G6 Tuning: So many tasty flavours!

[Allan Revich]

Perhaps because one can tune as low as D2 on string 6 and as high as G4 on string 1 there are a myriad of playable tuning possibilities. Moving beyond six strings opens up still more possibilities.

I believe that the most common versions are;
GBEGBD
EBDGBD

But these all work too;
EGBGBD
EGDGBD
GDEGBD
DGEGBD
GBDEGB

And a couple more that might also work…
GBDGBE
DGDGBE

My current favourite is eGDGBD

On seven strings my current favourite is eGBDGBD

Anyone else using unusual versions of G6 tuning?

[Lee Gillespie]

I;ve been playing G6 on my lap now for almost 15 years. The reason I went to G6 was I took up the Dobro which is tuned to G. At the time I tuned my Lap to C6. It got convusing when swapping between instuments on shows... Soooo... I decided to tune my Lap to G6 and never looked back. I think the G6 tuning has a certain mellow sound verses the C6 tuning. Lee

[Jack Hanson]

I currently have different instruments set up in G6, A6, Bb6, C6, & D6 (1-3-5-6-1-3 & 1-3-5-6-1-3-5).

Tried E6 (ala Don Helms), but didn't like the whininess of the high G#.

[Michael Johnstone]

I was experimenting with putting a dobro tuning on the middle neck of my Stringmaster. I knew I wanted an E in the middle but it got in the way of the core dobro tuning which I wanted to maintain. So I pulled it out of the middle and moved it down to the 8th string position but it's still in the same octave it would be as string 4. Then I put a low C as the 7th string.
So lo to high: ECGBDGBD The re-intrant E and low C makes it a G11 you could say. The addition of the G and low C gives you a G6 chord, C triad, a Cmaj7 chord and an Eminor chord in open position. There's other handy intervals too plus all your straight up dobro stuff. It really sounds great on a Stringmaster and is great for cowboy stuff and is very bluesy for pre-pedal Mooney early Bakersfield bluesy styles. I loaned it to Cindy Cashdollar when she flew to LA for a session and didn't want to fly her guitar. She plays a lot of dobro so she took right to it and said it fit right in on the Americana stuff she was called to play.

[Robert Murphy]

I don’t use the low root with a band so BDEGBD.

[David M Brown]

I believe that the most common versions are;
GBEGBD
EBDGBD

But these all work too;
EGBGBD
EGDGBD
GDEGBD
DGEGBD
GBDEGB

And a couple more that might also work…
GBDGBE
DGDGBE

My current favourite is DGEGBD

Oddly, none of those were the 6th tuning I was taught many years ago!

I don’t use the low root with a band so BDEGBD.

This is the tuning I learned, it's the common A6 transposed down.

It's also an easy retune to E7 and E13:

BDEG#BE and BDEG#C#E

[Allan Revich]

I don’t use the low root with a band so BDEGBD.

…This is the tuning I learned, it’s the common A6 transposed down.

I should have included the BDEGBD tuning in my initial post. It’s fairly common, and is essentially the common 7string G6 without the low root.

[John Chadwick]

Can anyone on this thread recommend tabs for G6 or some tips on to think about the tuning if we know a little C6?
I have been playing for 3 years. I own one six-string lap steel, and I change out the strings every month or so because I am switching tunings, usually moving from GBDGBD to C6.
The dobro tunings are easier for me because of my experience as guitar player. But I sure love learning C6 and being able to get the classic honky tonk sound.
I am tired of changing strings and probably going to buy a second lap steel. But until then it would be nice to be able to move from GBDGBD to GBEGBD or EBDGBD.
I learned some c6 basics from Lessons With Troy, and I know enough to feel comfortable noodling around or playing through some Hank Williams songs. But when I try the GBEGBD, I am lost. Same with the Open D alternative DADF#BD.
Hopes this make sense. Thank you.

[David M Brown]

Can anyone on this thread recommend tabs for G6 or some tips on to think about the tuning if we know a little C6?

The BDEGBD tuning may be better for you

You can use A6 TAB, since it's the same pattern up a whole step.

Plus the top 3 strings still match your Dobro G tuning.

[John Chadwick]

Can anyone on this thread recommend tabs for G6 or some tips on to think about the tuning if we know a little C6?

The BDEGBD tuning may be better for you

You can use A6 TAB, since it's the same pattern up a whole step.

Plus the top 3 strings still match your Dobro G tuning.

Thank you David. I have heard good things about that tuning. But what would the gauges be on the two low (thickest) strings? I assume I could not use the two I have now. I am using a 56-13 set that's sold as an E major set but IMHO works great for GBDGBD on my Gretsch electromatic. Thanks again!

