One of the best advantage the 7string gave me was that i could play n practice both drop down tuning riffs and standard tuning riffs without further tuning needed in between.
For me, a 7 string is also a 6 string. It took me a little while when I first got mine. I also really love the Ernie Ball Musicman John Petrucci 7 strings for the piezo acoustic sounds. My first 7 string is my Ibanez Universe.
I grew up with Drop tunings so im super comfortable with them, so when i transferred to a 7, in order to help translate ewverything i would tune it to Drop D with a low A: E B G D A D A
@@DougShablowski I know this is an old comment so I hope you don't mind, but could you get used to using both? I like going everywhere from drop c to much lower.
I'm primarily a bassist and I prefer 5 strings for economy of movement, same with the 7, I can play in the middle of the neck without having to move around too much. I really like the 5th position E for that reason
I have a Jackson Dinky 7 m, and I love everything about it. I have big hands for a dude my size, and the larger fret board is very ergonomic for me. Also, it’s light as a feather for being a larger guitar, and it sounds great; especially the really low driving tones.
Bougth a 7 string 1 year and a half ago, I ve played it without any issue since the first day. One thing I had in mind before buying, as you said, the scale (25.5) and the correct gauge for the 7th string after. Love it! My 6 strings too!
The additional String on a 7 String Guitar is another B String (2 Octaves below the 2nd String) which makes it a great extended range Guitar to start with. The Low B String on a 7 String Guitar makes it easier to transpose to match the ranges of other instruments & Vocalists especially on Church Gigs.
I picked up a 7 string only a year or two after picking up guitar for the first time. I am so glad I did as I feel more comfortable with a 7 than a 6 at this point lol.
Awesome! Thanks for watching and commenting. :-) Make sure you tune in to today’s LIVE Rock Licks Limited Edition Workshop if you can. Steve’s going to answer questions about playing rock licks, so feel free to ask your question in the chat. It’s happening today (Monday, May 24) at 10 AM Pacific. During the workshop, Steve’s going to give away 5 GuitarZoom Memberships, totally free. But you have to attend the live workshop in order to win. Go here to sign up if you haven’t yet → guitarzoom.com/workshop Today is the last time Steve will be giving away free Memberships, so be sure to tune in if you can. Also, you can go here if you want to learn more about the GuitarZoom Membership → guitarzoom.com/join Hope to see you at the workshop! -- Mike from GuitarZoom P.S. Go here to grab Rock Licks Limited Edition on DVD (while supplies last) → guitarzoom.com/rocklickslimitededition/promo/
I just ordered one days ago. I imagine the transition for me will be easy as I already drop tune to B on my six, have big hands for the 26.5 scale, and no focus spent on theory to keep things different and fun. I just play off feel and what I think sounds good and what doesn’t.
I was a bit hesitant at first but I'm probably gonna buy a 7 string soon, it seems like the convenient option. I've been into heavier music for a few months now and I'm constantly tuning my guitar to drop C or lower, which sounds like actual ass on my Squier Strat. About time I upgraded anyway, the Squier was fun to play when I started learning guitar, but in the long run it's pretty bad.
Steve is the first one to bring out the 7-string but Ibanez had already designed it and brought it to him and he redesign it to his liking before being brought out it was mentioned in an interview with steve vai
What are your main reasons for choosing the six-string? I’m considering buying a seven-string, but I’m also considering all of the variables before I spend money.
Ichonksuke would the js22-7 really be worth it in the long run? I’m curious too, I don’t want to find myself loving the 7 string and regretting not going for a higher quality guitar. I’m sure it’s a great guitar but if I have problems with it, it could definitely cause some frustration.
Idk exaclty when the first seven string came about but I know I saw a Gibson firebird 7 string from the 60s at Songbirds in Chattanooga a few years ago... so they have been around since at least the 60's
I was originally looking for a baritone guitar when I bought mine, almost exactly like your Ibanez. I have mine tuned a bit differently: I have it tuned ADGCEAD so I have an extra high D string. It took a bit of woodshedding to get used to that extra high string but now, when I'm playing in the higher scales, it has become second nature and I miss it a bit when I'm playing regular guitars.
When I picked up a 7 string for the first time I didn't know what to do with the extra string so I drop tuned it to a G which worked much better for me at the time. I wouldn't mind trying it again with a more standard tuning.
Just got a 7 string multiscale Jackson. I was really worried that it would be awkward and confusing. It's not. I just play it as a normal guitar and if I do pentatonic runs I sometimes end up on the 7th string (low B). I have more choice in a certain position on the neck and don't have to move up and down the neck as much. I don't play metal or heavy stuff at all btw.... If you play atmospheric music with delay and reverb, the low B is nice as a background drone or just a pick and slide rumble. I love it. Multiscale is absolutely no problem, was used to it in an hour or so. Mine is a 25,5 to 27 inch multiscale.
Steve you talked a lot about the Floyd Rose here and there but maybe make a whole video dedicated to is a Floyd rose right for you? I think that'd be pretty cool bring it all the information into an easy to watch video like this
Steve, dude, I say 'No' for most guitarists, and here's why: Most 7 string players become like a mindless robot play that 1 heavy string, all the time. And then their music and everything they play/write revolves around that, thus every song sounds the same. So I encourage 7 string players (and those thinking about making the jump), make sure you don't limit yourself. Don't just hang on those super ultra heavy notes all the time. Play riffs! And play and write songs in different keys (not everything has to be in that heaviest key). If you can break past all of that, then yes, by all means get a 7! And yes, it is a transition (that extra string 'gets in the way' it seems) but you'll get used to it. And dude, I do like that Ibanez you have!! I have the ESP E-II Horizon FR-7. Plays beautifully, but I'd like to also have an Ibanez 7 string.
