Unison Strings, anyone?

[Allan Revich]

I’ve been busy experimenting with tuning options for my 7 string Rickenbacker B7. I generally tune my 6-strings in Open D, and have been happy with that.
I’ve been tuning the 7 string in Open D too, DF#ADF#AD, and that’s been fine. Nice full major chords when strummed. But this tuning loses the ability to “fake” a minor chord on the three low strings.

Just for fun today, I tried tuning DADF#ADD. I actually like it quite a bit. All kinds of 1 - 5 power chords, and some really sweet possibilities up top.

I saw on Brad’s Page of Steel (https://people.well.com/user/wellvis/roulette.html) that Freddie Roulette used unison low A strings, but his tuning was unique in other ways too, including using re-entrant tuning.

I’m just wondering if any of you use lap steel tunings that include unison string pairs?

[Allan Revich]

...and 24 hours later
(Of course)
A tuning that I like better. I like it better than D6 for the blues & rock that I mostly play.

DACDF#AD

The “old-fashioned” E7 8 string tuning, down a tone and sans 8th string.

I’d still like to get some thoughts about unison strings on lap steels. It had a really nice sound and feel during my experiment with the DADF#ADD tuning.

[Nic Neufeld]

Before I was a steel player I experimented with bottleneck slide. I wasn't any good at it, but the one guitar I particularly liked it with was my Danelectro electric 12 string. Unison top strings...gave a bit more resistance to the slide, which helps, and had a thicker, fuller sound together.

[Kris Youngsteadt]

I like high G tuning like this:GGDGBD

The low B string always seems to get in the way for me. It could be that I'm new to the instrument.

Works great for power chords for Blues/Rock music.

[Allan Revich]

I like high G tuning like this:GGDGBD

The low B string always seems to get in the way for me. It could be that I'm new to the instrument.

Works great for power chords for Blues/Rock music.

That’s a cool tuning Kris.

My own experiments were fun, but I’ve settled (for now) on a D7 tuning.
(7 string) DACDF#AD
(6 string) DCDF#AD

The 7th tuning works great for blues jamming, I know it’s neither as versatile as 6 tuning or as straightforward as a major tuning... but it’s working well for me now,

[Kris Youngsteadt]

Allan,

I see how that works for Blues jamming. It's Open D with the low A raised up to a C. Skip that string and everything is the same as playing Open D. Cool!

[Peter Jacobs]

I like high G tuning like this:GGDGBD

The low B string always seems to get in the way for me. It could be that I'm new to the instrument.

Works great for power chords for Blues/Rock music.

I have the same issue wit( that low B, Kris. I’ve tried the double-low-G tuning on squareneck reso, but I’m trying to learn Dobro G tuning, B and all.

For lap steel, though, I ended up with GDGBDC. The C on top stays out of the way but I can easily hit it to suspend bar chords.

Allan - your D tuning looks cool - I’ll have to try that.

[Kris Youngsteadt]

I have the same issue wit( that low B, Kris. I’ve tried the double-low-G tuning on squareneck reso, but I’m trying to learn Dobro G tuning, B and all.

For lap steel, though, I ended up with GDGBDC. The C on top stays out of the way but I can easily hit it to suspend bar chords.

Peter, I have since gone back to the low B string for now, since some of things I'm working on require the low B string. For beginner jamming until you learn more control having the power chords on the low strings sure makes things easier to navigate.

I'll have to try this at some point: GDGBDC

[Allan Revich]

Been foolin’ with a couple more tunings this week that have unison strings.
On the 6 string DADDAD aka dad-dad or double-dad
On the 7 string DADDAAD

So far I’m totally digging it. A modal tuning with no 3rd, so it’s pretty awesome for jamming out on blues tunes. Really fattens up the rhythm when strumming, and you don’t give much up for single string work, or improvisation.

Of course, the downside is there ain’t no jazz chords (or much of anything else either) when it comes to chord strumming.

For a while I think it was Ben Harper’s favourite tuning, but a recent visit to his site seems to indicate that he’s mostly moved on.

[Allan Revich]

Still messing around with unison strings on my B7.
Today I tried DAADF#AD and DADDF#AD.

I liked both of these tunings, but have left it for now in the second tuning. I’m not committing to any particular tuning on the 7 string for now though. I like to try different D based tunings on it. Lots of interesting possibilities there—including some with unison strings.

[Steve Cunningham]

I use E6 (E B C# E G# B C# E low to high) tuning on my 8 string. When I play more of a rock or blues style I'll tune the 6th string from C# up to E, creating a unison with the 5th string. At first it was to get rid of the 6th (interval) in the lower register, but I've learned to like how it beefs up melodies on those strings. Plus by slanting the bar to various degrees I can get a cool natural chorus-type sound.

[Allan Revich]

I’m not going to try this one out just yet, but it seems like it could be a cool tuning for either a lap steel or armpit guitar.

GGDGBD

Basically the Keith Richards 5 string tuning but with unison Gs on the bottom. Should be great for heavier blues and rock songs; Rolling Stones covers?

Any rock ‘n’ rollers wanna give it a try, and post a video, or report back?