E9 tuning

Practice

The standard E9 chromatic tuning for ten string pedal steel guitar is F4-D4-G4-E4-B3-G3-F3-E3-D3-B2. In combination with the pedals and knee levers, it allows the performer to play a major scale without moving the steel bar.

E9 tuning is popular for single neck instruments of eight or more strings. On two-neck console and pedal steel guitars, E9 tuning is often used on one neck, and C6 tuning is used on the other. Typically, the C6 tuning is on the back neck, closest to the player.

The pedal and knee lever combinations used to play the instrument are known as a "copedent". The pedals and levers need to be tuned as well as the guitar strings.

Standard copedent arrangements were devised by Buddy Emmons and Jimmy Day. Notes can be raised or lowered by half or whole steps, represented by plus and minus signs. Knee levers can be moved left, right, and vertically to change pitches.

History

Main article: Pedal steel guitar

E9 tuning was codified between the 1950s and 1970s during experimentation by elite steel guitarists. In the 1930s and 1940s, Manufacturers began adding necks and pedals to steel guitars. The design changes helped manufacturers target amateur musicians. They also enabled jazz players easier access to more sophisticated harmonies.

When Bud Isaacs began recording on a double-neck pedal steel on songs like Webb Pierce's "Slowly", other performers quickly emulated his style. The eight strings on the front neck of Isaac's guitar were tuned in a massive E ninth chord: E4-B3-G3-F3-D3-B2-G2-E2. Isaacs is sometimes credited with inventing E9 tuning.

In 1958, Jimmy Day inserted an E3 between the F3-D3 for a total of nine strings. The change was adopted by other players and became a permanent fixture in the E9 tuning. Ralph Mooney soon added a 10th string tuned to G4. In the 1960s, this 10-string tuning of G4-E4-B3-G3-F3-E3-D3-B2-G2-E2 was sometimes called "Nashville E9 tuning".

E9 tuning was transformed once more by Buddy Emmons when he was trying to develop a sound of his own. In 1962, he added a D4 and F4 to the top of the instrument in order to easily play a scale. His configuration eliminated the lowest two notes of E9 tuning. It is often called "E9 chromatic tuning".

References

References

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4. Stern, Jordan C. ''Full Circle: Becoming a Pedal Steel Guitarist''. Boston University, 2022.
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8. Miller, Timothy. "This Machine Plays Country Music: Invention, Innovation, and the Pedal Steel Guitar", in Travis D. Stimeling (ed.), ''The Oxford Handbook of Country Music''. Oxford Handbooks, 2017.
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12. Miller, Timothy D. "[https://archive.org/details/grovedictionaryo0003unse/page/608/mode/2up George Lloyd]", in ''The Grove Dictionary of American Music'', volume 3 (2nd ed.). Edited by Charles Hiroshi Garrett. [[Oxford University Press]]. 608.
13. {{rp. 83 Emmons' [[reentrant tuning
14. Stoebenau, Joe. ''[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Alfred_s_Teach_Yourself_to_Play_Pedal_St/lK-ovL4gvNwC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA14 Alfred's Teach Yourself to Play Pedal Steel Guitar: Everything You Need to Know to Start Playing Now!]'' Alfred Publishing Company, 2004. 14.