Dunno.. I think that, outside of professional musicians, music is about having fun and enjoying ourselves. I suppose for some, its about pleasing the sensibilities of others. If someone wants to sit on a single string and enjoys it thoroughly, more power to 'em. Its not my thing, but it doesnt have to be.
I play a 6 string and only palm mute on the low 3 strings. I think jumping to a 7 will entice me to utilize the full range for some reason and play more on the highs.
I had a 10 year hiatus on playing guitar. I came back in 2017 with a 8 string Schecter, wasn't a big deal since I was re-learning how to play guitar again,
Same here. 8 years hiatus. Starting 2017 i Bought a 7 string. Bought a 5 strings bass. Entered in 2 bands. Got 3 girlfriends. Got 2 jobs. Ended realizinh how lazy and wanker i was up until that year. 😅
"....I'm a pretty short guy". Dude just rose three levels in my book. ;-) In all seriousness. I bought a 7-string back in about 2012, i think. And I couldn't get the hang of it, it threw me off and I didn't like it. I had an old Schecter Omen-7. The neck was wide, the thing just didn't sit right in my hands, and that dumb 7th string just jacked me up. I vowed to never play a 7 again. On a side note, I've been playing a 6-string bass for over a decade and I've had nothing less than a 5-string since the late 90's. Fast forward to earlier this year (2023) and I found a Sterling JP70 for $225. I heard the Petrucci models felt smaller and were easier to play. So, I picked it up. I've been playing it a lot lately, trying to figure out how to play it like a guitar vs just djent notes on the B string. I've started treating it the way I would play a 6-string, like that lower B was just a string I can play chords on, single notes, etc. just like I did with my E string. Now, I'm having a blast with it.
Hi Michael! Thanks for your comment and for sharing your story. Sometimes 7 string can be a bit intimidating. Glad to know you got the hang of it and are having fun. Keep up the good work!
So it is like the 5 string bass, you can also play 4 string lines on it as is, and it gives also an option of going lower or playing something in a different position. Low B string is a great addition to both bass and guitar. So I am for seven string guitar as it can play six string songs, and also it can make for fat riffs, and it can give a nice cello like sound while playing on the seventh string.
I got a 7 string multiscale guitar last week and been playing everyday since. everytime I switch back to my 6 string i'm like WHOA, i'm GOOODD *SHREDS*
Steve Vai came out with a 7 string is '93 I think. John Petrucci used his guitar on the Awake album. KORN came out in '94 and had them too but I think Steve Vai started it.
Love the video! I literally just received my first 7 string guitar in the mail today and after 35 years of playing had never even touched one lol. Played it for an hour before I took a break and was really thrown off by that 7th string on my scales lol. Gonna give it another go in a little bit here but I realize I’ll just have to spend time with the instrument in order for it become more comfortable for me. I love the low end and how it can extend chords and scales in new ways for me. Great video and you’re a great player Steve! By the way I nearly bought that same Keith Merrow signature Schecter but went with the C7 Diamond Series FR SLS Elite black fade burst. I like that they remind of Ibanez in terms of their feel and speed.
I'm in the market for a 7 string. I'm seriously looking at the RG7421. All my other electrics are Ibanez so why not stick with them. The problem is they are all fixed bridge but I want a floyd rose.The Universe series seems to be the ones standard with floyd roses.
When I clicked on this video and A Change of Seasons started playing, I thought it was from my Spotify.. I just listened to it :) Also, checking 7 string guitars to learn the song :)
For those that scroll the comments section straight away and pay only scant attention to the video itself. Yes, a 7 string guitar is so you, mate! Trust me, it's the perfect instrument! I took the plunge and bought a fairly cheap one back in 2017. Upshot: best decision I ever made! Created some of my very best music with my little baby Shao Rah (yeah, I named her. Sad, I know). Safe
I play a little bass and was going to try and learn guitar. I was figuring that since I don't know a 6 string it might be better. I wouldn't know the difference and I'm use to a wider neck from a bass. I mean buy a 7 string instead of 6.
Finally.... I have been waiting a while to see you with a 7 string and what you can do with one of them. I really think people should start using 7 strings and start phasing out 6. You don't have to go heavy metal. Just that those low tones and octaves make it more adaptable. 6 strings low E string is actually very high as compared to almost every other musical instrument. For instance a piano and baritone notes are great and give you really cool sounding harmonies....but Saddly a guitar can't get in on that cool sound because you're low E is far to high limiting you and the other instrument because it can only go as far as the guitar will allow. Yes you can use a 6 and drop the tuning but then you lose your high E string and that is absolutely a terrible that high E is extremely important and you have to get use to scales being completely different. Relearning is gonna take time and it's just not a good idea. But the 7 string gives you so many perks with 0 cons... Other than getting use to it being bigger. That however will not take long at all. After a few days you'll wonder why you ever used a 6. Like I was saying you don't have play metal to appreciate the options a 7 string offers. Keep in mind a 7 string was pretty much created by Steve vai and pretty much uses it all the time. His interviews when asked a out his setup at home is his uv7....probably the nicest sounding guitar ever made. But if you've questioned getting one cuz it's not your type of music you are very mistaken. It only gives you and any you play with more options. It's a great idea and give it a few days not a few minutes and I guarantee you'll wish you got one far sooner 🤘🤘
Great video Steve. Just thought I'd add something. I have a seven and an eight string. If you're not sure if you'll like it you could always get one that plays great but is lower priced. I payed 300 bucks for my 8 string and it plays awesome. It's perfectly serviceable, even compared to some of my higher end guitars and not terribly expensive. I don't use it nearly as much as my six strings but I do enjoy going back to it once in a while. Completely different feel you can do a bit ore with it. Shop around for sure before you decide. You could always upgrade later if you really enjoy it.
