The Steel Guitar Forum

I think its been covered here a while back, but I was wonderin' if anyone knows what Don Helms exact tunings were way back when he was playin' with Hank Williams?

According to Don it is (L-H) A C# E G# B C# E G#

That's very interesting, Mikey! While this is obviously correct, most of the "experts" I've read say that he, and Roy Wiggins, developed the E13th /w high G#.
Did he happen to mention how he tuned the other neck of his non-pedal Sho-Bud D-8? Or, what he did with the pedals on what I rashly asume was a D-10? (decades after Hank Sr.)
If it comes to that, did he not begin with Hank Sr. with a "Six"?

All I can do is quote from Don's Book "Your Cheatin' Heart" " SPECIAL NOTE! When Don was playing for Hank Williams he tuned the 7th string to C# (gauge 038W) and tuned the 8th to A (gauge 042W). He called the tuning E6th. He used this tuning through his entire career with Hank and still uses it today when he plays the non pedal steel on shows."

I've put one of my Deluxe-Eights in the E6 tuning and its kinda weird! I've been tryin' to figure out "Hey Good Lookin'", its not coming easy. Did Jerry Byrd play that one?

Murray, Keep lookin'. You'll find it. I, also was under the impression that Don used an E13. Doesn't a 13 require a dominant7 on the bottom? Anyway, that question is answered if you use an E6.

Don Helms' E6 tuning is (L-H) B C# E G# B C# E G#. He learned this tuning from Boots Harris, another steel guitarist from southern Alabama who played with Curly Williams. Don played on all Hank William's recordings from 1950 on - that includes " Hey, Good Lookin'". Don's other tuning was and is a B13th. Don has recently switched back to his Gibson Console and put up the pedal guitar. This info is from Don himself and I hope it helps.

Steve,

It is great to hear that Don Helms is back on the Gibson Console Grande regularly. He told me that he had purchased another one recently. I am looking forward to the next time I hear him play.

If you could give me your e-mai addressl, I would like to get in touch with you. Mine is annetteh@linknet.idt.net

Thanks,
Terry

Terry
Good to hear from you. My email is: slarios@home.com or you can check out my Steel Guitar Party website: www.steelguitarparty.com I've got a page devoted to Don Helms on it - just click on Don's name on the front page.
Best regards
Steve

You know, all of these differences are on the low two strings. You never hear those strings on Hank Williams' records anyway.

Don Helms says he tunes those strings to A and C#. In a "real" E6th, they are tuned to B and C#. In E13th, they are tuned to B and D. There's not a big difference between these tunings.

I know that when I play A6th or C6th, I often change the tuning of the low strings to fit the mood of the song. On the E13th, I routinely lower the D to C# for songs in minor keys, and to get that one phrase in Sleepwalk.

My point is that maybe all of these tunings are "right", as far as Don Helms is concerned. I'm sure a player of his ability would have no trouble with any of them, and I think it's quite likely that he changes his tuning on those low strings from time to time, if not from song to song.

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Bobby Lee www.b0b.com/products
Sierra Session S-12 E9th, Speedy West D-10, Sierra S-8 Lap

This is true...you never hear those 2 low strings on the records...I always figured, treat the top like E13, (or C6 up 4 frets) and those last 3 give you a major triad for backing up....just my opinion....
Mike