While cleaning out my studio/library, I came across these cool chord charts that were published back in the 1940s. A friend of mine had given me these photocopies years ago, and I thought I would share them with the world before they are lost forever.
These charts can be very useful for each of these tunings, which are F#9, C# Minor, E7 and B11. The charts cover chords created with a straight bar, as well as with slants and in combination with open strings. Very good tools to get you inside the tunings. Once you are in, you will discover you own chords.
The first chord folio is for F#9 tuning (used by Dick McIntire and Bernie Kaai, who lent his name and image to this booklet). F#9 tuning is essentially C# Minor tuning, but with strings 5 and 6 tuned differently (E C# G# E A# F#, from treble to bass).
(Click on each image to enlarge).
-
- Click to enlarge
-
- Click to enlarge
-
- Click to enlarge
-
- Click to enlarge
The next set of chord charts comes from an unknown source, but note that each page has the Fator’s name on it–Fator is a name affiliated with Dickerson steel guitars, as the owner of the company was Gaston Fator.
-
- E7 tuning
-
- C# Minor, p1
-
- C# Minor p2
-
- B11 p1
-
- B11 p2
Note that the C# Minor tuning actually resembles E13–essentially, the E7 tuning with the second string raised to C#. The C# Minor tuning (Sol Hoopii) is spelled: E C# G# E B E
I hope you find these charts useful.
David Weisenthal says:
Great stuff Mike. Thanks. I’m tuned up to the c#m7 now. The top 4 strings are the same as F#9!… So many tunings are quite close to one and other.
Mike Neer’s blog another huge resource for lap steel players – Henry Senior: Pedal Steel Guitarist in London, UK says:
[…] http://www.lapsteelin.com/2014/07/30/old-steel-guitar-chord-charts-in-various-tunings/ […]
Mike Neer says:
Thanks, Lenny. BTW, it’s a Clinesmith, not a Kline (I do have a Kline pack-a-seat, though). Clinesmith is made by Todd Clinesmith in Oregon.
Len Amaral says:
Hi Mike:
Always enjoy your playing. Hope to get a Kline in the future.
Regards,
Lenny
Len Amaral says:
Hi Mike:
I always enjoy your playing. Have an MSA D-12 and hopefully get a Kline like yours in the future.
Regards,
Lenny