ZZ Top

Archie Cox · Post by **Archie Cox** » 4 Dec 2002 8:43 am

I am playing a 10 string non-pedal steel with a ZZ Top cover band, and would like any suggestions with regard to a tuning that would be appropriate. I currently am using a C13 open tuning. Thanks.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 4 Dec 2002 9:07 am

How about: E,E,E,E,E,E,E,E,E,E

Try the sacred steel E7th tunings:
http://b0b.com/tunings/sacredsteel.html

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 4 Dec 2002 9:43 am

Most of the slide stuff I hear Billy G. play sounds like Open E to me. Maybe try a couple TAB sites or check out one of those official TAB books to see what he uses.

Archie Cox · Post by **Archie Cox** » 4 Dec 2002 1:36 pm

Thanks guys,

Andy,
I'm kind of liking the open E7 tuning I found on the Sacred Steel site. Do you know what the string gauges are on the eight string tuning?

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 4 Dec 2002 1:41 pm

No, Archie, I don't but John Ely's string gauge chart is the best, most useful one I've found:
http://www.hawaiiansteel.com/learning/gauges.html

John Kavanagh · Post by **John Kavanagh** » 5 Dec 2002 11:20 am

You might go with an 8-string E7 with a couple of out-of order high strings - an A and a C# would be what I'd want. An F# in the middle or on top would be nice, too.

So you could consider EG#Bdeg#bd'e'f#' or EBdeg#bd'e'g#'f#' or EG#Bdef#g#bd'e' or EBdeg#bd'e'f# or EG#Bdeg#be'ac# or something like that. You might find that for thrashing around it sounds better to have wide intervals at the bottom, so you might not even want a low range d. I wouldn't want a high g# myself, but it would transfer better from your C13 if you're used to a third on top, or if you're used to pedal E9.