Alternate C6 tuning?

[Jeremy Glasgow]

Hi all,

I've been getting into C6 nonpedal lately and just bought Cindy Cashdollar's homespun tapes. I had always assumed that 8 string nonpedal C6 tuning had 2 lower strings, and was surprised to learn that she uses ACEGACEG. I'd like to follow along with her lessons but I don't have an 8 string guitar right now.

Does anyone use EGACEG as a C6 tuning? Is there a 6 string set, or should I just buy an 8 string set and toss the bottom 2? I've just got a cheap Rossetti 6 string lap steel right now, but my plan is to get an SX Lap 8 Ash 3TS model before long. Not an incredible guitar, but one I could afford sooner than later. Thanks y'all!

[Allan Revich]

I’ve looked through my tuning database, and most of my sources for the database, and have not found any references to C6 in that form. If it works for you with the lessons you might want to try it. But…

I think you’d be a lot better off using standard C6 (CEGACE) though. It doesn’t seem like you want to reinvent the wheel, and there are tons of lessons available online for standard C6 tuning.

[Joe A. Roberts]

I believe Bobby Ingano plays C6th like that, and with 7 strings adds a Bb on the bottom.

[Sebastian Müller]

C6 with a Hi G is actually not that uncommon, in a way it is a variation of A6 but higher in pitch. I am using it at the moment because I like the Major Triad on top , that makes navigating easier for me because it is pretty similar to the A Major tuning that I use a lot. Yes, Bobby Ingano is using it, Joaquin Murphey also did use a High G on top for a certain period in his career.

[Allan Revich]

C6 with a Hi G is actually not that uncommon, in a way it is a variation of A6 but higher in pitch. I am using it at the moment because I like the Major Triad on top , that makes navigating easier for me because it is pretty similar to the A Major tuning that I use a lot. Yes, Bobby Ingano is using it, Joaquin Murphey also did use a High G on top for a certain period in his career.

A question for Joe and Sebastian then, to keep my database up to date. Did/do Bobby and Joaquin play it on six strings, exactly as Jeremy inquired about, EGACEG?

[Sebastian Müller]

Hey Alan, Bobby plays a 7 string and Joaquin used a 8 string.

You can find the tunings of many players on John Elys excellent website:

https://www.hawaiiansteel.com/tunings/setups.php

[Frank Leppert]

I am learning with three courses, Don Helms E6, Jerry Byrd Course (only with the C6 part) and Cindy's C6 (with high G). I have a home built 8 string instrument, tuning A C E G A C E G. For the C6 (JB and other) material I ignore the high G. For the Don Helms course I retune it to E G# B C# E G#, ignoring the two lower strings. I must say I really like, all courses are great in their own way, getting the styles I like, Hank, Western Swing and Hawaiian.

[Tony Oresteen]

For 6 strings I use regular C6 (CEGACE) (L to H).

My 7 strings are tuned with the high G:

L to H C6 CEGACEG.

I find it very useful. At some point you should give a 7 or 8 string a go. I've never played an SX lap steel but I am sure others here have. Get one!

[J D Sauser]

I believe Bobby Ingano plays C6th like that, and with 7 strings adds a Bb on the bottom.

I use a Bb on the bottom too. Whole tone lower than the BE PSG C6th 10th string.
I should add that I play 12 string and my lower strings go from a "Jerry Byrd"-C (#8) on down:

#8 C (Maj->)
#9 A (minor ->)
#10 F (Maj ->)
#11 D (minor ->)
#12 Bb (Maj->)

A and D are the respective relative minor "root-trackers" (Maurice Anderson "Jargon") to their Major root-trackers C, respectively F above, and are thus also a 4th/5th apart respectively from each others as the Major trackers are.

F(Maj) is the IV to C(Maj) as Bb is the IV(Maj) to F(Maj).

So I can root thru all changes in all 12 keys, Major, Dom, minor, halfDim & dim, within 3 frets... so four times over along a 12 fret octave.

