The Most Popular Tuning for a Lap Steel Guitar, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the tuning you think is the most popular!
Updated on May 3, 2024 06:52
For lap steel guitar enthusiasts, finding the right tuning can be as pivotal as choosing the instrument itself. Each tuning brings a unique flavor and versatility, expanding what can be achieved musically. This dynamic aspect of musical exploration is central to both beginners aiming to establish their foundational skills and seasoned musicians striving to push creative boundaries.
Therefore, having a consolidated list of popular tunings, ranked by a community of fellow musicians, can be incredibly beneficial. It not only helps to see what options are trending or traditionally favored but also allows for a broader understanding of how different tunings can affect playability and style. Your votes and insights contribute directly to assisting others in making informed choices about how to shape their musical expression.
What Is the Most Popular Tuning for a Lap Steel Guitar?
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165votesThis is the most popular tuning for lap steel guitars. It is used in many genres of music, including blues, country, and Hawaiian music. It is known for its sweet and warm sound.Open D tuning is a popular tuning for lap steel guitar that is often used in blues, country, and slide guitar playing. The tuning is named 'Open D' because when all the strings are strummed open, it produces a D major chord.
- Tuning: D-A-D-F#-A-D
- String order: Lowest to highest: D-A-D-F#-A-D
- Root note: D
- Chord structure: Open D major chord when strummed open
- Commonly used in: Blues, country, and slide guitar music
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230votesThis tuning is popular in blues and rock music. It has a bright and twangy sound.The Open G tuning (D-G-D-G-B-D) is a popular tuning for lap steel guitars. It is called 'Open G' because when strummed without fretting any notes, it produces a G major chord. This tuning is commonly used in various genres including blues, country, and slide guitar playing.
- Tuning: D-G-D-G-B-D
- Chord: G major
- Popular genres: Blues, country, slide guitar
- String order: From low to high: D-G-D-G-B-D
- Fingering simplicity: Easy to finger basic chords in key of G
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329votes
C6 tuning (C-E-G-A-C-E)
Joseph KekukuThis tuning is popular in Hawaiian music. It has a sweet and mellow sound.The C6 tuning is a popular tuning for lap steel guitar, commonly used in western swing, country, and Hawaiian music. It is known for its versatility and rich, soothing sound.- Tuning Type: Open tuning
- Pitch: C-E-G-A-C-E
- String Order: High to low: E-C-A-G-E-C
- Intervals: Major 3rd, perfect 4th, major 3rd, perfect 4th, major 3rd
- Common Chords: C, Am, F, Dm, G, Em, Bdim
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425votesThis tuning is commonly used in western swing and jazz music. It has a bright and jazzy sound.The E7 tuning (B-D-E-G#-B-E) is a popular tuning commonly used on lap steel guitars. It is known for its versatility and ability to play a wide range of genres, including country, blues, and Hawaiian music. This tuning is centered around an E dominant 7th chord, which makes it particularly suitable for playing slide melodies and harmonies.
- Tuning: B-D-E-G#-B-E
- Chord Structure: E dominant 7th
- Genre Compatibility: Country, blues, Hawaiian
- Slide Guitar: Ideal for playing slide melodies and harmonies
- Versatility: Capable of playing a wide range of musical styles
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514votesThis tuning is popular in country and folk music. It has a bright and cheerful sound.Open C tuning (C-G-C-E-G-C) is a popular tuning for lap steel guitar, characterized by an open chord structure that allows the player to easily achieve rich, resonant sounds. The tuning is achieved by lowering the two lowest strings, C and G, to create an open C major chord. This tuning is widely used in various genres including country, blues, and Hawaiian music.
- Tuning: Open C (C-G-C-E-G-C)
- String gauge: Typically medium to heavy gauge strings are used
- String tension: Lower tension compared to higher-pitched tunings
- Chord structure: Produces a major chord (C major) when played without fretting
- Common scale lengths: 23-26 inches
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611votes
Warner Bros. Entertainment · Public domainThis tuning is used in Hawaiian and country music. It has a mellow and smooth sound.The D6 tuning (D-B-G-B-E-G) is a popular tuning for Lap Steel Guitars that produces a rich and versatile sound. It is commonly used in various genres such as country, blues, and Hawaiian music.- Tuning: D-B-G-B-E-G
- Number of Strings: 6
- Key: D
- String Gauges: D: .014, B: .018, G: .024, B: .030, E: .036, G: .046
- Interval between strings: Perfect 4th or 5 semitones
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79votesThis tuning is commonly used in western swing music. It has a bright and jazzy sound.The A6 tuning (C#-E-F#-A-C#-E) is a popular tuning for Lap Steel Guitar. It is known for its versatility and ease of playability, making it suitable for various musical styles.
