Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
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the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
Those were super cool for a slightly different kind of thing!
I still miss the Schecter 5 string Celloblaster.
Those were super cool for a slightly different kind of thing!
DarkMatter
Unprofessional Toneologist
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
I want to make an 8 string to use for polyphonic classical fingerstyle writing. I think the extra range could be very useful there.
I want to make an 8 string to use for polyphonic classical fingerstyle writing. I think the extra range could be very useful there.
vinta9e
New member
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
I don't get it either but those seven string arpeggios are addictive, I kid you not. An eight string guitar has two adjacent-seven-string-groups, so you can sweep till your hands fall off. And you can play in unison with the bass player a bit more often. The need isn't for more low end, it's for reaching lower registers with the guitar's voice. It's a different thing altogether. The lowest fundamentals are trimmed away anyway in most cases for a tight and clear sound.
The 8-string's polyphony creates a fertile ground for two hand tapping. There's a lot you can do with more strings, in theory... in practice I get to hear djent being exercised over and over again. I think the whole trend became a caricature of itself before it ever took off for good. I blame the ERG being highly demanding on player's technique as the main reason for that. They just aren't the instrument for an average mortal, in my opinion.
The 8 does feel like a harp to me, in the sense that picking and muting the right string becomes quite a task. As a player, I'm often focused on rich and rather tight chord voicings. Having more than 6 strings does not work for me. My music doesn't call for more range downwards, and my amp doesn't fancy it either. Upwards, there's another octave or so in the harmonics, though, like picking fruit off the top of a tree, those aren't the easiest notes to pull off.
But that's just me. Give Meshuggah and Animals As Leaders a listen, because they are awesome in their own way. Give Jeff Loomis and Morbid Angel a listen. Even some older Korn stuff (I couldn't bring myself to putting them in previous sentence). There's a certain sound to extended range guitars, just like there's a sound to an Esquire through a cranked Hiwatt.
The art of harnessing the sound starts with choosing the tools for the job.
I don't get it either but those seven string arpeggios are addictive, I kid you not. An eight string guitar has two adjacent-seven-string-groups, so you can sweep till your hands fall off. And you can play in unison with the bass player a bit more often. The need isn't for more low end, it's for reaching lower registers with the guitar's voice. It's a different thing altogether. The lowest fundamentals are trimmed away anyway in most cases for a tight and clear sound.
The 8-string's polyphony creates a fertile ground for two hand tapping. There's a lot you can do with more strings, in theory... in practice I get to hear djent being exercised over and over again. I think the whole trend became a caricature of itself before it ever took off for good. I blame the ERG being highly demanding on player's technique as the main reason for that. They just aren't the instrument for an average mortal, in my opinion.
The 8 does feel like a harp to me, in the sense that picking and muting the right string becomes quite a task. As a player, I'm often focused on rich and rather tight chord voicings. Having more than 6 strings does not work for me. My music doesn't call for more range downwards, and my amp doesn't fancy it either. Upwards, there's another octave or so in the harmonics, though, like picking fruit off the top of a tree, those aren't the easiest notes to pull off.
But that's just me. Give Meshuggah and Animals As Leaders a listen, because they are awesome in their own way. Give Jeff Loomis and Morbid Angel a listen. Even some older Korn stuff (I couldn't bring myself to putting them in previous sentence). There's a certain sound to extended range guitars, just like there's a sound to an Esquire through a cranked Hiwatt.
The art of harnessing the sound starts with choosing the tools for the job.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
That Agile ten string is just a Chapman Stick wannabe.
Extended tunings have always been used. They can give a solo guitarist almost the full note range of an orchestra. I particularly like the sounds that Joni Mitchell has coaxed out of an acoustic guitar. Some of the chord voicings would be physically impossible to play in standard or even down tunings.
Having a low D, C or B going at the bottom of a chord really fills things out. Unfortunately, as has already been pointed out, it also treads on the bassist toes, leaving very little room for manoeuvre.
The one unusually strung guitar that I would like is the Martin HD-7 Roger McGuinn signature model.
That Agile ten string is just a Chapman Stick wannabe.
Extended tunings have always been used. They can give a solo guitarist almost the full note range of an orchestra. I particularly like the sounds that Joni Mitchell has coaxed out of an acoustic guitar. Some of the chord voicings would be physically impossible to play in standard or even down tunings.
Having a low D, C or B going at the bottom of a chord really fills things out. Unfortunately, as has already been pointed out, it also treads on the bassist toes, leaving very little room for manoeuvre.
The one unusually strung guitar that I would like is the Martin HD-7 Roger McGuinn signature model.
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
I just find it humourous that in at least half of the pics i see of guys playing downtuned guitars, often with more than 6 strings .... they don't have their fingers on the fretboard.
Narciso Yepes was playing a 10-string classical back in the 1970s, jazz players have been using 7-strings since then too (and probably before then). The current craze for lower notes with massive distortion is mostly just boring now because it's so overdone ... for every player doing anything good with it, there are dozens of people who only use it for 'brutality'.
It makes me laugh at how the current trends are about getting lower lows and higher highs. If one was serious about music, one would play the piano to do that. Guitar players are taking over all the sonic spectrum, although interestingly .... it seems they are abandonning the middle ranges. The great thing is that now, playing a regular guitar in regular tuning sounds bright and fresh.
I have a lot of time (and use) for extended range for solo acoustic playing, classical, jazz etc, and solo accompaniment purposes ... in creative hands, some fantastic and beautiful arrangements can be created. For distorted riffage by those whose only emotion in music seems to be anger, I'll leave that to those people, it has no interest or appeal to me and i find it tedious to listen to. So much of it seems to be about following trends rather than innovating anything.
