6-string lap-steel: tuning?

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 1 Oct 2024 8:45 am

Someone has kindly gifted me a very acceptable-sounding 'knock off' of a Weissenborn lap steel.

I'm pondering upon how to best tune it.

First instinct was to emulate my Dobro (1-6: D,B,G,D,B, E - for relative minor applications), but would it make more sense - and be more versatile - with a C6th tuning?

What would you suggest? 1st string? E or a G, then descending? I think I prefer the closer intervals of a 6th setup.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 1 Oct 2024 9:03 am

Lucky you!
It’s obviously a different sound than a Dobro, so maybe just play around with it and see what kind of music it wants to make. That might help you decide on a tuning. D and G tunings seem to popular, and you can mess around with them without changing strings before you decide. If you want to try C6, or any kind of 6th tuning, you’d have to change strings first.

Allan Revich · Post by **Allan Revich** » 1 Oct 2024 9:24 am

1) Hit the ground running. Use your Dobro tuning.

2) Learn the de facto “standard” lap steel tuning; C6 (CEGACE)

3) Experiment like a madman, seeking the perfect tuning, while knowing full well that there is no single, perfect tuning.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 1 Oct 2024 11:03 am

I don't know what gauges are on it, neither do I recall how it was tuned when I opened the box.

I've played around so much in the last few weeks, and I'm sure I've over-tensioned the strings!

Allan has a point: I have a head-start on Dobro (open G, but with an E on the 6th - I like that!) so maybe that's what to apply myself to for now.

Fred · Post by **Fred** » 2 Oct 2024 7:00 am

I've been spending a lot of time with this on my Dobro. b0b's D/G six string version. It's a quick retune to and from the standard high bass G. I also have it on a Fessendeon 6 Shooter with A and B pedals.

High
D
A
F#
D
B
G
Low

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 2 Oct 2024 7:34 am

Thanks for some good suggestions. I think my preference is for:

High:
D
B
G
D
B
E (this opens up some nice minor inversions).
Low

I may need a heavier 6th - it's a bit sloppy tuned to E.

Allan Revich · Post by **Allan Revich** » 5 Oct 2024 9:51 am

Roger Rettig wrote:Thanks for some good suggestions. I think my preference is for:

High:
D
B
G
D
B
E (this opens up some nice minor inversions).
Low

I may need a heavier 6th - it's a bit sloppy tuned to E.

I use a variation of this on my 7-string guitars.

D
B
G
D
B
G
e

The “E” string is re-entrant, pitched between the middle D & G strings.