But, I'm thinking of acquiring an 8-string lap steel. I know that the C6th tuning is used to play jazz, swing, hawiian. But, I was wondering if the 8-string non-pedal C6th tuning is equally adaptable to playing more bluesy stuff (rock, blues, some bluegrass, etc.) or would this be done more easily with a different tuning? Thanks for you input

[This message was edited by Tom Olson on 10 March 2003 at 10:02 AM.]

Theoretically, you can play any style of music on C6. Certainly it is one of the most versatile tunings. You might listen to Junior Brown (he uses a 7th on the bottom which technically makes it a C13 chord) for some samples of blues as well as Hawaiian and classic country.

That said, I keep a major chord tuning on my D8 Stringmaster for blues and rock and play just about everything else on the C6 (actually C13) neck. I'll often play the jazzier blues--especially those that contain minor or sixth chords--on the C6 neck.

Bluegrass? It's my experience (I'll probably hear about this) that only the most adventerous "progressive bluegrass" groups would invite an electric steel. Most want an acoustic reso. In my mind (I'll hear about this too), it won't really sound like bluegrass unless it's G tuning.

Maybe Mark from Blueground Undergrass will chime in.

Armed with the above info plus that which should follow for other Forumites, you can present to your significant other an excellent case for buying more instruments!

Go forth and explore tunings--and instruments.

I use the "Hawaiian" C13 high to low:

E
C
A
G
E
C
Bb
C (low bass)

That's dandy, but I am leaning more towards suggesting you try the A6:

E
C#
A
F#
E
C#
A
F#

...or maybe a variation of that, like the C6 with the G on top:

G
E
C
A
G
E
C
A

I think those two tunings are much more versatile and can play all the styles you listed. You'll need that top note in the A6 or Hi-G C6 to "fake" that Bluegrass G tuning sound.

[This message was edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 10 March 2003 at 10:52 AM.]

E G B D E G B D.....low to high

Now you've got the bluegrass G tuning with a sixth, and if you tune the E to F, you've got a dom 7th in there.

Of course now you're probobly more confused about which tuning to pick. Welcome to the wonderful wacky world of steel guitar.

G
E
C
A
G
E
C
Bb

Jr. Brown use's this one on his Guitsteel.

[This message was edited by Jesse Pearson on 11 March 2003 at 08:27 AM.]

here's an 8 string version:

A C C# E G A C E low to high

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Peter den Hartogh-Fender Artist S10-Remington U12-Hilton Volume Pedal-Gibson BR4 lapsteel-Guya "Stringmaster" Copy-MusicMan112RP-Peavy Rage158- - My Animation College in South Africa

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Peter den Hartogh-Fender Artist S10-Remington U12-Hilton Volume Pedal-Gibson BR4 lapsteel-Guya "Stringmaster" Copy-MusicMan112RP-Peavy Rage158- - My Animation College in South Africa

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C'mon by and visit!- www.markvanallen.com

My Band: www.sugarlandmusic.com

[This message was edited by Mark van Allen on 12 March 2003 at 12:25 AM.]

Isn't it considerably less important what tuning you use than what you do with it?

Seems like any tuning is only as versatile as the player. For example, Stacy Phillips can be more versatile in G than the guy down the street can be with eight necks and 143 pedals. Jerry Byrd can sound great on any tuning, and I sound like carp on A6 (and I imagine I will for at least a few more years.)

I'd think the main burden in versatility is on the studiousness of the player. It wont come from a tuning.

Mark -- thanks for your thoughtful insight. It seems that the general feeling is that the C6th (including some close variations thereof) is versatile enough to pretty much play anything, and I think Mark you pretty much sealed the case tightly shut

Scott -- I appreciate your input, and I agree that the ability, creativeness, and technical expertise of the player goes an awfully long way and that a great player can play great music regardless of the tuning used.

But, at the same time, it seems to me that the fact that there are different tunings out there, plus the fact that very good players do use various tunings is evidence that the particular tuning does have at least some impact on the sound and style of the music being played -- otherwise it seems that everyone would use one tuning or the same tuning

I guess I asked my original question because, being unfamiliar with the 8-string lap steel, and knowing that there were several different and well-known tunings out there, I was curious of whether I would be having to change from one tuning to another to get a particular sound or feeling.

But, from the comments above, it appears that I can rest assured that the C6th has plenty of versatility.

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C'mon by and visit!- www.markvanallen.com

For my middle neck, I use an E13 (h-l: E-C#-G#-F#-D-B-G#-E) for jazzy stuff. If I feel inclined, I sometimes will tune the C# to B, and the F# to E, for an open E7 chord. This works great for straight-on blues stuff.

Typically though, if I want to play a more delta-style blues, I'll use my A6 neck, tuned (h-l) E-C#-A-F#-E-C#-A-F#, and just avoid the 4th and 8th strings when playing chord strums and stabs. I can get a pretty convincing sounding slide guitar sound using single note runs, and double-stops.

In any case, if you have just one neck, a 6th type tuning with a 5th on top might give you the most flexibility that way.

Anyway, just my .02 -- YMMV!

TJW