Would this be too weird?

Dave Horch · From: Frederick, Maryland, USA

Hi guys - I'm a D-10 PSG'er who almost never posts in this section. I couldn’t resist buying one of those $60 Artisans from MF (yes, they’re back!) to see if a lap steel might be a more ergonomic alternative to getting up from my PSG bench, strapping on a open-tuned hand-held guitar with a brass finger-slide for playing blues and rock licks I've learned in an E-major format. I figure, for 60 bones it’s worth the experiment (or at least I could sit in front of the TV and mindlessly noodle away with it).

Anyway - the REASON I'm posting is that my experience in the “old days” with a standard strap-on 6-string tuned EBEG#BE tells me I probably wouldn’t really use the low E, so I’m thinking of losing it to free up a string which may be more useful to me. After reading the “E Maj vs. C#m7” thread ( http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/006778.html ), I’m thinking of shifting strings 5 thru 2 down a position, adding that C# in the 2 position, and keeping the high E.

So I’m asking; would a B-E-G#-B-C#-E tuning be just too weird? I want to keep the BEG#B group together, and I’ll want that high E, so the 2-string is under consideration for a more “useful” note/interval. In your considerable experience, what might be a handy interval to put in that 2nd string position (if not the C#)?

For instance; Would a D (Vii (7)) rather than C# on the 2-string(B-E-G#-B-D-E) be a better alternative to the BEG#BC#E proposal?

Thanks in advance. Best, -Dave

(p.s. – What’s up with the cheesy wooden nut on that Home Depot scrap pile refugee? What would be a better replacement nut and where could I buy it? And, oh yeah, I’ll be moving that chord jack to a more suitable location – the designer must have been drunk (or left handed)

)

Peter · Posted 26 Mar 2005 2:18 am

Try this:
D-E-G#-B-C#-E

It is the E13th tuning that has been around for years.

Dave Horch · From: Frederick, Maryland, USA

---- intentionally deleted by author ------

[This message was edited by Dave Horch on 26 March 2005 at 05:47 AM.]

Dave Horch · From: Frederick, Maryland, USA

Peter - thanks for the reply. AH HA! A lower 7 (D) interval sounds like a really great idea! Thanks for the suggestion! -Dave

D Schubert · From: Columbia, MO, USA

Another good 6-string tuning along the same lines is:

B D E G# B E .....E7th

...and you can quick-change it (1st & 3rd strings) between songs to another useful tuning:

B D E G B D....G6th

Consistent with your original post, neither of these have the root on the bass string.

Dave Horch · From: Frederick, Maryland, USA

Thanks. I'll experiment a bit and let you know.

Now, Suggested string gauges?? Please.

Thanks again, -Dave

------------------
'95 Mullen D-10 w/ E66 (E9) & Mullen (C6)pups - It's still one smooooth puppy!
'04 Artisan S-6 - "The Home Depot scrap pile refugee"
Photo page: http://www.davidhorch.com/music

[This message was edited by Dave Horch on 27 March 2005 at 01:54 PM.]

Bob Stone · From: Gainesville, FL, USA

Dave,

That's the same (top 6 strings)tuning that sacred steeler Darick Campbell uses to good effect, although he uses an 8-string version. He has an instruction DVD on Homespun now.

Forum Index > Steel Without Pedals		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: