|
Author
|
Topic: Open C Tuning
|
Ian-Shaw
New Member From: Naperville, IL USA
|
posted 31 July 2000 02:33 PM
profile send email edit
Appreciate some input -I have a Melobar 6 string steel that I'm wanting to tune to open C (C-G-C-E-G-C) - a whole step below open D, as I know and like the tuning pattern and my band does a lot of stuff in C where the steel should sound groovy. The challenge / concern seems to be string gagues. Any suggestions? I've got a .018 and, a .020 and a .031 on the high 3 strings so far, and there just is so little bounce to the strings - they just don't seem to resonate well (besides bends being a serious left hand cramper). I haven't settled on gagues for the lower strings yet. The string gauge guide I looked at from Bob seems to indicate: .064 or .066, .046, .038 or .036, .030, .024, and .018 are what I should be considering. Thoughts / opinons? Am I just nuts? Thanks for any help! Best,
Ian
|
Bob Stone
Member From: Gainesville, FL, USA
|
posted 31 July 2000 02:48 PM
profile send email edit
In my opinion, what you are experiencing is that the C tuning you are trying to use requires string gauges that are to heavy for good playing. If you want to try a C tuning, you might try one with E on the 1st string. Actually, Dobro tuning 6-GBDGBD-1 works well for tunes in C because you have the V chord on the open strings. |
Mike D
Member From: Phx, Az
|
posted 31 July 2000 03:55 PM
profile send email edit
Ian I play in Open C- CGCGCE on my Weissonator and like it alot. It gives both the low end and a nice high string for accents.
The set you mention would work well except the .18 might be a little heavy for the high E.
Pete Grant plays Open C as well, maybe he'll wander by and help out. |
Ian-Shaw
New Member From: Naperville, IL USA
|
posted 01 August 2000 11:21 AM
profile send email edit
quote:
I play in Open C- CGCGCE. The set you mention would work well except the .18 might be a little heavy for the high E.
Mike - thanks for the reply. It lets me know I'm not totally nuts (at least on this count). What string gauges do you use on the 3 bass strings? I'm still planning on playing around to try to find something I like for the high strings. Part of my challenge is that I've been using flatwounds, which I really like the sound of but find to be pricey enough to discourage an adequately large enough fit of string gauge experimentaion. Ian[This message was edited by b0b on 01 August 2000 at 12:01 PM.] |
Mike D
Member From: Phx, Az
|
posted 01 August 2000 12:43 PM
profile send email edit
Ian, I've never tried flatwounds so I can't comment on differences, I just use regular P-Bronzes.
I've bumped the low C and G up a couple steps. The low is a .059" but should be bigger, maybe a .064 like you said. The rest is regular med. set with a .014" on top.
I haven't been playing this guitar in C for very long, a few months but I'd like to get a few custom set's made up after I flesh it all out. |
The Steel Guitar Forum
