Classic Country licks on Open E tuning??

[Steve Green]

When I got my first lap steel several years ago, I chose to go with C6 tuning, and have PRETTY MUCH stuck with ever since. The only exceptions being a few brief periods of trying alternate tunings available on the same string set, i.e. A6, B11, Leavitt, etc.

I got my first Dobro a couple of years ago, and started learning open G (1-3-5-1-3-5), and have gotten somewhat used to it, as well.

I’ve never really been into rock-steel or blues-steel, so I’ve basically stayed away from open E (1-5-1-3-5-1).

I am now; however, thinking about getting one of Ted Smith’s Melobar double necks – with a standard Tele style neck over a six string steel. With it, I may want to delve into some rock flavored blues style stuff, so I’m considering open E. The problem is, I don’t want to give up the classic country licks and fills I’ve learned on C6. I’m basically talking about the Don Helms / Little Roy Wiggins type stuff.

I guess my main questions are:

Have any of you played classic country music on six-string open E tuning?
How complicated is it?
Can you point me to any YouTube examples of classic country on open E?

[David M Brown]

I'd suggest looking at the old E7 tuning, B D E G# B E, there's a lot of cool stuff that you can play in old-time country in that tuning.

Also from the E B E G# B E tuning, you can use an E7 like E B D G# B E or the classic E B E G# C# E by raising the B to C3.

[Doug Beaumier]

Steve, I've been playing E tuning lately, and there are some nice Country sounds available if you use bar slants. There's a convenient slant on strings 1 & 3 that sounds good. You can hear/see it in my recent demo of the Epiphone Electar reissue lap steel, E tuning ---> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkCZbCcFzy4

[Jim Wilmoth]

I found this guy on youtube who I found to be very impressive with the faux pedal steel country sounds with an E based tuning.

https://youtu.be/iw6XvISAPjQ

[David M Brown]

I found this guy on youtube who I found to be very impressive with the faux pedal steel country sounds with an E based tuning.

https://youtu.be/iw6XvISAPjQ

He's good with the behind-the-bar string pulls!

[Roy Thomson]

Hi Steve,

I have lots of tab and files for E major tuning.
On my sound clip here under using a Resonator
straight E Major. Nine Pound Hammer, Boogie Progression,
Crying Time. All are short and may prove to be helpful??
Link to MP3.....

http://picosong.com/U5Lk

Best Wishes
Roy

[Robert Allen]

Steve, I have one of my lap steels tuned low to high E B E G# B E. I just mailed you some tabs of Tennessee Waltz, Georgia Steel Guitar, and Long Black Veil.

[Terry VunCannon]

Although I don't go for the traditional country sound, I do use the open E(EBEG#BE), and have found so many great sounds with straight & slants.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8r387iGCCc

[Andy Volk]

Raphael McGregor does some really nice string pulls here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNxsk7Yqdlk

[b0b]

I used D over G for my Stella album, and was able to get all of the country and blues licks that I needed. For electric lap steel, I recommend raising it a step to E over A: A C# E G# B E.

[Bill Leff]

I found this guy on youtube who I found to be very impressive with the faux pedal steel country sounds with an E based tuning.

https://youtu.be/iw6XvISAPjQ

This guy is using bOb's E tuning. Very impressive indeed!

[Rick Abbott]

I used D over G for my Stella album, and was able to get all of the country and blues licks that I needed. For electric lap steel, I recommend raising it a step to E over A: A C# E G# B E.

b0b, I've never heard the "D over G" terminology. The example you spell out means "an A chord on the low strings, and an E chord on the high strings?" It looks like a cool way to compress related tunings. Hmmm.

AND, what a cool album! Who is singing? I really like the album, it reminds me of stuff recorded by folks way back. Simple, direct and honest.

[b0b]

Thanks, Rick. That album is all me in my garage studio. No overdubs - I sang while I played and stomped my foot. I'm very proud of it.