- Tuning: C#-E-F#-A-C#-E
- String Order: Ascending or descending from lowest to highest pitch
- Root Note: A
- Chord Voicings: Major, dominant, minor, and diminished chords can be easily played
- Interval Structure: Major 6th, perfect 4th, major 3rd, perfect 4th, major 6th
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810votes
B11 tuning (B-E-B-F#-G#-B-D#-F#-A#-C#)
Jerry ByrdThis tuning is used in blues and rock music. It has a deep and rich sound.The B11 tuning is a popular tuning for Lap Steel Guitar that was created by Jerry Byrd, a renowned Hawaiian lap steel guitar player. It is a non-standard tuning that offers a unique and rich harmonic character.- Number of Strings: 6
- Overall Range: 2 octaves and 3 semitones
- Root Note: B
- Interval Structure: 1st - Unison, 2nd - Major 3rd, 3rd - Perfect 4th, 4th - Diminished 5th, 5th - Augmented 5th, 6th - Major 6th, 7th - Dominant 7th, 8th - Octave, 9th - Major 9th, 10th - Augmented 9th
- Popular Genres: Hawaiian music, Country, Blues
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94votes
Warner Bros. Entertainment · Public domainThis tuning is used in jazz and blues music. It has a jazzy and sophisticated sound.The D9 tuning for a Lap Steel Guitar is an open tuning that provides a rich and resonant sound. It is commonly used in various styles of music like country, blues, and Hawaiian.
- Tuning: D-F#-A-C#-E-F#-A-C#
- String count: 8
- Root note: D
- Dominant 7th chord: Yes
- Major 2nd interval: Yes
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109votes
E13 tuning (E-B-E-G#-B-C#-D#-E-F#-G#-A#-C#)
David LindleyThis tuning is used in jazz and blues music. It has a complex and rich sound.The E13 tuning is a widely used tuning for Lap Steel Guitar. It was popularized by influential Lap Steel Guitarist David Lindley. This tuning provides a rich and versatile range of open chord voicings and allows for intricate slide melodies and harmonies.- Tuning: E-B-E-G#-B-C#-D#-E-F#-G#-A#-C#
- Open chord voicings: Rich and versatile range
- Slide melodies: Ideal for intricate slide melodies
- Harmonies: Allows for harmonies in different keys
- Ease of use: Relatively easy to learn and play
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Ranking factors for popular tuning
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Ease of playingA tuning that is easy to play and allows for smooth transitions between chords and notes might be more popular.
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Sound qualityThe sound produced by the Lap Steel Guitar in a particular tuning might be an important factor for musicians when choosing a tuning.
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Compatibility with different genresA tuning that can be used in a wide range of music genres might be more popular among musicians.
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Availability of resourcesThe availability of instructional materials, lessons, and songs in a certain tuning could affect its popularity.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular tuning for a Lap Steel Guitar. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Tune is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 2425 views
- 203 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Tune once every 24 hours. The rank of each Tune is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular tuning for a lap steel guitar
Background Information: Lap Steel Guitar Tunings
Lap steel guitars are unique instruments that are played by sliding a steel bar or tube across the strings. They are commonly used in country, blues, and Hawaiian music, and are known for their distinctive sound. One of the key elements that defines the sound of a lap steel guitar is the tuning.
There are many different tunings that can be used for a lap steel guitar, and each one produces a different sound and feel. Some of the most popular tunings include:
- Open D: This tuning is often used in blues and country music, and produces a rich, full sound. The strings are tuned to D-A-D-F#-A-D, with the lowest and highest strings tuned to the same note.
- Open G: This tuning is similar to open D, but with the strings tuned to G-D-G-B-D-G. It is commonly used in slide guitar playing, and produces a bright, twangy sound.
- C6: This tuning is often used in Hawaiian music, and produces a sweet, melodic sound. The strings are tuned to C-E-G-A-C-E, with the lowest string tuned to C and the highest string tuned to E.
- E7: This tuning is commonly used in western swing and jazz music, and produces a smooth, sophisticated sound. The strings are tuned to E-G#-B-D-E-G#, with the lowest string tuned to E and the highest string tuned to G#.
Overall, the choice of tuning for a lap steel guitar depends on
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