Tuning for 7 string national lap steel

colinmcc · Post by **colinmcc** » 24 Jun 2000 12:52 pm

I have a prewar National lapsteel with 7 strings. I normally play in open G on my six string, can anyone please offer advice on a suitable tuning? These 7 string Nationals seem fairly common, so was there a specific reason for National to have added them to their six string electric line, but never to have offered a 7 string accoustic instrument?

Thanks for any help,

Colin McCubbin

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 24 Jun 2000 11:24 pm

Hey Colin,check out the 7 string tuning topic posted on April 26 in the No Peddlers section.This should answer your question very nicely.[This message was edited by HowardR on 25 June 2000 at 12:25 AM.]

colinmcc · Post by **colinmcc** » 25 Jun 2000 10:08 am

Thanks Howard! Time for me to put some new strings on & experiment

Colin

Ric Nelson · Post by **Ric Nelson** » 29 Jun 2000 10:36 am

Coln:
Try E.
Top to bottom: E,B,G#, E,B G#, E

Bobby Lee · Post by **Bobby Lee** » 30 Jun 2000 10:30 am

I think that Jerry Byrd led the move from six strings to seven. His tuning was <pre>E
C
A
G
E
C#
C </pre>I'm not saying that it's the best tuning for your music, but it's probably the one that the guitar was built for. If you're used to an open G, I think that you should just add an E in the middle: <pre>D
B
G
E
D
B
G</pre>That's a G6 tuning. It will give you minor triads and some easy blues scales, as well as all of the open G stuff.

------------------
<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)[This message was edited by Bobby Lee on 30 June 2000 at 11:33 AM.]

Mike Ihde · Post by **Mike Ihde** » 1 Jul 2000 6:28 pm

Colin,
If you haven't heard of it, try the Leavitt tuning, from low to high, F#, C#, E, G, Bb, C and D. It may seem a little weird but you can play all the Jazz chords you want without any slants. If you like old standards like Satin Doll, Misty, Moonlight in Vermont etc. This is a very cool tuning. E-mail me for more info.

colinmcc · Post by **colinmcc** » 2 Jul 2000 10:21 am

Thanks, everyone, I'm having fun and confusing myself with all these ideas, I haven't thought much about the theory behind music for years, just played stuff I've perfected parrot fashion. I really appreciate the information!

Colin