Once I got a 7, I actually became a better player cause it opened the door for so much more! I recommend a 7 for guys that want to open their door for song writing. I got it and never put it down! I love 7s!!! And I mean the chords I came up with even in clean, bar chords with a 7 is just killer!! Things you can’t do with a 6. So i recommend 7s to people who want to expand. If your tired of the same ol same ol from a 6, get a 7!! So many more options!!! Expand man!!
That's fucking rad dude. I had kind of an opposite effect but only when wielding the 7 and playing 6'er songs. I had to admit to myself after 25 years of playing that ya I have kind of smaller hands, so that could also have been a factor on my old 7 neck. :)
Dream guitar is a 7 string ibanez gio. No idea why but it just looks so good. Just bought one yesterday and it sounds pretty damn good compared to my other shiz
A great feature of a 7 string is that you can comfortably switch between E and B standard without having to get lower gauge strings. You can just change the g string to an F# and then have B standard with a high E.
@@Owlun B standard tuning is BEADF#B. 7 strings are tuned to BEADGBE. Basically you can play songs that were originally recorded on a B standard guitar if you tune the G to F#.
My name is Mubatu and we have no money for real guitar here in Africa. We made our own 14 string guitar out of thrown away rubbish. It's tune so low it causes groin injury
I've been playing for just shy of 30 years and did 90% on six strings with E standard tuning. I bought a 7 string after hearing how it feels like a whole different instrument. I had zero issues adapting to it. It felt as natural as playing a 6 string to me. I think a lot of people struggle because they are overthinking it. Music is the art of sound. As such, the ONLY rule is does it sound good, or at least does it help convay what you're trying to say. Any other rule is nonsense. I love science, and with most things, I'm obsessed with knowing the facts and being able to back up my opinions with proof. Art is the one place such obsession is not only unessisary it's arguably harmful.
Dudeee, I mostly play funk, and I tried a Schecter c7 today at guitar center. It's the most comfortable neck I've ever felt!! People are forgetting how much neck shape and design plays a role in your comfort
When someone sees me playing a 7 and the say that they wouldn’t know where to start on it, it makes me think they don’t know anything about playing guitar in the first place. It’s chords, it’s scales, it’s all the same. You’re absolutely right. Memorize the fretboard in a standard tuning first. Don’t drop tune, don’t take shortcuts. Learn your intervals before screwing up your tuning. Good video man. Peace
My dad in a nutshell. Don't get me wrong, he's brilliant at what he does. Problem is that he can't comprehend anything that isn't strumming the standard shape chords on E standard. Put it in drop D to use power chords on that one song? "No. I can't do bar chords on this, it's stupid and useless." Take one finger off that major chord you always use to use an alternative version to give the song life? "No. It doesn't make sense, it's no longer (insert major chord here), it's stupid and useless. If I play my baritone with him, (same chord shapes but I can convert it so we are playing the same notes). (Attempts to copy my chord shapes and not what the music book says the notes are) "No. Your guitar sounds wrong, it's stupid and pointless." Will not introduce him to the concept of extra strings. That may be too much (even though I play it in baritone tuning with an extra high e)
This. Really good outlook. Not discouraging people experimenting or exploring but understanding the value of memorising the fretboard or getting your intervals right before widening things. Appreciate this man
I learned the fretboard in drop D, because that's what I like to play in. I know my intervals, they're just slightly different. And I can translate that to standard by just moving everything on the low E down 2 frets. There really isn't a right way to do it.
A 7 string guitar can be the best of both worlds if you can get used to the adjustment. It allows you to tune low as well keep the same scale patterns you are used to on a 6 string guitar.
When I started getting into super heavy music like 15 years ago, I did a lot of research and decided I was going to get an 8 string. Upon finding one and testing it out though, I actually hated it. Going from a 6 to 8 string is like switching to an entirely new instrument. So, I tried out a 7 string. INSTANTLY fell in love with it. So much so, that I will NEVER buy a 6 string again. Ever. The 7 was actually very comfortable and easy to pick up for me.
I'm buying a Schecter 7 string soon, because of how comfortable the neck is. Even though I don't usually play styles that really require a 7th string at all, the wide and flat profile of this neck is just liquid comfortable
I only own a 7 string, playing a 6 string feels weird to me at this point. I love the harmonic capabilities of just one extra string. I even use it clean AT CHURCH and it's awesome
I play drop G on one of my 7-string 26.5'' guitars. 100% agree that any lower and you want 27'' or longer. Below ''G'' is ''F#'' which is standard tuning for 8-string guitars, so look for a baritone 7-string or just get an 8-string. I also use down-tuned 6-string guitars. You DO need to be careful when purchasing a 6-string guitar with the intent of down-tuning to the range of a 7-string. A lot of the stock hardware on most 6's can't handle the gauges for those extended range tunings.
It took me a long time to get used to 7 string but now it`s perfect for me. I like the wider neck grip and the fact that I have a completely standard guitar I had been leraning for years plus an additional string for lower stuff. And I`m not soloing 99% of time. Cons: same models of guitars are more expensive and there`s just way less of different models compared to 6 string. Finding Evertune 7 string with 25.5 scale is a hell of a task
I’m a shredder myself, love just blasting through notes challenging myself. Was planning on getting 7 to get into that kind of challenge I tend to throw myself into with guitar (also a particular sonic song that came out in recent year but the motivation is still the same), this vid definitely helped, really appreciate the insight!
If you're wondering about getting a 7 string but mostly so you can play lower notes, you can try experimenting with a pitch shifter plugin/pedal on a 6 string first
My reason for getting a seven string guitar was only to enable me to play songs that I love that were written on a seven string instrument.. One thing people should keep in mind is that even when dropping the tuning of your lowest string, you are really not getting that many extra notes. But sometimes, it is a requirement to have the range that comes with an extra guitar string. I still feel like some of the heaviest songs I have ever heard were written on a Six string!!
