The E9 10-String Pedal Steel Tuning is a classic and highly versatile setup for the pedal steel guitar, foundational to many styles, particularly country, blues, and jazz. Unlike standard guitar tunings, pedal steel tunings are designed for dynamic changes via pedals and knee levers, making the open string configuration a starting point for complex voicings and melodic possibilities.

Verbal Analysis

This tuning offers an incredibly rich and resonant sound, with a broad range spanning several octaves. The open strings immediately present a strong E major tonality, enhanced by extensions. The non-linear arrangement of pitches across the strings (e.g., lower-numbered strings not always being higher in pitch) is characteristic of pedal steel, allowing for complex voicings and easy access to specific intervals through bar manipulation. The presence of both low D and E, combined with higher octave E, G#, B, and the D# major seventh, creates a full, shimmering sound. It's a tuning that feels expansive, inviting smooth glides and intricate harmonies.

Technical Analysis

Analyzing the open string pitches from lowest to highest, we have:

• D1 (String 9)
• E1 (String 8)
• B2 (String 5)
• E3 (String 4)
• F#3 (String 7)
• G#3 (String 6)
• G#4 (String 3)
• D#5 (String 2)
• F#5 (String 1)

The core of this tuning centers around an E major chord (E, G#, B), which is heavily reinforced across multiple octaves (E1, B2, E3, G#3, G#4). The inclusion of D#5 provides a clear E major 7th, while F#3 and F#5 add a major 2nd (or 9th/#11, depending on context). The low D1 extends the bass range, offering a dominant 7th or a flexible root for D-based voicings. Overall, the open strings suggest an Emaj7(#11) harmony, rich with consonant and dissonant (in a jazzy sense) intervals. The tuning is built on a foundation that naturally supports bright, extended major harmonies, making it ideal for expressive melodic lines and chordal swells.

Open String Chords and Voicings

While pedal steel relies heavily on dynamic changes, the open strings themselves offer a lush sonic palette:

• E Major Chord: By striking strings 8 (E1), 5 (B2), 4 (E3), 6 (G#3), and 3 (G#4), a strong and resonant E major triad is formed across several octaves.
• E Major 7th: Adding string 2 (D#5) to the E major chord creates a bright Emaj7 sound.
• Extended E Major Voicings: Including strings 7 (F#3) and 1 (F#5) adds the 2nd/9th, contributing to a rich Emaj9 or Emaj7(#11) feel, characteristic of sophisticated harmonies.
• D Sus2/Open 5th: The lowest string 9 (D1) with strings 8 (E1) or 5 (B2) creates deep, resonant intervals that can anchor various voicings, suggesting Dsus2 or simple fifths.

The close proximity of G#3 and G#4 (Strings 6 and 3) provides opportunities for octave voicings with minimal hand movement, a common pedal steel technique. The overall design facilitates complex harmonic shifts with the aid of pedals, but even unadorned, the open strings provide a full, vibrant, and harmonically rich foundation.

Open Tuning Notes

Here are the target notes for each string of your 10-string pedal steel in E9 tuning:

• String 9: D1
• String 8: E1
• String 7: F#3
• String 6: G#3
• String 5: B2
• String 4: E3
• String 3: G#4
• String 2: D#5
• String 1: F#5

How to Tune

To achieve the E9 10-String Pedal Steel Tuning, adjust each string as follows. These instructions are based on the provided string movements and assume a standard starting point for each string:

• String 9 (D1): Tune up 1 semitone from its assumed standard pitch of C#1.
• String 8 (E1): Tune down 2 semitones from its assumed standard pitch of F1.
• String 7 (F#3): Tune up 7 semitones from its assumed standard pitch of C3. (Caution: tuning this string by 7 semitones may require a different string gauge.)
• String 6 (G#3): Tune up 4 semitones from its assumed standard pitch of E3. (Consider a different string gauge if discomfort is felt.)
• String 5 (B2): Tune up 2 semitones from its assumed standard pitch of A2.
• String 4 (E3): Tune up 2 semitones from its assumed standard pitch of D3.
• String 3 (G#4): Tune up 1 semitone from its assumed standard pitch of G4.
• String 2 (D#5): Tune up 4 semitones from its assumed standard pitch of A#4. (Consider a different string gauge if discomfort is felt.)
• String 1 (F#5): Tune up 2 semitones from its assumed standard pitch of E5.

Always tune carefully and ensure your instrument can handle the tension changes, especially for larger semitone adjustments.