Dobro tuning question...?

Tony Harris · From: England

I'm used to C6 lap tuning, so find the standard bluegrass G tuning on dobro a bit limiting for chords. I read somewhere that Jerry Douglas uses D tuning on a lot of Alison Krauss's songs. This is the sound I love. May be something to do with Jerry's genius, rather than the tuning. I realise I won't be authentic doing bluegrass G tunes, but will the D tuning suit 'general' country stuff - songs that may have a few more chords, and not be in G? I don't want to use my C6 tuning, because although I'd immediately know my way around, I'll be playing the same old licks with a different tone! Thanks.

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

D may be the ticket for you since it has the same intervals as G, from string 2-5.



D......1  5135 1


G......13 5135

You could also tune one of your A's to B if you need a "sixth fix"

Come to think of it, I'm gonna tune one of my resos to D. Thanks.

[This message was edited by HowardR on 23 November 2005 at 05:04 AM.]

Todd Meadows · From: Morral, Ohio, USA

Sorry I don't mean to to be dense, but what would the each string be tuned to get the "d". I'm a rookie. I'm also looking for a good tuning for an old Fender lap steel I have. Thanks for the help. Todd

Tony Harris · From: England

Todd, I find C6 is a great all-purpose tuning on lap (Low to high CEGACE). I think Jerry's D dobro tuning is DADF#AD.

Larry Robbins · From: Fort Edward, New York

I like to use:
D, A, D,F#,A,D
low to high

------------------
SHO~BUDS,FENDER Amps,Teles',Strats',Hilton pedals,Tut Taylor reso's

...oops!...Tony beat me two it!

[This message was edited by Larry Robbins on 23 November 2005 at 05:41 AM.]

D Schubert · From: Columbia, MO, USA

Open D is useful and there are a couple of other tunings that can be grabbed w/o major retuning -- only a step or two, on two or three strings --

openD = D A D F# A D
lo-bass G = D G D G B D
D6/Bm7 = D A D F# B D

Changing back and forth among these tunings works pretty well, even on stage in real-tome.

More drastic retuning will usually change the tension on the spider, cone, and neck -- so that it will throw the whole durn thing out of tune, even the strings you don't touch. I've encountered the same de-tuning problem with and without a Hipshot Trilogy bridge, so I've convinced that it's inherent in the basic structure of a reso guitar.

Bill McCloskey · From: Nanuet, NY

Jerry uses standard G tuning for most of the stuff he does in AK's band although there are a few tunes done in D. I've played in both on my Dobro and while it is correct that you have many of the same intervals between strings (just moved over one) between G and D, and while I love D tuning and use it exclusively on my Weissenborn, there is nothing else like G tuning for playing Bluegrass.

While you lose with chords, this is not a problem in Bluegrass: you can fake the minors and everything else are pretty standard. What you gain is the ability to the fast single note runs that Jerry uses. I've found and extra string really gets in the way of all those runs. I would recommend Jimmy Heffernan's DVD's where he explores the Jerry Douglas "Million Dollar Lick" which is the basis for much of what Jerry is doing.

Don E. Curtis · From: St Louis, Missouri, USA (deceased)

Tony, very simple...just go to G6 tuning:
1-D
2-B
3-G
4-E
5-D
6-B
Then you've still got your Dobro stuff and open string tricks plus the fat chord and harmony intervals...it set me free, but it is no sub for D tuning.
Don

AJ Azure · From: Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.

or G6 this way
GBEGBD

My jazz tuning but, it gets me plenty of country sound in there too.

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Don E. Curtis · From: St Louis, Missouri, USA (deceased)

Actually it was my ex-wife!!

Todd Meadows · From: Morral, Ohio, USA

Thanks guys, That should keep me scratching my head for while.Todd

Rodney Garrison · From: Montague County , Texas (deceased)

HELP !! Any suggestions? I just ordered a resonator from M/F to try to learn how to play. I know the fretboard on guitars and steels. Should I tune to an open E to begin with?

Bryan Bradfield · From: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.

Rodney -

If you a re very creative, self-sufficient musician, then tune to whatever you like. However, if you suspect that you may some day seek either a teacher, or a tutorial, you should stick to a conventional tuning.

As an experienced dobroist, I tuned my first pedal steel to a G6 variant, based on dobro tuning. After 3 years of getting nowhere, I reverted to the conventional E9, and began to make some progress, by using available learning material.

Rodney Garrison · From: Montague County , Texas (deceased)

Thanks Brian
RG

David Doggett · Posted 25 Nov 2005 12:43 pm

I've seen pictures of Jerry on stage with several Dobros, like 4 to 6. But hearing him play it seems like they are all either the normal G or D, but tuned to different keys. That way he can play his signature open string hammer-ons and pull-offs no matter what key the singer needs. You can do pretty good with two Dobros and a capo. You can get G, and capo to A on one; and get D and capo to E on the other. A third one with heavier strings and tuned a step lower than D would be good for the key of C. It's all about meeting the needs of the singer, and still having the good open string intervals of the standard G tuning.

Rodney Garrison · From: Montague County , Texas (deceased)

David, I appreciate your input . Some of this is getting complicated. When I open the box ,How should this be tuned for a beginner?
1st
2nd
3rd ect ect?
Thanks David.
RG

Rodney Garrison · From: Montague County , Texas (deceased)

I got my resonator in the mail yesterday. Lots of tuning info but some are unclear in the sequence of string tuning.Is the 1st string the smallest dia. or do the tunings go from the largest to the smallest. This $129 guitar sounds big and phatt! Thanks
RG

D Schubert · From: Columbia, MO, USA

Rule for guitars, basses, Dobros, mandolins, fiddles, most lap steels, etc. is...

first string = highest pitched string = smallest diameter string

Rule is somewhat violated by E9th PSG, C6th PSG with D instead of G on 1st string, ukulele, 5-string banjo, where strings aren't all in high-to-low order.

David Doggett · Posted 29 Nov 2005 10:28 am

Rodney, the standard bluegrass/country Dobro tuning is (low to high) GBDGBD, or the scale notes 135135. The typical D tuning is DADF#AD, or 151351. The middle intervals are the same. But the different intervals on the lowest and highest strings give these different sounds, and they are considered different families of tunings. Round neck slide guitar blues players have these same families. But they more commonly use an E tuning, EBEG#BE (151351), which is the same intervals as the D tuning above; or an A tuning, EAEAC#E (515135), which has the same top intervals as the G tuning, but lower bottom strings (blues players love their low strings).

[This message was edited by David Doggett on 29 November 2005 at 10:29 AM.]

Rodney Garrison · From: Montague County , Texas (deceased)

Thank all of you for the help. The string sequence issue is settled. Now I just need to discover which tuning will work best for me. I'll be playing with lots of beginners at some of our community centers. Lots of ol' time country tunes and gospel songs.
Thanks to all of you for helping. Any more suggestions on instruction material is appreciated.
RG

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

"Lots of ol' time country tunes and gospel songs."

The standard G tuning will work great, and IMO is easier to learn as well. that, plus there is tons of tab on the 'net for dobro in standard G tuning to help you on your way.

I've fooled with "D" tuning, but found it pretty limiting. For most bluegrass and old-timey applications, the "G" tuning works best for me.

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

I usually start out my students with standard G tuning. Why? Because the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings are the same as in standard 6-string guitar. This similarity makes it much easier for guitar players to visualize what's going on with their new instrument.

Rodney Garrison · From: Montague County , Texas (deceased)

" G " it shall be. (For a try!)
Thanks guys.
RG

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