[Allan Revich]

Can anyone on this thread recommend tabs for G6 or some tips on to think about the tuning if we know a little C6?

The BDEGBD tuning may be better for you

You can use A6 TAB, since it's the same pattern up a whole step.

Plus the top 3 strings still match your Dobro G tuning.

Thank you David. I have heard good things about that tuning. But what would the gauges be on the two low (thickest) strings? I assume I could not use the two I have now. I am using a 56-13 set that's sold as an E major set but IMHO works great for GBDGBD on my Gretsch electromatic. Thanks again!

John, 56-13 will not work for Dave’s suggestion, but a C6 set will.
If you’d rather stick to 56-13s for G based tunings, you might look at
EBDGBD
EGDGBD
or take another try on
GBEGBD

[Tim Toberer]

Can anyone on this thread recommend tabs for G6 or some tips on to think about the tuning if we know a little C6?
I have been playing for 3 years. I own one six-string lap steel, and I change out the strings every month or so because I am switching tunings, usually moving from GBDGBD to C6.
The dobro tunings are easier for me because of my experience as guitar player. But I sure love learning C6 and being able to get the classic honky tonk sound.
I am tired of changing strings and probably going to buy a second lap steel. But until then it would be nice to be able to move from GBDGBD to GBEGBD or EBDGBD.
I learned some c6 basics from Lessons With Troy, and I know enough to feel comfortable noodling around or playing through some Hank Williams songs. But when I try the GBEGBD, I am lost. Same with the Open D alternative DADF#BD.
Hopes this make sense. Thank you.

https://gregboothdobro.com/videos-and-tablature I just found this. Should keep anyone busy for a while! Greg is such a fine musician, he seems to play mostly in EBDGBD I believe.
I don't know why, but it seems I will do anything to avoid playing in C6. Lately I am playing Open F and F6 ,7 string C(D)FACFAC. I just keep the bottom string light enough to tune between the 5th and the 6th, C to D in F. It is a little light when tuned down C, but still sounds fine.

[David M Brown]

...
Thank you David. I have heard good things about that tuning. But what would the gauges be on the two low (thickest) strings?.

John, 56-13 will not work for Dave’s suggestion, but a C6 set will.
.[/quote]

Yeas, a C6 set would work - and you can retune to C6 if needed.

[Allan Revich]

EGBDGBD

I imagine this might Greg Booth’s tuning if he played a seven string Dobro. It seems odd that there are lots of references to EBDGBD on six strings and GBDEGBD on seven strings, but nothing at all on this version.

I like it. Tucks the 6 out of the way for major chords and puts it in low root position for minor 7 chords. You pay for this simplicity by losing the 6 in its root position order and losing the slide-slant from the 6 to dominant 7.

The eight string version, EGBDEGBD gives the low root minor AND the 6/7 extension, but brings back having the 6 smack dab in the middle of the other strings again.

[Rich Arnold]

Perhaps because one can tune as low as D2 on string 6 and as high as G4 on string 1 there are a myriad of playable tuning possibilities. Moving beyond six strings opens up still more possibilities.

I believe that the most common versions are;
GBEGBD
EBDGBD

But these all work too;
EGBGBD
EGDGBD
GDEGBD
DGEGBD
GBDEGB

And a couple more that might also work…
GBDGBE
DGDGBE

My current favourite is eGDGBD

On seven strings my current favourite is eGBDGBD

Anyone else using unusual versions of G6 tuning?

G6 is my go-2 tuning for 8 string dobro. High to low DBGEDBGE.

https://youtu.be/ezz0hHQa5lU?si=n6AYcJkC54vkv-UV

[Andrew Frost]

Yes, G6 is great.
I use GDEGBD.
On 8 strings its GBDEGBDE.
Works for me.

[Rich Arnold]

I'll go even farther with this and claim that the G6 is pretty much a miracle. I'm not very intelligent.I was told I had a learning disability in grade school.
Through blind luck I stumbled on the G6. You don't have to take my word for it. Just listen for yourself.

https://youtu.be/ZRP91cDzWA0?si=rY71IEFtZ8wQ2fmT

[Rich Arnold]

I rest my case.

https://youtu.be/m9fhznLqliQ?si=fnXxY8ujkbA2V76j

[Tim Toberer]

Yes, G6 is great.
I use GDEGBD.
On 8 strings its GBDEGBDE.
Works for me.

I don't hear about that many people using 6th tunings with the 6th on top. I have this inversion on my pedal steel and I find it very useful!

Rich I am not questioning you at ll, but I am hoping to gain some insight into why G6 over A6? You have commented as to how much better jazz tunes sit in G6 compared to C6. I tend to like lower tunings, but I can't really explain why. One thing about tuning down, (I have 7 string tuned to F6) you gain so much range, without really losing the high end, it just gets a little more condensed in the upper parts of the neck.

