Random Dobro Swing - G11 tuning

[Doug Beaumier]

This is some audio that I posted back in 2018. I just found it on a flash drive and I added it to a short video I made today. I thought this might be of interest to dobro players. G11 tuning on dobro... the same intervals as B11 on lap steel. It's an easy re-tune from G tuning. No need to change any strings.

--click----> https://www.instagram.com/p/C_yPgTbueAy/



------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's an easy re-tune from G. Just tune strings 1, 2, & 3 down a whole step.

[tab]
G G11

D ---> C
B ---> A
G ---> F
D D
B B
G G
[/tab]

G11 is a combination tuning. The top 4 strings make F, F6, Dm, Dm7, and the bottom 5 strings are G, G7, G9.

F major = strings 1, 2, 3
F6 (and Dm7) = strings 1, 2, 3, 4
Dm = strings 2, 3 ,4

G major = strings 4, 5, 6
G7 = strings 3, 4, 5, 6
G9 = strings 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

[Tony Dingus]

Sounds great Doug.

Tony

[Doug Beaumier]

Thanks Tony.

[Joe Krumel]

I'm liking that dobro sound and tuning.thanks for posting.

[Doug Beaumier]

Glad you like it, Joe.

[Gil James]

!!
Thank you Doug.

[Doug Beaumier]

Thanks for checking it out, Gil.

[Lee Baucum]

Doug, that was wonderful! I always enjoy your music.

Did you use any slants on the song, or does the tuning provide the intervals you needed?

[Doug Beaumier]

Thanks Lee. No slants on this one. The tuning has major, minor, diminished, 6ths, 7ths, and 9ths chords... and probably more. I haven't played it in a while. It's the same intervals as B11 lap steel tuning. Like all non-pedal tunings though, there seems to be something missing. For example, I can't always get the harmonies or the chord voicings I'm looking for, especially when playing patterns that move up the neck on the thin strings. Maybe if I spent more time with the tuning I would get more comfortable with it.

[Lee Rider]

Thanks for posting. Been looking for a different tuning I can use with the Hipshot Doubleshot, and this one should work!

Best,

Lee Rider

[Doug Beaumier]

Enjoy!

[Larry Jamieson]

Very nice, Doug. I enjoyed your music. That's a great sounding instrument and you play it well.

[Doug Beaumier]

Thanks Larry, it's a Gold Tone, Paul Beard squareneck.

[Mark Eaton]

I tuned my Clinesmith resonator to this today, and could spend all afternoon messing around with it. Thanks Doug!

My wife opened the door to my music room and said, “that sounds beautiful!”

Thanks honey!

And she rarely comes into the music room to say anything when I’m playing…

[Lee Rider]

I tuned my Clinesmith resonator to this today, and could spend all afternoon messing around with it. Thanks Doug!

My wife opened the door to my music room and said, “that sounds beautiful!”

Thanks honey!

And she rarely comes into the music room to say anything when I’m playing…

I have been working with it too, but got the opposite reaction from my better half....works great with the Double Shot! Nice diminished chord in the middle too.

[Doug Beaumier]

FYI: B11 lap steel tablature works on this tuning. Of course, it will sound lower and the chords shown in the tab will be different, but if you can find some B11 tab, give it a try.

I have some B11 stuff on my website/blog: http://playsteelguitar.com/?s=b11
And there is probably more B11 stuff in the tablature section here.

[Rick Trolinger]

Thanks for sharing this. I may have to try tuning my reso with the Hipshot DoubleShot with this tuning. I’ve been considering something that would give me more options for minor chords than my current open D tuning.

[Lee Rider]

Thanks for sharing this. I may have to try tuning my reso with the Hipshot DoubleShot with this tuning. I’ve been considering something that would give me more options for minor chords than my current open D tuning.

That is exactly what I did, works great and has lots of options.