Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
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Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
I've said this before, There's no reason for an 8 string guitar. I really don't see how you could need to fill that sonic space. The bass does that well enough. I can understand a seven string. But unless you have an 8 string tuned B-E-A-D-G-b-e-a, there's no reason for it.
I've said this before, There's no reason for an 8 string guitar. I really don't see how you could need to fill that sonic space. The bass does that well enough. I can understand a seven string. But unless you have an 8 string tuned B-E-A-D-G-b-e-a, there's no reason for it.
Agileguy_101
Master of his Domain
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
You've never felt Meshuggah before, have you?
You've never felt Meshuggah before, have you?
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
I've listened to Meshuggah, and they're a good band, but I stand by my statement. The only time I've seen an 8 string used effectively was when I saw Animals as Leaders live.
I've listened to Meshuggah, and they're a good band, but I stand by my statement. The only time I've seen an 8 string used effectively was when I saw Animals as Leaders live.
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
There is no place for a bassist in an 8 string band, truthfully. Maybe if they're on Moog or something for a different tonal flavor, but being in direct competition with a guitar that plays the same notes, just not as good sounding, is a waste of time. Having said that, Animals as Leaders and this post-djent prog metal that's starting to leak out is really awesome stuff.
Of course, if it still gets under your skin, just ask them if they have a Chapman Stick and how those old gigs at the State Fair playing Hotel California WITH BOTH HANDS ON A CHAPMAN EFFING STICK went.
There is no place for a bassist in an 8 string band, truthfully. Maybe if they're on Moog or something for a different tonal flavor, but being in direct competition with a guitar that plays the same notes, just not as good sounding, is a waste of time. Having said that, Animals as Leaders and this post-djent prog metal that's starting to leak out is really awesome stuff.
Of course, if it still gets under your skin, just ask them if they have a Chapman Stick and how those old gigs at the State Fair playing Hotel California WITH BOTH HANDS ON A CHAPMAN EFFING STICK went.
One Bad Monkey
New member
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
There are so many different options that a bassist in that situation can do, that it's really only limited to your comfort level and creativity. Peter (the fine gent that wrote that blog post) and I are teaming up and going to be putting together some audio samples to prove it.
This is not a new development. Anyone that's played with a pianist/keyboardist with a heavy left hand has already dealt with this issue for decades. It takes a little more planning and the ability to step out of what the bassist is "supposed" to be playing, which in this day and age is quite wide and varied.
There are so many different options that a bassist in that situation can do, that it's really only limited to your comfort level and creativity. Peter (the fine gent that wrote that blog post) and I are teaming up and going to be putting together some audio samples to prove it.
This is not a new development. Anyone that's played with a pianist/keyboardist with a heavy left hand has already dealt with this issue for decades. It takes a little more planning and the ability to step out of what the bassist is "supposed" to be playing, which in this day and age is quite wide and varied.
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
if we're talking about a smooth to overdriven rock/jazz thing, there's tons of room for a bass to operate, just not necessarily as the spine of the band. Piccolo bass is a great example of a bassists taking more of a lead tone when there's a bass-heavy band already going. The metal band Origen is a hard-grinding blast-beat technical band with a fretless bass player, and it's pretty interesting to hear how it functions in it's role amongst the scream hi-gain guitars. Same with Death.
That said, I think I'm dancing around the point of a bassist having to evolve to not "do the bass" in the music. On the contrary, It seems like a good time to try some upper harmonies and solo business. I say punish the 8 stringer and make them be the chunk.
Dropping a string to f# seems like having to rebuild a rig to hit that. What is that, like 20hz? People can't really discern that.
if we're talking about a smooth to overdriven rock/jazz thing, there's tons of room for a bass to operate, just not necessarily as the spine of the band. Piccolo bass is a great example of a bassists taking more of a lead tone when there's a bass-heavy band already going. The metal band Origen is a hard-grinding blast-beat technical band with a fretless bass player, and it's pretty interesting to hear how it functions in it's role amongst the scream hi-gain guitars. Same with Death.
That said, I think I'm dancing around the point of a bassist having to evolve to not "do the bass" in the music. On the contrary, It seems like a good time to try some upper harmonies and solo business. I say punish the 8 stringer and make them be the chunk.
Dropping a string to f# seems like having to rebuild a rig to hit that. What is that, like 20hz? People can't really discern that.
youngthrasher9
New member
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
No.
No.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
I play guitar, bass guitar and make plunky noises on Chapman Stick. Hence, I can see several sides to this discussion.
So far, most opinions have been "top down", so to speak. (Range extension from the guitarist's perspective. Intrusion from the bassist's standpoint.) I generally see the additional strings from a "bottom up" perspective.
Multi-string bassists such as Les Claypool are, effectively, covering bass and rhythm guitar functions within a band context. A multi-string guitar that covers the entire guitar/bass range only makes sense if the pitch difference between the melody and bass parts is going to be two or three octaves. (Just like playing a piano.)
At the time of this writing, I own one five string bass guitar. I have owned other five- and six-stringers in the past. For the most part, I find that I play better on a four string. Its "limited" pitch range forces me to be more creative.