I think the less you know the easier the transition is because you’re (I’m) clueless in the first place. I have a nice 8 too, it’s just another tool. 👍🏼 Actuality, and I digress, the longer scale length suggested by extended range guitars feels more natural to me as a bass player due to tension but that concept is now taken on by multi scale guitars due to the correct/assumed tension. n shit.
very glad that you said 7th string was a B and then showed how 6 & 7 mirror 1 & 2. because I had absolutely no idea how it "worked" and I was going to be angry/sad if I still didn't when the video was over!
I can go between both with ease. There was no transition for me going up to a 7 string, I'd say its down to the Ibanez wizard neck profiles, there so comfortable. I find I end up writing riffs differently on the 7 compared to the 6. A quick note to potential buyers, buy a 7 string with a longer scale length not a 25 inch, tuning becomes unstable with standard scale. Go for 26 to 29 or even 30. You'll find more clarity on the low B with a increased scale.
The 7 String Guitar is a great extended range Guitar to start with because the additional String is another B String (2 Octaves below the regular B String) which means if you know what the 2 E Strings are doing, you'll know what the 2 B Strings are doing right away too. The Low B String on the 7 String Guitar is also great because just like the 5 String Bass, it makes it easier to play what's written on the page, & it also facilitates transposition so you can match the ranges of other instruments & Vocalists especially on Chuch gigs. Extended range Guitars are great for Church Gigs because they're a fun way to add a bit of Rock n Roll.
Thanks for watching, Jacob! And thanks for the kind words! :-) Just wanted to let you know, this Saturday (January 22) at 10 AM Pacific, Steve’s holding a Blues Jam Workshop for any guitarist who wants to take their guitar playing to the next level. Go here to sign up: guitarzoom.com/bluesmasterclass/webinar/registration/ The Blues Jam Workshop includes: - Tips to Turbocharge Your Blues Solos - How to Break Out of the Typical Blues Boxes for Better Solos - Tips to Solo Over Each Blues Chord | Give Your Blues Solos Direction - Learn to Make Your Guitar Sing Click the link to sign up ASAP, because spots are limited. Hope to see you there, and no matter what, keep playing! - Mike from GuitarZoom P.S. Go here to check out Steve’s NEW Blues Masterclass: guitarzoom.com/bluesmasterclass/promo/
Honestly, I wanna buy a 7 string just so I can tune it to BDADGBE so I can play both nu-metal riffs and Drop D grunge riffs without having to re-tune or change guitars. My genius is… almost frightening.
Hey thanks for your comment! Go for it and hope you find a nice guitar. A new instrument is always a great source of motivation! Good luck finding and awesome guitar! Keep up the good work!
For bass that extra string is very useful. Im a hardcore 1990s bass player, I use it to rest my righthand thumb on, its a very practical string. :P (Just joking around, of course)
it won't throw you off if you like me are a drummer and just mess with guitars, and due to time now I mostly learn things by watching videos and not actually holding a guitar. For some reason I have improved my playing even though I have not held a guitar in years, what I mean things that I used to struggle to play seem very easy to me now. It most be that frame of mind thing...
I used to have a schecter seven string with active Seymour Duncan pups. Only two things I didn't like was the shape and weight. It sounded ferocious, though!
Good points, and I am going to share this to maybe help my guitar friends that might be considering a 7. It did mess with me visually, but like most things you gets used to it. Same goes for 8 strings. I do also like multiscale a lot. I allows me to use standard gauge 10-46 6 string set and I add a 56 for the 7th and a 74 for the 8th. This gives me nice tension on the lower strings without working too hard like you do with huge strings, while still retaining the same ability to bend on the higher strings with the shorter scale.
I’m thinking about a new guitar and it is available as both, hope to try a 6 version this week and a similar 7 to see which feels better to me. Tried the one 7 I own and have to look for the low E rather than just feel it and go.
Hi! That's awesome! A new guitar is always a great source of inspiration. Hope you find the right one and enjoy the new guitar! Congrats! 🙂. Thanks for commenting and for sharing!
No body ever talks about the difficulty of switching back to a 6 string lol. I don't know it's probably just me maybe I spent too long on a 7 string because now when I play a 6 I almost always go one string down. Could have something to do with learning by ear first because I don't see the first string as the first it was the last string for me I was 7 years old and I had no one to teach me. I have tried my entire life to resolve this issue it still trips me up when I'm reading tablature or script. Thanks for the Video it's some interesting thoughts. I do have a question you may have answered in another video, Whats the significance of the tuners beeing on just the top or just the bottom? I have a 7 string Ibanez like you but my tuners are on the top. Is there a difference in how it holds tune or possibly even effect the tone of the 7th? I honestly didn't think about it until I seen your Ibanez.
Finally..someone who gets to all the points needed straight away. All these should you buy a 7s videos on youtube being shit and not on point and then this pops up. Bliss. Thank you so much for this Steve.Also i wanted to ask you something. You seem to have had medical problems with your hands and wrists. I seem to be having hand and wrist pain as well as numbness and loss of feel in my hands for like 13 years slowly getting worse. I use my pc alot. What kind of doctor would you recommend for me to go and get checked at? Thanks again
Haha looks like all of us who attended SpiritCon do 7 string videos now. Guitar Broa did one, I did one there too and you are doing one! Is the 7 string the new 6? Just kidding, great video Steve, your videos are super inspiring!
So as a beginner would a 7 string be a bad idea? I’ve held a few and they feel better in my hand then most 6 strings. My hands aren’t huge but it just feels like it actually fits in my hand.
As a beginner, you should probably just buy whatever guitar gets you most excited to pay. Once you fall in love you'll happily go back to buy another. Getting a guitar that excites you will keep you excited to play for the rest of your life
Great video Steve, I also enjoy playing a 12 string as a 6 string guitar sometimes. It opens up the string spaces and feels more comfortable with some songs
with my 7 string I usually down tune the 7th string so i still have all 6 strings in standard and can transition from different tunings without much fiddling around.
