The Steel Guitar Forum

When I started playing LS at the beginning of the year I thought that a six string instrument would be easier for a learner so I bought one. It seemed to make sense since a four stringed uke is certainly easier than a guitar. A couple of months later an opportunity arose to own an eight string (Georgeboards S8). Both are tuned to C6.

There is no doubt in my mind now that it is far easier for a beginner to learn to play on an eight string. I really admire the guys who play so wonderfully on six strings which I find so much more difficult to handle and I rarely play my sixer now.

Is this anyone else's experience.

I started playing on a 6-string, and it's still my prefered number of strings, but I'd guess it would be just as "easy" to start on an 8-string, especially if one starts with C6 or one of the other "6th" tunings. An 8-string will offer a wider range while a 6-string loses most of the bass register in those tunings.

Steinar

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"Play to express, not to impress"
www.gregertsen.com
Southern Moon Northern Lights

That's an interesting observation, and one I've not heard much before. Can you expand a bit on what makes eight strings easier for you?

-Travis

Hi Travis,

What makes 8S easier than 6S for me?

(My 8S is lo-hi ACEGACEG. My 6S is CEGACE but I sometimes change the bottom C for a C# or Bb)

There is a symmetry about having to only learn four strings because the top four and the bottom four are an octave apart.

One perception of the major chord is strings 1,2 and three and they are a 'straight'. This enables easy invertions using strings 5,6 and 7.

For the beginner an anchor point is useful so if you consider the notes on the third string to be your key notes then that top G (1st string) adds a further dimension to the scale. I do recognise that the key note can be on other strings than the 3rd but that is for later on - I consider myself a beginner

I find that I use the 1st string (G) quite a bit and when I play 6S I feel 'handicapped' without it (the key note is then on the 2nd string and to go higher than the E you have to move a considerable distance away from the key).

Ray

6 or 8, it depends on which style of playing you are trying to portray or present;single note passages & scales or scales accentuated with chords. Long ago, Jerry byrd came up with some 6 and 8 string tunings that optimize and maximize both styles,such as his C6/A7 tuning. Most 6 string tunings are very limited unless you are just playing single note lines.
~~W.C.~~

My advice would be to try the High Bass tuning on the 6 string (E C# A E C# A) and the A6 tuning on the 8 (E C# A F# E C# A F#). You've still got your symmetry, you've still got your 5th on top, you've got the same intervals as the C6 tuning (a minor 3rd lower) AND you're a little closer to a C#m7 tuning (Sol Hoopii) or E6, which are my faves.

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www.mikeneer.com

Mike Neer on MySpace

What's wrong with 10? Eventually, they're going to graduate to it anyway ...

You just need to play a bit longer, then you will be driven mad and you'll have 5 guitars with different numbers of strings and differing tunings. Then it all gets hard.