C6 is the most versatile lap steel tuning and the usual starting point. It's the classic Hawaiian and swing tuning, and it covers both chord work and single-note melody. Lap steel sets are listed from string 1, the highest, down:
- 6-string (string 1 to 6): E, C, A, G, E, C
- 8-string (string 1 to 8): E, C, A, G, E, C, A, G
How to tune:
- Put on a set gauged for C6, so each string is the right size for its note.
- Tune the lowest string first, then work toward the highest.
- Use a tuner, since C6 has several strings tuned to the same notes in different octaves.
- Stretch each new string gently and retune.
- Check by laying the bar straight across at the 12th fret. Everything should ring as one clean C6 chord.
The 8-string version keeps the top six strings the same and adds an A and a G below. That extends the bass range and gives you chord voicings you can't reach on six, while the top of the neck feels the same as a 6-string. Our Scotty's C6 sets are SC6C6TH for 6-string and SC8C6TH for 8-string, with Silencer semi-flat wound strings for quiet bar work. Both are in Non-Pedal / Lap Steel Guitar Strings, alongside sets for A6, E13 and E7.