How do you avoid wacking the low B string when playing normal chords? Like if you fancied playing some jonny cash or something I don't know lol. I had a 7 string before but I found I couldn't do upstrokes when strumming, even with barre chords etc. Any tips?
I have an 8 string but not a 7 so it might not translate perfectly, but the extra strings do have a price. It's possible to adapt and play 6 string chords on extended range guitars but it will never be as easy and natural due to the extra strings. My advice is to use each tool where it works best.
Thanks for the kind words, Dmitry! And thanks for watching! :-) Just wanted to give a heads-up, if you want to play new songs faster, write better songs, and sound more authentic and musical when you solo, make sure you check out Steve’s new Ultimate Song Bundle → www.guitarzoom.com/ultimatesongbundle/promo/ The Ultimate Song Bundle includes: ✅ Acoustic Guitar ✅ Chords Made Easy ✅ Strumming Made Easy ✅ Acoustic Picking Styles ✅ Song Secrets ✅ Songwriting Made Simple ✅ Blues Basics ✅ Slide Guitar ✅ Fretboard Mastery ✅ Ear Training 2.0 …all in one bundle for 95%-Off the regular price. You get Lifetime Access to the courses above, so you can come back to them any time you want to jumpstart your guitar playing. Go here for all the details → www.guitarzoom.com/ultimatesongbundle/promo/ …and no matter what, keep playing! - Mike from GuitarZoom P.S. Want to check out video reviews from GuitarZoom Members? Go here → guitarzoom.com/reviews
I think it would come down to the desire to playing a lower sound vs flexibility. Baritones are great for playing in a lower tone but don't offer you the extended range. So have the similar comfort of a 6-string but be able to play those heavy, low tunes on a guitar built for it, or do that with the small-learning curve of a 7-string plus a little extra range. Not sure if that helps, but it's definitely a personal choice. I would recommend noodling on a 7-string if you're able to get your hands on one. I'm hoping to grab a multiscale 7-string in the future.
Thanks for watching and subscribing! And thanks for the kind words! :-) Just a heads-up, Steve’s new Fretboard Framework webinar is now available on-demand. Go here to check it out: guitarzoom.com/fretboardframework/webinar/registration/ You’ll discover… ✅ How to combine triads to create satisfying guitar solos. ✅ An easy 4 step method to ignite your soloing creativity so your solos don’t sound like a scale. ✅ How to break out of the pentatonic box and understand how to solo using your entire fretboard. ✅ And a few cool licks you’ll want to add to your arsenal. Be sure to check it out, and no matter what, keep playing! - Mike from GuitarZoom P.S. Go here to check out some free preview videos from Steve’s brand new Fretboard Framework course: www.guitarzoom.com/fretboardframework/promo-2/#videos
Oh Steve ...I just ordered a Schecter 7 string 1 week back... If you had uploaded this video earlier I'd have benefited... Anyways I think 7 string will be a good choice for me
woah ho ho! put the guns away, quickdraw! good info man. been on the fence and you got the km7 which you said works well for small hands. Ibanez a little better option just for the shorter scale length? Or is the neck thinner as well?
I’d say the Ibanez is more comfortable for smaller hands, as it’s the same scale length as their 6th string counterparts, and it’s still thin. The Schecter is very thin, but the longer scale length takes some getting used to :-)
Im having a hard time dialing in a Schecter Reaper multiscale 7 string. Mostly, the low B (drop A). I get nearly no actual chug out of the lowest string.... I get more of a plunky, Korn type of tone.... But, not a true chug. It is a 27 x 25.5 with a .62 on the low B (drop A). I am using Helix Native , ML Sound Labs Mikko Mesa OS IR.
If you think of the 7 string as a different instrument like one does when you transfer to bass. Tune it differently, all fourths is a decent way and scale length is important. He also mentioned fanned frets. That opens the possibility of fourth on the low strings and fifths on the hi strings. , Just admit you want to fire you bassist and do it all yourself before he buys a ten string bass and replaces you.
One of the best advantage the 7string gave me was that i could play n practice both drop down tuning riffs and standard tuning riffs without further tuning needed in between.
That's the reason I want one, though we're limited to B as the lowest note we can play
What I like doing is tuning the 7th string to A and playing big chords across all the strings. It sounds really cool.
@@BillStreetStudios nope. Just get thigher gauges.
@@BillStreetStudios get an 8 string then
Exactly. I love dropping the 7 string for low stuff. But I also love drop C tuning. So I'm in GCGCFAD.
+100 for playing A Change of Seasons.
I want to get a 7 string now to play Shogun and The Sin and The Sentence
Same lol, the sin and the sentence is not a very hard song at all. The hardest part is playing/singing at the same time.
same here man.🤣
@@emilandersen8628 Shogun have no competence...
triv fan too! nice shit m8!
Haha the main reason I got one too! I bought the
Jackson JS22-7 Dinky and it's amazing!
For me, a 7 string is also a 6 string. It took me a little while when I first got mine. I also really love the Ernie Ball Musicman John Petrucci 7 strings for the piezo acoustic sounds. My first 7 string is my Ibanez Universe.
I grew up with Drop tunings so im super comfortable with them, so when i transferred to a 7, in order to help translate ewverything i would tune it to Drop D with a low A:
E
B
G
D
A
D
A
Oh shit. I’m gonna be transitioning from acoustic to 7 string
I'm transitioning from ukulele to 7 ! Huh
@@MrTAIMOORHASAN I'm transitioning from air guitar to 7 string !!
I’m transitioning from the piano to 7 string!
I'm transitioning from 5 string bass to 7 string guitar lol.
