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Author
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Topic: Chuck Lettes modified C6th tuning
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Gary Boyett
Member From: Colorado
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posted 22 July 2005 04:13 AM
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I have seen Chuck use his modified C6th tuning in concert and on his CD with a frypan and thought I would try it out.
This is pretty cool. From the top down
G E C A G F. Here is a link with a tutorial: http://www.pedalsteelguitar.net/lapsteel.php?PHPSESSID=731dc31a885e3eeb565a74f9c122b49f Here is my question. I like the F but still wanted the E for some chords that I am used to so on an eight string I did G E C A G F E C. Has anyone else tried this and what did you think? ------------------
JCFSGC,RMSGC,HSGA member since 2005
Fenders- Georgeboard- Melobar
Boyett's Glass Bars
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Charlie McDonald
Member From: Lubbock, Texas, USA
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posted 22 July 2005 05:37 AM
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I will definitely go through the tutorials.
I am playing with C/F: hi [E C G F C A].
Extended to an 8, it might be G E C G F C A F, or E.But the mod C6 may be more useful.
Thanks, Gary. |
Gary Boyett
Member From: Colorado
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posted 22 July 2005 06:56 PM
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The lower A makes sense. Since Chuck only talks about six string I just guessed on the lower two.------------------
JCFSGC,RMSGC,HSGA member since 2005
Fenders- Georgeboard- Melobar
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Jeff Strouse
Member From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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posted 22 July 2005 08:01 PM
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The F at the bottom of C6th really makes for some pretty chords. Bobbe Seymour teaches the following in his video courses: E
C
A
G
E
C
A
F |
Kris Oka
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 23 July 2005 12:17 PM
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Help Anybody: can you use Lette's modified C6 tuning with standard C6 strings. It seems like I have to really crank the strings up and I am afraid I am going to break something. |
Jeff Strouse
Member From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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posted 23 July 2005 02:41 PM
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The G on the top is a thin string...you'll probably need a .010, .011, or .012 to do it. If your top string is an "E", then it's probably a .015 or similar gauge and won't stretch that high.Now that I look at it, you'll probably need to change some more strings out, too. If you have 8 stringer with an E on the top, try the tuning I listed above. At least that will give you a feel of the "F" on the bottom. You'll be missing the major triad on top (G-E-C), but you'll have it on strings 4,5, and 6. |
Gary Boyett
Member From: Colorado
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posted 23 July 2005 02:41 PM
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Kris,You can change if you have the G on top now. You just change the E to F. If you have the E on top you would have to re- gauge the strings. |
Kris Oka
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 23 July 2005 08:59 PM
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Thanks guys, I guess I'll have to order some new gauges. I would hate to have a steel string break and score the finish on my SuperSlide. |
HowardR
Member From: N.Y.C.,N.Y.
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posted 23 July 2005 09:14 PM
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or, get the add a string kit to give you 9 strings and put the G back on top. You'll have the best of both worlds. |
Wayne Cox
Member From: Chatham, Louisiana, USA
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posted 24 July 2005 02:04 PM
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I would say that this is another variation of Jerry Byrd's "C Diatonic" tuning,albeit a nice one! Bobby Black also has a nice version in which he apparently combined JB's C-Diatonic with JB's C6/A7 tuning. Chuck's tuning is simple and logical; Bobby's is highly advanced and very rich in chord variations. Chuck's is for 6 strings, Bobby's is for 8. Bobbe Seymore's C6 utilizes a low "F",like the standard pedal C6. Its all good!
~~W.C.~~[This message was edited by a steel nut on 24 July 2005 at 03:45 PM.] [This message was edited by Wayne Cox on 24 July 2005 at 03:50 PM.] |
Gary Boyett
Member From: Colorado
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posted 24 July 2005 02:15 PM
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It is a semi-tone higher than E. |
Dom Franco
Member From: Beaverton, OR, 97007
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posted 25 July 2005 10:20 PM
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I use the same intervals but with an A6th tuning. Hi to low E C# A F# E D. This works great and you can use the same set of strings for a basic C6 tuning as well: Hi to low E C A G E C. Just a simple half step twist on a few strings. Dom Franco |
Wayne Carver
Member From: Martinez, Georgia, USA
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posted 28 July 2005 05:48 AM
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I use Chuck's modified tuning on my 6-string.I like it better since I was use to standard Dobro tuning. Some people say the high "G" sounds too thin so use the thickest string you can. I already had .016's for my three high strings and left them on there for the modified tuning.
