Interesting 8 string tuning (I think) Em11(?)

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HowardR
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Location: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Interesting 8 string tuning (I think) Em11(?)

Post by HowardR »

My go to tunings are G based and several years ago, the late Bobby Lee presented a 6 string tuning that he called D/G....it's basically a Gmaj9.....L>H GBDF#AD....it's a powerful little tuning that offers a lot (at the expense of inversions).....Bobby also posted an 8 string version (these tunings are in the Links section)....L>H GBDF#ABDF#......this 8 string version adds a D6 that is not available on the 6 string tuning, but not anything else that I can see in terms of chords......I thought about this and came up with the following tuning that I don't recall ever seeing before.....

L>H EGBDF#ADC...the C is one tone lower than the D...

Not taking into account slants, string pulls, & skip grips, this is what I see....

Em - Em7 - Em9 - Em11 - G - Gmaj7 - Gmaj9 - Gadd9 - Bm - Bm7 - D - D6 - D7 - D13 (inverted)

Not sure if I'm missing anything, but this is what I see.....I won't be able to string up a neck until a few weeks from now so this is a concept until then.....I'm wondering if the re-entrant C will work well or if it will be a hindrance by where I placed it.....I pretty much wanted to keep the D a solid major, but of course it can be rearranged.....what are your thoughts with regard to this tuning.....and what is it's name, Em11?
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Joe A. Roberts
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Post by Joe A. Roberts »

If you don’t like the C up there, you could tune it to B which would certainly be useful, especially for simpler tunes where you don’t need the extra chordal power of the C.

I personally think 6 unique tones is the sweet spot for tunings, so I’d go with a duplicated tone and would probably prefer b0b’s version.
But I am sure there is some cool stuff on that reentrant C version.

You could also put the C on the bottom as a fat bass string! Or maybe C#, or…
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HowardR
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Joined: 3 Apr 1999 1:01 am
Location: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Post by HowardR »

Thanks Joe......I look forward to stringing this up & playing with it.....I did want a full dom7 option which is the reason I chose the C....if the re-entrant doesn't pan out, then perhaps I'll stick that C before the D instead of after it.....
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