The Steel Guitar Forum

When I got my first lap steel several years ago, I chose to go with C6 tuning, and have PRETTY MUCH stuck with ever since. The only exceptions being a few brief periods of trying alternate tunings available on the same string set, i.e. A6, B11, Leavitt, etc.

I got my first Dobro a couple of years ago, and started learning open G (1-3-5-1-3-5), and have gotten somewhat used to it, as well.

I’ve never really been into rock-steel or blues-steel, so I’ve basically stayed away from open E (1-5-1-3-5-1).

I am now; however, thinking about getting one of Ted Smith’s Melobar double necks – with a standard Tele style neck over a six string steel. With it, I may want to delve into some rock flavored blues style stuff, so I’m considering open E. The problem is, I don’t want to give up the classic country licks and fills I’ve learned on C6. I’m basically talking about the Don Helms / Little Roy Wiggins type stuff.

I guess my main questions are:

Have any of you played classic country music on six-string open E tuning?
How complicated is it?
Can you point me to any YouTube examples of classic country on open E?

I'd suggest looking at the old E7 tuning, B D E G# B E, there's a lot of cool stuff that you can play in old-time country in that tuning.

Also from the E B E G# B E tuning, you can use an E7 like E B D G# B E or the classic E B E G# C# E by raising the B to C3.

Steve, I've been playing E tuning lately, and there are some nice Country sounds available if you use bar slants. There's a convenient slant on strings 1 & 3 that sounds good. You can hear/see it in my recent demo of the Epiphone Electar reissue lap steel, E tuning ---> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkCZbCcFzy4

I found this guy on youtube who I found to be very impressive with the faux pedal steel country sounds with an E based tuning.

https://youtu.be/iw6XvISAPjQ

Jim Wilmoth wrote:I found this guy on youtube who I found to be very impressive with the faux pedal steel country sounds with an E based tuning.

https://youtu.be/iw6XvISAPjQ

He's good with the behind-the-bar string pulls!

Hi Steve,

I have lots of tab and files for E major tuning.
On my sound clip here under using a Resonator
straight E Major. Nine Pound Hammer, Boogie Progression,
Crying Time. All are short and may prove to be helpful??
Link to MP3.....

http://picosong.com/U5Lk

Best Wishes
Roy

Steve, I have one of my lap steels tuned low to high E B E G# B E. I just mailed you some tabs of Tennessee Waltz, Georgia Steel Guitar, and Long Black Veil.

Although I don't go for the traditional country sound, I do use the open E(EBEG#BE), and have found so many great sounds with straight & slants.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8r387iGCCc

Raphael McGregor does some really nice string pulls here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNxsk7Yqdlk

I used D over G for my Stella album, and was able to get all of the country and blues licks that I needed. For electric lap steel, I recommend raising it a step to E over A: A C# E G# B E.

Jim Wilmoth wrote:I found this guy on youtube who I found to be very impressive with the faux pedal steel country sounds with an E based tuning.

https://youtu.be/iw6XvISAPjQ

This guy is using bOb's E tuning. Very impressive indeed!

b0b wrote:I used D over G for my Stella album, and was able to get all of the country and blues licks that I needed. For electric lap steel, I recommend raising it a step to E over A: A C# E G# B E.

b0b, I've never heard the "D over G" terminology. The example you spell out means "an A chord on the low strings, and an E chord on the high strings?" It looks like a cool way to compress related tunings. Hmmm.

AND, what a cool album! Who is singing? I really like the album, it reminds me of stuff recorded by folks way back. Simple, direct and honest.

Thanks, Rick. That album is all me in my garage studio. No overdubs - I sang while I played and stomped my foot. I'm very proud of it.