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Topic: Eight string dobro tuning |
Willis Vanderberg
From:
Petoskey Mi
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Posted 19 Jan 2016 7:07 am |
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| I need some input on eight string dobro turnings . Any help appreciated. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2016 8:47 am
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| Since I play a lot of A tuning, when it comes to 8 string I oft times tune to A6th, I put in a couple of F#'s. |
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Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
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Posted 19 Jan 2016 9:59 am
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EGBDEGBD
Erv's tuning down a fret. Familiar territory if you're used to standard high G Dobro tuning. One of the tunings Mike Auldridge demonstrated on his 8 string instructional DVD. |
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Greg Cutshaw
From:
Corry, PA, USA
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Guy Cundell
From:
More idle ramblings from South Australia
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Posted 19 Jan 2016 9:56 pm
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I tried G6 and, while it sounded fine at home, at the jam it was mush. It just didn't cut through so I retuned it on the spot to A6 and it was fine. I would have prefered to keep G6 for reading/chord positions etc. This was with a string set of 0.059 through 0.016 on a Goldtone/Beard. I am waiting on an 8 string set of Beards that has a 0.060 on the bottom so I'll see how that goes.
Greg, is that F on the bottom of your G7 a reentrant string? I tried raising the bottom E to F (G6) and I found the 7th chord voicing (3rd inversion) wasn't all that pleasing. When I put a 0.030 string on and pitched the F between the 3rd and 4th strings it sounded much better. (but I eventually went back to the heavier string in the interest of utility.)
I guess Mike Auldridge remains the gold standard for 8 string reso. This interesting interview with him seems to have been translated from a Japanese magazine published in 1997. So it has been translated two ways, to Japanese and back again. He details his tunings for 8 string. G6 and C6. Both with the same set of strings which is a dobro set of 6 augmented with an extra 6th and 4th string.
http://www.chiefnoda.com/intvw/ma.html
Not wanting to hijack this thread but I'm wondering if there are other recording artists using 8 string resos worth a listen. |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 20 Jan 2016 6:33 am
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Gary Morse released a seven string CD a few years back. It was HOT!!
HERE is a link.
h |
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Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
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Posted 20 Jan 2016 8:16 am
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| That album was "Resophonic Rodeo" and Howard don't tell no lies. Fabulous player. |
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Sonny Jenkins
From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
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Posted 20 Jan 2016 8:34 am
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| Hey Howard,,,,AGREED!!! Hot!!!,,,and THE set list for "6th" swing!!! |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 20 Jan 2016 9:28 am
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Here is another approach. Just over 10 years ago forumite Pete Grant shared his 8 string version of a traditional Irish classic. Click on the link in the quote below to listen. The video slide show used to be full-sized but now it is in miniature, I have no idea how to fix it on my screen, but the audio works fine..
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When I had National Reso-Phonic build me an 8-string Model D, it was for the express purpose of allowing me to play Irish traditional music in a more competent manner. After trying all kinds of tunings, I came up with D tuning with a 2 and a 3 of the scale on top. It turned out to be just what I'd been looking for.
D A D F# A D E F#
The low D is a .068 and the high F# is a .014.
So, here's a sound clip with a few pictures from my visits to Ireland. The tune is Sheebeg and Sheemore (Sí Beag is Sí Mór) from Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), Ireland's most famous Irish harper. The arrangement is mine.
http://www.petegrant.com/8-string_sheebeg.html |
_________________
Mark |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 20 Jan 2016 4:23 pm
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| Guy Cundell wrote: |
I tried G6 and, while it sounded fine at home, at the jam it was mush. It just didn't cut through so I retuned it on the spot to A6 and it was fine. I would have prefered to keep G6 for reading/chord positions etc. This was with a string set of 0.059 through 0.016 on a Goldtone/Beard. I am waiting on an 8 string set of Beards that has a 0.060 on the bottom so I'll see how that goes.
...I guess Mike Auldridge remains the gold standard for 8 string reso. This interesting interview with him seems to have been translated from a Japanese magazine published in 1997... He details his tunings for 8 string. G6 and C6. Both with the same set of strings which is a dobro set of 6 augmented with an extra 6th and 4th string.
http://www.chiefnoda.com/intvw/ma.html
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Guy, I was on the Resophonic Outfitters site earlier, and I see that Paul
Beard offers only one set of strings for an 8 string dobro, and it is for G6 tuning: .016,.018,.028,.032,.035,.045,.056,.060
A little different than what's published in the translated "Chief Noda" interview. I'm thinking that Paul got those gauges from Mike, and Mike might have refined his preferences over the years.
I asked Mike Auldridge about 8 string tunings during his final ResoSummit in Nashville in 2010. He had three identical black Beard MA-8s, and he wrote on the edge of the coverplate the tuning for each: C6, A6 and G6.
Even though it is historically the most popular 6th tuning for steel guitar in general, Mike commented that of the three tunings he was least pleased with the tone from the C6 guitar. It's what many players have been saying about C6 tuned resonators in general for decades - it doesn't "load" the cone enough and it can sound kind of wimpy. Plus the theory that 8 strings instead of 6 diminishes it even more, less substantial load force per string. I guess lacking in "cojones."
I shared the example of Pete Grant on a D based eight string tuning, and he also does a wonderful job on 8 string with "Here Comes the Sun."
You commented about Mike being the Gold Standard for 8 string dobro. I guess the reality is that he was the only one who ever achieved "Gold." And he still played 6 string dobro likely 80% or more of the time. So for eight string dobro players it's kind of an open playing field out there, but a lot of folks don't stick with it after they have taken the plunge.
I have seen over the years where guys purchase a Goldtone/Beard, Beard/MA8 Signature or McKenna 8 string only to put it up for sale before too long. They just don't "take" for a lot of players.
Back in the mid '70s when I started out on dobro taking lessons here in Calif., my teacher was Tom Webb. A number of our members here knew Tom mainly for his pedal steel playing (fine banjo player as well), including Pete Grant. Tom was lusting for my early 1930s Dobro (6 string) and offered me in trade a student model S-10 pedal steel and a nearly new 8 string OMI Dobro. I didn't take the trade - I figured my guitar must be something special if he were willing to trade both instruments for it. Or it could have been that the student model S-10 wasn't worth much, and he didn't like the 8 string Dobro and wanted to get it out of his life!
I have had second thoughts over the years on not taking him up on the trade. Don't know how it would have turned out with the 8 string Dobro, but if I dove in on pedal steel back then I might not be such a hack on the thing now. 
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Mark |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 20 Jan 2016 5:38 pm
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In his later years Mike also went to a D9 tuning. (1st 8 strings of E9 pedal steel down a full step).
I could never get my arms around it. I kept on wanting to use my pedals. 
Evidently Mike had no difficulties.
As to C6, I share Mike/Mark's thoughts. Those strings get mighty skinny for an acoustic resonator guitar. I'd stick with either G6 or A6. I'm a G6 player.
h
_________________
Howard Parker
03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard
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Willis Vanderberg
From:
Petoskey Mi
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Posted 20 Jan 2016 10:35 pm
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Well you pickers have given me a lot to think about. I played a Alkaire E Harp for awhile. I put. a E-9th tuning on it and really grew to like it . I may try the first eight string on the dobro and see how it goes. Thank again for all the in put.
Old Bud |
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