Dive into the soulful world of lap steel blues with the D/Dm Lap Steel Tuning, a versatile 7-string setup popularized by Papa Dafoe. This ingenious tuning provides incredible flexibility, allowing players to effortlessly switch between major and minor tonalities right on the same fret, making it a powerful tool for expressive playing.

Technical Analysis:

This 7-string tuning is meticulously crafted around the D minor triad (D-F-A) but with a crucial and unique addition: a D major third (F4#) on the 3rd string. The open strings are tuned as follows, from the lowest (String 7) to the highest (String 1):

• String 7: D2 (Root)
• String 6: F2 (Minor Third)
• String 5: A2 (Perfect Fifth)
• String 4: D3 (Octave Root)
• String 3: F4# (Major Third)
• String 2: A3 (Octave Fifth)
• String 1: D4 (Octave Root)

The simultaneous presence of both F (minor third) and F# (major third) creates a rich harmonic landscape. When strummed open, the tuning inherently contains elements of both D minor and D major. This characteristic is particularly powerful for blues and country, where the interplay between major and minor voicings adds depth, tension, and resolution.

Open Chords and Reachable Shapes:

• Open D Minor: By emphasizing strings D2, F2, A2, D3, A3, D4 (omitting the F4#), you achieve a full and resonant D minor chord.
• Open D Major: By utilizing the F4# on string 3, the open tuning can instantly voice a D major chord (D2-F2-A2-D3-F4#-A3-D4, or by consciously omitting the F2). This allows for seamless transitions between major and minor modes without changing your slide position.
• Bar Chords: Sliding a bar across any fret will instantly provide a D-shape major/minor triad in the corresponding key. For example, barring the 5th fret will yield G minor (using the F string) or G major (using the F# string), offering immense versatility.
• Dominant 7ths: The consistent root and fifth intervals across the tuning make it relatively straightforward to add a flattened seventh a few frets up from the root on various strings, enabling easy access to dominant 7th chords, which are fundamental in blues.

How to Tune:

To achieve the D/Dm Lap Steel Tuning, carefully adjust each string according to the instructions below. Always use a reliable tuner and tune with caution.

• String 7 (Low D): To reach D2, tune up 3 semitones.
• String 6 (Low F): To reach F2, tune up 1 semitone.
• String 5 (A): To reach A2, keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 4 (Middle D): To reach D3, keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 3 (F#): To reach F4#, tune down 1 semitone.
• String 2 (High A): To reach A3, tune down 2 semitones.
• String 1 (High D): To reach D4, tune down 2 semitones.

General Gauge Advice: All specified string movements are within typical safe limits (+/- 4 semitones) for standard guitar string gauges. However, always exercise caution when adjusting string tension. For tunings requiring movements beyond this range, consider consulting a luthier for advice on appropriate string gauges.

String 7: D2

String 6: F2

String 5: A2

String 4: D3

String 3: F4#

String 2: A3

String 1: D4