Six on the bottom?
Moderator: Brad Bechtel
- Allan Revich
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- Location: Victoria, BC
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Six on the bottom?
Putting the 6th on the bottom seems like good way to move from a major tuning to something more versatile, yet there don’t seem to be many six-string tunings where this the case.
I’ve seen references to only these two, C6 (ACEGCE) and G6 (EGDGBD or EGBGBD).
The advantage is having a minor (and m7) when you want it, and a straight ahead major tuning when that’s all you need. The disadvantage is the suboptimal placement of the 6th for playing sixth chords.
On eight-strings it’s a lot more common, but in combination with a 2nd instance mid-way through, like 6 1 3 5 6 1 3 5
Anyone out there in lap-steel-land using a tuning with the sixth down low?
I’ve seen references to only these two, C6 (ACEGCE) and G6 (EGDGBD or EGBGBD).
The advantage is having a minor (and m7) when you want it, and a straight ahead major tuning when that’s all you need. The disadvantage is the suboptimal placement of the 6th for playing sixth chords.
On eight-strings it’s a lot more common, but in combination with a 2nd instance mid-way through, like 6 1 3 5 6 1 3 5
Anyone out there in lap-steel-land using a tuning with the sixth down low?
Current Tunings:
6 String | D – D A D F# A D
7 String | D/f – f D A D F# A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
6 String | D – D A D F# A D
7 String | D/f – f D A D F# A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
- Noah Miller
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I use what you call G6 on the bottom (EGDGBD), but I call it Em7/G. A double purpose tuning, because that's how I play it. For some reason, thinking of the low E as the 6th of G is meaningless to me, plus it's on the bottom so it represents a root to me. So I have two roots to choose from, minor chords and major chords, and since I play a lot of really simple chord changes I have all the II/V/I's and such like covered.
- Allan Revich
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Exactly as I do, with the exact same tuning! On my 7 string I’ve added back the low B, like a Dobro, for EGBDGBD.Brian Evans wrote:I use what you call G6 on the bottom (EGDGBD), but I call it Em7/G. A double purpose tuning, because that's how I play it. For some reason, thinking of the low E as the 6th of G is meaningless to me, plus it's on the bottom so it represents a root to me. So I have two roots to choose from, minor chords and major chords, and since I play a lot of really simple chord changes I have all the II/V/I's and such like covered.
- Jack Hanson
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- Allan Revich
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Thanks Jack. What you and (I think) Noah Miller are doing is quite common for sixth tunings; putting a 6th somewhere in the middle. I am wondering if there are other players doing what Brian and I are doing, using a tuning where the 6 (or m7 root note) is ONLY on the bottom.Jack Hanson wrote:I have one of my rescue 6-string Ultratones set up in G6 with the same intervals as standard 6-string C6, except lower in pitch (G-B-D-E-G-B low to high). I like it alot and use it alot.
Current Tunings:
6 String | D – D A D F# A D
7 String | D/f – f D A D F# A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
6 String | D – D A D F# A D
7 String | D/f – f D A D F# A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
- Ken Pippus
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- Location: Langford, BC, Canada
- Ken Pippus
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- Location: Langford, BC, Canada
- Allan Revich
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- Joined: 2 Nov 2018 7:04 pm
- Location: Victoria, BC
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Lots of interesting stuff there! Strange that his “Drop E” tuning, EBDGBD tuning hasn’t caught on with the electric steel crowd. I’ve tried that tuning, and liked it, but still prefer the version that keeps the low G, EGDGBD, or EGBGBD.Ken Pippus wrote:Try a “Greg Booth” search , especially on that forum. There’s a ton of stuff.
EDITED:
Corrected Greg Booth tuning.
Added reference to EGBGBD
(July 23, 2022)
Current Tunings:
6 String | D – D A D F# A D
7 String | D/f – f D A D F# A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
6 String | D – D A D F# A D
7 String | D/f – f D A D F# A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database