E9 tuning

This article is about the steel guitar tuning. For the six-string guitar tuning, see Nashville tuning.

E9 tuning (also E9 chromatic tuning) is a common tuning for steel guitar necks of more than six strings. The name derives from the chord spelled by the tuning.

The practice evolved from 1950s–1970s through the work of musicians like Bud Isaacs, Ralph Mooney, and Buddy Emmons. It supports optimal chord and scale patterns across a single position on the 10-string pedal steel guitar.

Practice

The standard E9 chromatic tuning for ten string pedal steel guitar is F♯4-D♯4-G♯4-E4-B3-G♯3-F♯3-E3-D3-B2.[3] In combination with the pedals and knee levers, it allows the performer to play a major scale without moving the steel bar.[4]

E9 tuning is popular for single neck instruments of eight or more strings.[5] On two-neck console and pedal steel guitars, E9 tuning is often used on one neck, and C6 tuning is used on the other. Typically, the C6 tuning is on the back neck, closest to the player.[6]: 34 

The pedal and knee lever combinations used to play the instrument are known as a "copedent".[7] The pedals and levers need to be tuned as well as the guitar strings.[8]

Standard copedent arrangements were devised by Buddy Emmons and Jimmy Day.[6]: 34f  Notes can be raised or lowered by half or whole steps, represented by plus and minus signs. Knee levers can be moved left, right, and vertically to change pitches.[2]: 208f 

History

Main article: Pedal steel guitar

E9 tuning was codified between the 1950s and 1970s during experimentation by elite steel guitarists. In the 1930s and 1940s, Manufacturers began adding necks and pedals to steel guitars. The design changes helped manufacturers target amateur musicians. They also enabled jazz players easier access to more sophisticated harmonies.[9]: 187f 

When Bud Isaacs began recording on a double-neck pedal steel on songs like Webb Pierce's "Slowly", other performers quickly emulated his style.[10] The eight strings on the front neck of Isaac's guitar were tuned in a massive E ninth chord: E4-B3-G♯3-F♯3-D3-B2-G♯2-E2.[9]: 188ff  Isaacs is sometimes credited with inventing E9 tuning.[11]

In 1958, Jimmy Day inserted an E3 between the F♯3-D3 for a total of nine strings.[12] The change was adopted by other players and became a permanent fixture in the E9 tuning. Ralph Mooney soon added a 10th string tuned to G♯4.[2]: 208  In the 1960s, this 10-string tuning of G♯4-E4-B3-G♯3-F♯3-E3-D3-B2-G♯2-E2 was sometimes called "Nashville E9 tuning".[13][9]: 194 

E9 tuning was transformed once more by Buddy Emmons when he was trying to develop a sound of his own. In 1962, he added a D♯4 and F♯4 to the top of the instrument in order to easily play a scale. His configuration eliminated the lowest two notes of E9 tuning.[2]: 83  Emmons' re-entrant tuning became the standard that is used today.[1]: 11  It is often called "E9 chromatic tuning".[14][9]: 194 

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Miller, Timothy D. Instruments as Technology and Culture: Co-Constructing the Pedal Steel Guitar. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d Fishell, Steve. Buddy Emmons: Steel Guitar Icon. University of Illinois Press, 2022.
  3. ^ Scott, Dewitt. Anthology of Pedal Steel Guitar. Mel Bay Publications, 2010. 7–10.
  4. ^ Borisoff, Jason (September 27, 2010). "How Pedal Steel Guitar Works". makingmusicmagazine.com. Making Music Magazine. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  5. ^ The Cambridge Companion to the Guitar. Cambridge University Press, 2003. 141.
  6. ^ a b Stern, Jordan C. Full Circle: Becoming a Pedal Steel Guitarist. Boston University, 2022.
  7. ^ Stone, Robert L. Sacred Steel: Inside an African American Steel Guitar Tradition. University of Illinois Press, 2010. 191.
  8. ^ Leach, Jay. First Lessons Pedal Steel. Mel Bay Publications, Incorporated, 2015. 6.
  9. ^ a b c d Miller, Timothy. "This Machine Plays Country Music: Invention, Innovation, and the Pedal Steel Guitar", in Travis D. Stimeling (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Country Music. Oxford Handbooks, 2017.
  10. ^ Duchossoir, A. R. Gibson Electric Steel Guitars: 1935-1967. Bloomsbury Academic, 2009. 116.
  11. ^ Marsh, Dave and James Bernard. New Book of Rock Lists. Touchstone, 1994. 347.
  12. ^ Winston, Winnie and Bill Keith. Pedal Steel Guitar. Oak Publications, 1975. 118–21
  13. ^ Miller, Timothy D. "George Lloyd", in The Grove Dictionary of American Music, volume 3 (2nd ed.). Edited by Charles Hiroshi Garrett. Oxford University Press. 608.
  14. ^ Stoebenau, Joe. Alfred's Teach Yourself to Play Pedal Steel Guitar: Everything You Need to Know to Start Playing Now! Alfred Publishing Company, 2004. 14.

Further reading

  • Pedal Steel Guitar: A Manual of Style. Edited by Winnie Winston. Pixenbar Music, 1980.
  • Volk, Andy. Lap Steel Guitar. Centerstream Publications, 2003.

At bb.steelguitarforum.com:

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