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Topic: How to tune an 8-string when only playing chords for comping |
Terje Larson
From:
Rinkeby, Spånga, Sweden
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Posted 9 Sep 2008 8:25 am |
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| I've been using this tuning so far, low to high C E G A C E G D with the D on top being lower than the high E. That's pretty practical for lead work but I rarely do any lead work. I play simple chords for backing and I was thinking that perhaps this tuning would be better, low to high F A C E G A C E. |
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Michael Stover
From:
Kansas City
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Posted 9 Sep 2008 9:00 am
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You didn't mention what style of music; for rock or blues you might consider (lo to hi)
G A C E G A C E
This gives you a fifth in the bass of your major triad for a heavy, 'bottleneck blues' feel. Also you have a flat seventh in the bass of your minor triad, which adds an interesting color when used sparingly.
Right now I'm tuned G C E G A C E G on my C6 neck. But I'm considering ditching the high 'G' and going with a lower tuning like the one above. |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 10 Sep 2008 10:33 am
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I use F A C E G A C E for my C6 tuning. I don't comp much these days. What I do is find my 3rds and 7ths and use those as my chords for the swing/ragtime/blues/jazz stuff. For singer songwriter or country type stuff comping on the lap steel is pretty weak sounding and pointless. Like comping with a trumpet. If you are playing a rock/gospel/blues thing like the sacred steelers comping (framing) sounds fantastic with those big power chords in the tuning they use.
_________________
Bob |
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Fred
From:
Amesbury, MA
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Posted 11 Sep 2008 4:47 am
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You might consider an 8-string variation of the Leavitt tuning, probably adding two bass strings.
Jerry Byrd's diatonic tuning also has a lot of chords available.
Search the archives for lots of discussion of both.
Fred |
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