RKL lowers 6th string to G

Johnny Prevento · From: West Virginia, USA

I just joined the forum and already need some advice. I have a MSA Classic 3x5. My problem is that my RKL lowers my G# to a G and I don't know how to use this change. Is this a standard set-up?

Larry Bell · From: Englewood, Florida

Lowering 6 to G OR to F# are both common changes. Many people with guitars that allow 'split tuning' lower 6 to F# then bring it back to G by 'splitting' with the B pedal. It lowers a whole tone then raises back 1/2 tone. Without split tuning the G would probably not be in tune. There are other ways of doing this, but the one I describe is the most common these days. (you could use a spring loaded 1/2 stop OR another rod to tune the midpoint)

The G# to G turns EMaj into Em

The G# to F# is sort of like the inverse of the A pedal.
If you are in the key of B, G# is the 6th and F# lowers to the 5th, as opposed to the A pedal where B is the 5th and C# is the 6th. Buddy Emmons has used the G# to F# change extensively -- works well with the E to D# lever and, more recently, with the 5th string B to A change some players use.

Although it may appear that the G# to G is more useful, there are many ways to get a minor chord (e.g., the B+C pedals back two frets from the No Pedals position -- GMaj at fret 3 with No Pedals and Gm at fret 1 with B+C). There are a lot of slick things that can be done with the G# to F# change, both alone and combined with other pedals and levers.

Hope this helps

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Lowering the 6th string a half tone is second in use only to the knee lever that lowers the E's a half tone, for me.

Along with the minor chord, you can also use that same string combination, e.g. 4, 5,6 (with the 6th lowered 1/2 tone), for a minor ninth. On the 5th fret, lowering the 6th string a half tone will give a IV9th or in this case at the 5th fret, a D9th.

I actually lower mine a full tone and have the half tone split with the B pedal. I also have the 1st string full tone raise (F# to G#) and the 2nd string 1/2 tone raise (Db to E) on the same knee lever (RKL).

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I have the change on a pedal and I use it, but not very much. If I had to do without one of my pedals, that would be it.

I mostly use it for the minor chord in a minor key. In major keys the relative minor positions make more sense to me, and sound more in tune with the band. But a rock tune that's in Am (for example) often just feels right at the 5th fret instead of the 1st or the 8th.

Lower the second string to D when you use it.

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Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra SD-12 (Ext E9), Williams D-12 Crossover, Sierra S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, C6, A6)

[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 17 April 2005 at 11:00 AM.]

Alan Shank · From: Woodland, CA, USA

I lower both 3 and 6 to G on RKR. This gives you, in addition to that minor triad, a bunch of 7th and 9th chords on the usual string groups 345, 456, 568, 6810. For example:

From the AB-pedal major triad position on 4, 5 and 6, go up two frets and engage your F (raise 4 & Cool

and G levers (lower 6). You still have the root note on 6 and the 3rd on 5, since you lowered both those string two while moving the bar up two, but now you have the 7th on string 4, since you raised it one step with the lever and two with the bar. Then, if you let off the G lever and engage the B pedal, you now have a nice-sounding 9th chord, no root note.

Similarly, from the no-pedals major triad position, go up one fret and engage the A pedal, E lever (E to D#) and G lever. Same result as above. Then, disengaging E lever and engaging F gives the same 9th as above.

You can also go from AB to AG and get a 7th without root; this is really just a diminished triad, BDF in the key of C.

So, to summarize:

GF and AEG are dominant 7th chords with R, 3 7, GBF in the key of C (this is the same chord structure as the BE chord)

AFG is a dominant 9th with 3, 7, 9, BFA in the key of C (this is the same chord structure as the ABE chord and the BF chord)

AG is a diminished triad, often used as a dominant 7th without root (this is the same chord structure as just the F lever)

Since I want to be able to get those chords on all the usual string groups, I lower both 3 and 6.
Cheers,
Alan Shank

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