10 string C6 tuning. Non pedal

[Bill Bassett]

Howdy. I was asked what is a good C6 tuning for a 10 string single neck non pedal guitar. Specifically strings 9 and 10

Any advice?

Thanks, Bill

[Michael Johnstone]

I got this tuning from Doug Livingston recently which he calls C6/A7 and I have been diving deep into it. It has a helluva lot of music to offer by any metric.
Currently I have it on a Melbert S-10 23.5" console w/a Rick Aiello pickup and a stock long scale 24.5" Clinesmith 10 string Joaquin model Lap steel.
1. D .017
2. B .020
3. E .015
4. C .018
5. A .022w
6. G .024
7. E .030
8. C# .036 (C)
9. A .042 (Bb)
10. F# .030

As you can see, strings 2-9 are a C6/A9 tuning - close to Joaquin's tuning. As you can also see, it has 3 re-intrant strings.
the D and B are equivalent to the chromatic strings on an E9 pedal steel and add diatonic scale tones that are missing from the core C6 tuning.
Things get interesting when you think of 2-7 as an Am9.
The D & B also add a back door - connective tissue if you will - to get to other positions smoothly.

The F# is the note you get on a pedal C6 lowering the G and is a half-step lower than string 6
and adds more chromaticism and chord tones to the middle of the tuning while staying out of the way until needed.

Unlike Doug, about half the time I tune strings 8 (C#) down to C and 9 (A) up to Bb which is then a C13 and the 10th string (F#) becomes the flat five
and is useful too, employed as other intervals in dominant chords, for instance on strings 4-8-10 and 5-8-10.
And there's several minor 6th voicings - one of my favorite chords in spooky blues.

I like to slant and am pretty good at it, but I noticed that on this tuning, I do about 50% less slanting and hardly ever have to settle for two note shell voicings.
I found that I can cop an E9 pedal steel vibe pretty easily on a tune like Blue Jade. All the Hawaiian stuff is there. All the western swing stuff is there.
All the Hank Williams stuff is there. All the pop standard stuff is there. The bluesy jazz stuff is there.
All I can say is - try it.
And thanks Doug

[Earnest Bovine]

Astute observers will note that this tuning contains a complete 8 note diatonic G major scale.