C6 - G or D on top

Charlie Powell · From: Kingsport, Tennessee, USA

Newer player here. Can't decide on D or G for the 1st string on C6. Have tried both and seems on some songs I like one and some the other and many it doesn't matter. So curious what the majority does.
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Jerry Roller · From: Van Buren, Arkansas USA

I use a D firt string on C6th.
Jerry

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

Hey Charles,
I just recently began playing C6 and I wondered about the D too, but after playing a few weeks now, I'm going to leave the first string tuned to D because like you said, it comes in handy on some songs, but with many songs it just doesn't matter.

Joe

Gord Cole · From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

G on top
(Actually F# on B6 )
-Gord

Roger Edgington · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

I like the G on top for our western swing songs and I have parts worked out where I need it, but the D is nicer over all for me. I'm using a G on the pedal steel and D on the non pedal. Or you can do like Reece. He has both.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

This may be a dumb question, but why not put 11 strings on the C6 neck so you can have both?

It seems to me (although I really don't know about these kinds of things) if the D string is not altered by a pedal change, it would be possible to retrofit an existing double neck with an 11th string that is not connected to a changer finger.
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b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

12 strings... I have both.

If I had to choose it would be the D. I don't use the G much.
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robert kramer · From: Nashville TN

D on top and raise it a half step to D# on the 8th pedal. A 16 gauge string works good with this change.

Charles Curtis · Posted 14 Jun 2007 3:21 pm

Mike, I believe that Carl Dixon had an interesting post on this a while back. I think it was in response to a question I posed about a D over the G. I sure miss Carl.

Frank Freniere · From: The First Coast

Jonathan Cullifer · From: Gallatin, TN

I switch based on what mood I'm in. I have one change on that, my 5th pedal raises the 1st a half step. If I know I'm going to be playing more swing, I'll put a G on there. Otherwise, the D is better for single note stuff.

steve takacs · From: beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)

I use D on top but Herby Wallace has a lot of cool stuff I like and he uses a G. I think Mike Perlowin's idea of using 11 strings would be a great way have one's cake and eat it too. Anybody know what that change would entail? Thanks, steve t

Ken Williams · From: Arkansas

I play with the 1st tuned to D. It fits my style of playing better than the G, but to each his own.

Ken

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

Duane Reese · Posted 15 Jun 2007 10:03 pm

Buddy Emmons had a JCH double neck with 10-string E9th, and 12-string C6th, and I think usually a 12-string config will have both a D and a G, and an F (that's how mine was).

Billy Carr · From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)

I like a G on the first string for C6th playing. Gives it a western swing flavor. I've tried the D but keep going back to the G.

Bobby Snell · From: Austin, Texas

I like the contrast with the chromatic strings of the E9. I like the western swing and old-timey flavor. And I like using the pedal raising to G#, as that gives a major 3d interval with the 2d string. Makes a nice harmonized scale up the fretboard.

Buck Dilly · From: Branchville, NJ, USA * R.I.P.

On D-10 I use a D on top.
On D-12 I use both D and G as well as a B.

Jim Bates · From: Alvin, Texas, USA

G on top. Why should I waste a space for a string that I would use "only occasionally"?

Thanx,
Jim

Jerry Gleason · From: Eugene, Oregon, USA

I use the G. Probably because many years ago, I taught myself C6 by learning all the songs on Buddy's "Black Album", and many of them require a G to play certain licks. I have on occasion put on the D, to record a particular song where the single note articulation is easier with that note rather than having to make a whole tone raise quickly.

I've tried leaving it on and adapting to it, but I still miss all the licks that I know that use the G, so I always end up going back to it. Everything is a tradeoff. One way is not better than the other, it's just a matter of which works better for you in the style of music you play most often. If I were a new player, I'd probably start out with the D, since it's become the standard. Also, if my pedal and knee lever setup were closer to "standard" (as much as there is such a thing), a D would probably work better.

Emmett Roch · From: Texas Hill Country

I'm just now getting back into C6, and I can't decide...one day I like the D, the next day I crank it back up to G. Rolling Eyes

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Frederic Mabrut · From: Olloix, France

I've played a lot with G and recently switched to D.
It's much more fun!

Fred

Charlie Powell · From: Kingsport, Tennessee, USA

Thanks for the responses. I guess that's why it is so hard to decide. Running about 60/40 with no overwhelming majority, but an edge to D. I think I'll stick with D. I added a lever change pulling the Cs to C#s that you can combine with P5 and get the same notes by moving up 3 frets, but it is not as natural yet as having the G string. But in a way it gives me both so I will keep that and practice the move...
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Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

These polls are great, but do they allow you to fill in the missing options later? For example, even without advanced study in combinatorial theory, I see that "neither" (e.g., Jerry Byrd and Curly Chalker) and "both" (e.g. me and b0b) are missing from this poll.

John Sluszny · From: Brussels, Belgium

What Charles L powell said !
And you don't need that G string anymore !

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