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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
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Adam Troy
Akahai
Australia
58 Posts |
 Posted - 03/13/2013 : 10:38:25 PM
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Hey Bob,Aloha Nui Loa. When I first took up the Hawaiian guitar I messed with a lot of tunings. That was partly to do with the fact that I started with a tricone. Then I began to include electric instruments. The problem is like Jerry Byrd said: stick to one tuning until you know it. Well, I may not live long enough.
Anyway, I think that was good advise. I think if I were going to put a 6th tuning on an acoustic guitar, I would use G6 because the tension is kinder to the instrument. As it is, I use Low bass G on the tricone and A6 on the electric instruments. When you have a major triad on top, that makes a lot of work transferable between the tunings----Except for C6.
which puts the minor triad on top. So thats why I don't understand the popularity of C6. Its a good tuning, especially if the tonal center of a piece suits it, but I'm trying to simplify things, not introduce complications. And I hate retuning. I will go to B11 for "Sand", but thats a breeze out of A6. Do you ever go to an 11th tuning out of G6?
Oh yeah, you guessed my name is not Adam Troy, but he is one of my heros. Him and the schooner "Tiki." |
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2013 : 06:39:20 AM
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Hi there, Adam.
I have a weisenbornish guitar that I keep in taropatch G. I rarely get around to it, as I love the lush sound of my electric steel and the G6th tuning. I have tried playing G6th on an acoustic, but find that the sustain on my electric, combined with G6th gives me exactly what I am looking for. "Sand" sounds great for example, but try it on an acoustic, and it sounds like an old man singing while climbing stairs. It runs out of breath.
I sometimes drop my low D down to C. This gives me a hauntingly beautiful C chord. It might just be a C11, but I have never bothered to work out the details. You tell me. What is this tuning: G-C-E-G-B-D (5-1-3-5-7-2)?
I have tricone envy, or at least I did. They sound great in taropatch, and for early Hawaiian styles of music, they can't be beat! On the other hand, it is super easy for almost anyone to make an electric steel, and almost impossible to make a tricone in your garage.
By the way, I had to look up Adam Troy on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSuSMrmh1bA) as that was a few years before my time.
I may have to get "Adventures in Paradise" on Netflix. It's the kind of show that would make my Hawaiian friends groan and shake their heads. But it shows how fascinated we haoles all were with the idea of living on a tropical island at the time.
-Mahalo,
Konabob |
Konabob's Walkingbass - http://www.konawalkingbass.com
Taropatch Steel - http://www.konaweb.com/konabob/
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=Konabob2+Walkingbass |
Edited by - Konabob on 03/14/2013 06:40:08 AM |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2013 : 5:34:24 PM
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As I have often said, any of the sixth tunings, G, A, C, E, e.g., give a tremendous advantage to a steeler because of the presence of the I (G, say) the VIm (in G, Em) and the Iv chord (the 6 and one notes of the G6 are (E and G for G6) the 3 and 5 notes of the C chord. I have learned C6, being a student of Henry ALlen and Alan Akaka, but I played in D6 for many years on my 8 string Dobro playing country music, and a learned E6 from Don Helms, Hank Williams' steeler, on my first lap steel. I keep one of my resonator guitars in high G (GBD GBD) tuning for bluegrass. I love Konabob's playing.
All you steelers out there should come to the Maui Steel Guitar Festival in Ka'anapali the weekend of April 19-21. There will be plenty of time for jamming, lessons and listening to Alan Akaka, Greg Sardinha, Bobby Ingano and others. |
keaka |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2013 : 5:36:05 PM
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| Oh - I should add that Sol Ho'opi'i called his favorite tuning "C# minor 7", which is really an E6. |
keaka |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2013 : 5:42:04 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Konabob
I sometimes drop my low D down to C. This gives me a hauntingly beautiful C chord. It might just be a C11, but I have never bothered to work out the details. You tell me. What is this tuning: G-C-E-G-B-D (5-1-3-5-7-2)?
-Mahalo,
Konabob
Technically, Bob, it's a Cmaj9 chord.
BTW - My current C tuning for my 8 string steels is (From top) G E C A G E Bb G, which gives me really rich 7th and 9th chords, since I'm trying to sound like Barney Isaacs and jules Ah See. I have some very nahe nahe intros using most of the strings in arpeggios and strums, ending with an octave slide. |
keaka |
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Adam Troy
Akahai
Australia
58 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2013 : 03:54:06 AM
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quote:
I sometimes drop my low D down to C. This gives me a hauntingly beautiful C chord. It might just be a C11, but I have never bothered to work out the details. You tell me. What is this tuning: G-C-E-G-B-D (5-1-3-5-7-2)?
The B natural is a major 7th. So the chord might be C Major 9th.
I also built my own electric hawaiian guitar. It has eight strings and the pick-up was made by Rick Aiello. I usually tune it A6th but with a G on the bottom. I think Billy Hew Len was fond of this tuning. With a straight bar you have the 6th chord, the relative minor and a four string dominant 7th on the bottom.
I hope your Hawaiian friends groan at a lot more than just "Adventures in Paradise." |
Edited by - Adam Troy on 03/15/2013 12:46:47 PM |
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Konabob
`Olu`olu
USA
928 Posts |
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Playing scales in G6th tuning