Me too!
it's hard to go back to 6 from a 7. 6 starts to seem like a toy or like it's missing something. Like a string heh.
And the neck is MUCH smaller,I picked up a 6 string and thought the neck shrunk
Depends on Scale length to me. Like a strat is still not too bad but I have a 27 inch scale 7 string and going back to my 24 3/4 les Paul lol is nuts
Its hard to go back to 8 from a 17. 8 starts to seem like a toy..... when the world is not enough....
It really is hard to play a 6 after gettin use to a 7.
@@DougShablowski I know this is an old comment so I hope you don't mind, but could you get used to using both? I like going everywhere from drop c to much lower.
I'm primarily a bassist and I prefer 5 strings for economy of movement, same with the 7, I can play in the middle of the neck without having to move around too much. I really like the 5th position E for that reason
I have a Jackson Dinky 7 m, and I love everything about it. I have big hands for a dude my size, and the larger fret board is very ergonomic for me. Also, it’s light as a feather for being a larger guitar, and it sounds great; especially the really low driving tones.
A Change of Seasons, hell yes. Instant sub.
Bougth a 7 string 1 year and a half ago, I ve played it without any issue since the first day. One thing I had in mind before buying, as you said, the scale (25.5) and the correct gauge for the 7th string after. Love it! My 6 strings too!
me personally..... i find the most comfortable 7 string scale was 27". Its a really significant change, but it tightens everything up really well :)
I really like your attitude when explaining, I bet you are a good teacher in real life. Keep up the good work!
The additional String on a 7 String Guitar is another B String (2 Octaves below the 2nd String) which makes it a great extended range Guitar to start with. The Low B String on a 7 String Guitar makes it easier to transpose to match the ranges of other instruments & Vocalists especially on Church Gigs.
I picked up a 7 string only a year or two after picking up guitar for the first time. I am so glad I did as I feel more comfortable with a 7 than a 6 at this point lol.
Awesome! Thanks for watching and commenting. :-)
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I just ordered one days ago. I imagine the transition for me will be easy as I already drop tune to B on my six, have big hands for the 26.5 scale, and no focus spent on theory to keep things different and fun. I just play off feel and what I think sounds good and what doesn’t.
I was a bit hesitant at first but I'm probably gonna buy a 7 string soon, it seems like the convenient option. I've been into heavier music for a few months now and I'm constantly tuning my guitar to drop C or lower, which sounds like actual ass on my Squier Strat. About time I upgraded anyway, the Squier was fun to play when I started learning guitar, but in the long run it's pretty bad.
Same, today I tuned my Tele to drop A😂
this is the literal same exact story i have lol
I also have the crappy squier strat while also having a boss katana 50. Im thinking about getting a 7 string, either a Ibanez, Esp, or a Solar.
I tried Drop A on my start and holy shit..it was vile.
bro how loose were your strings @@federicobravi5752 💀
What a pleasant chap...I like this...helluva player
I always say having a 7 string guitar is like driving a Jeep. You don't always use the 4X4, but it is there for you when you need it.
Steve is the first one to bring out the 7-string but Ibanez had already designed it and brought it to him and he redesign it to his liking before being brought out it was mentioned in an interview with steve vai
And im just starting out playing and i already preferred a 7 over a 6
I just got my first 7 string and it's like a whole different instrument to me.
Already bought a 7 string.and 8 string.stuck with 6
bought a 7 string and never looked back!
What are your main reasons for choosing the six-string? I’m considering buying a seven-string, but I’m also considering all of the variables before I spend money.
Jonathan Keith if you dont want to spend a lot of money, I would highly recommended the jackson js22-7. Picked mine up for $200 USD
Ichonksuke would the js22-7 really be worth it in the long run? I’m curious too, I don’t want to find myself loving the 7 string and regretting not going for a higher quality guitar. I’m sure it’s a great guitar but if I have problems with it, it could definitely cause some frustration.
Just the video I needed, been thinking of getting a 7 string but worried the neck difference for my small hands. You are the man
Am I right to assume ibanez my have the best necks for my tiny hands? I only own ibanez guitars as it is, love them
If you have a singer that wants to be in different keys it also works to have more Low end
Idk exaclty when the first seven string came about but I know I saw a Gibson firebird 7 string from the 60s at Songbirds in Chattanooga a few years ago... so they have been around since at least the 60's
I was originally looking for a baritone guitar when I bought mine, almost exactly like your Ibanez. I have mine tuned a bit differently: I have it tuned ADGCEAD so I have an extra high D string. It took a bit of woodshedding to get used to that extra high string but now, when I'm playing in the higher scales, it has become second nature and I miss it a bit when I'm playing regular guitars.
When I picked up a 7 string for the first time I didn't know what to do with the extra string so I drop tuned it to a G which worked much better for me at the time. I wouldn't mind trying it again with a more standard tuning.
Just got a 7 string multiscale Jackson. I was really worried that it would be awkward and confusing. It's not. I just play it as a normal guitar and if I do pentatonic runs I sometimes end up on the 7th string (low B). I have more choice in a certain position on the neck and don't have to move up and down the neck as much. I don't play metal or heavy stuff at all btw....
If you play atmospheric music with delay and reverb, the low B is nice as a background drone or just a pick and slide rumble. I love it.
Multiscale is absolutely no problem, was used to it in an hour or so. Mine is a 25,5 to 27 inch multiscale.
Steve you talked a lot about the Floyd Rose here and there but maybe make a whole video dedicated to is a Floyd rose right for you? I think that'd be pretty cool bring it all the information into an easy to watch video like this
Steve, dude, I say 'No' for most guitarists, and here's why:
Most 7 string players become like a mindless robot play that 1 heavy string, all the time. And then their music and everything they play/write revolves around that, thus every song sounds the same.