I started on 6 strings, bought a few different ones over time, then bought an 8 string loved it and just got my first 7 string earlier this year. And absolutely, the amount of strings don’t make it “heavier” I have two albums out now that is primarily played on 8 strings but outside of a few obvious low chuggy breakdown type stuff, it sounds like I’m playing on a 7 string or a dropped tuned 6. And my heaviest song is on a 6 string in drop C#. I mostly use the F# on the 8 string guitar as an accent or more of an added layer of depth while playing chords, whereas a lot of 8 string players tend to live and die on that low 8th string. Which I find boring and unoriginal.
Well that sucks for you because the sound of a low 8th or 7th string tickles me in ways I can't explain. Your comment is unoriginal and boring lol. Even if a songs just on one string but its sick idgaf lol. I am not saying the other strings should be neglected play some sick dissonant chord in-between chugging that low string or a tasty arpeggio run mmmm baby
While there are general reasons you’d need more scale length, but don’t be afraid to just try stuff. I took inspiration from Jason Richardson, so on my Jason Richardson 7, I’m tuned and intonated to drop G using 10-56. Jason takes it further using 11-58 with drop F#. This is because it also comes down to your feel and how you play. If you have a lighter touch, these things are doable, but extended scale is ultimately better if you want more tension.
I got a 7 strings for the first time this year. I don’t really play heavy metal so I don’t use it to chug. I keep it in standard tuning and use it to beef some songs where two 6 strings sound like it’s missing something.
A heavy riff is a heavy riff no matter what tuning. A low tuning doesn't make it heavier. It just makes it thicker sounding. That's it. Sometimes the muddiness of the lower tunings take away from the riff. Not always, but sometimes.
The reason I wanted 7-string guitars was because a lot of my favourite bands played them, and I wanted to be able to play their material without having to drastically alter one of my guitars to do it. Then again, I'm more of a prog-metal guy than someone who goes for the heaviest thing out there. I like to have a low B while still being able to play those piercing high Es at the 24th fret. I never really thought of the 7-string as harder with regards to theory, and I'm with you on the idea of thinking of a 7-string as "a 6-string with an extra fun string!" and that made it much easier for me to rationalize it. I can play all my usual 6-string material on one, but then use that low B for when I need that extended range. I'll strongly disagree about the price point though. It's true that some models are much more expensive than their 6-string counterparts, but it's never been easier and more accessible to get into 7-strings when you consider the massive jumps of quality in cheap guitars over the last 10 years. I tried an Ibanez GIO 7-string recently, very inexpensive instrument that I easily could have afforded as a kid on my paper route job, and it was not terrible at all! A kid can drop not all that much money on a 7-string these days and get something that's not a pile of complete trash. But otherwise, I see where you're coming from. 6-strings are still a lot more versatile than people think, and there are a lot of times where I'd rather use a 6-string than a 7-string.
A JL-7 was loaned to me. Loved it. its 26.5. Did tune down half step like Jeff. Then I tried to learn Conquering Dystopia tracks. Standard tuning 5-1 with Drop A on 7. This was odd to me, yet I'm writing a song in this tuning now cause it just fell from the sky. Having standard tuned strings on a 26.5 was something I never though I would use, yet here I am. It is about the riff and what feels right. Many of us are not playing in a band so we don't have to have a rack of guitars on standby in various tuning. Anyway love your energy dude and you vids! Peace!
I got a 7 because I like to riff on E standard blues riffs, but I also like to chug out on drop A. I got it in a 27" scale because I have big hands. One trick I like to do sometimes is tune the guitar as if it were a baritone but with an extra high string, having played primarily 6 strings most of my life I find this a lot easier to wrap my head around as far as notes and scales.
@@quinnquitars they really dont do much. I have a 30" 6 string (squier vi) a 27 inch 7 string, a 26.5 inch 7 string, a 25.5 inch 6 string, and a 24.75 inch 6 string. of course I have others but those guitars all share a scale length with one of the ones I listed. they all generally feel the same other than the 30", and I think its because it is in E standard, one octave lower. the rest are all in standard tuning. it of course would feel weird going from the 24.75 to the 27". but thats mainly because of the extra string. in my opinion you only notice the longer scale when you are trying to notice something. if you dont think about it its like its not even there.
@@quinnquitars Unless you're doing complex chords that require a big stretch it's not much of an adjustment. It's about what you would expect the spacing to be if you added an extra fret on the nut end of the neck for a 25.5" scale guitar if that makes sense.
I have a couple six strings, a seven and most recently an eight, and as a vocalist with whatever particular range I have, the thing I've really come to love about the lower tuning is that in the context of a full mix the guitar tone can take up a lot more space without getting in the way of my vocal. And especially as the kind of vocalist who likes to go from a whisper to a roar on a dime with the changes in volume that entails, I've definitely found that having lower rhythm guitar parts results in a lot less need for precision EQing and a much more natural sound for both the guitar and the vocal :)
I love to play six strings, but I have a couple of 7 strings for Fear Factory and Jeff Loomis style playing! I have a Schecter Omen Extreme 7 with Dino Cazares SD Blackouts and a Schecter Jeff Loomis signature with his signature SD Blackouts, both killer guitars!
@@mrrnrob this one came with the Diamond series pickups, I had the Fishman Moderns in it first, but I really wasn’t feeling those! Love the Blackouts, Micks pickups are great, I had his signature Jackson guitar for a while!
@@REDDRAGON666ful Cool..The Jackson Guitar..We Now know Mick Switch to ESP From Jackson. A Month ago I Picked Up The 6 String ESP LTD PHOENIX BLACK METAL, BLACK SATIN Finish --Then Swap Out The Pups For Mick Thomson Fishmans Pups..
Always love your vidoes Ray and I dont normally comment unless I really like a youtuber which you are one of my favorites either way I got a seven string back in april and it is rally fun the main reason I got it was beacuse all the baritones are out of my budget
Baritone is amazing. Your comment about playing lead vs rhythm is the key. If you aren't playing leads you don't need a 7 string or if you aren't playing really extended range chord inversions
So with my Ibanez RG 7 string I have it set up with Ernia Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom strings and keep it tuned to A standard (ADGCFAD). I also find that when I need it, I have 2 six string tunings in one guitar like with the A standard and when the F string is tuned to E (ADGCEAD) move all the six string chord shapes up one string.
