8 String

[Tony Oresteen]

So I have been paying in Open G "Dobro" (L2H) GBDGBD on my 6 string Recording King lap steel. Lots of fun for sure. I have been looking for an 8 string version of Open G and found:

(L2H) EGBDEGBD as the most common 8 string "Dobro" tuning which is not Open G but a G6 tuning.

Trying to keep to the Open G spirit I've come up with (in theory) (L2H) FGBDGBDA which gives a G7 chord on the bottom and a G9 using the full 8. Or (L2H) FGBDGBDF for just a G7 on top and on bottom. This keeps the Open G tuning intact in the middle so 6 string Open G licks can be played with out having to skip the middle E string.

Anyone ever use either 8 G7/G9 string tuning? Thoughts?

Thanks!

[Howard Parker]

If it works for you, it works.

What goals do you have in mind?

fwiw.. As a swing/Americana/country 8 string player I use the G6 tuning.

ymmv

h

[Tony Oresteen]

Thanks Howard,

As I play light rock, light country, and pop tunes I will keep the low F and see what works better for me on top: F or A.

I guess I need to avoid LOP and start using one or the other.


LOP = "Lack Of Practice"

[Joe A. Roberts]

I haven’t tried either tuning exactly as written, but from experience I think the F on top will be much more user friendly.
The A is a less useful chord tone (it won’t sound like a dominant 9th chord in that tuning, more like a sus2, or major add 9 sound).
It will also will be very high sounding, a may not be balanced with the other strings.
It is just about the highest you can get a string to be on the instrument.
Tuning charts from the 30s do use a high A string in some tunings, probably using a tenor banjo string.
And of course the pull to A from the high G# on the E9th pedal steel.
The interval of a fifth between the highest two strings D to A would also be pretty unusual.
It might be worth a try though, if you get used to it you could get a pretty unique sound.

G on top is probably the least weird, and then you could play open D style licks.
E on top is also a very pretty sound, and worth a try.
A re-entrant C on top could be great for playing licks if you can get used to it with experience from pedal steel.

E in the bass is also worth a try!

[Tony Oresteen]

Thanks all. I have decided to start with an F on top with a 0.014 string using my Vorson 22.5" lap steel.. I have set aside a 0.011 to try an A on top in awhile.