G6 tuning on Dobro - Too much tension?

[Will Helton]

Howdy folks,

I'm considering using a G6 tuning at times on my dobro. Here is what I was thinking of going with:

(Low to high): G B E G B D

The question is: Will bringing that lower D string (4th string) up to E put too much tension on the instrument?

Many thanks,
Will

[K Maul]

I do it for short periods during gigs for certain songs with no problems. I have .036 on the 4th string. If you want to make that tuning permanent maybe you should change that string to a .034

[Will Helton]

Thanks, Kevin.

Sounds like a solid plan.

Have a good one.

[Fred]

It's a really common retuning so I wouldn't worry about it.

[Mark Eaton]

As Kevin wrote, put a 34 on the fourth string for tuning from D up to E. You can't "hurt" a dobro with a thick square neck in just about any tuning. But you can certainly "blow up" some strings with too much tension.

In my main modern resonator (Clinesmith) tuning a .036w 4th string up to E will explode the string every time. Sometimes even going back and forth between D to E and back up to E will even break a .34w - I've never been able to figure out why that is, but I've wondered over the years if it has something to do with the tuning machines - this guitar has Sperzel locking tuners, and it only needs one wrap around the tuning post then you lock it in.

So if I'm in the mood to play G6th for several days, to be on the safe side I'll remove the .036w fourth string that is on the guitar and substitute with a .032w.

[Paul Seager]

Depending on why you want a G6, consider dropping the low G to E. I use this for chord work on minor key songs. I tend to think of it as E min7 on the bottom and G on top.

Of course if you're after the soloing advantages of G6, what you propose works and there is more risk of a string snapping than higher tension! I agree with the advice above.

[Michael Kiese]

Aloha,

I find the best tool for this is a string calculator. There are many free apps.

I use this website a lot:
https://tension.stringjoy.com

From my experimentation, string tension of 15 ftlbs is too low, and 30 ftlbs is too high. Adjust the string gauge to get the tension you want given a specific pitch and scale length.

Try it out and experiment, experiment, experiment. Discover what you like.

Good luck and enjoy!

[Mark Eaton]

While the Stringjoy tension device is a handy tool, especially when it comes to the dozens of different tunings out there in the steel guitar world and the variety of guitar scale lengths - when it comes to lap style dobro GBDGBD is pretty much the equivalent of what standard EADGBE tuning is to regular guitar and over the decades we’ve had it figured out what the acceptable string gauges are for the instrument. And one thing we know for sure, when tuning up the 4th string from D to E on the typical 25” scale reso, the .036w that is included in the majority of reso string packages will break on a regular basis.

As far as the Drop E/E minor 7 tuning mentioned earlier, some of us first discovered it when Mike Auldridge used it for “Killing Me Softly/This Ain’t Grass” on his second solo album back in the 1970s, Blues and Bluegrass. He used it on a few other songs in his career, but pretty rarely.

In more recent years our friend Greg Booth has made great usage of the tuning for all kinds of songs, but to me it’s a way different approach to the G6th tuning on a dobro than GBEGBD, or at least it is the way Greg uses it or how Mike Auldridge did.

The 4th string tuned up to E version almost automatically puts you in swing and/or Hawaiian territory and you have to be careful with it if you’re trying not to sound like that for certain tunes.

[Michael Kiese]

While the Stringjoy tension device is a handy tool, especially when it comes to the dozens of different tunings out there in the steel guitar world and the variety of guitar scale lengths - when it comes to lap style dobro GBDGBD is pretty much the equivalent of what standard EADGBE tuning is to regular guitar and over the decades we’ve had it figured out what the acceptable string gauges are for the instrument. And one thing we know for sure, when tuning up the 4th string from D to E on the typical 25” scale reso, the .036w that is included in the majority of reso string packages will break on a regular basis.

Hi Mark,

I understand what you're saying. Trial and Error, experiment, test, repeat. That's all a tried and true method that can yield good results.

My point is: add a measuring device to that process. String tension calculators will give a quick, convenient, very close and pragmatic approximation of string tension. You can also measure string tension directly with a push/pull force meter, and doing some algebra.

A string is a string. They all behave the same way. A uniform string tied between 2 objects will be a straight line. The thickness, length, and material of the string will determine the tension, which can be measured in ftlbs.

Guitar players have discovered a lot about string gauges through sheer brute force experimentation.

The fact that process works, doesn't negate the fact that the process will be much more efficient and accurate using measuring tools.

I'm not disagreeing with your point, I'm adding to it.

I highly suggest that everyone be open to using string tension calculators. They are plentiful and free, and they work.

Input your GBDGBD, and EADGBE, and actually look at the string tension data. Whatever you discover, it will be helpful.

Knowing that 0.036w string will break on a regular basis is a good thing to know from experience. Then measure the tension of that 0.036w string in ftlbs, and whatever that value is, the data point is a threshold for that use case. It's helpful.

Enjoy!