The Steel Guitar Forum

I recently bought a Morrell 8 string lap and was given a sheet showing the tuning as (high to low) E, C, A, G, E, C, A and G.

I also have two books for 6 strings but understand these are useless with a 8.

Can anyone help me find a 8 string instruction course/ book so I can read sheet music. I presently play a regular '53 Gibson.

All help is welcome.

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Welcome and glad to see another member from the garden state. I play 6 string, so can't help. Where abouts?
Ron

Welcome David!
If those books you have are for the 6-string C6 tuning (CGEACE) then you can use them for learning on this guitars also. The 6-string tuning is the 6 middle strings on your 8-string, and the 1st and 8th strings are already represented in that tuning so they don't really represent anything new to the tuning,- just regard them as "add-ons" at the top and bottom.

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

Cindy Cashdollar has a couple 8 string videos with tab for C6 tuning, but not the one you have. These are available through Homespun.

Herb Remington has a pair of instruction videos for A6 with tab through Advanced Concepts. You can Google up the websites. Billy

Hi David,

I am new here also.

Cindy's dvds are good I have just received them but she seems to put the G note on the high end. From her book I am looking at : High to Low

G-.010
E-.014
C-.018
A-.026
G-.028
E-.036
C-.046
A-.052

Your guitar may require re-stringing for this tuning. Cindy's DVDs seem to be more geared to western swing but it is nice to see someone play and talk about technic too. I think these are excellent starting DVDs. You basically learn 2-songs on DVD1.

I am waiting for an 8-string I ordered to use with these.

How is the string spacing on your Morrell ? My 6-string is about 3/8 inch which is fairly comfortable. Are the 8-string Morrells about that width ?

Rich

Welcome, David. Your "add-on" strings are the two bottom ones. You can apply any 6-string C6 instruction you have, it's as good a way as any to learn the top 6 strings first. For the Cashdollar DVDs (recommended), the top 7 strings of your tuning are the same as the bottom 7 of hers,
so you can't go wrong there either.

Or you can tune that low G down to F, and get Bobbe Seymour's instruction material for the FACEGACE tuning favored by many (call Steel Guitar Nashville at 615-822-5555; or go to www.steelguitar.net

Or you can tune your Gs down to F# and your Cs up to C#, and you'll have the A6 tuning for Herb Remington's courses.

Get yourself a good teacher and keep pushing forward! --Steve <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Stephan Miller on 22 November 2005 at 08:21 PM.]</p></FONT>