[Allan Revich]

Yes, G6 is great.
I use GDEGBD.
On 8 strings its GBDEGBDE.
Works for me.

You’ve inspired me to try something new (to me) Andy;
GDEGBD and DGDEGBD.

As usual, having the 6 in the middle is a bit of a PITA for me, but I’m getting used to it. It’s definitely more useful there, and also fits better in that spot for musicality. With any luck I’ll be able to “play nicely with others” soon with these tunings.

UPDATE
Tried these tunings and liked them both, but I’m going to do something unusual for me, and try working with a couple much more common tunings.
GBDGBD and GBDEGBD. So far, so good.

[Andrew Frost]

I don't hear about that many people using 6th tunings with the 6th on top.

Ya Tim, that's generally true. However, the Bb6 tuning usually has the maj 6th tone as the highest..
Allan, I think the order of DEG, somewhere, is a key part of the tuning.
I believe Rich Hinman plays an interesting 6 string tuning that has the root on top,
something like EGBDEG, but I may be wrong.

[Miles Lang]

The top strings of G6 high bass (GBEGBD) are very similar to B11. I can sight-read a lot of stuff from Andy Volk’s B11 book in this tuning, remembering that it is a full step lower for pitches than B11. I find it to be a very versatile tuning, and is my main tuning on my Fender, Ricky, and Weissenborn-style steels. Sometimes I call it my secret A11 tuning just because I’m funny and I like to mess with people. of course, there’s no open A string, so it’s not really A11.

Ken Emerson was also a bridge in that tuning when he raises the 4th string in his low G tuning from D to E on “I Only Have Eyes for You” with Kimo West https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/uz6jqomb ... cpngf&dl=0

[Tony Oresteen]

I use (L2H) G B D E G B for 6 string and for 7 string I use (L2H) G B D E G B D.

Likewise my A6 is (L2H) A C# E F# A C#. It's the basic C6 tuned down to A then to G. I like to keep it simple.

[Rich Arnold]

Yes, G6 is great.
I use GDEGBD.
On 8 strings its GBDEGBDE.
Works for me.

I don't hear about that many people using 6th tunings with the 6th on top. I have this inversion on my pedal steel and I find it very useful!

Rich I am not questioning you at ll, but I am hoping to gain some insight into why G6 over A6? You have commented as to how much better jazz tunes sit in G6 compared to C6. I tend to like lower tunings, but I can't really explain why. One thing about tuning down, (I have 7 string tuned to F6) you gain so much range, without really losing the high end, it just gets a little more condensed in the upper parts of the neck.

Hey Tim,
You should be skeptical and question me.
I have lots of reasons for the G6.
I come from Jerry Douglas. So the 6 string DBGDBG was my tuning for many years.
With the G6 8 string lap, all it does is put an E in the middle of the 2 triads and an E on the bottom making the transition from 6 to 8 strings almost seamless.
The A6 is an excellent tuning. Lots of cats love the A6.
But if you've ever tried to play Bebop heads out of the A6... it's a pain. It's all doable though.
But in general, the G6 is easier for the go2 keys swing is written in. F, Bb, Eb and Ab.
In Bb in A6 tuning....the 1 chord in on the first fret.
As far as the C6.
I like a triad on the top. But the high G is a bit skinny.
A tune like this would be a real pain in an C6 or A6 tuning.
https://youtu.be/5KgO4Tba1BE?si=CQVE1fDwlzhnLl7T

[Tim Toberer]

I have lots of reasons for the G6.
I come from Jerry Douglas. So the 6 string DBGDBG was my tuning for many years.
With the G6 8 string lap, all it does is put an E in the middle of the 2 triads and an E on the bottom making the transition from 6 to 8 strings almost seamless.
The A6 is an excellent tuning. Lots of cats love the A6.
But if you've ever tried to play Bebop heads out of the A6... it's a pain. It's all doable though.
But in general, the G6 is easier for the go2 keys swing is written in. F, Bb, Eb and Ab.
In Bb in A6 tuning....the 1 chord in on the first fret.
As far as the C6.
I like a triad on the top. But the high G is a bit skinny.
A tune like this would be a real pain in an C6 or A6 tuning.
https://youtu.be/5KgO4Tba1BE?si=CQVE1fDwlzhnLl7T

That is kind of what I was thinking. I am surprised more people haven't gone to a G6 over a A6 or C6, considering G is the standard for spider bridge guitars. It is a great tuning as you have shown. There are a few free lessons on YouTube for 8 string reso on YouTube.
here's the basic stuff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6nFZJ5cNXU