Dobro Tunings

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 1 Dec 2002 4:52 pm

Can anyone tell me what tuning Jerry Douglas uses ? I wondered if all the top pickers use the G tuning.I am just starting with the Dobro. I have played lap steel for years with an E tuning and the G doesn't work for me.Thanks

Bud

r johnson · Post by **r johnson** » 1 Dec 2002 6:18 pm

I have been playing a dobro for one year.
Started out using a round bar and an E tuning. It was a comfort zone thing for me.
Recently I switched to the G tuning and a
Shubb Pearse bar #2. Two things were very apparent, the dobro comes alive in a G tuning and the bar improves the tone.
It's worth the effort to make the switch.

nick allen · Post by **nick allen** » 1 Dec 2002 11:51 pm

As far as I know Jerry D uses G tuning virtually all the time on dobro/resonator guitar. However, on Weissenborn and (electric) lap steel, I believe it's mainly a D or E tuning.
A search on this forum will turn up several discussions on the various merits of these two tunings. Look in particular for posts by Pete Grant on the advantages of the D or E tuning.
Nick

Ally · Post by **Ally** » 5 Dec 2002 9:29 am

JD uses D tuning a fair bit – more these days than on his older, more bluegrass albums. (Check out little martha on lookout for hope)

It's a great fun tuning, especially for bluesy stuff.

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 5 Dec 2002 11:19 am

I saw him in concert recently and he had two Scheerhorns. G and D (I'm pretty sure)and used them equally. When he broke the high D string on his G tuned guitar, he picked up the other one and retuned it.