So I encourage 7 string players (and those thinking about making the jump), make sure you don't limit yourself. Don't just hang on those super ultra heavy notes all the time. Play riffs! And play and write songs in different keys (not everything has to be in that heaviest key).
If you can break past all of that, then yes, by all means get a 7! And yes, it is a transition (that extra string 'gets in the way' it seems) but you'll get used to it.
And dude, I do like that Ibanez you have!! I have the ESP E-II Horizon FR-7. Plays beautifully, but I'd like to also have an Ibanez 7 string.
Dunno..
I think that, outside of professional musicians, music is about having fun and enjoying ourselves. I suppose for some, its about pleasing the sensibilities of others.
If someone wants to sit on a single string and enjoys it thoroughly, more power to 'em. Its not my thing, but it doesnt have to be.
@@senspartech3533 Well said.
I play a 6 string and only palm mute on the low 3 strings. I think jumping to a 7 will entice me to utilize the full range for some reason and play more on the highs.
I had a 10 year hiatus on playing guitar. I came back in 2017 with a 8 string Schecter, wasn't a big deal since I was re-learning how to play guitar again,
Same here. 8 years hiatus. Starting 2017 i Bought a 7 string. Bought a 5 strings bass. Entered in 2 bands. Got 3 girlfriends. Got 2 jobs. Ended realizinh how lazy and wanker i was up until that year. 😅
"....I'm a pretty short guy". Dude just rose three levels in my book. ;-)
In all seriousness. I bought a 7-string back in about 2012, i think. And I couldn't get the hang of it, it threw me off and I didn't like it. I had an old Schecter Omen-7. The neck was wide, the thing just didn't sit right in my hands, and that dumb 7th string just jacked me up. I vowed to never play a 7 again. On a side note, I've been playing a 6-string bass for over a decade and I've had nothing less than a 5-string since the late 90's. Fast forward to earlier this year (2023) and I found a Sterling JP70 for $225. I heard the Petrucci models felt smaller and were easier to play. So, I picked it up. I've been playing it a lot lately, trying to figure out how to play it like a guitar vs just djent notes on the B string. I've started treating it the way I would play a 6-string, like that lower B was just a string I can play chords on, single notes, etc. just like I did with my E string. Now, I'm having a blast with it.
Hi Michael! Thanks for your comment and for sharing your story. Sometimes 7 string can be a bit intimidating. Glad to know you got the hang of it and are having fun. Keep up the good work!
So it is like the 5 string bass, you can also play 4 string lines on it as is, and it gives also an option of going lower or playing something in a different position.
Low B string is a great addition to both bass and guitar. So I am for seven string guitar as it can play six string songs, and also it can make for fat riffs, and it can give a nice cello like sound while playing on the seventh string.
I ONLY PLAY 7 STRING GUITARS!! I have a 6 string guitar included, and the advantages of lower tunings in a pack.
I got a 7 string multiscale guitar last week and been playing everyday since. everytime I switch back to my 6 string i'm like WHOA, i'm GOOODD *SHREDS*
Steve Vai came out with a 7 string is '93 I think. John Petrucci used his guitar on the Awake album. KORN came out in '94 and had them too but I think Steve Vai started it.
I only play 7s. When someone hands me a 6 string, my brain is like WTF is this little toy?!
Love the video! I literally just received my first 7 string guitar in the mail today and after 35 years of playing had never even touched one lol. Played it for an hour before I took a break and was really thrown off by that 7th string on my scales lol. Gonna give it another go in a little bit here but I realize I’ll just have to spend time with the instrument in order for it become more comfortable for me. I love the low end and how it can extend chords and scales in new ways for me. Great video and you’re a great player Steve! By the way I nearly bought that same Keith Merrow signature Schecter but went with the C7 Diamond Series FR SLS Elite black fade burst. I like that they remind of Ibanez in terms of their feel and speed.
Fantastic insight and exploration of the options available with a 7. Nicely done. Subscribed!
I'm in the market for a 7 string. I'm seriously looking at the RG7421. All my other electrics are Ibanez so why not stick with them. The problem is they are all fixed bridge but I want a floyd rose.The Universe series seems to be the ones standard with floyd roses.
First video of yours I've ever seen and you start with "A Change of Seasons"?! Yep..subbed!
Second phrase of DT riff sounds identical to a classic deftones riff, thinking* my own summer/around the fur.
That's it! I thought it sounded familiar.
I think vice versa, because a change of seasons was released in 1995, 2 years before around the fur was released.
Damn, I said in my head that sounds like deftones
When I clicked on this video and A Change of Seasons started playing, I thought it was from my Spotify.. I just listened to it :) Also, checking 7 string guitars to learn the song :)
the A minor pentatonic part answered my question. 6 String it is. Thank you for the video!
For those that scroll the comments section straight away and pay only scant attention to the video itself. Yes, a 7 string guitar is so you, mate! Trust me, it's the perfect instrument! I took the plunge and bought a fairly cheap one back in 2017. Upshot: best decision I ever made! Created some of my very best music with my little baby Shao Rah (yeah, I named her. Sad, I know). Safe
I play a little bass and was going to try and learn guitar. I was figuring that since I don't know a 6 string it might be better. I wouldn't know the difference and I'm use to a wider neck from a bass. I mean buy a 7 string instead of 6.
