G6 Tuning

[Tony Dingus]

Has anyone used this tuning on a 6,8 or a 10 string non pedal ? I had a 8 string dobro years ago used the G6 after hearing Mike Auldridge .

Tony

[Rick Barnhart]

8 string G6 is my favorite tuning. Low to high E G B D E G B D. I Use it for pedal and non-pedal.

[K Maul]

I use it a lot because G is so automatic for me. Blues and Rockabilly are great because of the E B E grip you can do on 8,6+4. If you want "purist" Western Swing stuff you can capo on fret 2 and go to town.

[David Knutson]

G6 is my 8 string tuning as well. I love those growly low notes that were always missing for me in C6. and if I was going down to A6, might as well go all the way. Never a moment's regret. My 8 stringer is a 23 inch scale, and for strings I use Scotty's A6 eight string set from SIT (possibly available on the forum?). Gauges seem perfect for my steel and style.
The bonus is that it is consistent with my 8 string Reso tuning, so I can do pretty much the same set lists and arrangements acoustic or electric.

[Tony Dingus]

Thanks for your replies. I've played dobro for 40 years and pedal steel for 38. I've always used G on dobro and E9 on steel. I've got D10 again and I love C6 but I get lost in it and Ive been thinking about tuning it G6 high to low E,D,B,G,E,D,B,G,E,C . After reading your replies. this might be my project tomorrow . Thanks again.

Tony

[Victor Becker]

You can create this tuning and tweak it any way you like at www.UniversalChordMapper.com.

Just start with any 6 or 8 string tuning and then add strings and/or change the pitch of any string to your hearts desire...

[Stefan Robertson]

Thanks for your replies. I've played dobro for 40 years and pedal steel for 38. I've always used G on dobro and E9 on steel. I've got D10 again and I love C6 but I get lost in it and Ive been thinking about tuning it G6 high to low E,D,B,G,E,D,B,G,E,C . After reading your replies. this might be my project tomorrow . Thanks again.

Tony

Hey Tony

Have a look at my post here: Its familiar E9 territory. Non-pedal

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=308766

[D Schubert]

Yes, it's great on an 8-string, just a lower version of A6. For a six string, I can't keep my mind made up on which to use

Dobro G - leave the low strings alone, drop the higher strings -
G B D E D B

Lap steel - leave the higher strings alone, use lighter gages on the bass end
B D E G B D

This also allows for a quick retune to E7th
B D E G# B E

[Miles Lang]

I started with a G6 tuning on my 6-string Champ - low to high GBEGBE

[Jeff Mead]

That tuning (the original G6 posted above E G B D E G B D) is, of course the same as A6 but one step down or C6 with a high G but 5 steps down.

The main factor in choosing between these 3 tunings, since they are all the same relatively speaking is what keys you play inmost and if you like it to sound fairly high pitched or low pitched.

It also depends on if you like to use lots of open strings or if (like me) you try to avoid them.

[David M Brown]

Yes, it's great on an 8-string, just a lower version of A6. For a six string, I can't keep my mind made up on which to use

Lap steel - leave the higher strings alone, use lighter gages on the bass end
B D E G B D

This also allows for a quick retune to E7th
B D E G# B E

These last two are among my most used tunings, and it is easy to shift.

I also use the C#m version B D E G# C# E. Then you can easily go to A6 or C6 too. I use the A6 a lot more than C6.

It's also easy to go from the B D E G B D G6 to the George DeFretes/Rudi Wairata D6, B D F# A B D.

[David M Brown]

I started with a G6 tuning on my 6-string Champ - low to high GBEGBE

Hi Miles,

Without a D, isn't that an Em tuning?

[Miles Lang]

I started with a G6 tuning on my 6-string Champ - low to high GBEGBE

Hi Miles,

Without a D, isn't that an Em tuning?

Depends on how you approach it.

[David M Brown]

I started with a G6 tuning on my 6-string Champ - low to high GBEGBE

Hi Miles,

Without a D, isn't that an Em tuning?

Depends on how you approach it.

I was wondering since I've played slide in regular guitar tuning and the top 3 strings would be the same.

Do you use other tunings too?

Thanks for the reply.

[Will Cowell]

Good question, David M Brown. But G6 is of course Em7, so the simple answer is "yes"!

[David M Brown]

I tend to look at the whole chord when naming a steel tuning, so I would call GBEGBE an Em tuning and my BDGEGBD tuning a G6.

It's pretty arbitrary, though, so if you think of the D note while using GBEGBE, I guess it's functionally a G6.

[Tony Dingus]

Thanks for everyone's replies. I've got it tunes G6, high to low: D,B,G,E,D,B,G,E,D,C. I'm thinking about dropping the last 2 strings and keeping it a 8 string.

Tony

[Fred Bova]

I use a Modified G6 Tuning I Call G Hexatonic

Don Helms E13. Vs. Fred Bova G Hexatonic Tuning_04

Don Helms Played Steel Guitar with Hank Williams, and others.

“Helms actually used an E13 tuning, which adds the 7th (D) and the 13th (C♯) to the E tuning, making it B–D–E–G♯–B–C♯–E–G♯, low to high.”


####. NOTE ;

In the Don Helms book of TAB for the Hank Williams Songs,.. He NEVER uses Strings 7, or 8.

