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Author
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Topic: Ben Harper tuning(s)
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Fred Kinbom
Member From: Brighton, UK
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posted 14 November 2005 07:01 AM
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Hi all!Does anyone know what tuning(s) Ben Harper uses for his acoustic Weissenborn/lap steel work? Does somebody know where on the web I can find Ben Harper tablature? Thanks! Fred |
Fred Kinbom
Member From: Brighton, UK
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posted 14 November 2005 07:13 AM
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...I found some info on Brad's page of steel:"This tuning is the one used by Ben Harper on his Weissenborn-style guitars. The lack of a third means the major/minor problem previously discussed is not present in this tuning. D A D D A D" So, am I to understand that this tuning features two identically tuned D-strings? What is the benefit of that? Does anyone have some string gauges to recommend for such a tuning? Thanks! Fred |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 14 November 2005 07:14 AM
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I think his most used tunings are (low to high):1 5 1 1 5 1 (usually tuned to D or E)
1 5 1 3 5 1 (usually tuned to D or E)
1 5 1 5 1 3 (usually tuned to C or D) Check the Ben Harper Forum, perhaps there's some more info on tunings and tabs there. Steinar PS - I just saw your new post, I think he mostly use the "no-3rd" tuning for his overdriven lap steel stuff. Probably great for those power chords where you really don't want a 3rd.
String gauges depends,- for acoustic or electric? Usually .015 - .056 (or .058) will do fine, buy one extra of the middle-D gauge for the no-3rd tuning. ------------------
www.gregertsen.com [This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 14 November 2005 at 07:20 AM.]
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Fred Kinbom
Member From: Brighton, UK
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posted 14 November 2005 07:33 AM
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Thanks Steinar! Pardon my ignorance, but what would be the string gauges for the 4 strings between the highest and lowest?  Thanks again! Fred |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 14 November 2005 08:09 AM
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Here's what I use for open-D;Asher Electro Hawaiian: 15, 18, 28, 38, 48, 58 Lazy River Weissenborn: 15, 17, 26, 36, 46, 56 Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com |
Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA
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posted 14 November 2005 08:55 AM
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From the Ben Harper FAQ on his web site:
quote:
How does Ben tune the Weissenborn, in general?
Ben has written several songs on the Weissenborn with respect to several different tunings. He uses:
D Major....D-A-D-F#-A-D
E Major...E-B-E-G#-B-E (sort of the standard tuning for slide)The tunings below are changed a bit to accomodate the tones Ben likes to hear. You can see that there are only two open notes across the whole tuning. This gives a more drony sound. He uses the D and E tunings in the same way at times by dropping the 'third' (string) one full step. i.e. F# becomes D, and G# becomes E. Lower modular tunings:
C...C-G-C-C-G-C
B...B-F#-B-B-F#-B
His web site also lists several sites providing tablature for his songs: http://benharpertablatures.free.fr/ http://membres.lycos.fr/harperacoustic/ http://harperpart.free.fr/
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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 14 November 2005 08:59 AM
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Thanks Steinar & Brad! |
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