Banjo Hangout Logo
Banjo Hangout Logo

Premier Sponsors


Aug 13, 2026 - 7:48:45 AM
38 posts since 1/15/2014

I have been playing dobro GBDGBD for a long time and have a decent understanding of the fretboard and some theory in that tuning. I am looking for a course that teaches me to understand C6 along with a few tunes.

Aug 13, 2026 - 3:33 PM
likes this

5235 posts since 7/27/2008

First of all, join The Steel Guitar Forum. Five bucks for a lifetime membership and a bargain at that - I've been a member for over 21 years.

One of the finest Hawaiian steel players in the world is Alan Akaka. He offers Zoom lessons and took lessons as a young man from the legendary Jerry Byrd after Byrd retired from Nashville and moved to Hawaii. 

https://kekulamele.com/kkmhzoom.shtml

When Chris Scruggs is off the road while Marty Stuart's band is taking a break he offers Zoom lessons for C6th. He can be reached on Facebook of Instagram.

A good starter video program is from Cindy Cashdollar on Homespun. Download only these days, no more DVDs, but you might find the discs used online.

https://www.homespun.com/shop/product/learn-to-play-western-swing-steel-guitar-dvd-1/

There's more out there, but I'll start with these options. 

Again - join The Steel Guitar Forum. We only scratch the surface of this topic on Resohangout. 

Aug 13, 2026 - 3:41:32 PM
likes this

5235 posts since 7/27/2008

Here is a a very informative video on the history of steel guitar tunings by Alan Akaka. This is more or less lifted from the Jerry Byrd method of steel guitar. Some of this stuff I was taught as a kid while taking lessons back in the Sixties. The Bay Area music studio where I was taught was big on Jerry Byrd.

Alan shows how the tunings relate to one another. 

The video was put together by Troy Breninngmeyer, and Troy offers some great C6th lessons on his site.
 



Troy's site:

https://lwtstreaming.com/categories/lap-steel

Aug 13, 2026 - 3:47:35 PM
likes this

5235 posts since 7/27/2008

Check out this song, and the entire album is on YouTube. It's C6th tuned dobro in a Hawaiian context by the great Barney Isaacs. 

Bear in mind that the lighter gauges required for C6th don't "load" the cone with the power of the heavier strings Open G tuning, but this being recorded in a studio is of course not a problem. 
 

Aug 13, 2026 - 4:54:02 PM
like this

38 posts since 1/15/2014

Boy... that is a load of information. I appreciate it. I went and browsed the steel guitar forum for a few minutes and then sent my $5.00 in. I will take a few days and check some of this out. Thanks Mark

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Privacy Consent (EU/GDPR Only)

Copyright 2026 Reso Hangout. All Rights Reserved.





Hangout Network Help

View All Topics  |  View Categories

4.492188E-02