Another Pointless 6-String Tuning Poll

[Allan Revich]

This one is just for fun.

I’m curious to learn what proportion of Steelers use a “ standard” vs special tuning as their go-to six string tuning.

I know that there are a few other fairly common tunings, like A6 and Open A, but I’ve limited the “standards” to the most common tunings only.

[Frank James Pracher]

C6 is my home, but for certain songs I'll move a string up or down to get something I need.. for example when I play "Rattler" by Santo and Johnny I'll drop my low C to B.. If I play "Hilo March" I'll raise the high C to C#

[David M Brown]

Something else, as in A6 as my go-to, although I use those other tunings at times.

[Allan Revich]

My current 6 string tuning is an Open D7
Low to High = DADF#AC
Similar to my 7 string, which is in D9 = DADF#ACE

[Brian Evans]

My tuning is Em7/G. EGDGBD low to high. I have minor 7 chords if I use the E root, and G chords if I use the G root, which is basically low G dobro tuning without the low D, which I never got the point of in the first place. But I am an extreme rookie, so I find the ability to do a I - VI - IV - V sequence (Sleepwalk), or the old I - VI - II - V turnaround so easily kind of handy.

[Jack Hanson]

I have separate instruments dedicated to all of the above tunings and more. On my 6-stings, I spend the most time working out of C6 and tweaking a string or two up or down to achieve A6, B11, C6/A7, D9, etc.

[Tom Breitenfeldt]

What about this one?
E
B
G#
E
C#
F#

[Dom Franco]

A6th... partly because it's easily re-tuned to C6.

ALSO** I bet most of the "something else" responses were for some sort of 6th tuning.

[Allan Revich]

So far it’s interesting to see just how popular the C6 tuning is! Almost as many people use it as their go-to as all the others combined.

[b0b]

I've settled on D/G for 6-string, D6th for 8- and 10-string. This puts me in the comfort zone for all. It should be the standard, IMHO.
[tab]6 8 10
E
F# F#
D D D
B B
A A A
F# F# F#
D D D
B B B
G G G
D [/tab]
Retuning standard dobro G to this is just a matter of slacking 2 strings.

[Peter Jacobs]

Gsus4 for me. I never use the low B in dobro tuning, so I just left it out (like Keith Richards). That gives me power chords on the low end. Iadded a C as the “first” string so I can suspend chords without pulling the high B. Otherwise, it stays out of the way. Low to high: G D G B D C

[Jim Fiegen]

C6/A7 for everything C#EGACE bottom to top Thank you Jerry Byrd!!

[Allan Revich]

Gsus4 for me. I never use the low B in dobro tuning, so I just left it out (like Keith Richards). That gives me power chords on the low end. Iadded a C as the “first” string so I can suspend chords without pulling the high B. Otherwise, it stays out of the way. Low to high: G D G B D C

That’s a cool tuning, and looks versatile too. I think it’s a Gadd4 rather than sus4, since you still have the 3rd (B) in there, but it definitely makes sus 4 chords easy to play with a straight bar.

And of course Gsus is the holiest of chords!

[Allan Revich]

I've settled on D/G for 6-string, D6th for 8- and 10-string. This puts me in the comfort zone for all. It should be the standard, IMHO.
[tab]6 8 10
E
F# F#
D D D
B B
A A A
F# F# F#
D D D
B B B
G G G
D [/tab]
Retuning standard dobro G to this is just a matter of slacking 2 strings.

b0b, I actually agree with you that your (Gmaj9?) GBDF#AD should be the standard! There is nothing that can’t be done with that tuning. I just wish that I wasn’t too thick to wrap my head around it in real life. :-/

[Peter Jacobs]

Good point, Allan --Gadd4 makes sense. This tuning lets me attempt to cop some Sonny Landreth licks (which is why I tried it in the first place) and I can sound a little pedal steely, which can be fun.

[Allan Revich]

DADACE

Good for blues, which is what I mostly play. Nice to have a full A minor triad for minor blues. The two octaves of DA cover nicely for the 3rd that’s missing on the major chords.

[Paul Spafford]

C#-E-G#-B-C#-E

I call it "Double E6" tuning. I’m not very good yet, but it seems to get me through most of what I want to play at this point.

[Allan Revich]

I’m surprised that there aren’t more 11th tunings in here. I’m just now learning about them, and how versatile they are! Two major triads and a minor triad on every fret using only consecutive strings - plus a whole bunch of other chord types on each fret.

As with b0b’s Gmaj9 tuning, I’m not quite ready to tackle a tuning with so many options... I end up getting confused by them and losing my way in songs. But it seems to me that something like B11 (or Gmaj9 GBDF#AD)would be more versatile than C6, and about as easy to learn after the major chord tunings.

EDIT
After spending a day experimenting with 11th tunings, I ended up at G11. GBDFAC.
As expected, it was nice, but a bit too much going on for me to stay on top of. So I raised the C to D to make it a G9 GBDFAD. Kinda like b0b’s tuning but with a D minor on top instead of a D major. I’m gonna leave that tuning in place to see if it sticks.

2nd Edit:
G9 — GBDFAD I like it. That’s all.