I think about extended range guitars like a piano/keyboard. Did I actually run out of notes to play to cover the music I’m working on? Or do I just need to shift the tuning and I have enough notes available? I enjoy 7 string guitars still. But after 3-4 years or mainly playing 7s I ended up going back to 6 strings. Cost of string changes and maintenance keeping everything playing and sounding great. 6 string just let’s me play more at the end of the day.
I personally feel like they're the best if you want versatility if you don't want or can't have a larger collection. If you tune the G string down a half step to F# it turns into a B-B baritone with a bonus high E and if you keep it standard its an E-E with a bonus low B. Picked up the cheapest Jackson on the market because of the 26.5 scale length. There is a learning curve but the fact that you can play standard tuned riffs without having to use a capo or extra brain power and have baritone range made it ideal for me.
I appreciate this video. Very cool of you to put out! I've got 6s and a 7, and I gravitate towards my 6 in drop c 90% of the time. This would've saved me some dough. Keep doing you man.
I’ll leave my 2 cents on 7 strings since you already know that’s mainly what I gravitate towards. Of course we all love the fun string but I also like playing predominantly around the 10th/12th fret and higher generally speaking so I can play the octave notes (if I’m only using 1 string). I also enjoy huge string skipping riffs going from the lowest note to some of the highest on the board and some solo type stuff as well when necessary. Playing 7s and 8s definitely helped me on playing 6s too since you do have to go about playing the wider necks slightly differently and think a little bit more when using theory.
The first 7-string I owned - a Epi flying V in 24.75 scale - left me feeling lost on the fretboard and didn't really "serve a purpose". I sold it and moved on. But I recently bought a new 7-string. It has a longer 26.5 scale, is a more player-friendly design, and I'm coming to it as a more experienced player. I've really bonded with the extra string this time around thanks to the better design. No small part of that is how I actively invested some time in treating it as a "new instrument" to learn.
My seven string upgrade was to play Fear Factory, Unearth, Whitechapel and Upon A Burning Body. But my original riffs are in CGCFAD and I fell my riffs are heavy AF. Sylosis plays in Standard E and are heavy AF! The riff is important, not the tuning.
Before even watching, I think it depends on a bunch of different factors - are you just looking for heavier chugs, exclusively? How much lead work do you do? Are you looking into ringing out extended chord voicings? Do you play live?
I always feel heaviness comes from the tonality of the tuning, hence why to me drop c sounds the heaviest because it sounds the most minor yet clear and tight
I Just ordered a mahogany Strat body and a 27” (maple neck/rosewood FB) to build a custom HSH pickup configuration Strat, had all the emgs sitting around from other guitars so I just ordered a Strat pick guard and emg brand kill switch, and it’s ready to go after I stain it. Gonna be my first baritone 6. I have a 27” 7 string but I just don’t feel as comfortable on it as a 6. Love the channel man. Keep up the good work
Just got a PRS Holcomb as my first 7 string, LOVE IT! I got it to experiment on, and give a platform for songs I used to downtune my 6 string for. I can transpose a lot of songs, but not everything, some songs are still MUCH easier to play in their original tuning. Overall super happy though, I'm starting to grapple with the fact I may be a 7 string convert.
7 strings allow you to have a drop A and play drop shape chord and licks while having a standard tune 6 strings. A E A D G B E. Gives the best of bothe worlds you got a regular 6 strings with a added low string, put it in droo A and its so easy for people use to playing in drop d and e standard. Drop A plays easy in A minor/C major if you use alot of natural notes or play with a keyboard.
I have a 9 string with a top A0. That doesn’t make it any heavier than classics from bands I grew up with like Pantera in E standard. It’s the riff and tone.
I learned a riff on my 7 string last night and just ended up pitch shifting my 6 string, it was a little easier to play that way (shorter scale length and smaller neck.) 90% off riffs dont use all 7 strings. 11 semitones down on Neural DSP Petrucci was no problem (as long as you're not playing chords, it gets muddy then.)
Well, I have a standard 6 string, a 28” baritone 6 string, 2 26.5” 7 strings and an 8 string. My favorites are by far the 7 strings. They open up to so much more
Great video Ray and as for me I have never been interested in playing or buying a 7 string guitar. I can get everything I need to get out of a guitar on a 6 string just have no need for a 7 string guitar.
hearing your complaints about the scale length for 7 string..I very recently got my first 7 string but its a multiscale. its 25.51 in to 27.01 in (had to convert from mm) . my 6 string is 25.5 in. aren't multiscale guitars made to alleviate the issue of string tension? I think its perfect for 7 string guitars or beyond.
I got a 7 string solely for the extra range. Yes, I was in need of some lower octaves, but I'm too comfortable playing in standard and I didn't wanna sacrifice my high e string. I just always felt like I was missing the lower range whenever I would play certain chords. I would get to the end of the neck and it felt incomplete, like I was missing something that should've been accessible to me. I've tried down tuning my guitar to B-E-A-D-G-B but, again, felt myself missing my high e since I use it for certain chords. The sound I was looking for had been found in that tuning so I just figured it was time to upgrade to a 7 string. Now that I bought my first one about a week ago, playing a 6 string feels so naked to me lol. I have more percussive/rhythm options available to me with my 7 and everything just kinda clicked for me once I got it and I feel at home with it. Gonna enjoy experimenting with it and continuing to practice :)
I play a whole step down DGCFAD With a string guage thats a little thicker and tighter feeling 11-50 I also chug around on Perfect 4th intervals instead of the typical Perfect 5th interval. Its a preference thing, but I think 4ths are heavier sounding than 5ths
I am left handed. I've gotten to try 1 left handed guitar, a Kiesel my buddy had. I've always wanted one wilthout comitting heavy cash to get a lefty, at 25.5" scale length. But I usually play thrash in standard and death metal in C#. Do I need a 7!? Revocation makes it sound cool.
