One Tuning

Mike Dexter · From: Derbyshire, England

My main interests in Steel Guitar are Hawaiian and Western Swing.As a newcomer to the Steel is there one tuning that would get me 'those Sounds'?--and possibly no. of strings required. Your experiences would be very much appreciated.

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

welcome aboard. I'll start with my paltry two cents. I have been using, with some success, C6 and six strings and a lap steel.

Dwayne Martineau · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

The trouble with C6 is getting it to NOT sound like Hawaiian or western swing.

I found the straight 6th tuning fun and pretty easy to wrap my head around when starting out...



 > That's: 6{1 3 5 6 1 3}5  low to high


 > In C:   A{C E G A C E}G

The middle strings in brackets being the 6-string version.

Once that's in yr pocket, you can modify it to fit your needs, and easily get a grip on other tunings... C6/A9, dobro tuning, 13th tuning, etc...

It's also pretty easy to find TAB and instruction for 6th tunings.

-Dm

Dan Sawyer · From: Studio City, California, USA

Start with C6, the most popular tuning for western swing. It will also give you a great Hawaiian sound.

I like 8-string tuned like this (hi to low); E-C-A-G-E-C-Bb-G. (It's actually a C13 tuning but i just call it C6.) Also, try the last two to A and F.

[This message was edited by Dan Sawyer on 21 December 2004 at 02:13 PM.]

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Personally, I prefer E6th for both formats.

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

I was going to add to the C6 votes.

Keoki,
Please explain why you perfer E6. Thanks.

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

I suppose for a variety of styles, a 10-string E9/13 would be a good choice!
E–B–D–E–F#–G#–B–C#–E–G#
That's one of several that I plan to use soon!

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“Big John” Bechtel
’49/’50 Fender T–8 Custom
’65 Re-issue Fender Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here click here

basilh · From: United Kingdom

Like George, I would go for the E6th..

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Fernando Fernandez · From: Cadiz,Spain

My preference is A6 or with a little variation on bass strings B11.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

I like the G6th tuning which is (low to high) B D E G B D. What's nice is the fact that you can retune the 1st string to E and the 3rd to G# and you have an E7th tuning for Steel Guitar Rag and other good oldies...JH

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Livin' in the Past and Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Dwayne Martineau · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

I think I prefer the more dissonant tunings, like E13, although when I played a show last week I was mostly using the good ol' A-Major. Funny how useful that one is.

Actually, now that I think about it... if I were teaching a beginner, I'd start with a major tuning... A, E, or G probably.

I started learning steel in G and G6 (on a modified Squier Strat!) and spent so much time transposing C6 transcriptions that I just switched over. It was hard enough getting all the mechanics down, I didn't want to boggle my brain with tablature algebra.

I think C6 is also good place to start. Rewarding... lots of info available... and to switch to a fuller-sounding G6 or E6 is as easy as buying a new set of strings.

Keoki, you teach your classes in E major? How different is it from the E6 you use?

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

I, admittedly; couldn't put my heart into teaching (or attempting to teach) using a tuning that I did not normally use! I can admire someone who can/does!

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“Big John” Bechtel
’49/’50 Fender T–8 Custom
’65 Re-issue Fender Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here click here

Craig Prior · From: National City, California, USA

Mike:

The nice thing about C6 is it can easily be "tweaked" to a lot of other tunings.



C6 =    C  E  G  A  C  E


C6/A7 = C# E  G  A  C  E


C13 =   Bb E  G  A  C  E


A7 =    C# E  G  A  C# E


A6 =    C# E  F# A  C# E


A9 =    C# E  G  A  B  E


D9 =    C  D  F# A  C  E

See how you only need to re-tune a few strings to achieve these other tunings? Especially in conjunction with a Hipshot Trilogy, this is very easy to do.

Craig.

Rick Aiello · From: Berryville, VA USA

Add my second favorite ... to Craig's Easy Re-tune / No need to swap strings list ...

E9 (lo to hi)

D E F# G# B E

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Aiello's House of Gauss

My wife and I don't think alike. She donates money to the homeless and I donate money to the topless! ... R. Dangerfield

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