==============================

I also Transposed Don Helms E13 Down to D13 so that it’s easier to see the Intervals used compared to my custom G Hexatonic Tuning.

High to Low ;

Don Helms. Transposed. Fred Bova

E13. D13. G Hexatonic

01 ) =. g#. f#. f#
02 ) =. e. d. d
03 ) =. c#. b. b
04 ) =. B. A. G. •
05 ) =. G#. F#. E. •
06 ) =. E. D. D
07 ) =. D. C. C
08 ) =. B. A. B. •

* = The only different Intervals than what Don Helms Used.

####. NOTE ;

In the Don Helms book of TAB for the Hank Williams Songs,.. He NEVER uses Strings 7, or 8.

So, as comparison, I will now only show Strings 1-6 and use the Transposed E13 to D13 ;

High to Low ;

D13. G Hexatonic

01 ) =. f#. f#
02 ) =. d. d
03 ) =. b. b
04 ) =. A. G. •
05 ) =. F#. E. •
06 ) =. D. D

NOTE ;
D13 has No maj7th Chords

=======================

Now the full 8 string tunings, for Chords available ;


D13. G Hexatonic

High to Low ;

D13. G Hexatonic

01 ) =. f#. f#
02 ) =. d. d
03 ) =. b. b
04 ) =. A. G. •
05 ) =. F#. E. •
06 ) =. D. D
07 ) =. C. C
08 ) =. A. B

D13. G Hexatonic

D. G
D6 G6
D7 Gmaj7
Bm Bm
Bm7 Em
Em7
C
Cmaj7

==============================

####. One thing I like about the G Hexatonic Tuning is that it Translates over Perfectly to my D9 Pedal Steel Tuning.
( Yes, I tune my 8th String to a B on my 8 String D9 )

With Pedals [A]+ down only the 1st String is different.

As long as it Lift my Pedal up when I’m playing on my 1st String, everything I can play on my Non-Pedal G Hexatonic Tuning, I can play on my Pedal Steel.

[Fred Bova]

Sorry about the Formatting,.. it won’t go in right as a Copy n Paste

[Jeff Mead]

“Helms actually used an E13 tuning, which adds the 7th (D) and the 13th (C♯) to the E tuning, making it B–D–E–G♯–B–C♯–E–G♯, low to high.”


####. NOTE ;

In the Don Helms book of TAB for the Hank Williams Songs,.. He NEVER uses Strings 7, or 8.

I know this is a 2+ year old thread but as far as I am aware Don didn't use the E13 you describe. Where did you get that information from?

Here are his tunings (in his own handwriting).

It was his 6th tuning (or, at least, he called it E6) that he just used the top 6 strings on (the top 6 were actually an E6). Strings 678 made a nice fat A major and I suspect he thought of it as two separate tunings on one neck - top 6 and bottom 3.

Must of his solos were the top 6 of his E6. He used the other neck (B13) for a few fills.

[Fred Bova]

I got it online,...

http://www.simonboxes.com/history-of-lap-steel.html



I had his book, the TAB course for the Hank Williams Stuff too. I played along in the tunings listed in that TAB. To be honest, it was easier to play the same notes in my Tuning,...

And it’s true, in the TAB included in his course, he Never plays the 7th or 8th Strings.

I bought that course from him.,.... not some 3rd party.

=======

I recently watched him play Cold Cold Heart, in the “Country Music” Ken Burns, Doc,..

And I thought “Hey,... that’s the way I Pkay it,...”

I pulled out my G Hexatonic Steel, and Played it Just as he did,... along with him, while watching him,... Same Movements, positions,... That’s when I researched it again., and found the E13 reference.

The intervals on those Top 4 Strings match what I found on line, and they are the same as my intervals,...

[Jeff Mead]

I got it online,...
http://www.simonboxes.com/history-of-lap-steel.html

That's a well researched page - apart from that one thing.

[Fred Bova]

Well,.... the whole point to make is the Intervals,... That’s the Key,... Not the “Key” or Auxiliary Notes, passing tones,...

What intervals do you need, and/or want to play,... and how hard is it to get them, WITHOUT Slants. Because Don didn’t do slants either.

The Intervals of Dons top 3 Strings,... in what he calls “E6th”,.. those are the same interval that I use in my G Hexatonic.

My G Hexatonic is Based on a G6,... but having that “f#” on the 1st String, instead of a “g” gives me many options, Minor Chords, maj7, and,... that Interval that I need.

[Fred Bova]

Here is the Correction per Dons Hand Written Tuning.

!!!!! Update /Correction !!!!!

As per Don Helms Actual Hand Written Tuning !!!!!! He calls this “E6th”.


High to Low ;

Don Helms. Transposed. Fred Bova

E6th D6th G Hexatonic

01 ) =. g#. f#. f#
02 ) =. e. d. d
03 ) =. c#. b. b
04 ) =. B. A. G. •
05 ) =. G#. F#. E. •
06 ) =. E. D. D
07 ) =. C# B. C •
08 ) =. A. G. B. •

* = The only different Intervals than what Don Helms Used.

[David M Brown]

Lap steel - leave the higher strings alone, use lighter gages on the bass end
B D E G B D

This also allows for a quick retune to E7th
B D E G# B E

I did this for years on a lap steel. It works well.