Verbal Analysis

The Hawaiian G6th tuning is a classic and evocative choice for lap steel guitar, immediately conjuring the warm, sun-drenched sounds of traditional Hawaiian music. As described, it's specifically designed for Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar, facilitating the unique melodic and harmonic stylings of the genre. The open strings collectively form a rich G6 chord, providing an instant harmonic foundation that is both full and inviting. This tuning excels at creating lush, sustained chords and allows for easy melodic improvisation over a consistent harmonic backdrop. It makes gliding between various 6th chords across the fretboard with a simple bar an intuitive and expressive experience, offering a distinctly smooth and vocal quality to your playing.

Technical Analysis

This is a 5-string tuning, with the open notes, from lowest to highest string, set as G2, D3, E2, G3, and B3. When these pitches are analyzed, regardless of octave or string order, the unique notes E, G, B, D are present. These notes collectively form a G6 chord (G as the root, B as the major third, D as the perfect fifth, and E as the major sixth). The most prominent feature, as highlighted in the tuning's description, is that the top four strings (Strings 1, 2, 3, and 4) precisely create a G6 chord (B3, G3, E2, D3). This configuration makes it exceptionally easy to voice this iconic chord across the upper register of the instrument. The inclusion of the E (the 6th) alongside the G major triad (G-B-D) is the defining characteristic that gives this tuning its namesake and signature sound, perfect for the smooth, harmonically rich textures of Hawaiian music. A key benefit of this open tuning is that simply barring all strings at any fret will instantly produce an X6 chord, where X is the root note at that specific fret (e.g., barring at the 5th fret yields a C6 chord). This structure greatly simplifies chordal accompaniment and allows for fluid melodic phrasing over a consistent harmonic backdrop, making it ideal for the genre.

How to Tune

To achieve the Hawaiian G6th tuning, adjust your strings as follows:

• String 5 (Lowest): Tune to G2. You need to Tune up 3 semitones.
• String 4: Tune to D3. You need to Tune up 5 semitones. (Note: Tuning up 5 semitones is a significant change; consider using a lighter gauge string for optimal tension and safety.)
• String 3: Tune to E2. You need to Tune down 10 semitones. (Note: Tuning down 10 semitones is a very significant change; consider using a heavier gauge string to avoid a 'floppy' feel and ensure proper intonation.)
• String 2: Tune to G3. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).
• String 1 (Highest): Tune to B3. Keep as is; no change (0 semitones).

As a general guideline, for string movements exceeding 4 semitones (either tuning up or down), it is strongly advised to consider using a different gauge string. This helps to maintain appropriate string tension, optimize playability, and prevent potential damage to your instrument or strings.