Sonny Morris 12 string E9/B6 universal tuning



String Open LKL LKV LKR 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 RKLF RKLB RKR
1 F# . . G/G# . . . . . . . . . .
2 C#(*) . . . . . . . . . . . . D/D#
3 G# . . . . A . . . . . . . .
4 E F . . . . F# . F . . . Eb .
5 B . Bb . C# . C# . . C# . Bb . .
6 G# . . . . A . . . A# . F# . .
7 F# . . G/G# . . . F . . . . . .
8 E F . . . . . . D . . . Eb .
9 B . Bb . C# . . . . . C . . D
10 G# . . . . A . . . . . . . .
11 E (**) . . . . . . F . . D# . . .
12 B . . . . . . C# . . G# . . .
* I do a lot of unison licks between the 2nd and 5th strings, so I tune the 2nd string to C# and raise it to D and D#.
** I sometimes tune the 11th string to D for a specific song, much like tuning the 6th string of a guitar down for a song. This works well when using my dobro simulator pickup for something like "Mercury Blues"

My Equipment Tips:

 I use the Korg MT-1200 tuner. This tuner is programmable. I simply punch in the number of cents sharp or flat for each string and from then on tuning my steel is as simple as using a regular guitar tuner. These tuners are fairly expensive($300ish) but well worth it in my estimation. I get all of my steel guitar string sets from JustStrings.com, I currently use GHS "Super Steels" for C6th tuning and add a .011 and a .015 to complete my set for 12 string. I use GHS "Boomers" LXL for both of my guitars.

Tuning Chart for Korg MT 1200 Tuner (E9th tuning) in Cents
Open A B C D E F
F# +6 . . . . G +4 .
D# -5 . . . D -5 . .
G# -5 . A +2 . . . .
E +11 . . F# -1 Eb +1 . F -16
B +10 C# -7 . C# -7 . . .
G# -5 . A +2 . . . .
F# +6 . . . . . .
E +11 . . . Eb +1 . F -16
D +6 . . . . . .
B +10 C# -7 . . . . .

I have a Zumsteel dobro simulator pickup which, along with my Bill Lawrence pickup, I run directly into my effects unit, via my patch panel. This way I always have a strong signal going to my effects and this gives me the best signal to noise ratio possible. I also have my volume pedal rewired to work as an expression pedal. I can use it to change parameters as well as control volume. This comes in handy for me when I want to play some funky wah-wah distortion slide steel(believe it or not, there are several songs that this sounds really good on). I don't know how many effects processors can be used in this way, but it works well with my Korg unit.




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