I just find it humourous that in at least half of the pics i see of guys playing downtuned guitars, often with more than 6 strings .... they don't have their fingers on the fretboard.
Narciso Yepes was playing a 10-string classical back in the 1970s, jazz players have been using 7-strings since then too (and probably before then). The current craze for lower notes with massive distortion is mostly just boring now because it's so overdone ... for every player doing anything good with it, there are dozens of people who only use it for 'brutality'.
It makes me laugh at how the current trends are about getting lower lows and higher highs. If one was serious about music, one would play the piano to do that. Guitar players are taking over all the sonic spectrum, although interestingly .... it seems they are abandonning the middle ranges. The great thing is that now, playing a regular guitar in regular tuning sounds bright and fresh.
I have a lot of time (and use) for extended range for solo acoustic playing, classical, jazz etc, and solo accompaniment purposes ... in creative hands, some fantastic and beautiful arrangements can be created. For distorted riffage by those whose only emotion in music seems to be anger, I'll leave that to those people, it has no interest or appeal to me and i find it tedious to listen to. So much of it seems to be about following trends rather than innovating anything.
Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
I'd like to give a 7 a go one day, but 8 seems just a bit too far at my skill level. That said, that Agile 10 looks damn good.
I'd like to give a 7 a go one day, but 8 seems just a bit too far at my skill level. That said, that Agile 10 looks damn good.
Kramer Guy
New member
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
I'll stick with 6 strings and leave the 7 & 8 strings to you crazy kids. LOL.
I'll stick with 6 strings and leave the 7 & 8 strings to you crazy kids. LOL.
AdamBrad
New member
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
There's a "high-quantity" custom shop called Halo Guitars that have been making them for a few years too:
There's a "high-quantity" custom shop called Halo Guitars that have been making them for a few years too:
Attachments
Frantic_Rock
FragleRockologist
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
There are more than 900 different instruments in the world. Many of them having variations. Why do we need all of them? Can't everyone just play guitar? Same argument... variety.
There are more than 900 different instruments in the world. Many of them having variations. Why do we need all of them? Can't everyone just play guitar? Same argument... variety.
Grindspine
New member
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
In my first several bands, the bassists would either A) not show up, or B) not buy a decent amp. I was left filling in the low end a lot of the time.
I realized years later how muddy my guitar tone had become and definitely have improved my tone over the years.
However, I still often play without a bassist. I recently bought a seven string guitar and really love the extended range. It also has a slightly longer neck, so it is more fit to lower tunings than any of my other guitars. I also like that it retained the high tunings, so I overall just have a greater range.
In addition to those reasons, I actually do like having more notes in a single position for scale runs across the strings. I also can actually do full seven string barre chords.
Seven strings can be cool. Don't knock 'em if you just don't understand them.
In my first several bands, the bassists would either A) not show up, or B) not buy a decent amp. I was left filling in the low end a lot of the time.
I realized years later how muddy my guitar tone had become and definitely have improved my tone over the years.
However, I still often play without a bassist. I recently bought a seven string guitar and really love the extended range. It also has a slightly longer neck, so it is more fit to lower tunings than any of my other guitars. I also like that it retained the high tunings, so I overall just have a greater range.
In addition to those reasons, I actually do like having more notes in a single position for scale runs across the strings. I also can actually do full seven string barre chords.
Seven strings can be cool. Don't knock 'em if you just don't understand them.
Grindspine
New member
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
I really had to buy a seven string to fully realize this. I have played six strings down to B, but C is really the lowest that ever felt comfortable on a six string to me. Even with the lower tunings on a six string, it is still not the same as a seven string guitar.
I really had to buy a seven string to fully realize this. I have played six strings down to B, but C is really the lowest that ever felt comfortable on a six string to me. Even with the lower tunings on a six string, it is still not the same as a seven string guitar.
Grindspine
New member
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
That is very well said. In relation to my older post, I got to the point where I realized using a muddy downtuned six string was not an answer to filliing out the low end. However, the extended range of a seven string with the proper equipment carrying its voice is far different than that.
That is very well said. In relation to my older post, I got to the point where I realized using a muddy downtuned six string was not an answer to filliing out the low end. However, the extended range of a seven string with the proper equipment carrying its voice is far different than that.
DarthHuzeCZ
New member
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
To those barre chords, for me with my huge hands it feels more natural to make barres oneight stringed guitar. When I decided to buy an eight string, I went to the shop and I was really surprised how easily it fitted to my hand and barres, my enemies on six string are now easy and comfortable with neck closer to my hand's size, but I guess with normal hand size, it has to be hell to make them on 8 string "harp"
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
Some people play the piano. Some people play the harp. Who the **** cares why they prefer it? Do what you want and don't judge others for doing what they want.
This is music, which is art, which is a means of self-expression. Not everybody expresses themself the same way.
Some people play the piano. Some people play the harp. Who the **** cares why they prefer it? Do what you want and don't judge others for doing what they want.
This is music, which is art, which is a means of self-expression. Not everybody expresses themself the same way.
Re: Someone explain this to me , 7 and 8 string guitars.
I believe that 7 string guitars as well as 5 string basses were thought up by jazz players as a means to play different chord voicings.
Personally, I just don't care for the sound of extreme downtuning, at least in today's metal context. Of the few 7 strings I have played, I prefer the feel of a baritone anyways.
I believe that 7 string guitars as well as 5 string basses were thought up by jazz players as a means to play different chord voicings.
Personally, I just don't care for the sound of extreme downtuning, at least in today's metal context. Of the few 7 strings I have played, I prefer the feel of a baritone anyways.
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