been working on a G6 copedent...

Andrew Frost · Post by **Andrew Frost** » 10 Jun 2021 5:21 pm

This set up came from working within limitations. I wanted to get something like a C6 or D6 tuning happening on a pull release guitar that has limited mechanical possibilities.
I started with D6, up a whole tone from 'standard' C6.

D6

1 E
2 F#
3 D
4 B
5 A
6 F#
7 D
8 B
9 G
10 D

I then lowered the middle strings 5&6 down to E & G and put the original F# & A on a lever. ( RKL )
So the tuning went straight to open G6 with that one alteration, and the lever 'restores' the open tuning back to D6, while also creating a C6 pedal 7 style effect on the G6 by introducing the maj7&9 chord tones. I also reversed the order of strings 1&2.

The first pedal is set up a bit like a C6 pedal 4, but against G6, and it sounds great in this tuning register. The next 2 pedals are more or less diminished pedals, inspired by what would be something like pedal 5 & 6 on a C6 or D6 set up. I like how the middle pedal creates a pretty straight dom7 and the 9th tone can be added with the first pedal.
These two pedals fit perfectly in this G6 scenario.

The tuning is super intuitive, and lines up with an E tuning in many ways as you can see.

I don't have a pedal 8 boo wa sound. If I had 4 pedals I'd probably set something up that combines with RKL and drops string 10 down to B. I suppose in that case, I wouldn't raise both D's on the left, just the bottom one to be a major 3rd. Fortunately, the 7#9 business is available on pedal 2 & 3 if need be.

Anyway, really digging this set up!

Marty Broussard · Post by **Marty Broussard** » 11 Jun 2021 2:07 pm

Andrew,
Your open tuning is almost exactly like the first 10-string tuning I played for Cajun Music. The pedals we had were the typical changes to the 4, dom7, and lowering/raising the roots. I’ve been thinking about how that tuning could be altered with the right coped to get some 6th stuff going. Im glad you posted this.

Andrew Frost · Post by **Andrew Frost** » 12 Jun 2021 6:19 am

It's a cool tuning Marty. I find it very intuitive because it relates to G and E tunings so closely. There are no E9 style changes on here going from 1-4.
I've thought about that, perhaps adding A&B pedals and moving it in a more universal direction, but its just a straight 6th tuning for now! Cheers

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 12 Jun 2021 7:45 am

Besides getting all the main chord groups covered, I like all the half-step interval options for both single-note playing and chord extension. Having the tonal centers at I and IIIb instead of I and IV is a different way of thinking through changes at one fret. On the other hand, for the guitar player in me, looking at the neck in terms of E and G is like sliding in to home. You have done a lot and gone outside the box (maybe even blown up the box) with 3&3.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 12 Jun 2021 8:59 am

Very nice!!

Andrew Frost · Post by **Andrew Frost** » 13 Jun 2021 7:09 am

Thanks Bob. I've found the discussions on D6 / D13 tunings & timbre to be really interesting. I'm digging the sonic range of this set up, which uses D6 gauges, more or less.
Fred- yes indeed, one aspect that really seems to open up the voicing possibilities is lowering the 3rds in both octaves with the Bb lever. This makes for a Bb6 when combined w pedal 3, at the same fret as G and E type chords, furthering the I-IIIb sort of thing you mentioned. So there's a lot of 'up 3, down 3' substitution stuff going on. As a guitar player, another real bonus I'm finding is having half-dim chords rooted on the E strings. This means Bm7b5 is at the 7th fret, and so on. Given that the tuning is basically Em7, the useful parallels with guitar are all over the place.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 13 Jun 2021 8:19 am

This makes for a Bb6 when combined w pedal 3, at the same fret as G and E type chords, furthering the I-IIIb sort of thing you mentioned.

Yeah, I noticed those tritone 7th and 13th chords (E/Bb) with pedals 2&3+LKR. That would probably be the star of the show if it was my tuning. Really cool.

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 13 Jun 2021 9:15 am

This is interesting to me. Will you be posting any audio/ video samples for us?

Dz

Andrew Frost · Post by **Andrew Frost** » 13 Jun 2021 5:46 pm

This is interesting to me. Will you be posting any audio/ video samples for us?

Ya, I'll post a video at some point!

Andrew Frost · Post by **Andrew Frost** » 3 Aug 2021 2:34 pm

Hey all. I'm doing a little follow up here. I've made a short audio 'walk-through' of the 3&3 G6 copedant for those interested in how it sounds. It's in video format on the YouTubes, with some visuals to accompany the explanation. I'm mostly discussing chord voicings and copedant details and playing examples throughout.
I'll post the link in Steel on the Web as well.
Hope you all are doing well.
Andy

https://youtu.be/fsFwJ7fVrVw

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 3 Aug 2021 5:13 pm

I get it now. Very cool! Thanks for the video.

Andrew Goulet · Post by **Andrew Goulet** » 3 Aug 2021 6:33 pm

This tuning is so cool!

K Maul · Post by **K Maul** » 5 Aug 2021 7:06 am

I use 8 string G6 with E on low string for 8 string dobro and my ‘49 Fender Dual Pro. I might try this on the back neck of my Bud Permanent.

Andrew Frost · Post by **Andrew Frost** » 5 Aug 2021 9:18 am

Thanks fellas.

I use 8 string G6 with E on low string for 8 string dobro and my ‘49 Fender Dual Pro. I might try this on the back neck of my Bud Permanent.

Very nice. I've been using an 8 string non-pedal version of this too. High bass w/ E's actually on top of the triads.

1 E
2 D
3 B
4 G
5 E
6 D
7 B
8 G

I find that given the rather low register of the tuning, having the 6th on string 1 & 5 works well. It retunes into E13 pretty smoothly too. 8 drops down to E, 4 & 2 go to G# & C#.

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 12 Aug 2021 11:53 am

I've been pondering something for an 8 string lap steel in G6 (I play bluegrass Dobro GBDGBD as well as U12 PSG). I thought about putting a couple of knee levers on the left and securing the steel to my right knee with straps.
If you only had two changes what would they be?

Dave Zirbel · Post by **Dave Zirbel** » 12 Aug 2021 12:08 pm

Brilliant! Thanks for the follow up video. I love it!

Andrew Frost · Post by **Andrew Frost** » 12 Aug 2021 1:47 pm

Thanks Dave. By the way, I appreciate you sharing that great Zane Beck material in the thread about him from a few weeks back. I've been listening to those recordings a whole lot.

If you only had two changes what would they be?

Sounds pretty interesting Jim. Everyone' tastes are different, by I find the E and G dominant sounds to be pretty useful, if not essential in this tuning. I have pedal 2 & 3 doing that, and they function together like diminished pedals.

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 14 Aug 2021 8:25 am

Andrew Frost wrote: https://youtu.be/fsFwJ7fVrVw

Thank you for this demo/explanation. To me, it sounds like the jazziness of a 6th tuning with the flow of the Nashville. And the low tuning with fat strings gives a very warm sound. Like the Hawaiian guitar sound.

Very tempted to try it. But what to do with the extra 2 pedals and 2 levers on my 5X5? I could get in a lot of trouble here.

Andrew Frost · Post by **Andrew Frost** » 6 Sep 2024 7:36 am

Very tempted to try it. But what to do with the extra 2 pedals and 2 levers on my 5X5? I could get in a lot of trouble here.