Newbie

[James Venverloh]

I am total beginner on the lap steel. I’m getting an 8 string model. I was looking at all the different tuning options, so I’m totally confused. I have played the guitar for about 40 years and I am a pedal steel “owner“. What tuning should I start out with? Thanks, Jim

[Nic Neufeld]

That's a great question that will get as many different answers as respondents! Welcome, btw. I would say deciding on a first tuning to explore depends on what kind of music do you want to play? Any particular player or style you want to emulate?

A lot of folks (for good reason) will recommend starting with an open tuning (dobro open G, open A high bass, open E, etc) that are just root, third, fifth. On an 8 string I might lean more to a sixth type tuning to give you more harmonic options, since you've got extra strings available.

[Dom Franco]

Since you have to start somewhere... even if you change tunings down the road, the experience playing with the bar and picks will translate directly to any other tuning.

So I strongly suggest C6th because it is the most popular non-pedal steel tuning, and it has tons of tablature and instructional materials and videos available. Additionally a 6th tuning has the advantage of full minor and major chords enabling you to play nearly every song ever written.

I personally play A6th, which is not as popular but offers all the advantages of the C6th. My A6th videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... Gg3FmNze2f

[Travis Brown]

What style of music do you want to play?

[Allan Revich]

C6 is the most common 6 string tuning these days. For 8 string you might want to consider a C13. The standard C6 strings are still there in exactly the same order. Plus you gain dominant 7 chords.

C13 – G Bb C E G A C E
C13 – Bb C E G A C E G (Junior Brown)
C13 – C Bb C E G A C E (Low C – used by Jerry Byrd)