6-string Leavitt tuning diagrams (all scales)

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Stanislav Paskalev
Posts: 20
Joined: 18 Jan 2025 8:20 am
Location: Bulgaria

6-string Leavitt tuning diagrams (all scales)

Post by Stanislav Paskalev »

I got a six string square neck resonator and I decided to try understand the Leavitt tuning. There is a certain elegance to it - it contain all the intervals at a straight bar except for the octave and minor second. After drawing diagrams on a notebook and making mistakes I made a very simple program to tab it out for me, both as notes as scale degrees, which really help visualizing what's going on. I hope these will be useful for others too.

Code: Select all

 All notes
    /----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----\
    | 1  | 2  | 3* | 4  | 5* | 6  | 7* | 8  | 9  | 10 | 11 |*12*| 13 | 14 | 15 |
    |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
 D  | D# | E  | F  | F# | G  | G# | A  | A# | B  | C  | C# | D  | D# | E  | F  |
 C  | C# | D  | D# | E  | F  | F# | G  | G# | A  | A# | B  | C  | C# | D  | D# |
 A# | B  | C  | C# | D  | D# | E  | F  | F# | G  | G# | A  | A# | B  | C  | C# |
 G  | G# | A  | A# | B  | C  | C# | D  | D# | E  | F  | F# | G  | G# | A  | A# |
 E  | F  | F# | G  | G# | A  | A# | B  | C  | C# | D  | D# | E  | F  | F# | G  |
 C# | D  | D# | E  | F  | F# | G  | G# | A  | A# | B  | C  | C# | D  | D# | E  |
    \----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----/

 Chromatic scale
    /----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----\
    | 1  | 2  | 3* | 4  | 5* | 6  | 7* | 8  | 9  | 10 | 11 |*12*| 13 | 14 | 15 |
    |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
 b2 | 2  | b3 | 3  | 4  | b5 | 5  | b6 | 6  | b7 | 7  | 1  | b2 | 2  | b3 | 3  |
 7  | 1  | b2 | 2  | b3 | 3  | 4  | b5 | 5  | b6 | 6  | b7 | 7  | 1  | b2 | 2  |
 6  | b7 | 7  | 1  | b2 | 2  | b3 | 3  | 4  | b5 | 5  | b6 | 6  | b7 | 7  | 1  |
 b5 | 5  | b6 | 6  | b7 | 7  | 1  | b2 | 2  | b3 | 3  | 4  | b5 | 5  | b6 | 6  |
 b3 | 3  | 4  | b5 | 5  | b6 | 6  | b7 | 7  | 1  | b2 | 2  | b3 | 3  | 4  | b5 |
 1  | b2 | 2  | b3 | 3  | 4  | b5 | 5  | b6 | 6  | b7 | 7  | 1  | b2 | 2  | b3 |
    \----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----/

 Major scale
    /----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----\
    | 1  | 2  | 3* | 4  | 5* | 6  | 7* | 8  | 9  | 10 | 11 |*12*| 13 | 14 | 15 |
    |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
 b2 | 2  |    | 3  | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |
 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |
 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |
 b5 | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  |
 b3 | 3  | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  | 4  |    |
 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    |
    \----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----/

 Major pentatonic
    /----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----\
    | 1  | 2  | 3* | 4  | 5* | 6  | 7* | 8  | 9  | 10 | 11 |*12*| 13 | 14 | 15 |
    |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
 b2 | 2  |    | 3  |    |    | 5  |    | 6  |    |    | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |
 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    |    | 5  |    | 6  |    |    | 1  |    | 2  |
 6  |    |    | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    |    | 5  |    | 6  |    |    | 1  |
 b5 | 5  |    | 6  |    |    | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    |    | 5  |    | 6  |
 b3 | 3  |    |    | 5  |    | 6  |    |    | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    |    |
 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    |    | 5  |    | 6  |    |    | 1  |    | 2  |    |
    \----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----/

 Minor scale
    /----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----\
    | 1  | 2  | 3* | 4  | 5* | 6  | 7* | 8  | 9  | 10 | 11 |*12*| 13 | 14 | 15 |
    |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
 b2 | 2  | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  | b3 |    |
 7  | 1  |    | 2  | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  |
 6  | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  |
 b5 | 5  | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  | b6 |    |
 b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  | b3 |    | 4  |    |
 1  |    | 2  | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  | b3 |
    \----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----/

