Dobro Tuning

[telecat]

I know this is a dumb question, but as I am getting forgetful in my old age, I forgot the tuning on a dobro, can anyone out there help me out. (it might be old timers)...
telecat

[Jon Light (deceased)]

Most common, low to high--
G B D G B D

[Pete Grant]

Better yet, though, IMNSHO, from low to high:

D A D F# A D

It give you three roots including a root on top and generally gives you better access to all kinds of styles including bluegrass--though almost all of bluegrass dobro has been in G tuning.

[Chris Walke]

Pete--Is that the traditional Weissenborn tuning?

[c c johnson]

If you are not a bluegrass player, use Brother Oswald's tuning top to bottom E C# A E C# A>

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[Bill Leff]

For fun, tune up to the standard Dobro tuning (GBDGBD low to high), then tune the third string down a half-step to F# (GBDF#BD) and you'll get some nice Hawaiian sounds (avoid the low G though). This is tuning gives you a D6th chord (minus the fifth tone (A).

Works good for Hawaiian tunes like "Hula Blues".

Or you could use the D tuning Pete Grant mentioned and (DADF#AD) and tune the second string up to B for the same effect.

-Bill
-Bill

[David Stehman]

Pete - Does this tuning require different weight strings for reso than the usual (for
me) FT-13 or .18 -.56? Have tried tuning my Reed down to E version of 'standard' G tuning, but lose some response and volume. Is this the ususal using the "G" strings?"
Thanks
Dave Stehman

[Tony Palmer]

CC, same question as above, do you recommend different gauge strings for this open A tuning?
Also, why do you think it would be better than open G? Is it because of the better positioning of the A and E chords?