G6 Tuning: So many tasty flavours!

[Allan Revich]

Perhaps because one can tune as low as D2 on string 6 and as high as G4 on string 1 there are a myriad of playable tuning possibilities. Moving beyond six strings opens up still more possibilities.

I believe that the most common versions are;
GBEGBD
EBDGBD

But these all work too;
EGBGBD
EGDGBD
GDEGBD
DGEGBD
GBDEGB

And a couple more that might also work…
GBDGBE
DGDGBE

My current favourite is eGDGBD

On seven strings my current favourite is eGBDGBD

Anyone else using unusual versions of G6 tuning?

[Lee Gillespie]

I;ve been playing G6 on my lap now for almost 15 years. The reason I went to G6 was I took up the Dobro which is tuned to G. At the time I tuned my Lap to C6. It got convusing when swapping between instuments on shows... Soooo... I decided to tune my Lap to G6 and never looked back. I think the G6 tuning has a certain mellow sound verses the C6 tuning. Lee

[Jack Hanson]

I currently have different instruments set up in G6, A6, Bb6, C6, & D6 (1-3-5-6-1-3 & 1-3-5-6-1-3-5).

Tried E6 (ala Don Helms), but didn't like the whininess of the high G#.

[Michael Johnstone]

I was experimenting with putting a dobro tuning on the middle neck of my Stringmaster. I knew I wanted an E in the middle but it got in the way of the core dobro tuning which I wanted to maintain. So I pulled it out of the middle and moved it down to the 8th string position but it's still in the same octave it would be as string 4. Then I put a low C as the 7th string.
So lo to high: ECGBDGBD The re-intrant E and low C makes it a G11 you could say. The addition of the G and low C gives you a G6 chord, C triad, a Cmaj7 chord and an Eminor chord in open position. There's other handy intervals too plus all your straight up dobro stuff. It really sounds great on a Stringmaster and is great for cowboy stuff and is very bluesy for pre-pedal Mooney early Bakersfield bluesy styles. I loaned it to Cindy Cashdollar when she flew to LA for a session and didn't want to fly her guitar. She plays a lot of dobro so she took right to it and said it fit right in on the Americana stuff she was called to play.

[Robert Murphy]

I don’t use the low root with a band so BDEGBD.

[David M Brown]

I believe that the most common versions are;
GBEGBD
EBDGBD

But these all work too;
EGBGBD
EGDGBD
GDEGBD
DGEGBD
GBDEGB

And a couple more that might also work…
GBDGBE
DGDGBE

My current favourite is DGEGBD

Oddly, none of those were the 6th tuning I was taught many years ago!

I don’t use the low root with a band so BDEGBD.

This is the tuning I learned, it's the common A6 transposed down.

It's also an easy retune to E7 and E13:

BDEG#BE and BDEG#C#E

[Allan Revich]

I don’t use the low root with a band so BDEGBD.

…This is the tuning I learned, it’s the common A6 transposed down.

I should have included the BDEGBD tuning in my initial post. It’s fairly common, and is essentially the common 7string G6 without the low root.

[John Chadwick]

Can anyone on this thread recommend tabs for G6 or some tips on to think about the tuning if we know a little C6?
I have been playing for 3 years. I own one six-string lap steel, and I change out the strings every month or so because I am switching tunings, usually moving from GBDGBD to C6.
The dobro tunings are easier for me because of my experience as guitar player. But I sure love learning C6 and being able to get the classic honky tonk sound.
I am tired of changing strings and probably going to buy a second lap steel. But until then it would be nice to be able to move from GBDGBD to GBEGBD or EBDGBD.
I learned some c6 basics from Lessons With Troy, and I know enough to feel comfortable noodling around or playing through some Hank Williams songs. But when I try the GBEGBD, I am lost. Same with the Open D alternative DADF#BD.
Hopes this make sense. Thank you.

[David M Brown]

Can anyone on this thread recommend tabs for G6 or some tips on to think about the tuning if we know a little C6?

The BDEGBD tuning may be better for you

You can use A6 TAB, since it's the same pattern up a whole step.

Plus the top 3 strings still match your Dobro G tuning.

[John Chadwick]

Can anyone on this thread recommend tabs for G6 or some tips on to think about the tuning if we know a little C6?

The BDEGBD tuning may be better for you

You can use A6 TAB, since it's the same pattern up a whole step.

Plus the top 3 strings still match your Dobro G tuning.

Thank you David. I have heard good things about that tuning. But what would the gauges be on the two low (thickest) strings? I assume I could not use the two I have now. I am using a 56-13 set that's sold as an E major set but IMHO works great for GBDGBD on my Gretsch electromatic. Thanks again!

[Allan Revich]

Can anyone on this thread recommend tabs for G6 or some tips on to think about the tuning if we know a little C6?

The BDEGBD tuning may be better for you

You can use A6 TAB, since it's the same pattern up a whole step.

Plus the top 3 strings still match your Dobro G tuning.

Thank you David. I have heard good things about that tuning. But what would the gauges be on the two low (thickest) strings? I assume I could not use the two I have now. I am using a 56-13 set that's sold as an E major set but IMHO works great for GBDGBD on my Gretsch electromatic. Thanks again!

John, 56-13 will not work for Dave’s suggestion, but a C6 set will.
If you’d rather stick to 56-13s for G based tunings, you might look at
EBDGBD
EGDGBD
or take another try on
GBEGBD

[Tim Toberer]

Can anyone on this thread recommend tabs for G6 or some tips on to think about the tuning if we know a little C6?
I have been playing for 3 years. I own one six-string lap steel, and I change out the strings every month or so because I am switching tunings, usually moving from GBDGBD to C6.
The dobro tunings are easier for me because of my experience as guitar player. But I sure love learning C6 and being able to get the classic honky tonk sound.
I am tired of changing strings and probably going to buy a second lap steel. But until then it would be nice to be able to move from GBDGBD to GBEGBD or EBDGBD.
I learned some c6 basics from Lessons With Troy, and I know enough to feel comfortable noodling around or playing through some Hank Williams songs. But when I try the GBEGBD, I am lost. Same with the Open D alternative DADF#BD.
Hopes this make sense. Thank you.

https://gregboothdobro.com/videos-and-tablature I just found this. Should keep anyone busy for a while! Greg is such a fine musician, he seems to play mostly in EBDGBD I believe.
I don't know why, but it seems I will do anything to avoid playing in C6. Lately I am playing Open F and F6 ,7 string C(D)FACFAC. I just keep the bottom string light enough to tune between the 5th and the 6th, C to D in F. It is a little light when tuned down C, but still sounds fine.

[David M Brown]

...
Thank you David. I have heard good things about that tuning. But what would the gauges be on the two low (thickest) strings?.

John, 56-13 will not work for Dave’s suggestion, but a C6 set will.
.[/quote]

Yeas, a C6 set would work - and you can retune to C6 if needed.