10 String E13 Tuning?

[Pete Martin]

I am playing my Leon E13 tuned neck on my Stringmaster a lot more now, can play Boot Heel Drag, Leons Blue Guitar Stomp and Relaxin' now fairly comfortably. I have a D10 on order from Clinesmith. I know the 10 string A6HighGdim tuning I want, but the other neck I want Leons E13 with two extra strings. I think I want a D an octave higher as I often find myself wanting that while playing the 8 string Leon E13 tuning, but I was wondering about either a b3 note for minor seventh colors or maybe some kind of altered dominant sound, maybe a b5?

My question is does anyone here currently play a 10 string E13 tuning and what is it? I have a 13 string Dom Franco guitar I bought to try other tunings on. I'd be interested in seeing what you like and trying a few

Thanks!
Pete

[Stephen Cowell]

Tommy Morrell's E13 was a bit much for me... here's an SGF thread talking about it.

viewtopic.php?t=171361

I'm with the 'why the low E' crowd, although it does Boot Heel well. I do favor the Leon 8, definitely not just a strum tuning.

[Fred]

I used Leon's E13 for a while and used to wonder what I'd do with two more strings. I tend toward the simple, so it probably would have been a B in the bottom to complete the low triad and a G# on top. The G# might be too thin, so I might drop the whole thing down to D (or Eb if I were going to be playing with horns).

An alternative would be to leave out the low B and and add both an F# and G# to the top.

[Lyn Kotuby]

I'm currently messing with a 10-string tuning that's based on Leon's E13 with an extra F# on top and an additional E between the middle D and F#.

I get a lot of use out of the low E for comping, and the added strings make a lot of jazz melodies lay easier for me (particularly arpeggio-style lines). I couldn't stand to lose the low G# in the Tom Morrell tuning, since I use it a lot for comping, and you could tune the low E down to a B.

I go back to my 8-string Leon tuning a lot. This tuning works well for me melodically right now, but you'll notice a lot of duplication chordally.

[Tim Toberer]

I always liked the idea of a 10 string E13. The first time I strung it up I realized how much work it was gonna be because it is very harp like. You need very accurate grips and blocking to coax music from it. My other problem was the narrow string spacing, I think I would prefer a 10 string with 3/8 spacing. Either way this is a lifetime tuning!

I like symmetrical tunings like the standard C6 and A6 because if you learn something in the upper octave it is the same in the lower. I like Tom Morrell tuning but tweak the lower strings till you find exactly what you like. low to high G# B D E F# G# B C# E F# G#. Change the lower D to C# and it is very symmetrical. You can flip strings 1 &2 and it is like the pedal steel C6 with the 9th on top. The biggest thing I think that sets Tom's tuning apart from the others is having the middle E, which is a must for me. If I string it up again, I am dropping the high G# for something lower either a E or maybe a big bass A. That way yo can kind of think of it as a 9 string tuning with an extra big bass string for occasional effect. Listen to Jack Richards, he had the big A on bottom and he used it with amazing drama on V7 chords especially. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6qRNjIGDnc

[Bill McCloskey]

I played the Alkire Eharp 10 string tuning for years. If you are interested, I have all of Eddie Alkire's "steps" on a dropbox if you ever want to learn that tuning.

[Pete Martin]

Thanks all, that is very helpful!

Tim, you listed 11 strings in your tuning. Do you play with 11 strings?

Also for you that have tried the Morrell tuning, what do you think of the sound of those two highest strings, G# and F#? Is the tone ok or a little thin? What gauges did you use?

[Tim Toberer]

Thanks all, that is very helpful!

Tim, you listed 11 strings in your tuning. Do you play with 11 strings?

Also for you that have tried the Morrell tuning, what do you think of the sound of those two highest strings, G# and F#? Is the tone ok or a little thin? What gauges did you use?

HEE HEE oops no it started on B and had the high G#. 10 strings just like Tom Morrell except I tuned the lower D to C# part of the time and had B on bottom instead of E. E 6/9 or E13 depending on what I was doing. Symmetrical. I didn't get that far with this before I just decided to go with an 8 string pedal steel of my own design. The Low G# would be preferable I think to me at least. Also would keep the B which makes a nice minor triad with the D. B-D-F#. It has been while since I had one like this. The high G# if you haven't tried is only usable up about half way. It gets ridiculous on the upper frets. IDK might get used to it If I had stuck with it. The string gauge is damn thin!

Also want to add this tuning is sounding appealing again to me because of the complete pentatonic scales it creates in home position. I do really love Tom Morrell's playing. Probably the most complete plain steel player I have heard.