The Steel Guitar Forum

I am total beginner on the lap steel. I’m getting an 8 string model. I was looking at all the different tuning options, so I’m totally confused. I have played the guitar for about 40 years and I am a pedal steel “owner“. What tuning should I start out with? Thanks, Jim

That's a great question that will get as many different answers as respondents! Welcome, btw. I would say deciding on a first tuning to explore depends on what kind of music do you want to play? Any particular player or style you want to emulate?

A lot of folks (for good reason) will recommend starting with an open tuning (dobro open G, open A high bass, open E, etc) that are just root, third, fifth. On an 8 string I might lean more to a sixth type tuning to give you more harmonic options, since you've got extra strings available.

Since you have to start somewhere... even if you change tunings down the road, the experience playing with the bar and picks will translate directly to any other tuning.

So I strongly suggest C6th because it is the most popular non-pedal steel tuning, and it has tons of tablature and instructional materials and videos available. Additionally a 6th tuning has the advantage of full minor and major chords enabling you to play nearly every song ever written.

I personally play A6th, which is not as popular but offers all the advantages of the C6th. My A6th videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... Gg3FmNze2f

What style of music do you want to play?

C6 is the most common 6 string tuning these days. For 8 string you might want to consider a C13. The standard C6 strings are still there in exactly the same order. Plus you gain dominant 7 chords.

C13 – G Bb C E G A C E
C13 – Bb C E G A C E G (Junior Brown)
C13 – C Bb C E G A C E (Low C – used by Jerry Byrd)