Finally.... I have been waiting a while to see you with a 7 string and what you can do with one of them. I really think people should start using 7 strings and start phasing out 6. You don't have to go heavy metal. Just that those low tones and octaves make it more adaptable. 6 strings low E string is actually very high as compared to almost every other musical instrument. For instance a piano and baritone notes are great and give you really cool sounding harmonies....but Saddly a guitar can't get in on that cool sound because you're low E is far to high limiting you and the other instrument because it can only go as far as the guitar will allow. Yes you can use a 6 and drop the tuning but then you lose your high E string and that is absolutely a terrible that high E is extremely important and you have to get use to scales being completely different. Relearning is gonna take time and it's just not a good idea. But the 7 string gives you so many perks with 0 cons... Other than getting use to it being bigger. That however will not take long at all. After a few days you'll wonder why you ever used a 6. Like I was saying you don't have play metal to appreciate the options a 7 string offers. Keep in mind a 7 string was pretty much created by Steve vai and pretty much uses it all the time. His interviews when asked a out his setup at home is his uv7....probably the nicest sounding guitar ever made. But if you've questioned getting one cuz it's not your type of music you are very mistaken. It only gives you and any you play with more options. It's a great idea and give it a few days not a few minutes and I guarantee you'll wish you got one far sooner 🤘🤘
One thing I enjoy working on with my 7 string is 3 octave scales and arpeggios. I'm no speed demon, but still they are fun to do.
Great video Steve. Just thought I'd add something. I have a seven and an eight string. If you're not sure if you'll like it you could always get one that plays great but is lower priced. I payed 300 bucks for my 8 string and it plays awesome. It's perfectly serviceable, even compared to some of my higher end guitars and not terribly expensive. I don't use it nearly as much as my six strings but I do enjoy going back to it once in a while. Completely different feel you can do a bit ore with it. Shop around for sure before you decide. You could always upgrade later if you really enjoy it.
Which 8 string did you get?
Great video thank you!
What about the bridge do you suggest a Floyd rose style bridge.
Thank you!
I think the less you know the easier the transition is because you’re (I’m) clueless in the first place. I have a nice 8 too, it’s just another tool. 👍🏼 Actuality, and I digress, the longer scale length suggested by extended range guitars feels more natural to me as a bass player due to tension but that concept is now taken on by multi scale guitars due to the correct/assumed tension. n shit.
very glad that you said 7th string was a B and then showed how 6 & 7 mirror 1 & 2.
because I had absolutely no idea how it "worked" and I was going to be angry/sad if I still didn't when the video was over!
wow this guy plays very smooth
I can go between both with ease. There was no transition for me going up to a 7 string, I'd say its down to the Ibanez wizard neck profiles, there so comfortable.
I find I end up writing riffs differently on the 7 compared to the 6. A quick note to potential buyers, buy a 7 string with a longer scale length not a 25 inch, tuning becomes unstable with standard scale. Go for 26 to 29 or even 30. You'll find more clarity on the low B with a increased scale.
I love playing a 12-string. it's hard to go backfrom 12 to 6... So I want 7 string.... I even felt it pull to it a 7-string..
Ok now I really want a Seven Guitar 😁👍
Thanks, you answered a few questions I've always had about those.
The 7 String Guitar is a great extended range Guitar to start with because the additional String is another B String (2 Octaves below the regular B String) which means if you know what the 2 E Strings are doing, you'll know what the 2 B Strings are doing right away too. The Low B String on the 7 String Guitar is also great because just like the 5 String Bass, it makes it easier to play what's written on the page, & it also facilitates transposition so you can match the ranges of other instruments & Vocalists especially on Chuch gigs. Extended range Guitars are great for Church Gigs because they're a fun way to add a bit of Rock n Roll.
I kinda wanted one for a while but I noticed I can just play a 6 string tuned to B.
It's just not the same playing a downtuned six Saul. Might feel more comfortable in some sense but trust me, seven is king!
Great video man. Thanks for some actual real-world experience and advice.
Thanks for watching, Jacob! And thanks for the kind words! :-)
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Right off the bat, your tune at the beginning was awesome
"A Change of Seasons". by Dream Theater
Honestly, I wanna buy a 7 string just so I can tune it to BDADGBE so I can play both nu-metal riffs and Drop D grunge riffs without having to re-tune or change guitars.
My genius is… almost frightening.
Hey thanks for your comment! Go for it and hope you find a nice guitar. A new instrument is always a great source of motivation! Good luck finding and awesome guitar! Keep up the good work!
I tune 7th to A and get some bar chord action going. Only problem i have is 6 string guitars feel a bit odd now.
For bass that extra string is very useful. Im a hardcore 1990s bass player, I use it to rest my righthand thumb on, its a very practical string. :P (Just joking around, of course)
it won't throw you off if you like me are a drummer and just mess with guitars, and due to time now I mostly learn things by watching videos and not actually holding a guitar. For some reason I have improved my playing even though I have not held a guitar in years, what I mean things that I used to struggle to play seem very easy to me now. It most be that frame of mind thing...
I used to have a schecter seven string with active Seymour Duncan pups. Only two things I didn't like was the shape and weight.
It sounded ferocious, though!
Good points, and I am going to share this to maybe help my guitar friends that might be considering a 7. It did mess with me visually, but like most things you gets used to it. Same goes for 8 strings. I do also like multiscale a lot. I allows me to use standard gauge 10-46 6 string set and I add a 56 for the 7th and a 74 for the 8th. This gives me nice tension on the lower strings without working too hard like you do with huge strings, while still retaining the same ability to bend on the higher strings with the shorter scale.
Thanks for the comment, Jerry!
what was the song at the beginning?
Sounded to me like "My own summer" by deftones
I have a schecter demon-7 seven string guitar
Thank you Steve, such a good advice!
sold my 7, didn't like the 26.5" scale length, might try a 25.5"
I’m thinking about a new guitar and it is available as both, hope to try a 6 version this week and a similar 7 to see which feels better to me. Tried the one 7 I own and have to look for the low E rather than just feel it and go.
Hi! That's awesome! A new guitar is always a great source of inspiration. Hope you find the right one and enjoy the new guitar! Congrats! 🙂. Thanks for commenting and for sharing!
