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Author
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Topic: Change G tuning to C6 with no string breakage?
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Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 31 October 2001 06:19 AM
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Dobros are always in G tuning (GBDGBD) in music stores. The string gauges on these instruments are very heavy, similar to medium gauge acoustic strings. I would like to demo these instruments but
I'd like to tune these instruments to a 6th tuning similar to C6 (CEGACE). Any suggestions on a tuning that will allow me to do this without breaking strings or collapsing the resonator? Thanks, ------------------
Gerald Ross
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
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Ricky Davis
Moderator From: Austin, Texas
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posted 31 October 2001 06:52 AM
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A6 is the way to go with those string guages and you won't break strings and will be the same intervals as the C6.
(G tuning) (A6 tuning)
D down 1/2 tone C#
B down 1 tone A
G down 1/2 tone F#
D up 1 tone E
B up 1 tone C#
G up 1 tone A
Have fun.
Ricky |
Andy Volk
Member From: Boston, MA
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posted 31 October 2001 08:15 AM
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Let me "second that emotion". I use a standard "G" tuning Dobro set on my Bear Creek Weissenborn in the A6th tuning Ricky outlined. Work's great.Sometimes music stores have their resonators or hollow necks tuned to open E. I usually test drive 'em by tuning to E6th by raising the second string "B" to C#. |
D Schubert
Member From: Columbia, MO, USA
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posted 31 October 2001 06:19 PM
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I'd say G6th, simply because you have to retune fewer strings. Leave the bottom three alone, and lower the three high strings... Before, bottom to top = GBDGBD
After, bottom to top = GBDEGB |
Gerald Ross
Member From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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posted 31 October 2001 07:14 PM
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If you go G6 aren't the top 3 strings a bit loose and flabby?------------------
Gerald Ross
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
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Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 01 November 2001 12:09 PM
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How about Bb6? D ------------- D no change
B ------------- Bb down 1/2 step
G ------------- G no change
D ------------- F up 1 1/2 steps
B ------------- D up 1 1/2 steps
G ------------- Bb up 1 1/2 steps |
Herb Steiner
Member From: Cedar Valley, Travis County TX
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posted 01 November 2001 12:59 PM
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I would go with DSchubert's suggestion, since raising the 5th and 6th strings, already pushing the envelope tension-wise with the high bass tuning, would be too much for the axe to handle. Of course, you could change string guages, but you want to keep the original strings on there, correct?------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association |
Ricky Davis
Moderator From: Austin, Texas
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posted 01 November 2001 01:08 PM
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I've done exactly what I said many many times with no problems on tension or intonation. With the guages of the regular dobro G tuning; to change it to a 6th tuning with same intervals as the popular 6-string C6th tuning....the A6 the way I decribed it; is the way to go. Tuning it to G6 with the high strings going down that far with the guages already there.....does not work. As soon as you put any kinda bar on the strings; you are out of tune and is impossible to play in tune....but if you don't mind playing out of tune...than it will work.
Tuning up the bottom three notes from the regular G dobro guages; a step and a half; is a little too much tension and wears down on the bridge too much.....been there done that...and I suggest "Don't do that".
Have fun.
Ricky |
Bill Leff
Member From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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posted 01 November 2001 02:06 PM
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From GBDGBD, just tune the third string down a half-step to F# (and the 6th string if you want to play that string) and you have Bm,
aka D6 (without the fifth (A)). Sol Hoopii and Dick McIntire used this tuned up a step for the C#m. I *know* you knew this!  |
Don McClellan
Member From: Kihei, Maui, Hawaii, U.S.A.
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posted 10 November 2001 01:36 PM
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Let me add, if I may, that whichever "6th" tuning you use on a 6 string lap steel, raising the bottom string 1/2 step (from C to C# on the C6th tuning) really works well. They call it C6th/A7th. I just started playing lap steel a few months ago after playing pedal steel for years. Being familiar with C6th pedal steel helps alot. Lap steel is a fun instrument to play. My pedal steel is getting dusty. |
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