EDIT - Being for the benefit of Mr. Jon. I agree that solo Chapman Stick recitals are not a bundle of laughs. I generally keep the bass register strings straight and process the **** out of my melody register strings. (Distortion, auto-filter, Roland VG99 modelled synth or guitar sounds.) Typically, the music produced is in the Crimson/Gabriel zone.
I play guitar, bass guitar and make plunky noises on Chapman Stick. Hence, I can see several sides to this discussion.
So far, most opinions have been "top down", so to speak. (Range extension from the guitarist's perspective. Intrusion from the bassist's standpoint.) I generally see the additional strings from a "bottom up" perspective.
Multi-string bassists such as Les Claypool are, effectively, covering bass and rhythm guitar functions within a band context. A multi-string guitar that covers the entire guitar/bass range only makes sense if the pitch difference between the melody and bass parts is going to be two or three octaves. (Just like playing a piano.)
At the time of this writing, I own one five string bass guitar. I have owned other five- and six-stringers in the past. For the most part, I find that I play better on a four string. Its "limited" pitch range forces me to be more creative.
EDIT - Being for the benefit of Mr. Jon. I agree that solo Chapman Stick recitals are not a bundle of laughs. I generally keep the bass register strings straight and process the **** out of my melody register strings. (Distortion, auto-filter, Roland VG99 modelled synth or guitar sounds.) Typically, the music produced is in the Crimson/Gabriel zone.
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
I agree, Bloodrose. I do like what Tosin Abasi and other prog-metal types do with the 8 strings, but mostly it's just djent-fests of one sort or another. I remember watching a video on when Dino Cazares got his 8s and it's was CHUNCHUNCHUNCHUNGGGGG CHUNG CHUGGACHUGGACHUGGA CHUNGGGGGG, and that's how it goes. The neato vid from Meshuggah's guitarist Thorendal with his side project Sol Niger Within was some BIDDILYBOOBOOBOP TIDDLYWA drums and some CHUNG CHUNG CHUUUUUUUNNNNG on top of it.
Funkfingers, my bad. :jester:
I agree, Bloodrose. I do like what Tosin Abasi and other prog-metal types do with the 8 strings, but mostly it's just djent-fests of one sort or another. I remember watching a video on when Dino Cazares got his 8s and it's was CHUNCHUNCHUNCHUNGGGGG CHUNG CHUGGACHUGGACHUGGA CHUNGGGGGG, and that's how it goes. The neato vid from Meshuggah's guitarist Thorendal with his side project Sol Niger Within was some BIDDILYBOOBOOBOP TIDDLYWA drums and some CHUNG CHUNG CHUUUUUUUNNNNG on top of it.
Funkfingers, my bad. :jester:
King IzzO)))
Ultimate Kitten Puncher
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
I like Meshuggah and Pig Destroyer, but they aren't really doing anything that couldn't be accomplished by downtuning a 6 string.
I like Meshuggah and Pig Destroyer, but they aren't really doing anything that couldn't be accomplished by downtuning a 6 string.
Virtual Kevorkian
New member
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
When recording most of these guys actually tune the bass to a unison pitch with the low strings. The first AAL album was a clean guitar pitch-shifted down an octave, but 90% of the others out there have the bass tuned to the same low E, F, F#, or G as the 8 string.
When recording most of these guys actually tune the bass to a unison pitch with the low strings. The first AAL album was a clean guitar pitch-shifted down an octave, but 90% of the others out there have the bass tuned to the same low E, F, F#, or G as the 8 string.
everdrone
New member
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
I have not really looked much into this low tuning, but I saw animals as leaders and they definitely did not play with a bassist at all!
I have their new record and the bass is easy to be felt. I dig 7 strings but I do not like the 8 strings, too hard to hear in a car and I just dont like those frequencies really.
this album:
if you have a subwoofer, watch out! :beerchug:
I have not really looked much into this low tuning, but I saw animals as leaders and they definitely did not play with a bassist at all!
I have their new record and the bass is easy to be felt. I dig 7 strings but I do not like the 8 strings, too hard to hear in a car and I just dont like those frequencies really.
this album:
if you have a subwoofer, watch out! :beerchug:
spencer wright
New member
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
Boot camps springwood http://www.stepitup.com.au/
Wow... interesting article... i like it so much... 8 strings star is so powerful...thanks a lot of sharing... cheers
Boot camps springwood http://www.stepitup.com.au/
Wow... interesting article... i like it so much... 8 strings star is so powerful...thanks a lot of sharing... cheers
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
I've punched bass players in the face, and they were normal....4 stringers! 8 stringers wouldn't have even been there to be punched! lol
I've punched bass players in the face, and they were normal....4 stringers! 8 stringers wouldn't have even been there to be punched! lol
Falloffthebonetone
New member
threechordcharlie
RedTruckologist
Re: Blog: "Play Nice" with the 8-string Guitar in Your Band
The first time that I played with a real piano player, I wanted to hold him down and choke him to death. After a couple of weeks however, we fell into a very cool groove and actually enhanced each other.
It still wasn't as bad an experience as going through the same monitor system with an electric drum set though!!
LOL!
The first time that I played with a real piano player, I wanted to hold him down and choke him to death. After a couple of weeks however, we fell into a very cool groove and actually enhanced each other.
It still wasn't as bad an experience as going through the same monitor system with an electric drum set though!!
