The Steel Guitar Forum

I am a newcomer to the PSG and there seems to be plenty of information on "just tuning"for the E9 tuning. Fractions,Cents offset, Frequency offset from 440 etc. But I can't find anything on how to "just tune, the C6 deck. Is "just tuning desirable on the C6 deck and does anyone have a list of the freq or cents offset from A=440 ? I am using a Korg tuner which is calibrated in both freq and cents. Thanks for any info.

Here is my humble offering.
I like the sound of Just Intonation. As long as the root notes do not move from string to string, this will sound great. No beats.

Root note> straight up
Fifths> 2 cents sharp
Thirds> 13.7 cents flat
Sixth> 15.6 cents flat

This data is from Petersen, the makers of strobe tuners, for a Just Scale.

Ron, thats exactly what I use. No one will believe me that thirds should be tuned past -10 to 13.7, but thats where I hear the beats dissapear, also fifths sharp. Very interesting.

What helped me was to dump the tuner for the most part and then tune the beats out wherever possible. If a string sounds out of tune with the other instruments I'm playing with I adjust for it. Tuning by ear helps my hearing. On my C neck it ends up mostly being close to straight up except the 3rds and 6ths end up a hair flat.

All steels and steel players are different. One set of numbers that works for one player might have very little to do with what works for another player.

Ricky Davis has a good printed up system around someplace.

Bob

If I can hear the guitar, I tune the 3rd string to C, straight up, then the 1st and 5th strings, G to C and then the 2nd string E to make the 'harmonious triad'. I then tune the 4th A to the 2nd E and then all the rest of the strings as octaves 4ths or 5ths to the top strings.

If I can't hear the guitar, then its C's and G's straight up, E's and A's -15 cents.

Like Bob H. said, tune the E's and A's 7-10 cents flat, and the rest at 440. On the pedals, tune any A or B note 7-10 cents flat. And for the C#'s, tune them 15-20 cents flat (try to lean as close to 440 as you can since it will keep pedal combos sounding acceptable. If you go too flat, the combos become bad). All other pedals tune 440. INSTEAD of this, you can tune the entire thing, strings and pedals, to 440. However, many of the common voicings may sound a little too sour. Once you get used to one method, and play it for awhile, then you will probably consider tweaking it to taste.

Thanks to all of you for your reply. You have been a great help.

Joe Wildman

Question for Chas:
Do you tune your E to the 3rd string's fourth-fret harmonic?

Dave, you could tune the 3rd string, C, 4th fret harmonic to the 2nd string, E, 5th fret harmonic as a way to get a Just 3rd. It's easier for me to just tune out the beats. Using the harmonics adds another level of difficulty, that being playing them and hearing anything out of the "Ma Bell" range.

I use pretty much the same method or relationships as listed above,except
for this: Since A-440 is the "standard",
I tune the A's straight up and adjust the
others proportionally. Just weird ol' me!
~~W.C.~~

Joe,
Do a search under my name. I had the same question and Carl gave me a great reply. Hopes this helps.
Andy

I use a set of powered headphones.
The e on the e9th is a440 then just tune the
beats out. The c on the c6th at a440 and then tune the beats out. This was out of self defense because we had a bass player
that would only tune up while I was trying to tune up.