My first 7 string was bought purely to play korn songs, plain and simple. A standard and love it. But in saying that I had a Ibanez Prestige RG1127 and personally didnt like the neck and got rid of it and happy with my Jackson JS32-7 my Ibanez GRG7221. Ray brilliant video as always bro
Got a 7 string kinda regretting it at first, second guessed getting a baritone 6string, it was a 27 inch Jericho to play in Drop F, I was wishing it was longer even tho it held up fine once set up. I don’t solo or shred, but once I got familiar and started writing, I found my self actually using the high E string a lot for a bunch of the ambient/emotional Melodie’s, so no regrets, but for sure get a 27inch or longer from Drop F.
Love seven strings (outside of the chug chug), wider neck (helped with my technique), less string spacing (helped with keeping pick strokes tight). Love it. I also like 25.5 especially with lead.
my 7 string made me a better player on my 6 string :). same story as you. had to rework my hand technique on the neck especially which really improved the way I played when I switched back to 6. and thats after 15 whole years of playing 6 strings. crazy
I totally agree asking why you want one. I use a seven string for melodic doom. I can get heavy low riffs and high melodic leads out of it. I couldn't do that with a 6 string tuned to drop a.
Get a 7 string! Play one for 2 hours and then go back to a 6 string and it will be like playing a baby guitar. Definitely makes you better on a 6 string
I picked up an 8 string a few years back and I felt like I got in over my head a bit. I tuned it to drop A on the top 6 and then drop E from there on the bottom string, but I found myself just riffing in drop A and ignoring the 8th most of the time so I sold it. Picked up a cheap 7 string about a year ago and it's like it's been a straight up muse. I had a dry spell for some years where I was just creatively stumped, or just lost the motivation to even play. The 7 string was the remedy for that for me.
7 strings cost more when they are new but generally cost less used because it’s not as easy to sell a 7 string to the niche market. I picked up a 30th anniversary RG 7 string for $900 just before the pandemic. They generally sell for around 1200 but Guitar Center knocked down the price to get rid of it.
after playing 6 strings for nearly 30 years i picked up a 7 string as an impulse buy and i love it, i thought the extra b string would trip me up, but it was easier than i thought
If you think about it as a different instrument, not just a big guitar, then it's actually easier to approach because you drop a lot more of your preconceptions. That said, a 6-string with a D-Tuna so you can drop the low-E a full step on the fly is going to cover SOOOO much territory before you need to add strings.
Part of me wants a cool looking 7 string, the other part of me is just used to getting those tones from the transpose function on my plugins. It doesn’t sound the same sure but scratches the itch.
I just got a 7 string very cheap as a refurb/return, I guess some people regret their purchase. I looked into parts to "upgrade" it and there are fewer options, far less stuff on the used market, and parts are more expensive. I'm not sure I saved anything if I end up changing anything on this guitar, but out of the box it seems fun and the challenge at least will keep my interest.
I have been on drop B on my modern take on a tele (SS frets, direct mount HH w/splits) roasted maple neck and board, roasted mahogany body, bone nut) and just for fun went back up to drop D and I can’t stop playing. Yeah it doesn’t sound as “heavy” but it’s fun and the tension on the strings made it feel different enough to make it fun.
Just beginning to play 7 string and I got a good quality Ibanez G10 for 260 new and it’s amazing. I haven’t got confused and I don’t think it’s hard with the wider neck.if any thing, 9 strings are outrageous
I play mostly play 6s in regular tunings and 6s tuned to drop A and A#. I also have a 17tone Ibanez rg350 tuned in between B and C standard. The necks on 6s just feel nicer and are generally more comfortable to me. As a rhythm player, losing some high end is no issue to me. I still like the 7s I’ve had. And I whip mine out to play stuff in drop F. It plays good.
What do you mean you cant do drop f on a normal 6 string. If you can do C standard/drop A# you can do drop f. Just get thicker strings and set it up maybe some guitars are better or worse at it but that's more a hardware problem
I found for me and my style. Anything lower than drop C was an issue for me. So I found an Ibanez rgd 26.5 scale so I could get the baritone feel and tension for more modern stuff and still be in drop C. Then I have my schecter 24.75 in drop C# for a more old school metalcore vibe and grunge and post grunge riffs. like Alice in chains and tool style stuff. Those cover all the bases for me. Since I tend to go for a late 90s to 2008 influence. Try to blend death/groove metal guitar tones with a more basic riffing and ambient clean playing style. You and Reba have been instrumental in developing my style
Good video. I just bought a js22-7 with the maple board which yoy reviewed an equivalent of and said it was decent and I wanted to learned some polyphia riffs as well as some other songs that just require that lower octave so I feel more needed as the music I listen to are going towards that direction
I'm kind of stuck in between of buying a 7. Because i play in a band that plays a wide variety of music wherein we play a song that is in standard, THEN into a freaking drop C or drop C# or even lower and then back to standard again, So that's kind of the problem because mainly the strings would break, the setup or action would change making the guitar harder to play. So would a 7 string guitar could give me an opportunity to play different songs with different tunings with any hassle?
Getting a seven string helps you become a better guitarist. I use my seven string as an all around guitar and even play songs in E standard on it. It feels more comfortable for me personally and I found that it helped my ability to control where I pick and on what strings, and allows me to know when I have more control and when I'm playing sloppy. I've gotten so used to them that 6 strings feel small in comparison. 7 strings may not be for everyone, but go to your music store and try one out. You may be very surprised with how awesome and versatile they are. You do not need it only for "low" tuning.
I've used an 8 string tuned up a full step with heavy strings on it to get C# standard in the middle six strings along with a low G# that worked out okay and a high 11 gauge Eb that really extended the instrument for minor voicings. All of a sudden I could go go low enough to be hEaVy and really make shit sound evil. 26.5" schecter omen 8 btw.. more strings can be cool for studio use, but the thought of using an 8 string live scares me, especially if I get ballsy when I write my parts. Baritones play more in tune and are easier to play. Nothing beats them for going low other than an extended scale bass.
