I copied some tunings you guys have posted--b0b's E 13, A6, etc. Here are my questions.

Which neck should I start off playing? One of the middle ones, for comfort? So which tuning do you recommend for that neck? I guess I am after the Western swing sound, but again, I am new to non-pedal.

(I play an S 12 extended E-9 pedal steel, BTW).

I have a Jim Burden (big) bar, but it has the indentation in the end for thumb grip. OK for non-pedal?

Thanks in advance for all your ideas or suggestions.

Chris

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now living in the Ocean State ....

If you play with a band, think about most of the keys they play in. You don't want to be on the zero fret or the 12th fret. So tune one side or the other.

Tunings?
Don Helms E6
B6 with B,D#,F# triad on top. B6 and E6 complement each other.(easy to switch necks)
Leon's E13 for rockabilly, blues, big strum chords.
Maybe C#m for Sleepwalk, and some nice jazz chords.

Bar size? I think you will find the smaller the better until it too small, then go up a notch. I tried a 3/4 but my hand would cramp. A 7/8 is a better size for me. The cutout for slants is handy. The 7/8 red rajah is hollowed out, therefore lighter and very fast on the strings.

Hope this helps.

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Stringmaster T8, Benoit 8, National Tricone

I'd suggest that you go with an "E based" tuning, such as E13, E9, or E7. Also a 6th tuning, either C6 or A6.

As you know, I too have a quad stringmaster, and on one of the necks I put the standard E9 pedal steel tuning, strings 1 through 8. On another neck I have an A6(sus4)… same as standard E9 pedal steel strings 1 through 8 with pedals A & B held down and the second string lowered 1/2 tone (lever E). This works for me because I've been playing E9 PSG for 30 years and I can transfer over a lot of stuff to these two non-pedal tunings. It makes it easier to jump on the chords and to come up with licks right away. The other two tunings I'm using are E13 and C6/A7. My E13 is a work-in-progress, but progress has been slow lately because the guitar spends a lot of time sitting in the case!

C6/A7
1   E    .014
2   C    .017
3   A    .020P        
4   G    .024W    
5   E    .030     
6   C#   .036
7   C    .036 
8   A    .042 

A6 (sus4)
1   F#   .013
2   D    .016   
3   A    .010
4   E    .014   
5   C#   .017
6   A    .020P
7   F#   .026W
8   E    .030

Eadd9    
1   F#   .013
2   D#   .015
3   G#   .011               
4   E    .014
5   B    .018P
6   G#   .024W
7   F#   .026
8   E    .030

E13
1   E    .014  
2   C#   .017
3   B    .018P
4   G#   .024W
5   E    .030    
6   D    .034
7   B    .038
8   E    .056

My A6 is not a standard A6 non-pedal tuning because the tuning is an outgrowth of the E9 pedal steel tuning (strings 1 - 8). Since I already play standard E9 PSG chromatic tuning (on which the upper strings are out of sequence), I set up my A6 on the Quad to mirror the E9 PSG tuning with pedals A & B down and string 2 lowered 1/2 tone. I wouldn't suggest this sequence for someone starting out on A6 lap steel, but if a player is used to E9 PSG, it makes perfect sense. If a player already has a lot of patterns and finger rolls worked out on PSG, he can just transfer these riffs over to this lap steel tuning.

E9 PSG (st. 1 - 8). Press pedals A & B and lower string two 1/2 tone to produce A6(sus4)

E9 PSG      A6sus4 (same as E9 PSG with pedals A & B & knee lever E)
  
F# ----------- F#
D# ----------> D
G# ----------> A
E  ----------- E
B  ----------> C#
G# ----------> A
F# ----------- F#
E  ----------- E

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My Site - Instruction | Doug's Free Tab | Steels and Accessories

[This message was edited by Doug Beaumier on 12 April 2003 at 10:45 PM.]

1. D (one tone lower than second string)
2. E
3. C
4. A
5. G
6. E
7. C#
8. C

[This message was edited by HowardR on 13 April 2003 at 04:25 PM.]

I don't because I like having a straight dom 7th chord without a skip grip. I like to be able to strum, and so I use my left thumb to mute the bottom C. In addition it gives me a little percussive effect. I also have the option to mute the 1st & 2nd string with my left ring finger behind the bar (pulled back), so that I can strum with wild abandon. This is on my 7 string resonator.

Now I know why you play pedals....

[This message was edited by HowardR on 14 April 2003 at 08:39 AM.]

Incidently that A note on string 8 is a low low A note. It is the same note as the 10th string on a D-10 (C6 neck) with pedal 8 engaged. Since this is a large gauge string, it is often necessary to file the nut groove deeper to keep from having to use excessive bar pressure at the lower frets.

Jerry will often bump this low A note in a staccato affect when music calls for it, creating a nice embelishment to his wizardy.

BTW, I am using a 1 inch Burden bar. Is this too big to get the slants? Or as Ray says, find what you like and go with it.

Ray, I appreciate your prodding! You know how it is: you buy an instrument on the spur of the moment, say to yourself, "One of these days I'm going to set that thing up and learn it," 20 years go by and you realize it's still under the bed--or in the storage unit as my Fender is!

Doug, your suggestions make a lot of sense. Thanks, and I hope to see you and your rig at the Mass Bash. I am glad you bought the 3-neck last month.

Chris

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now living in the Ocean State ....