Maybe Chuck could tell us what gauge he uses. |
Gary Boyett
Member From: Colorado
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posted 28 July 2005 06:30 AM
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I tried to email Chuck but got no response as of today. I would like to have him discuss his ideas on this thread. If someone talks to him let him know this is running.I don't mind the high G. I have used it on regular C6th and just got used to it I guess. My Fender Stringmaster does sound a little weak but the GeorgeBoard sounds real nice. I like being able to just move up one string rather than jump up the fret board. ------------------
JCFSGC,RMSGC,HSGA member since 2005
Fenders- Georgeboard- Melobar
Boyett's Glass Bars
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Denny Turner
Member From: Northshore Oahu, Hawaii USA
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posted 08 August 2005 06:39 PM
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I have recently finished some new charting work on the 6/11 tuning; Laying out it's split modes, scales, chords and modal substitutions boxes.I would appreciate any critique towards presenting the material any better, or any particularly useful pockets, voicings, patterns, etc. anyone might notice in the layout. Notice that there are a number of register positions (string) to insert the 4/11 note into the 6th tuning with different effects upon the mode boxes' structure. Click here for the charts. Thank You,
Aloha,
DT~
[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 10 August 2005 at 03:09 PM.] |
Chuck S. Lettes
Member From: Denver, Colorado
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posted 10 August 2005 09:20 AM
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Hi Gary,
I just got back to work (I"m a high school English teacher by day) and saw this post. Since I play both necks of my pedal steel, I felt that this modified C6th tuning was an easy way for me to start on the lap steel. I use a .012 for my high G. I know that the tuning is a bit "thin", but the sound really cuts through the mix, whether I am recording or playing live. Having the low F opens up many new sounds, and I can get many of the chords that I'm looking for, without using those pesky bar slants. I'll be featuring "Little Ricky" during my set at the St. Louis Convention this year. Check out my tutorial on Dick Meis' web cite.
Chuck[This message was edited by Chuck S. Lettes on 10 August 2005 at 12:27 PM.] |
Gary Boyett
Member From: Colorado
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posted 10 August 2005 06:53 PM
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Now wait a minute Chuck. An English teacher and you wrote web cite? Jus kiddin!  I should make fun of my own typing. Anyway,
Thanks for the response. The link to the "site" is in the first post for those of you out there in web land. What is the main advantage of the F? I can see some of your chords and voicing but don't you loose more than you gain? |
Wayne Cox
Member From: Chatham, Louisiana, USA
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posted 12 August 2005 11:07 PM
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CHUCK, I have the luxury of 8 strings and one of my main 8-string tunings is (hi to low): D.E.C.A.G.F.E.C . With eight strings I found the D on top to be useful in completing an Fmaj6 chord and useful for transition notes that connect scales on the upper end. This configuration also contains seven of the same strings/notes as a pedal C6 tuning. The bottom string could be tuned to C# for some nice 7th chords,also. Keep up the good work!
~~W.C.~~ |
Kris Oka
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 13 August 2005 09:08 PM
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HA Gary, I love the way you stuck Chuck on "web cite". Let me ask you fellas. My take is learning to play tunes on the steel requires my memorizing tablature is C6th tuning. I am still working on my first tune and if I used Chuck's modified tuning, will I have to rewrite the tablature. Or are you guys reading sheet music directly and playing without tabs. Because that is going to make learning steel a whole lot more difficult for me. Kris |
Denny Turner
Member From: Northshore Oahu, Hawaii USA
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posted 14 August 2005 01:20 AM
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Kris,SGF Members post their tabs on the forum. See the "Tablature" section on the SGF index page. quote:
I am still working on my first tune and if I used Chuck's modified tuning, will I have to rewrite the tablature.
If you're learning in C6, then stick to that tuning until you learn it reasonably well, ...then you can try other tunings which will then be easier to learn because you will have a foundation to work from; And C6 is a good if not the best tuning to learn first ...(IMHO). In most cases you would have to change the tab written in a modified tuning so it will conform to the tuning you are using; BUT in many cases you might not be able to achieve the notes under the bar in one tuning that often are not achieveable with a different tuning ....unless you are pretty darn good at determining the note differences on the neck and improvising what won't work. A real can of distracting / discouraging worms ...even for some intermediate level Players. ....IMHO. Aloha,
DT~
[This message was edited by Denny Turner on 14 August 2005 at 01:26 AM.] |
Kris Oka
Member From: San Francisco, CA, USA
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posted 14 August 2005 10:45 AM
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Denny, thanks for the tip. I was under the impression that Chuck said learning to play non-pedal steel was easier using his modified C6 tuning but perhaps he was referring to his transition from pedal steel to non-pedal. I guess I was searching for an easier way to learn the steel but it appears there are no shortcuts to this endeavor. Mahalo, Kris |
Denny Turner
Member From: Northshore Oahu, Hawaii USA
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posted 14 August 2005 04:02 PM
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Kris,Yes, I too think Chuck was referring to transference from his already accomplished mental picture / knowledge base. See my newly posted message on the benefit of learning the 6th tuning. I hope this helps. Aloha,
DT~
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