Heres a funky 6 string tuning thats really heavy, c# standard but the low e string is tuned down to G, its the tuning dimebag did on 2 songs off trendkill
Fun fact, I play 7 but I use my 7 as a 6. I play my a jp70 sterling and I took out the 7th tuner peg and use it as a 6 string. I blocked off the tremolo cause I don’t really use it for what my band plays but here is the kicker. I feel more comfortable playing a 7 string guitar as a 6 string without the extra string. I feel like I have more room for that high e for more bends.
I got a 7-string because the band I was in at the time played in drop-B and it's a nightmare to tune on a 6-string. So I just got a 7 and dropped the B to A and put capo on 2nd fret, whole lot easier. :D When it comes to heaviness, I always argue that Sad But True is still one of, if not, the heaviest songs out there, right from the get go. And a big part of that is the overall sound. It punches you in the gut.
Iv been playing for 15 years or so and only play for fun at home. I like to play things ranging from acoustic songs, to thrash metal to nu metal and everything else out there. I enjoyed changing to a 7 string AND a drop tune pedal. I can play absolutely any song in almost any tuning all on one instrument. Keeps it fun for me without needing multiple guitars.
I love quirky guitars. I have a 7 string acoustic for jazzy stuff and a 6 string baritone tele which is surprisingly a quite decent djent machine (noiseless singles do help) in B standard.
My first guitar ever was a 26.5" 7 string, still love to play with it in Drop A/Drop G 🫶. The perfect compromise to play these lower tuning while keeping it comfortable 👍
I went from 6 to 8, it was easier than 7 because I play in drop e. I can play all my e standard stuff and also drop tuning stuff now. I only played standard till I got the 8.
I only play my 7 string now. I grew up playing bass, also a lefty! LMAO! I love how I tune to A standard and riff out! Got D standard with that extra low set of notes. I also don't like going lover than drop G on my 7 string because it can get "muddy" IMO but whatever you like! 🤘🤘
I have one 7 and was thinking about getting another before trying it out with my DigiTech drop pedal and playing a couple of 6 in drop D through it too. I’m considering a new guitar and it’s available as both. I’m planning on trying out a version of what I want as a 6, and a similar 7 to get a better feel for it before ordering a variant.
I tried twice to add a 7 string to my collection and it didn't stick. I'd now consider myself back then as a novelty guitar player. I didn't know scales, modes, progressions, or any theory and I stuck to mostly covers. I wanted a 7 to be able to play covers. Well It's been over a decade since I've owned one a friend asked me to repair his 7 string with a faulty volume pot..... I fixed it and did a full setup and plugged it in to test it out.... OMG I had soo much fun riffing on it. NGL I want a 7 string again but It's not practical where I am in my playing career. I'm not writing much and am focused on teaching lessons to mostly beginners who are exclusively on 6 string. I have my eyes out and will jump on a stupid good deal for a mid range 7 string, but It's not really on my priority list.
I fully agree with what you said about how guitarists who want to just play lower end stuff should get baritone guitars instead, 7 strings and 8 strings are so much bigger, heavier and overall more clunky than a baritone so unless you’re actually playing all of the strings a baritone is just going to be much more convenient and easier on your back and shoulders as well
There are a couple of points missing: First of all - if you're like me and you have gigantic hands, bigger instrument is simply more comfortable to play in my experience. I started to play bigger guitars after I tried 5 string bass - it was so much more comfortable than a regular 25.5 6 string guitar. After playing 7 string and a bass for a while, I tried 8 string and it felt like a perfect fit for my hands. Not only I like low chugs, but I also like when my instrument is comfy. Second: (guitar solos are kinda cringe (hot take:D)) - extended range is not only useful for solos, but also for creating ambience and nice clean sections or arrangements in general. It is mentioned a bit, but only in the context of guitar solos. The actual point is that you can have a single guitar to make chugs and make arrangements for the song or whatever you want to make. Quoting Carpenter of Deftones: "More guitar! Why have less guitar, when you can have more guitar!" Also aesthetics is important. For example, I don't like how 6 string guitars look - they are too tiny. And I also don't like how I look with them - I'm too big and guitar's too small. But I also know people who don't like how big guitars look. Playing guitar is fun. Playing guitar while enjoying how it looks or how it looks on you is even more fun. Interesting fact: if I puck up a 6 string guitar - it feels weird to me and I don't know what to do with it. I'm used to a 5/6 string bass, I'm used to an 8 string, but 6 string guitar throws me off a bit. It is really a force of habit. If you play big guitars mostly, you will probably need to adapt to a 6 string and vice versa.
C standard is low as I would tune on 6 string 25.5 scale B tuning literally means extended scale or a thicker bass string to accommodate that extra slack. Low tuning literally means less tension.
i'm a lower tuning engoier and i'm totally agree with you, i have a normal 6 string with big string on it for drop A#, recently i want a 7 string because i want to go even lower but a don't want to lose the high E note, because i like to do cleans and kinda alien guitar sound on the high E strings, it's kinda for the use of the guitar
if its in standard tuning, why would it be something more to keep in mind, its just a b string above the e string, which if you memorized the fret board in standard tuning you should already know
My FR equipped 7 string is my lead guitar. My 8, 9 & 10 string guitars are my riff machines. Got two 6 string baritones that I don't even use anymore. Long scale lengths and heavy gauge strings are mando if you want to go low.
well i would say A1 standart is the deepest what make sence to me. So i use G#1 standart on my 27" baritone.(c# standart) and i use 85 on 7 th string to make it sound. if you whant go deeper just grab a bass.
i want 7 string guitar tonplay the heavy low pitched drop A riffs and then shred those high string like on normal guitar. i tried 7 string in store and absolutely fell in love. also i will build my own i have a friend who have some experiences so i would be pleased if he is willing to help me.
Once you get a 7 string, you'll have so much fun with it you'll want to get an 8 string.
That is exactly what my son said at about 6 months into playing his 7!
