There are nearly as many
ways of tuning a steel guitar as there are steel guitarists. Most tunings
are minor variations of the "standard" E9th or C6th, but some
are radically different. Just adding a knee lever with an unusual change
on it can open a wide range of new musical possibilities to the adventurous
player.
Of the many tunings listed
below, I recommend Bob Shilling's 10-string
E9th as a good
starting point for the beginner. It includes the most standard pedal
and knee changes, and can serve as a baseline reference for studying
the other tunings. Also, I've written an article on E9th theory
to help get you started.
I've written an
overview of the Sacred Steel E7th tuning.
This tuning is rapidly gaining popularity among blues and rock players.
"Nashville"
E9th
Some variation of the E9th
tuning is used on most single neck instruments.