Single vs. multiple tunings

Don Sutley · Post by **Don Sutley** » 5 Sep 2000 2:43 pm

I've been playing lap steel for about a year and I'm still pretty much a beginner. My question is this: Is there any advantage to learning to play in more than one tuning from the start? For that fact, is there any reason to play in more than one tuning if you're advanced? I'm a Junior Brown fan and he seems to do pretty well with one tuning. I play mostly in C6 (CEGACE) and just recently raised my 6th string to C# (C#EGACE) but I occasionly like to dabble with the Leavitt tuning (C#EGBbCD). I know regular guitarists will sometimes change their tunings to get out of a rut or their fingers seem "programmed" to play the same licks. My gut feeling is it's probably better to stick with one tuning until you have it down cold and then mess around with other tunings if you feel the need or need the creative stimulation.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 5 Sep 2000 3:14 pm

By all means, experiment with other tunings. Each tuning has its flavor. Your ear will be more cultured musically if you change tunings and see the possibilities of a different tuning.

The greatest lap steel player who ever will live, Jerry Byrd, will retune right on stage between tunings. Has done it as long as I can remember. He is as at home on one tuning as another one. It shows what the brain is capable of doing if one sticks with it.

So go for it bubba!

And may the Good Lord bless you richly in your endeavors,

carl

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 6 Sep 2000 2:13 pm

I saw Herb Remington do a set at a steel show once - I think it was the ISGC. While he was tuning up, he broke a string on his back neck. He said, "Oh hell, I'll just play it all on the front neck". He proceeded to play an entire set of Hawaiian music, with each song in a different tuning. He retuned the guitar by ear between every song, in front of the most sophisticated steel audience in the world! I was absolutely floored.

Herb is so cool. Nothing rattles him.

------------------
<img align=right src="http://b0b.com/Averybob.gif" width=64 height=81>Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session S-12 (E9), Speedy West D-10 (E9, D6),
Sierra 8 Laptop (D13), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (D13, A6)

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 6 Sep 2000 8:12 pm

Don- Carl's advice is good to take. Learn to play around with different tunings.

For one thing, when I played 6 string lap steel back in the 30's, I did just as b0b says about Herb.

I changed tunings right on the job, in between songs, to play different songs.

I used an A6 basic, then changed a string or two to play E7, or A7 or Amin or D9 or C#min. or E6.

A lot of times different songs sound better with different tunings. The way I put it, they lay better on the tuning.

So got to it and experiment all you want...al[This message was edited by Al Marcus on 06 September 2000 at 09:13 PM.]

Lynn Kasdorf · Post by **Lynn Kasdorf** » 7 Sep 2000 7:31 am

I think the basic C6 8 string is a really good place to start. I personally am fond of GECAGECA (hi to low). Then, for variety, try bringing the low A (VI) up a half step to a Bb (Viib) so you have a C13. Just changing this one string can do a lot.

------------------
"You call that thing a guitar?"

Don Sutley · Post by **Don Sutley** » 8 Sep 2000 8:01 pm

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to use this as justification for a D-8 or a Hipshot Trilogy bridge someday!

-Don