, USA
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