One interesting variation on the standard 8 string C6th tuning is to lower the 8th string from G to F using a heavier gauge string. With the F on the bottom you get an F major 7th chord on the bottom 4 strings. I would call this variation the C6/FM7 tuning.
If you have only one neck you can retune C6/FM7 to a C13th tuning which has the same basic intervals as the Leon McAuliffe E13th tuning listed here by Don by retuning 3 strings. With C13th as compared to Leon's E13th you lose the root on the bottom but gain a 3rd on the top. In other words, add the 3rd on the top and move everything down one string notch (this is pitched 2 whole tones- 4 frets- than E13th.)
You can also retune the C6/FM7 tuning to E9th and to the Noel Boggs E13th, although either of those require that 7 notes be retuned. The same gauge strings should work for all 4 tunings, although you might want to use a slightly heavier string for the 5th string (the E in C6th).
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C6/FM7-> C13th ~ Leon's E13th (listed for reference only) *
1 E(3) E(3)
2 C(R) C(R) ~ R(E) 1
3 A(6) A(6) ~ 6(C#) 2
4 G(5) G(5) ~ 5(B) 3
5 E(3) E(3) ~ 3(G#) 4
6 C(R) ++D(9) ~ 9(F#) 5
7 A(6) +Bb(b7) ~ b7(D) 6
8 F(4) -E(3) ~ 3(G#) 7
R(E) 8
C6/FM7-> E9th --> Noel Boggs E13 **
1 E(3) E(R) E(R)
2 C(R) -B(5) +C#(6)
3 A(6) -G#(3) -G#(3)
4 G(5) -F#(9) -F#(9)
5 E(3) --D(b7) --D(b7)
6 C(R) -B(5) -B(5)
7 A(6) -G#(3) -G#(3)
8 F(4) -E(R) -E(R)
+ raise pitch 1 half tone (1 fret)
++ raise pitch 1 whole tone (2 frets)
- lower pitch 1 half tone (1 fret)
-- lower pitch 1 whole tone (2 frets)
* The C13th tuning in the top chart has basically the same intervals as the Leon McAuliffe E13th only everything is moved down one string, losing the root on the bottom and adding the 3rd on the top.
** The raised and lowered pitchs listed in the Noel Boggs E13th tuning are in reference to C6/FM7 and not E9th. To go from E9th to the Boggs E13th you only need to raise the second string one whole tone (2 frets) from B to C#.
To switch from C6/FM7 to either E9th or the Boggs E13 requires 7 strings to be retuned (not a quick change like E9th to the Boggs E13th) but the same string gauges should work for all 4 tunings listed in the chart. You might consider a slightly heavier gauge string for the 5th string (E) since for both E tunings you need to lower it 2 frets to D.
Steve Ahola
P.S. These alternate tunings are in addition to the A6 tuning which most people already know about.