Bought a Mark Holcomb PRS SE and love it. I play clean out of a Fender Princeton. Expands your expression.
thats exactly why i sold it for a 8 string man
Video title: don’t buy a 7 string guitar
Me: ok 8 string it is
i went a step ahead and got a 9 string
@@ytudj or just buy two! like the MAB double
8 string all day
Gonna be my next purchase just to play 115 in its entirety 😂
@@steveedmondson9651😂
Once I got a 7, I actually became a better player cause it opened the door for so much more! I recommend a 7 for guys that want to open their door for song writing. I got it and never put it down! I love 7s!!! And I mean the chords I came up with even in clean, bar chords with a 7 is just killer!! Things you can’t do with a 6. So i recommend 7s to people who want to expand. If your tired of the same ol same ol from a 6, get a 7!! So many more options!!! Expand man!!
That's fucking rad dude. I had kind of an opposite effect but only when wielding the 7 and playing 6'er songs. I had to admit to myself after 25 years of playing that ya I have kind of smaller hands, so that could also have been a factor on my old 7 neck. :)
Same, so much fun, it helps you get your muting technique down too
@@ryzencorp8182 agreed! I mean once I got mine I couldn’t put it down.
@@BigRobot69 same
Dream guitar is a 7 string ibanez gio. No idea why but it just looks so good. Just bought one yesterday and it sounds pretty damn good compared to my other shiz
A great feature of a 7 string is that you can comfortably switch between E and B standard without having to get lower gauge strings. You can just change the g string to an F# and then have B standard with a high E.
true
I'm confused. Why would you need an F# string in B standard on a 7 string.
@@Owlun B standard tuning is BEADF#B.
7 strings are tuned to BEADGBE. Basically you can play songs that were originally recorded on a B standard guitar if you tune the G to F#.
@@nissenilsson9158 Lol I was so confused. I thought you were saying you needed that F# on a 7 string in B standard.
I gotchu now. Thanks.
@@nissenilsson9158 B standard is this bro... th-cam.com/video/meJbckLKuOw/w-d-xo.html
My name is Mubatu and we have no money for real guitar here in Africa. We made our own 14 string guitar out of thrown away rubbish. It's tune so low it causes groin injury
Muhahah
Hell yeah mubatu !!
You should call your band Sonic Castration.
I've been playing for just shy of 30 years and did 90% on six strings with E standard tuning. I bought a 7 string after hearing how it feels like a whole different instrument. I had zero issues adapting to it. It felt as natural as playing a 6 string to me.
I think a lot of people struggle because they are overthinking it. Music is the art of sound. As such, the ONLY rule is does it sound good, or at least does it help convay what you're trying to say. Any other rule is nonsense. I love science, and with most things, I'm obsessed with knowing the facts and being able to back up my opinions with proof. Art is the one place such obsession is not only unessisary it's arguably harmful.
Your story is pretty similar to mine. Now I have a 8 string on the way. My mind is going wild with the possibilities and exrra power chords. :)
Dudeee, I mostly play funk, and I tried a Schecter c7 today at guitar center. It's the most comfortable neck I've ever felt!!
People are forgetting how much neck shape and design plays a role in your comfort
When someone sees me playing a 7 and the say that they wouldn’t know where to start on it, it makes me think they don’t know anything about playing guitar in the first place. It’s chords, it’s scales, it’s all the same. You’re absolutely right. Memorize the fretboard in a standard tuning first. Don’t drop tune, don’t take shortcuts. Learn your intervals before screwing up your tuning. Good video man. Peace
My dad in a nutshell.
Don't get me wrong, he's brilliant at what he does. Problem is that he can't comprehend anything that isn't strumming the standard shape chords on E standard.
Put it in drop D to use power chords on that one song?
"No. I can't do bar chords on this, it's stupid and useless."
Take one finger off that major chord you always use to use an alternative version to give the song life?
"No. It doesn't make sense, it's no longer (insert major chord here), it's stupid and useless.
If I play my baritone with him, (same chord shapes but I can convert it so we are playing the same notes).
(Attempts to copy my chord shapes and not what the music book says the notes are)
"No. Your guitar sounds wrong, it's stupid and pointless."
Will not introduce him to the concept of extra strings. That may be too much (even though I play it in baritone tuning with an extra high e)
This. Really good outlook. Not discouraging people experimenting or exploring but understanding the value of memorising the fretboard or getting your intervals right before widening things. Appreciate this man
I learned the fretboard in drop D, because that's what I like to play in. I know my intervals, they're just slightly different. And I can translate that to standard by just moving everything on the low E down 2 frets. There really isn't a right way to do it.
A 7 string guitar can be the best of both worlds if you can get used to the adjustment. It allows you to tune low as well keep the same scale patterns you are used to on a 6 string guitar.
When I started getting into super heavy music like 15 years ago, I did a lot of research and decided I was going to get an 8 string. Upon finding one and testing it out though, I actually hated it. Going from a 6 to 8 string is like switching to an entirely new instrument. So, I tried out a 7 string. INSTANTLY fell in love with it. So much so, that I will NEVER buy a 6 string again. Ever. The 7 was actually very comfortable and easy to pick up for me.
I'm buying a Schecter 7 string soon, because of how comfortable the neck is.
Even though I don't usually play styles that really require a 7th string at all, the wide and flat profile of this neck is just liquid comfortable
I only own a 7 string, playing a 6 string feels weird to me at this point. I love the harmonic capabilities of just one extra string. I even use it clean AT CHURCH and it's awesome
I'm looking at a 7 string headless and considered what it would be like to play at my church also lol
Ok ok... I won't get a 7 string.
I'll get an 8 string instead!!!
Great timing with this video. I'm selling my 7-string today as I don't play it as much as I thought I would. Live and learn. Keep it metal, Ray! \m/
Terrible timing because your market share just shrank, lol.
I play drop G on one of my 7-string 26.5'' guitars. 100% agree that any lower and you want 27'' or longer. Below ''G'' is ''F#'' which is standard tuning for 8-string guitars, so look for a baritone 7-string or just get an 8-string. I also use down-tuned 6-string guitars. You DO need to be careful when purchasing a 6-string guitar with the intent of down-tuning to the range of a 7-string. A lot of the stock hardware on most 6's can't handle the gauges for those extended range tunings.
