CEGACE Guitar Tuner

CEGACE Open Amin Lapsteel - Guitar tuning, chords & scales

Description - Open Amin Lapsteel

lapsteel tuning for C6 tuning and chords

Tuning Analysis: Open C6 Lapsteel Tuning

The "open Amin lapsteel" tuning transforms your standard Guitar into a versatile setup ideal for lapsteel playing, specifically geared towards C6 tuning and chord voicings. This tuning creates a rich, full sound often heard in Hawaiian, Western Swing, and vintage country music.

Verbal Analysis

Upon strumming the open strings, you'll be greeted with a resonant C6 chord (C-E-G-A-C-E). While the tuning name includes "Amin," the open notes clearly outline a C6 harmony, providing a warm and inviting foundation. This makes it incredibly easy to play a C6 chord across all strings without fretting, which is perfect for slide guitar techniques. The doubling of the C and E notes at different octaves adds depth and sustain, creating a chime-like quality. Its structure encourages melodic playing over the open C6 chord, and with a slide, you can easily access other major, minor, and dominant 7th chords by simply moving up or down the fretboard from this strong open position.

Technical Analysis

This is a true open chord tuning. The notes from low to high are C2-E2-G2-A2-C3-E3. This arrangement results in a C6 chord: C (root), E (major third), G (perfect fifth), A (major sixth). The intervals between strings are:

Low C (String 6) to E (String 5): Major 3rd
E (String 5) to G (String 4): Minor 3rd
G (String 4) to A (String 3): Major 2nd
A (String 3) to C (String 2): Minor 3rd
C (String 2) to E (String 1): Major 3rd

This specific interval structure is characteristic of C6 tunings, providing a coherent and harmonious platform for slide or fingerstyle playing. The large drops in pitch from standard tuning indicate that this tuning is designed for a much lower overall tension, which is common for lap steel and resonant for slide techniques.

How to Tune (from Standard EADGBe)

Achieving this tuning requires significant adjustments from standard guitar tuning. Please note that several strings are tuned down substantially. For optimal performance, to prevent string breakage, and to achieve proper tension and tone, a different gauge string set (often heavier for lower strings, or lighter for higher strings depending on your preferred tension) may be advised for movements exceeding 4 semitones in either direction. Always tune carefully and gradually.