No body ever talks about the difficulty of switching back to a 6 string lol. I don't know it's probably just me maybe I spent too long on a 7 string because now when I play a 6 I almost always go one string down. Could have something to do with learning by ear first because I don't see the first string as the first it was the last string for me I was 7 years old and I had no one to teach me. I have tried my entire life to resolve this issue it still trips me up when I'm reading tablature or script. Thanks for the Video it's some interesting thoughts. I do have a question you may have answered in another video, Whats the significance of the tuners beeing on just the top or just the bottom? I have a 7 string Ibanez like you but my tuners are on the top. Is there a difference in how it holds tune or possibly even effect the tone of the 7th? I honestly didn't think about it until I seen your Ibanez.
I own 6 seven strings and it's all I play now
So for a complete beginner it wouldn’t matter?
Thank you!
Uli Jon Roth was the first player I saw on a 7-string. Especially built for him..✌️
Finally..someone who gets to all the points needed straight away. All these should you buy a 7s videos on youtube being shit and not on point and then this pops up. Bliss. Thank you so much for this Steve.Also i wanted to ask you something. You seem to have had medical problems with your hands and wrists. I seem to be having hand and wrist pain as well as numbness and loss of feel in my hands for like 13 years slowly getting worse. I use my pc alot. What kind of doctor would you recommend for me to go and get checked at? Thanks again
Haha looks like all of us who attended SpiritCon do 7 string videos now. Guitar Broa did one, I did one there too and you are doing one! Is the 7 string the new 6?
Just kidding, great video Steve, your videos are super inspiring!
Ha! Yeah, I always get a lot of questions about the 7 string guitars.
Take care buddy!
So as a beginner would a 7 string be a bad idea? I’ve held a few and they feel better in my hand then most 6 strings. My hands aren’t huge but it just feels like it actually fits in my hand.
As a beginner, you should probably just buy whatever guitar gets you most excited to pay. Once you fall in love you'll happily go back to buy another. Getting a guitar that excites you will keep you excited to play for the rest of your life
Great video Steve,
I also enjoy playing a 12 string as a 6 string guitar sometimes.
It opens up the string spaces and feels more comfortable with some songs
8 strings but only using 7 strings I don’t know what to do 8 strings let but i like get seven strings
Thanks, Steve! Do you worry about stepping on your bass player?
Many times, the bass player would play a 5 string with a low B as well, so it’s really not any different from that perspective.
with my 7 string I usually down tune the 7th string so i still have all 6 strings in standard and can transition from different tunings without much fiddling around.
Thanks great video, really helped me learn that the 7 strings isn’t for me. So I bought an 8 string lol. Love your vids man.
what’s the intro song?
Steve if you haven’t already you should try a Music Man JP15-7
Picking up a schecter apocolypes next month
*apocalypse
How do you avoid wacking the low B string when playing normal chords? Like if you fancied playing some jonny cash or something I don't know lol. I had a 7 string before but I found I couldn't do upstrokes when strumming, even with barre chords etc. Any tips?
I have an 8 string but not a 7 so it might not translate perfectly, but the extra strings do have a price. It's possible to adapt and play 6 string chords on extended range guitars but it will never be as easy and natural due to the extra strings.
My advice is to use each tool where it works best.
I see Steve, I click like!
Thanks for the kind words, Dmitry! And thanks for watching! :-)
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Great video. What about 7 string vs baritone? Is one always preferable to the other for you, or would it be situational?
I think it would come down to the desire to playing a lower sound vs flexibility. Baritones are great for playing in a lower tone but don't offer you the extended range. So have the similar comfort of a 6-string but be able to play those heavy, low tunes on a guitar built for it, or do that with the small-learning curve of a 7-string plus a little extra range. Not sure if that helps, but it's definitely a personal choice. I would recommend noodling on a 7-string if you're able to get your hands on one. I'm hoping to grab a multiscale 7-string in the future.
This question sticks in my head, too. For playing Metal, which is mostly in B or C tuning. Would a Baritone be a better choice?
Steve is the man
Thanks for watching and subscribing! And thanks for the kind words! :-)
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+100 for playing change of seasons. Subbed.
great info. Thanks!
Hi. My pleasure! Glad it was helpful and thanks so much for your comment!
Oh Steve ...I just ordered a Schecter 7 string 1 week back... If you had uploaded this video earlier I'd have benefited... Anyways I think 7 string will be a good choice for me
Lmfao me too haha
Thanks for the informative video!
woah ho ho! put the guns away, quickdraw! good info man. been on the fence and you got the km7 which you said works well for small hands. Ibanez a little better option just for the shorter scale length? Or is the neck thinner as well?
I’d say the Ibanez is more comfortable for smaller hands, as it’s the same scale length as their 6th string counterparts, and it’s still thin.
The Schecter is very thin, but the longer scale length takes some getting used to :-)
Im having a hard time dialing in a Schecter Reaper multiscale 7 string. Mostly, the low B (drop A).
I get nearly no actual chug out of the lowest string.... I get more of a plunky, Korn type of tone.... But, not a true chug. It is a 27 x 25.5 with a .62 on the low B (drop A). I am using Helix Native , ML Sound Labs Mikko Mesa OS IR.
Hey thanks for commenting. Maybe adding a bit of compression might help. Just to level the tone.
If you think of the 7 string as a different instrument like one does when you transfer to bass. Tune it differently, all fourths is a decent way and scale length is important. He also mentioned fanned frets. That opens the possibility of fourth on the low strings and fifths on the hi strings. ,
Just admit you want to fire you bassist and do it all yourself before he buys a ten string bass and replaces you.
were you making up that song at the start if not can you please tell me what it is
what guitar is that, the one that has the blue burst
Ibanez RG1027PBF-CBB Premium Cerulean Blue Burst 7 String Guitar. Thanks for commenting!
@@stinemusiclessons thank you!
What Ibanez model and finish is that?