It took me a long time to get used to 7 string but now it`s perfect for me. I like the wider neck grip and the fact that I have a completely standard guitar I had been leraning for years plus an additional string for lower stuff. And I`m not soloing 99% of time.
Cons: same models of guitars are more expensive and there`s just way less of different models compared to 6 string. Finding Evertune 7 string with 25.5 scale is a hell of a task
I’m a shredder myself, love just blasting through notes challenging myself. Was planning on getting 7 to get into that kind of challenge I tend to throw myself into with guitar (also a particular sonic song that came out in recent year but the motivation is still the same), this vid definitely helped, really appreciate the insight!
If you're wondering about getting a 7 string but mostly so you can play lower notes, you can try experimenting with a pitch shifter plugin/pedal on a 6 string first
My reason for getting a seven string guitar was only to enable me to play songs that I love that were written on a seven string instrument.. One thing people should keep in mind is that even when dropping the tuning of your lowest string, you are really not getting that many extra notes. But sometimes, it is a requirement to have the range that comes with an extra guitar string. I still feel like some of the heaviest songs I have ever heard were written on a Six string!!
Yup. On a six string. In standard tuning.
I started on 6 strings, bought a few different ones over time, then bought an 8 string loved it and just got my first 7 string earlier this year. And absolutely, the amount of strings don’t make it “heavier” I have two albums out now that is primarily played on 8 strings but outside of a few obvious low chuggy breakdown type stuff, it sounds like I’m playing on a 7 string or a dropped tuned 6. And my heaviest song is on a 6 string in drop C#. I mostly use the F# on the 8 string guitar as an accent or more of an added layer of depth while playing chords, whereas a lot of 8 string players tend to live and die on that low 8th string. Which I find boring and unoriginal.
Well that sucks for you because the sound of a low 8th or 7th string tickles me in ways I can't explain. Your comment is unoriginal and boring lol. Even if a songs just on one string but its sick idgaf lol. I am not saying the other strings should be neglected play some sick dissonant chord in-between chugging that low string or a tasty arpeggio run mmmm baby
While there are general reasons you’d need more scale length, but don’t be afraid to just try stuff.
I took inspiration from Jason Richardson, so on my Jason Richardson 7, I’m tuned and intonated to drop G using 10-56. Jason takes it further using 11-58 with drop F#. This is because it also comes down to your feel and how you play. If you have a lighter touch, these things are doable, but extended scale is ultimately better if you want more tension.
I got a 7 strings for the first time this year. I don’t really play heavy metal so I don’t use it to chug. I keep it in standard tuning and use it to beef some songs where two 6 strings sound like it’s missing something.
A heavy riff is a heavy riff no matter what tuning. A low tuning doesn't make it heavier. It just makes it thicker sounding. That's it. Sometimes the muddiness of the lower tunings take away from the riff. Not always, but sometimes.
I agree some E standard riffs are heavy
The reason I wanted 7-string guitars was because a lot of my favourite bands played them, and I wanted to be able to play their material without having to drastically alter one of my guitars to do it. Then again, I'm more of a prog-metal guy than someone who goes for the heaviest thing out there. I like to have a low B while still being able to play those piercing high Es at the 24th fret.
I never really thought of the 7-string as harder with regards to theory, and I'm with you on the idea of thinking of a 7-string as "a 6-string with an extra fun string!" and that made it much easier for me to rationalize it. I can play all my usual 6-string material on one, but then use that low B for when I need that extended range.
I'll strongly disagree about the price point though. It's true that some models are much more expensive than their 6-string counterparts, but it's never been easier and more accessible to get into 7-strings when you consider the massive jumps of quality in cheap guitars over the last 10 years. I tried an Ibanez GIO 7-string recently, very inexpensive instrument that I easily could have afforded as a kid on my paper route job, and it was not terrible at all! A kid can drop not all that much money on a 7-string these days and get something that's not a pile of complete trash.
But otherwise, I see where you're coming from. 6-strings are still a lot more versatile than people think, and there are a lot of times where I'd rather use a 6-string than a 7-string.
Your right about the value, my js22 7 is really usable and I got it for 150 bucks.
Thanks for the video! Love these kind on YT, just sensible arguments delivered :)
A JL-7 was loaned to me. Loved it. its 26.5. Did tune down half step like Jeff. Then I tried to learn Conquering Dystopia tracks. Standard tuning 5-1 with Drop A on 7. This was odd to me, yet I'm writing a song in this tuning now cause it just fell from the sky. Having standard tuned strings on a 26.5 was something I never though I would use, yet here I am. It is about the riff and what feels right. Many of us are not playing in a band so we don't have to have a rack of guitars on standby in various tuning. Anyway love your energy dude and you vids! Peace!
I got a 7 because I like to riff on E standard blues riffs, but I also like to chug out on drop A. I got it in a 27" scale because I have big hands. One trick I like to do sometimes is tune the guitar as if it were a baritone but with an extra high string, having played primarily 6 strings most of my life I find this a lot easier to wrap my head around as far as notes and scales.
I’ve never played a 27” scale length but I would imagine they take a minute to adjust to after playing a normal guitar, how has that been for u?
@@quinnquitars they really dont do much. I have a 30" 6 string (squier vi) a 27 inch 7 string, a 26.5 inch 7 string, a 25.5 inch 6 string, and a 24.75 inch 6 string. of course I have others but those guitars all share a scale length with one of the ones I listed. they all generally feel the same other than the 30", and I think its because it is in E standard, one octave lower. the rest are all in standard tuning. it of course would feel weird going from the 24.75 to the 27". but thats mainly because of the extra string. in my opinion you only notice the longer scale when you are trying to notice something. if you dont think about it its like its not even there.
@@quinnquitars Unless you're doing complex chords that require a big stretch it's not much of an adjustment. It's about what you would expect the spacing to be if you added an extra fret on the nut end of the neck for a 25.5" scale guitar if that makes sense.
@@KellerFkinRyan oh wow ok ty.
I have a couple six strings, a seven and most recently an eight, and as a vocalist with whatever particular range I have, the thing I've really come to love about the lower tuning is that in the context of a full mix the guitar tone can take up a lot more space without getting in the way of my vocal.
