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Author
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Topic: Best tuning to start out with?
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Fred Kinbom
Member From: Brighton, UK
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posted 10 October 2005 06:44 AM
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Dear all,What would you recommend as a good, all-round tuning for a lap steel beginner? (I have a 6-string lap steel). I'm mainly interested in playing blues, rock and country (to start with). I'm most grateful for any advice (and for your patience with a beginner's questions ;-)! Many thanks, Fred |
George Manno
Member From: chicago
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posted 10 October 2005 07:32 AM
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I like C6 & but I also have one tuned to open D and another one tuned EAC#GBE (bass to high)GM |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 10 October 2005 07:35 AM
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If you already play guitar you'll probably find the open-E (EBEG#BE) and highbass-G (GBDGBD) the easiest to start with since their positions are easy to recognize for a guitarist. In open-E, think "E barre" on regular guitar, and in highbass-G, strings 2, 3 and 4 are identical to regular guitar tuning. These are not only "beginner" tunings, if you plan to stick to the styles you mentioned these tunings will last you a long time.
For a more advanced tuning with more obvious harmonic advantages, you can try the C6 (CEGACE),- you can play almost anything you want in this tuning, but won't get the lower power chords of the open-E tuning, for example. So there are pros and cons to almost any tuning,- choose one for now and stick with it until you feel ready to explore other tunings. Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com |
Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 10 October 2005 08:08 AM
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If I had to start out again, I'd choose open G tuning (bass to treble G B D G B D). You have the greatest selection of instructional material available in that tuning, regardless of what styles you want to play.
I started out using open E because the only teaching method I could find was Roger Filiberto's book published by Mel Bay. There is more teaching material available now than ever before, and the majority of it uses open G.------------------
Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
Fred Kinbom
Member From: Brighton, UK
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posted 10 October 2005 08:59 AM
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Thanks very much to all of you! (Steinar - Takk så mye!) I have ordered some GeorgeBoards DVDs on C6th tuning now. I've been using open E so far (as I am a "conventional" guitarist). Any recommendation of open G teaching material?Best regards, Fred |
Bryan Bradfield
Member From: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
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posted 10 October 2005 09:13 AM
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I favor Stacy Phillips.
In this thread he speaks of his about-to-be-released Hawaiian book: http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum2/HTML/007820.html
Check out his web site for the comprehensive book, The Complete Dobro Player: http://www.stacyphillips.com/
This book has sections on rock, blues, western swing, Hawaiian, country, bluegrass, etc, etc. |
Gerald Menke
Member From: Brooklyn, NY, USA
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posted 14 October 2005 01:07 PM
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Dear Fred,I think there is a lot of music in the (from low to high) C6 Tuning, namely C-E-G-A-C-E. Everytime I sit down with a steel in this tuning I am amazed at how much you can do with it. Tune the low string up to C# and watch out. Gerald |
Andy Sandoval
Member From: Bakersfield, California, USA
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posted 14 October 2005 02:46 PM
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I vote for C6 also. It's very versatile and adapts to a lot of different music I think. |
Rick Collins
Member From: Claremont , CA USA
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posted 14 October 2005 04:26 PM
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The C6th allows for more fuller chords straight across and more forward and reverse slant possibilities of fuller chords. [This message was edited by Rick Collins on 14 October 2005 at 04:27 PM.] |
Charlie McDonald
Member From: Lubbock, Texas, USA
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posted 15 October 2005 05:32 AM
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First time I tried C6 I could swing immediately. Lots of fun. |
oj hicks
Member From: Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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posted 15 October 2005 12:42 PM
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C6/A7 gets my vote. So much there to work with, even on a six stringer.oj hicks |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 15 October 2005 12:54 PM
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quote:
First time I tried C6 I could swing immediately.
Not meaning to diss the C6th tuning in any way - it's a great tuning with many possibilities - but there's also a danger to this 'instant gratification'; You can end up playing the tuning and not the tune. Of course this is totally up to the player, but in my experience I find that I am more aware of my note selection when I play in a 'simpler' major tuning. Of course, just because I tend to get lazy when playing in C6th doesn't mean everybody else does... 
(It's probably just me who's not familiar enough with the C6th yet.....) Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com [This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 15 October 2005 at 12:58 PM.]
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Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 15 October 2005 01:53 PM
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"You can end up playing the tuning and not the tune." What a great statement! Tune the guitar E-E-E-E-E-E if you want to, but find the intervals, some chords---to paraphrase, play the instrument!
Thanks, Steinar! |
Charlie McDonald
Member From: Lubbock, Texas, USA
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posted 15 October 2005 02:28 PM
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C6 didn't last. But it was fun.
I'm not sure I'd recommend my (lo) A C F G C E to anyone, but I like it. |
Peter Hart
Member From: Upton, Massachusetts, USA
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posted 15 October 2005 07:36 PM
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I have an old Oahu six string tonemaster which has been tuned to an open "G" tuning (like a dobro) for years. I don't use it much but you all got my interest in the C6 tuning. If I were to change to this tuning, what gauges should the strings be? Any recommendations? |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 15 October 2005 07:54 PM
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Click "strings" on top of this page and order the Jagwire C6/A6 set,- they're great, and you're supporting the forum at the same time.. Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com |
David L. Donald
Member From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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posted 15 October 2005 11:43 PM
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Look for Threadzilla in no peddlers. ( I bumped it)
"C6 Lap Steel modal theory"
and Denny Turner's site.
It will amze you at what C6 can do.GBD GBD is a very good tuning of course,
played it for decades
But if you play lots of minors, then look at C6
or tuinings similar. Look at Brad's Page Of Steel,
there are TONS of tuning ideas there.
Beyond your harmonic dreams.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 16 October 2005 at 05:26 AM.] |
Joseph Carlson
Member From: Sacramento, California, USA
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posted 17 October 2005 09:53 AM
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Just my newbie opinion, but either E7 or C6 would be good to know if you ever switch to pedal steel.
If you click on "instruction" above I think there are materials for both tunings for sale.
Regards,
JoeHere 'tis: http://pedalsteelmusic.com/instruction/nonpedal.html [This message was edited by Joseph Carlson on 17 October 2005 at 09:55 AM.] |
George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
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posted 17 October 2005 08:29 PM
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I've been teaching seniors on the E Major tuning for the past 10+ years. (It was great for Dick McIntire !) It's a very pleasing, melodic tuning and has a nice Hawaiian quality. FYI...This year I have 21 steel students ages 55 to 80, plus 14 ukulele students....lovely people!  |
Fred Kinbom
Member From: Brighton, UK
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posted 19 October 2005 03:37 AM
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Thanks so much for all the advice! Have a great day everyone!Got my GeorgeBoards C6th DVDs yesterday - will check them out tonight... Fred |
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