About Allan's D6 Lap Steel Tuning

This unique Allan's D6 Lap Steel tuning is specifically designed for 6-string lap steel guitars, offering a distinctive reentrant character and flexible chord voicings.

Verbal Analysis

At its heart, this tuning provides a rich, full-bodied open D6 chord, making it immediately familiar yet distinct. The reentrant nature, where String 3 (F4#) is pitched higher than both String 2 (A3) and String 1 (D4), creates a bright, chimey quality. This allows for interesting melodic possibilities and unique voicings not typically found in standard tunings. Players will find it highly conducive to slide playing, offering a smooth landscape for various genres like blues, country, and Hawaiian music. Furthermore, its design is explicitly stated to make minor chords particularly accessible with a straight bar.

Technical Analysis

The open notes for this tuning are (from low to high): B2, D2, D3, F4#, A3, D4.

Analyzing the intervals, we find the core of a D Major triad (D, F#, A) spread across the strings, with the significant addition of a B note on the lowest string. This configuration forms a clear and resonant Open D6 chord (D-F#-A-B) when all strings are strummed open. The specific roles of each note are:

• String 6 (B2): The 6th interval, providing a deep, resonant foundation to the D chord.
• String 5 (D2): The root of the D chord, offering a low presence.
• String 4 (D3): Another D root, an octave higher than String 5.
• String 3 (F4#): The major third of the D chord, pitched notably high at F4#, which is crucial for the reentrant character.
• String 2 (A3): The perfect fifth of the D chord.
• String 1 (D4): Another D root, completing the upper octave.

This specific arrangement of notes not only yields a beautiful D6 chord but also facilitates playing various other chords with a straight bar. For instance, moving a bar up the neck will easily produce other 6th chords (e.g., barring at the 3rd fret yields F6). The explicit mention of 'easy access to minor chords under a straight bar' suggests that the intervals are arranged to minimize finger adjustments when transitioning from major to minor voicings or to easily find minor chord shapes by shifting the bar position. The reentrant nature of F4# being higher than A3 and D4 adds a unique harmonic texture, making it versatile for both chordal accompaniment and single-note melodic lines on the lap steel.

Tuning Notes & How to Tune

Here are the specific open notes for each string in Allan's D6 Lap Steel tuning:

• String 6: B2
• String 5: D2
• String 4: D3
• String 3: F4#
• String 2: A3
• String 1: D4

How to Tune Your Guitar

To achieve Allan's D6 Lap Steel tuning from standard guitar tuning (E-A-D-G-B-e), follow these instructions for each string. Please exercise caution with large tuning changes.

• String 6 (Low E): Tune up 7 semitones to B2. Caution: This is a significant upward adjustment (+7 semitones). Consider using a lighter gauge string to prevent breakage and excessive tension.
• String 5 (A): Tune down 7 semitones to D2. Caution: This is a significant downward adjustment (-7 semitones). The string may become very slack, and a heavier gauge might be needed to maintain adequate tension and tone.
• String 4 (D): Keep as is; no change (0 semitones) to D3.
• String 3 (G): Tune down 1 semitone to F4#. Note: Achieving F4# from a standard G3 position typically requires an octave jump, suggesting the use of a very light gauge string for this string to handle the higher pitch.
• String 2 (B): Tune down 2 semitones to A3.
• String 1 (High E): Tune down 2 semitones to D4.

Remember to always tune carefully and gradually. If you are making extreme changes (more than 4 semitones up or down), it is often advisable to use string gauges specifically suited for the new tension to ensure optimal playability and avoid potential damage to your instrument or strings.