Tell Me

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

I play E 9 pedal steel ,I have owned two double neck guitars which I sold on,I could not get anywhere with the C6 neck at all.I think I had ,or have too much E9 in My head along with the old saying "You can't teach an old dog..."
I have an eight string lap steel which sits in a cupboard and it is tuned to C6,I thought that by playing without having to figure out pedal movements it would be easier to get going, I still tend to try for a little while and end up putting it back in the cupboard.
After that long winded explanation My question is...Is there an eight string tuning which is EASIER[i] To get along with on a lap steel?
Any help would be appreciated
I really only want to become an overnight success.
Billy[/i]

[James Crowbear]

Hi Billy
hope you had a nice vacation
i'll try to help you along
OK, so you play E9 & you can't get hold of the C6 neck : do you use or hear the 6th tone & it's chord ?
E9 uses the 6th tone quite a bit ( pedal A, pedals B&C, & the C at fret one w; the Es lower lever
perhaps you just don't play 6th chords ? - a 6th chord is a minor chord too C6 = A minor - i'm sure you play minor chords don't ya' ?
what kinda tunes or musik do you play Zumbuster ?
now i'm pretty sure you use the dom7th tho'...( it's a half step up from the 6th note)
the 6th chord has that particular color that many steelers love & use
ok so you got a 8 stringer - you could just try using 6 strings first : tuning it to an open E
High to Low : E - B - G# - E - B - E
you can eventually add a dom 7 note : D & uh oh ! a 6th on the 2nd string (or another dom 7)
let's study the phenomena Billy

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Thanks for the help C.B.
I do(on E9 neck) play a bit of sixy stuff using the e lowers a lot.
With the pub band it is a bit of everything,Classic Country,rock'n'Roll and standards et al and I manage fairly well on most things and also incorporate some extended chords.
I have been playing E9 long enough and have (I think) acquired some familiarity to play instinctivly. By that I mean that I move thru' chord progressions without too much brain time to work out where and what to use for the next chord or scale position.This "familiarity " did not come about when I played the back neck and I was in (almost) constant confusion as to what pedals to use when changing chords or scales and I felt that I was wasting time which could have been spent better by advancing My technique and expertise on the front neck.
The purchase of the lap steel was to do away with the pedals and ease the brain strain.
I am probably My own worst enemy in that I have not given Myself long enough to practise and learn the lap method.
In a round about way,My initial question was probably asking for any reccommendations for a simpler tuning with which I could acheive the "familiarity" I mentioned earlier.

We had a very nice holiday,the it was very hot.38 during the day and 34 at night.We were in Sharm El Sheikh(Egypt)
My smattering of Arabic made Me very popular with the hotel staff and I was soon referred to as Omar Sharif
Marselama for now.
That means Ta Ta or toodle oo the noo.
Best regards
Billy

[Ken Byng]

Omar
The C6 neck on your old Zum works well. You must have left some chords and licks on it.

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Ken,
I wondered where those chords went.
Signed
Schnozzle

[James Crowbear]

thanx for the clarifications Zumbustin' Billy
playing instinctively can be a lot of fun but
inevitably, you're gonna head into the wall, hit the stop sign or bang into the bass player & drummer
i would say that instinct represents 20/30 % of what one plays whereas the remaining 70/80 % is knowing what one plays & anticipating
you've got a valid point as to not wasting time on C6 & devoting it to what you're proficient on
you can't teach an old dogs new tricks huh ?
the C6 neck can be used for country, rock & roll & blues but imo, it's a major 7th machine & reeks of that jazz swing, bossa stuff
OK it may not be for you Jock - so be it
E9 is great for Western Swing if you like/play that kinda stuff ( full of 6th chords & similar to C6)
no sweat, you still got yer lil' lap steel & E9 to knit with
All in all what matters, is that you enjoy yourself & that basically, you know just what the heck you're playin'
try tuning your lap steel to a simple open E as i recommended - that should'nt be too hard on ya'
if you use skype & want to hook up, i'd be more than happy to get together w: ya'
& may peace be with you