 Minor pentatonic
    /----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----\
    | 1  | 2  | 3* | 4  | 5* | 6  | 7* | 8  | 9  | 10 | 11 |*12*| 13 | 14 | 15 |
    |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
 b2 |    | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  |    |    | b7 |    | 1  |    |    | b3 |    |
 7  | 1  |    |    | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  |    |    | b7 |    | 1  |    |    |
 6  | b7 |    | 1  |    |    | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  |    |    | b7 |    | 1  |
 b5 | 5  |    |    | b7 |    | 1  |    |    | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  |    |    |
 b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  |    |    | b7 |    | 1  |    |    | b3 |    | 4  |    |
 1  |    |    | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  |    |    | b7 |    | 1  |    |    | b3 |
    \----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----/

 Blues scale
    /----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----\
    | 1  | 2  | 3* | 4  | 5* | 6  | 7* | 8  | 9  | 10 | 11 |*12*| 13 | 14 | 15 |
    |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
 b2 |    | b3 |    | 4  | b5 | 5  |    |    | b7 |    | 1  |    |    | b3 |    |
 7  | 1  |    |    | b3 |    | 4  | b5 | 5  |    |    | b7 |    | 1  |    |    |
 6  | b7 |    | 1  |    |    | b3 |    | 4  | b5 | 5  |    |    | b7 |    | 1  |
 b5 | 5  |    |    | b7 |    | 1  |    |    | b3 |    | 4  | b5 | 5  |    |    |
 b3 |    | 4  | b5 | 5  |    |    | b7 |    | 1  |    |    | b3 |    | 4  | b5 |
 1  |    |    | b3 |    | 4  | b5 | 5  |    |    | b7 |    | 1  |    |    | b3 |
    \----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----/

 Myxolydian mode
    /----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----\
    | 1  | 2  | 3* | 4  | 5* | 6  | 7* | 8  | 9  | 10 | 11 |*12*| 13 | 14 | 15 |
    |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
 b2 | 2  |    | 3  | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |
 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |
 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |
 b5 | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  |
 b3 | 3  | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  | 4  |    |
 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    |
    \----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----/

 Dorian mode
    /----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----\
    | 1  | 2  | 3* | 4  | 5* | 6  | 7* | 8  | 9  | 10 | 11 |*12*| 13 | 14 | 15 |
    |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
 b2 | 2  | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  | b3 |    |
 7  | 1  |    | 2  | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  |
 6  | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  | b7 |    | 1  |
 b5 | 5  |    | 6  | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  |
 b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  | b3 |    | 4  |    |
 1  |    | 2  | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  |    | 6  | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  | b3 |
    \----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----/

 Phrygian mode
    /----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----\
    | 1  | 2  | 3* | 4  | 5* | 6  | 7* | 8  | 9  | 10 | 11 |*12*| 13 | 14 | 15 |
    |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
 b2 |    | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  | b2 |    | b3 |    |
 7  | 1  | b2 |    | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  | b2 |    |
 6  | b7 |    | 1  | b2 |    | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  |
 b5 | 5  | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  | b2 |    | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  | b6 |    |
 b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  | b2 |    | b3 |    | 4  |    |
 1  | b2 |    | b3 |    | 4  |    | 5  | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  | b2 |    | b3 |
    \----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----/

 Lydian mode
    /----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----\
    | 1  | 2  | 3* | 4  | 5* | 6  | 7* | 8  | 9  | 10 | 11 |*12*| 13 | 14 | 15 |
    |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
 b2 | 2  |    | 3  |    | b5 | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |
 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    | b5 | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |
 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    | b5 | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |
 b5 | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    | b5 | 5  |    | 6  |
 b3 | 3  |    | b5 | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    | b5 |
 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    | b5 | 5  |    | 6  |    | 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    |
    \----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----/

 Locrian mode
    /----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----\
    | 1  | 2  | 3* | 4  | 5* | 6  | 7* | 8  | 9  | 10 | 11 |*12*| 13 | 14 | 15 |
    |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
 b2 |    | b3 |    | 4  | b5 |    | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  | b2 |    | b3 |    |
 7  | 1  | b2 |    | b3 |    | 4  | b5 |    | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  | b2 |    |
 6  | b7 |    | 1  | b2 |    | b3 |    | 4  | b5 |    | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  |
 b5 |    | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  | b2 |    | b3 |    | 4  | b5 |    | b6 |    |
 b3 |    | 4  | b5 |    | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  | b2 |    | b3 |    | 4  | b5 |
 1  | b2 |    | b3 |    | 4  | b5 |    | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  | b2 |    | b3 |
    \----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----/

