INSTRUCTION STRINGS CDs & TAPES LINKS MAGAZINES

  The Steel Guitar Forum
  No Peddlers
  F#9 tuning as per Speedy/Buddy

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
your profile | join | preferences | help | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   F#9 tuning as per Speedy/Buddy
Herb Steiner
Member

From: Cedar Valley, Travis County TX

posted 23 July 2000 05:08 PM     profile   send email     edit
As promised in an earlier thread, I put the "cockamamie" (as Speedy called it ) F#9 tuning on one neck of my Bigsby-style guitar. This is the tuning that Speed used to record "I'll Never Be Free," and Buddy said was also cool for "Oklahoma Stomp" and others.

To review, the tuning (with guages) is as follows:


E C# G# E A# F# D# F#
014 018 020 030 042 054 015 013

My assessment after 3 days of playing around with this thing:

Aside from a strum chord and the Speedy Octave lick with strings 6 and 8, I can't get a freakin' thing out of it, nor do I have any idea about where to start getting anything out of it!

Has anyone played this tuning and can anyone give some information as to where to begin working the positions/pockets with this thing?

IMWTK!

------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Homesite

George Keoki Lake
Member

From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

posted 23 July 2000 09:41 PM     profile     edit
Well, for one thing, F#9 sounds best in the 6 string format sans the last two of your 8 strings. I find it to be very nice in Hawaiian music and I doubt you'll get anywhere on it playing western swing...just not setup for that. Type of chords: for example, strings 12&3 on bar 8 give you a C6. Slant 10 9 8 on same strings, C9 . Strings in the bass, particularly 3456 on bar 6 will give you a deep C9. 123 on bar 6 will give you a C7th combined with the 9th. 234 on bar 8, another 6th chord. All of the 6th chords of course are also relative minor chords...(A minor in the above examples). Great for Hawaiian especially if you are using the C#m tuning. F#9 is an added enhancement over the C#m tuning IMHO.
Herb Steiner
Member

From: Cedar Valley, Travis County TX

posted 23 July 2000 10:00 PM     profile   send email     edit
Ah yes, I see these things now. Boy, my mind is really locked into the grip and scalar relationships of the C6 tuning. Having never really studied Hawaiian music in depth, I approach everything from a western swing perspective. I have lots to learn.
Thanks George.

------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Homesite

George Keoki Lake
Member

From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

posted 24 July 2000 07:25 PM     profile     edit
Herb, when you've learned it all, please let me know how ya did it. I've been pickin away since 1943 and at 72, I'm still as dumb as ever! I'll agree about one thing, western music and Hawaiian music are two different cats. There's a popular saying in Hawaiian circles regarding some so-called "Hawaiian" stylists..."You can still hear the 'country' in his music". It's no beeg deal, just an observation.

All times are Pacific (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | Catalog of Pedal Steel Music Products

Note: Messages not explicitly copyrighted are in the Public Domain.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46

The greatest musical hands in the world, now on CD!
"Legends of the Incredible Lap Steel"