8-String Hawaiian Lap Steel Tunings?

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 19 Nov 2005 10:54 pm

I had an 8-string Lap~Steel back in ’01, while waiting for a new PSG and although most folks probably wouldn’t go for it, I tuned mine to C-Diatonic: (C)–(E)–F–(G)–(A)–B–(C)–(E)

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“Big John” Bechtel
Soon to be: New Burgundy D–10 Derby (w/6 &

’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15” Eminence
web site

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 21 Nov 2005 1:28 am

David, stagger into Brad's page of steel,
and tells us when you come up for air.
http://www.well.com/user/wellvis/steel.html

Edward Meisse · Post by **Edward Meisse** » 28 Nov 2005 10:34 am

I have more or less just begun to seriously play lap steel. I'm using what they call a low C6 (that is with the E on top) and I tune the 7th and 8th strings back and forth from A, F and Bb, G. I have a long way to go to either learn my way around this tuning or figure out any reason why I would need another one. I strongly suggest a C6 tuning to begin. The important part of that(from high to low) is E C A G E C. That is the heart of the tuning and the strings you will probably use most. You may just as well tune the others to whatever 8 string formation suits your fancy for now. Only after playing awhile can you figure out what you personally are going to need.

Chuck Fisher · Post by **Chuck Fisher** » 1 Dec 2005 1:41 pm

"Weird Chuck Fisher Tuning"????

I resemble that. Actually its just Jerry's 6-string E-13 with a IV powerchord underneath, I think Steiner uses this too. Its pretty versatile.

BTW can we ban any posts that mention a tuning without defining LOW-TO-HI or HI-to-LOW???

Ray Montee · Post by **Ray Montee** » 3 Dec 2005 4:12 pm

HIGH to lo has been standard for decades. (Before rock and roll and Hank Williams Jr.)

Younger folks are re-writing the book.... but at times it is confusing at first glance.

Anyone that is using the olde standard verson of C6th are short changing themselves possibly; by tuning that bottom "C" note to "C#". It gives you so much versatility, I do believe. And having that really, really LOW note below that is really a kicker.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 3 Dec 2005 4:27 pm

<SMALL>Actually its just Jerry's 6-string E-13 with a IV powerchord underneath, I think Steiner uses this too. Its pretty versatile.</SMALL>

Yeah, I really like that tuning, being used to playing 6-string in straight major tuning I found it easy to adapt to, plus it has all the advantages of the 6-string major tuning and those cool "extras".

At the moment I'm busy trying to figure out this C6add9 tuning though; (low to high) ACEGACED. That added ninth up there opens up some nice harmonic possibilities...

Steinar

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