 Whole tone
    /----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----\
    | 1  | 2  | 3* | 4  | 5* | 6  | 7* | 8  | 9  | 10 | 11 |*12*| 13 | 14 | 15 |
    |----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----|
 b2 | 2  |    | 3  |    | b5 |    | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |
 7  | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    | b5 |    | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  |
 6  | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    | b5 |    | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  |
 b5 |    | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    | b5 |    | b6 |    |
 b3 | 3  |    | b5 |    | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    | b5 |
 1  |    | 2  |    | 3  |    | b5 |    | b6 |    | b7 |    | 1  |    | 2  |    |
    \----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----/
Last edited by Stanislav Paskalev on 11 Nov 2025 11:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
Playing an eight string lap steel tuned to A-C-E-G-A-B-D-F.
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User avatar
David DeLoach
Posts: 554
Joined: 9 Feb 2016 8:27 am
Location: Tennessee, USA

Re: 6-string Leavitt tuning diagrams

Post by David DeLoach »

Welcome to the world of Leavitt tuning. This has been my main tuning for a few years and I really love all the harmonic possibilities it contains.

A few years ago I set up my RQ Jones square neck for Leavitt for awhile. I didn't use C# - E - G - Bb - C - D because of the challenge of the light gauge strings that would be needed. Instead I transposed it down to Bb - C# - E - G - A - B.

Here's the only tune I captured with that square neck tuned to Leavitt --> https://youtu.be/wAR5KrgqLRg?si=or2i8Oz2MSkHbEUg
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Stanislav Paskalev
Posts: 20
Joined: 18 Jan 2025 8:20 am
Location: Bulgaria

Re: 6-string Leavitt tuning diagrams

Post by Stanislav Paskalev »

Thanks David, that's excellent playing!

I've read the forum posts about it over the weekend and I can't really get why it was advertised as 'no slant' tuning, perhaps to make it look more accessible. But there are so many nice slants in there that it would be a shame to limit it to just straight bars. 3-note major backward slants, 4-note dominant 7th ones, 3-note augmented forward slant, 4-note major 6th with the double tip, a 3-note forward power chord that becomes a dominant 7th via the double tip. All the inversions of the simple triads are in there, it is very well thought out.
Playing an eight string lap steel tuned to A-C-E-G-A-B-D-F.
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Fred
Posts: 362
Joined: 19 Jul 2000 12:01 am
Location: Amesbury, MA

Re: 6-string Leavitt tuning diagrams

Post by Fred »

Stanislav Paskalev wrote: 11 Nov 2025 10:30 am Thanks David, that's excellent playing!

I've read the forum posts about it over the weekend and I can't really get why it was advertised as 'no slant' tuning, perhaps to make it look more accessible. But there are so many nice slants in there that it would be a shame to limit it to just straight bars. 3-note major backward slants, 4-note dominant 7th ones, 3-note augmented forward slant, 4-note major 6th with the double tip, a 3-note forward power chord that becomes a dominant 7th via the double tip. All the inversions of the simple triads are in there, it is very well thought out.
It was my only tuning for many years and it’s “no slant” nature never stopped me from using many slants!
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Stanislav Paskalev
Posts: 20
Joined: 18 Jan 2025 8:20 am
Location: Bulgaria

Re: 6-string Leavitt tuning diagrams

Post by Stanislav Paskalev »

Fred, your advice for adding another minor third on top and completing the minor pentatonic going up is an excellent way to extent the tuning. I've tried it on the 8-string lap and it is a blast, thanks!

I have extended my fretboard generator to print scales and I'll update the first post with a few of those. They are just scale degrees, but as with any string instruments the patterns are transposable to any starting note.
Playing an eight string lap steel tuned to A-C-E-G-A-B-D-F.
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Michael Kiese
Posts: 326
Joined: 17 Jul 2023 12:27 pm
Location: Richmond, Virginia (Hometown: Pearl City, HI)

Re: 6-string Leavitt tuning diagrams (all scales)

Post by Michael Kiese »

I've never heard of Leavitt tuning. Can't much of it at all on YouTube.

I'm looking forward to hearing you play it when you have it worked up!

Enjoy!
Aloha,

Mike K

🤙🏽 🤙🏽 🤙🏽 🌴 🌴 🌴

1932 A22 Rickenbacher Frypan, 1937 7string Prewar Rickenbacher Bakelite (C Diatonic), 1937 7string Epiphone Electar (Jerry Byrd's E9), 1937 Epiphone Electar (C#m9), 1940's Post War Rickenbacher Bakelite (Feet's D), 1950 Supro (Open F), 1950's Rickenbacher ACE (C6), 1950's Rickenbacher A25 Frypan (A6), 1957 National New Yorker (Jerry's E13), 1955 Q8 Fender Stringmaster (A6, C6, Noel's E13, C Diatonic), 1961 Supro (Open A), 8string VanderDonck Frypan (Buddy Emmons's C6).
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