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Author Topic:   6 string A6 tuning?
Carter York
Member

From: Austin, TX [Windsor Park]

posted 12 June 2003 10:18 AM     profile     edit
Howdy folks,

I found this 8 string tuning for an A6,
F# A C# E F# A C# E

What would the 6 string version look like?
A C# F# A C# E ?

Thanks!

Carter

David L. Donald
Member

From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

posted 12 June 2003 10:30 AM     profile   send email     edit
I might but the 5 on the 4th string and the 6 on the 3rd
A C# E F# A C#
MAj bottom, minor top and a usefull major over all.
I use this as a G6 on Dobro for country blues.
Jesse Pearson
Member

From: San Diego , CA

posted 12 June 2003 12:59 PM     profile   send email     edit
I think I would want the top strings to stay the same for the licks that have been recorded around there by famous players. I would just take the 2 lowest strings off. I do this for all of my 6 string tunings and it works great. I would like to own an 8 string A6 non pedal steel one day. I haven't got to study this tuning yet but will before too long.

A6
-----
E
C#
A
F#
E
C#

[This message was edited by Jesse Pearson on 12 June 2003 at 01:00 PM.]

C Dixon
Member

From: Duluth, GA USA

posted 12 June 2003 01:10 PM     profile   send email     edit
E
C#
A
F#
E
A

Reason? I believe it's always best to have the root or 5th or both, in the bass register. The 3rd could offer an ocassional use, but I opt for the others more.

carl

Carter York
Member

From: Austin, TX [Windsor Park]

posted 12 June 2003 01:43 PM     profile     edit
Hey, thanks for the responses, I'll give those a try and see what happens...

CY

Jesse Pearson
Member

From: San Diego , CA

posted 12 June 2003 07:00 PM     profile   send email     edit
Hey Carter, looking at A6 without the 2 lowest strings gives you a "1st inversion close voicing A6 chord" on the bottom 4 strings. I think the practice of just letting the 2 lowest strings go is so its no big deal switching to 8 strings when the time comes. I believe most of the really cool licks on steel are on the first 4 highest strings on a lot of tunings. If you don't plan on moving up to 8 strings, maybe Mr Dixons suggestion is best.
George Keoki Lake
Member

From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

posted 12 June 2003 08:05 PM     profile     edit
The tuning setup Carl noted was fairly common back in the days of the dinosaurs. That, along with C#m, F#9 and D9 were darned good 6 string tunings and they still are today.
Andy Volk
Member

From: Boston, MA

posted 13 June 2003 02:43 AM     profile   send email     edit
As Jesse said, I just tune to A6th without the last two strings of the 8-string tuning:

E C# A F# E C#

Here are a couple of arrangements that make use of those low strings:
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum8/HTML/001084.html
http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum8/HTML/001091.html


David L. Donald
Member

From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

posted 13 June 2003 07:34 AM     profile   send email     edit
Carl's tuning puts the minor in the middle with a big ole major over all.
Just depends on where you like your majors 3rd
I have mine more like a Bluegrass G bottom, since I am crossing styles where this seems right. But I also put the 3rd above too sometimes.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 13 June 2003 at 07:35 AM.]

Jesse Pearson
Member

From: San Diego , CA

posted 13 June 2003 08:45 AM     profile   send email     edit
Keoki, could you please list the tunings for C#m and D9 that you speak of please. I have 2 different tunings for D9. One used by Sonny Kamachele and another said to have been used by Sol Hoopii?

Sonny's D9
----------
E
C
A
F#
E
D

Sol's non root D9 ?
Merle Kekuku
-----------
E
C
A
F#
E
C#

Sol's C#m
----------
E
C#
G#
E
B
E

George Keoki Lake
Member

From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

posted 16 June 2003 07:37 AM     profile     edit
Sol "Sonny" (Mr. Hollywood) Kamahele tunes to the D bass as I recall. (The late) Merle Kekuku also used the D bass whenever I was jamming with him. As for Ho'opi'i, C#m in those days was (and is) as you stated. Having never met Sol Ho'opi'i, but knowing Bud Tutmarc as I do, I can state that Bud uses the C#m format (shown) to this day. He and Sol were the closest of friends and of course, Sol was Bud's mentor and teacher.
Jesse Pearson
Member

From: San Diego , CA

posted 16 June 2003 10:11 AM     profile   send email     edit
Aloha Keoki, thanks for the info partner.
David L. Donald
Member

From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

posted 16 June 2003 03:24 PM     profile   send email     edit
It's so cool to be in this forum and only be 4 degrees separated from Mr. Sol Ho'opi'i.
Sol, Bud, George, Me. It is a quite amaziing thing.

( slight off topic ?)
Who played steel in the John Wayne movie (Sands of) Iwo Jima.
There is some nice Hawaiian steeling in a Honalulu restaruant scene I saw on the tube this week.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 16 June 2003 at 03:26 PM.]

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