Bb on the bottom has been a major "Aha" moment for me.

... J-D.

[Dave Mudgett]

... just bought Cindy Cashdollar's homespun tapes. I had always assumed that 8 string nonpedal C6 tuning had 2 lower strings, and was surprised to learn that she uses ACEGACEG. I'd like to follow along with her lessons but I don't have an 8 string guitar right now.

Does anyone use EGACEG as a C6 tuning? Is there a 6 string set, or should I just buy an 8 string set and toss the bottom 2?

If you want to work on the high end of Cindy's tuning, then I would go with EGACEG. Nothing wrong with that. As stated, this is the top 6 of the standard A6 tuning, but a minor third up. Of course, it's missing the root on the bottom, but again that depends on what you want to specifically work on. The other two standard options are, of course, the standard C6 = CEGACE; or, if you wanted to work on the bottom 6 ACEGAC.

If you want to just buy a set of strings that works, a set for standard E6 = E G# B C# E G# would work fine - the tensions for the C6 you suggest are not that different. Personally, I went to just getting single strings for nonpedal steel and slide guitar. I've never been happy with any pre-made sets for open tunings. One can get get true single strings, but I just get them by the dozen at juststrings.com. Plains come to around a quarter per string, and wounds vary from about 3 bits to a buck per string. Getting true singles anyplace I know runs 3-4 times higher, per string. I use a string tension calculator to figure out the gauges based on what tension I want. This calculator works pretty good for me - https://tension.stringjoy.com/. For lap/console steel, I am usually in the 28-30 pounds per string range, plus or minus. But there are many considerations. For example, if I want to pull strings with my fingers, that's pretty tight. I'd probably go quite a bit lower for a guitar on which I was pulling strings.

[Paul Seager]

Cindy Cashdollar's videos were the second and possibly the most important step in my steel guitar learning path. I only had a 6 string at the time and I had only used C6 with an E on top so the added G was new to me.

I cannot remember what strings I used but it definitely wasn't a dedicated lap steel set. I probably just combined some sets of standard (and cheap) guitar sets.

Footnote: When I eventually got my first 8 string, I stayed with Cindy's tuning up to my first band project as a steeler. It was only when we changed singers that I found the need to tune down to A6 with minimal transition problems because, I was already used to Cindy's intervals.

[K Maul]

You will be fine for now with just six strings. Take a close look at the course and see how much she uses that high G. If it isn’t used much, then stay with the tuning with E on top. However, if lots of melody notes are on that G you’ll be best using EGACEG.

[Allan Revich]

This won’t be much help as a 6 string alternative, but I’m keeping one of my 7 string guitars tuned C6 with a G on the bottom, rather than on top.

E
C
A
G
E
C
G

I call it Mullet Tuning because it’s strictly business up front, with a party in the back. IE/ sweet C6 chords and melodies on the top six strings and raunchy strum chords on the bottom four strings.

[Fred]

This is kind of late, but Cindy explains how play the high G string stuff on the E string for those playing with a high E. I'd stick to the standard six string tuning.

If you get an eight string at some point you'll have to decide on G or D on top or two low strings on the bottom. For now though, the standard six string tuning is well balanced and it works just fine with Cindy's tapes.

[Stephen Baker]

If you're looking for that 40's/50's country/western swing sound, only have a six string and are using Cindy's Homespun lessons use EGACEG. That's how I learned. Okay, you might lose the odd low note but, if memory serves, I don't think she even uses the 8th string.

[Rich Ertelt]

I have one 6 string and I tune it to the top 6 of the C6 with G on top. I learned from the Cindy Cashdollar videos. I also took lessons from Ricky Davis and that was what he was playing, as well, as I remember.

Coming from guitar, and playing a lot of slide, it made sense as it is very similar to open G or A.
I'd hate losing that top G way more than losing the bottom notes.