The Steel Guitar Forum

I have this homemade 10 string lap steel that I tune to C6th, most of the time I keep it just like the C6th on my pedal steel, you know, D,E,C,A,G,E,C,A,F,C but here lately for certain songs in the key of E, I have been tuning the low F note to an E, so I can do the 'boogie' type things on open strings, Folsom Prison Blues & stuff like that. Anyone else using a 10 string lap tuning? If so, is yours different and if you know why, please tell us!! I love messing around with lap models. When I use an 8 string, I like to tune just like the 10 down to the low A, and instead tune it to a 'G' note, great for chording.

Ernie http://www.hereintown.net/~shobud75

I'm thinking of making a 10 string lap steel for myself and the tuning I plan to use is this (from high to low) D, B, E, C, A, G, E, C#, C, A. At least this is the plan at this point.

Don, I think the first 8 strings of your tuning are the same as what's on Bobby Black's Stringmaster.

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<small><img align=right src="http://b0b.com/b0b.gif" width="64" height="64">Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session 12 (E9), Williams 400X (E7, D6), Sierra Olympic 12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (D13), Fender Stringmaster (E13, A6)

I used to use an E6 with the top 2 strings tuned to the chromatics I use on my E9 pedal steel. It worked really well. It looked like this from 1 to 10:

F# D# G# E B C# G# E B C#

The first lap steels were developed by the late Eddie Alkire in Easton, Pa He called it an Eharp, did not use the term steel guitar be cause of the tuning. I play the Eharp, there are over 32 chords at each fret,this is three strings or more, mostly more. All inversions are there with the correct melody notes on top. What ever chord a piano can get you can also. If you read there still is music available even 20 years after his death. I am puting the tuning here from the thin string to the bass. Also I do have my own CD and tapes of the Eharp. Good Luck here you are E-C#-B-A-G#-G-F#-F-E-C# again that is from high to low. Let me hear from you. Longneck Eharp Claude Brownell

Let me add that Claude is a mighty fine steel player. He plays with a looseness and swing that I haven't heard in other players who use the EHarp tuning. Even Eddie Alkire sounded kind of stiff to me in the recordings I've heard - not so Claude.

Hi Claude, Glad to see you on the Forum.
What Andy said is true! You are a mighty fine musician and a great showman.
Your programs are full of magnificant sounds and entertaining humor.
Always enjoyable.
Blake

I mentioned this before, but I will do it again, Claude stopped by to see me at my shop and we played for several hours, everything you hear about that mans musicianship is for real - Claude, your the best in my book.

Ernie Pollock