The Steel Guitar Forum

What tunings are you using? I've been thinking about a 12 string after hearing Bobby Black play one. I know that he uses a C6 with the high G and a D and B on top.

I would like to hear other ideas and how they work.

Thanks, Dave Z

Dave on my 10-string SS HAWAIIAN I use two tunings with the same string gauges for a 24" scale; and tune it back and forth depending on the gig I'm playing. It is my 10-string versions of a C tuning and D tuning.
<font face="monospace" size="3"><pre>
(C6th) (D13+9) (Guage)
1) G down 1/2> F# .012p
2) E down whole> D .014p
3) C down 1/2> B .017p
4) A stay same> A .020p
5) G down 1/2> F# .026w
6) E stay same E .030w
7) C up whole> D .036w
Bb up whole> C .038w
9) A stay same> A .042w
10 F up 1/2> F# .054w
</pre></font>
I spoke with Bobby on the phone one time about his tuning; and I also think that is the coolest thing, to have the M7&9th on top...he's too cool for school man.
Ricky

Dave;
At the present time I'm only playing on a T–8, however; I've experimented with expanding my present tunings to a T–10 in the very near future! C6/A7, C-Diatonic and E9/13 as follows:
#3.–E9/13 #2.–C-Dia. #1.–C6/A7
- - G# - - - - f - - - - - d
- - E - - - - d - - - - - b
- - C# - - - - E - - - - - E
- - B - - - - C - - - - - C
- - G# - - - - B - - - - - A
- - F# - - - - A - - - - - G
- - E - - - - G - - - - - E
- - D - - - - F - - - - - C#
- - B - - - - E - - - - - C
- - E - - - - C - - - - - Lo-A
Sorry, I didn't mean to give my ‘Secret’ away yet! I wanted a ‘one-of-a-kind, but; I'm just so excited about the thought of it! (Short-Scale, too!) ------------------
“Big John” Bechtel
’49/’50 Fender T–8 Custom
’65 Re-issue Fender Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here click here
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 21 December 2004 at 08:03 PM.]</p></FONT>

I am surprised and disappointed that no one has mentioned the Alkire E'Harp tuning! I am just now trying to learn to play the steel guitar (64 years old) and am studying the Alkire method since the old guitar I came in possession of is an E'Harp. This tuning, and guitar, seem to be very logically put together. Roy Thomsom has been helping me and I am really appreciative of his help and fascinated by this tuning. However, I am curious as to how many other people are using it and why it was not recommended to Dave.

What is the tuning Duane?

Thanks John & Ricky for the replies.

DZ

REMOVED

I was at a steel jam and Bob Black showed up with an E-Harp. He had it tuned to C6. It sounded pretty darn good through a little Fender amp. He played played the heck out of that thing. That's what got me more interested in a non-pedal tuning. He got E9 sounds, he played blugrass, swing, honky-tonk, you name it. He was the only guy there with no pedals. It was great to see a master in action close up. That's something I don't get to do too often.

Happy Holidays everyone!
DZ

The first 10-str. steel I played was an Alkire EHArp in the early ’50's. I went through all of Eddie’s available course-volumes. I wasn't really that fond of the tuning then, but; I believe now, after more than 50-more years of playing; it would be of a little more interest than before, and I'd have a better understanding of how to conquer some of potentials! I would hope that I have a better understanding of steel guitar and tunings than way back then and experience helps too!

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

Even on a 12-string guitar, two more strings on the bass-side would be intersting, for the EHArp-Tuning!
1-E
2-C#
3-B
4-A
5-G#
6-G
7-F#
8-F
9-E
10-C#
11-A/Bb/B
12-E/F/F#/G/G#

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

I have a 10 string acoustic which is tuned
EHarp. It sits in our family room as a peice
of furniture. It is playable and I play it often.

Thanks for the great 10 string tunings guys. I've got an Alkire D-10 and have the near neck tuned to the Alkire tuning but wasn't sure what to do with the other one. Now I've got some input to experiment with.

Kobe

------------------
Gibson D-8 Console Grande - Stringmaster T-8 - Alkire EHarp D-10
Fender Super Reverb
kobe@austin.rr.com
http://home.austin.rr.com/kobeco

I play a s-10 non-pedal steel. My tuning was inspired by the E-harp tuning and by Jerry Byrd's diatonic tuning. It is (high to low): D# E C# B A G# F# E D E. With this tuning I can play most any style music except heavy chord intensive jazz. Lead lines & scales are snap,once you become accustomed to the tuning. Just my $0.02.
~~W.C.~~

Reese Anderson has an interesting 12 string none peddle tuning!

My FrankenBro is a 10 string
battery powered,
speaker amp and steel in one.
With a dobro resonator imitator.
Tuned formerly to C6, but headed toward a E 13
when I finish therebuild.

Tom Morrell.Nobody else is even close, IMHO.