b6th-10string

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Joe Delaronde
Posts: 1037
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada

b6th-10string

Post by Joe Delaronde »

I have an old 10 steel, I want to convert to non-pedal using a B6th tuning. I want to use a tuning similar to my pedal steel with the Es lowered, but a mod on the 9 & 10th strings. IE: #10-A; #9-B; #8-Eb; #7-F#; #6-G#; #5-B; #4-Eb; #3-G#
....What should I tune # 1 & 2 strings to?
Thanks Joe
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Bobby Lee
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Posts: 14863
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Cloverdale, California, USA

Post by Bobby Lee »

Consider this: <font face="monospace" size="3"><pre>
1 F#
2 C#
3 G#
4 D#
5 B
6 G#
7 F#
8 D#
9 B
10 A </pre></font>That would give you the kind of string order that you're used to on your E9th pedal steel.

------------------
<small><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)
Pete Burak
Posts: 6558
Joined: 2 Oct 1998 12:01 am
Location: Portland, OR USA

Post by Pete Burak »

I have a 10 string lap tuned to B6 in this manner for B6th swing style playing:

1 C#
2 G#
3 F#
4 Eb
5 B
6 G#
7 F#
8 Eb
9 B
10 G#

These are strings 1-10 on my S12U in B6th mode, so it's a slam dunk for me to switch between.

The B's are your roots.

Note the repeating pattern starting on string 2-5 and 6-9, G#, F#, Eb, B. This makes your grips fall into place nicely (moving up one string gives you a different inversion of the same chord). Also makes single note soloing convenient (kind of a 2 for 1 plan), makes octave licks a breeze, ect...

Note the C# on string 1. This is a passing note for single note soloing typically used in runs. The most basic use is to pick string 5, 1, 4, acending or decending.

Note string 10=G#. This gives you a few pick-up notes to kick off a tune and land on the root, string 9. Play it by itself or 9&10/8&9 together, or in octaves, ect...

Try all sorts of 2, 3, and 4 note grips/rakes. Pick the root, move back two frets and up one string, come back up to the root fret.

Pick strings 5 and 8, slant the bar back one fret on string 8 and you are on the IV chord.

Pick a fret for your root and find your
do-re-me-fa-so-la-ti-do scale. All the notes should fall in place either 1 or 2 frets below the root fret. Now make up your own solos... season to taste.

Lots of fun to be had no matter how you slice it! Plenty of ways to skin this Cat. Image
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Pete Burak on 18 September 2000 at 06:07 PM.]</p></FONT><FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Pete Burak on 18 September 2000 at 06:13 PM.]</p></FONT>
Joe Delaronde
Posts: 1037
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada

Post by Joe Delaronde »

Thanks Bobby.
Pete, I did replace the 3rd with F# and put G# on the 2nd string, but got nowhere with 1st string until now, which will be C#.
Sounds great! Forgot how dependent I had got on pedals. All the "old stuff" just falls in place..........Joe