And especially as the kind of vocalist who likes to go from a whisper to a roar on a dime with the changes in volume that entails, I've definitely found that having lower rhythm guitar parts results in a lot less need for precision EQing and a much more natural sound for both the guitar and the vocal :)
I love to play six strings, but I have a couple of 7 strings for Fear Factory and Jeff Loomis style playing! I have a Schecter Omen Extreme 7 with Dino Cazares SD Blackouts and a Schecter Jeff Loomis signature with his signature SD Blackouts, both killer guitars!
I Have The Schecter Diamond Series Demon 7 Vintage White with Seymour Duncan Mick Thomson Blackouts
@@mrrnrob this one came with the Diamond series pickups, I had the Fishman Moderns in it first, but I really wasn’t feeling those! Love the Blackouts, Micks pickups are great, I had his signature Jackson guitar for a while!
@@REDDRAGON666ful Cool..The Jackson Guitar..We Now know Mick Switch to ESP From Jackson. A Month ago I Picked Up The 6 String ESP LTD PHOENIX BLACK METAL, BLACK SATIN Finish --Then Swap Out The Pups For Mick Thomson Fishmans Pups..
Always love your vidoes Ray and I dont normally comment unless I really like a youtuber which you are one of my favorites either way I got a seven string back in april and it is rally fun the main reason I got it was beacuse all the baritones are out of my budget
Baritone is amazing. Your comment about playing lead vs rhythm is the key. If you aren't playing leads you don't need a 7 string or if you aren't playing really extended range chord inversions
So with my Ibanez RG 7 string I have it set up with Ernia Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom strings and keep it tuned to A standard (ADGCFAD).
I also find that when I need it, I have 2 six string tunings in one guitar like with the A standard and when the F string is tuned to E (ADGCEAD) move all the six string chord shapes up one string.
I think about extended range guitars like a piano/keyboard.
Did I actually run out of notes to play to cover the music I’m working on? Or do I just need to shift the tuning and I have enough notes available?
I enjoy 7 string guitars still. But after 3-4 years or mainly playing 7s I ended up going back to 6 strings. Cost of string changes and maintenance keeping everything playing and sounding great. 6 string just let’s me play more at the end of the day.
I personally feel like they're the best if you want versatility if you don't want or can't have a larger collection. If you tune the G string down a half step to F# it turns into a B-B baritone with a bonus high E and if you keep it standard its an E-E with a bonus low B. Picked up the cheapest Jackson on the market because of the 26.5 scale length. There is a learning curve but the fact that you can play standard tuned riffs without having to use a capo or extra brain power and have baritone range made it ideal for me.
I appreciate this video. Very cool of you to put out! I've got 6s and a 7, and I gravitate towards my 6 in drop c 90% of the time. This would've saved me some dough. Keep doing you man.
I’ll leave my 2 cents on 7 strings since you already know that’s mainly what I gravitate towards. Of course we all love the fun string but I also like playing predominantly around the 10th/12th fret and higher generally speaking so I can play the octave notes (if I’m only using 1 string). I also enjoy huge string skipping riffs going from the lowest note to some of the highest on the board and some solo type stuff as well when necessary. Playing 7s and 8s definitely helped me on playing 6s too since you do have to go about playing the wider necks slightly differently and think a little bit more when using theory.
The first 7-string I owned - a Epi flying V in 24.75 scale - left me feeling lost on the fretboard and didn't really "serve a purpose". I sold it and moved on. But I recently bought a new 7-string. It has a longer 26.5 scale, is a more player-friendly design, and I'm coming to it as a more experienced player. I've really bonded with the extra string this time around thanks to the better design. No small part of that is how I actively invested some time in treating it as a "new instrument" to learn.
My seven string upgrade was to play Fear Factory, Unearth, Whitechapel and Upon A Burning Body. But my original riffs are in CGCFAD and I fell my riffs are heavy AF. Sylosis plays in Standard E and are heavy AF! The riff is important, not the tuning.
Sylosis has been in D standard for the last album or two, and a lot of the new stuff is in C#
@6:00 im sure someone else has brought this up but pretty sure 7 strings started as jazz guitars. I know Benedetto still builds 7 string archtops
Before even watching, I think it depends on a bunch of different factors - are you just looking for heavier chugs, exclusively? How much lead work do you do? Are you looking into ringing out extended chord voicings? Do you play live?
I always feel heaviness comes from the tonality of the tuning, hence why to me drop c sounds the heaviest because it sounds the most minor yet clear and tight
What gauge you like for Drop C? I play a thinner gauge in standard so I'm just curious.
If you play a major scale on a drop c guitar then it won’t sound minor
@@8KilgoreTrout4 as a rule of thumb I find if you go down a step you go up a gague, if you use 9’s I’d say go 10-52 and maybe adjust the c to taste
@@uroboric no but the key of c is quite dark
I Just ordered a mahogany Strat body and a 27” (maple neck/rosewood FB) to build a custom HSH pickup configuration Strat, had all the emgs sitting around from other guitars so I just ordered a Strat pick guard and emg brand kill switch, and it’s ready to go after I stain it.
Gonna be my first baritone 6.
I have a 27” 7 string but I just don’t feel as comfortable on it as a 6.
Love the channel man. Keep up the good work
Just got a PRS Holcomb as my first 7 string, LOVE IT! I got it to experiment on, and give a platform for songs I used to downtune my 6 string for. I can transpose a lot of songs, but not everything, some songs are still MUCH easier to play in their original tuning. Overall super happy though, I'm starting to grapple with the fact I may be a 7 string convert.
7 strings allow you to have a drop A and play drop shape chord and licks while having a standard tune 6 strings. A E A D G B E. Gives the best of bothe worlds you got a regular 6 strings with a added low string, put it in droo A and its so easy for people use to playing in drop d and e standard. Drop A plays easy in A minor/C major if you use alot of natural notes or play with a keyboard.
I have a 9 string with a top A0. That doesn’t make it any heavier than classics from bands I grew up with like Pantera in E standard. It’s the riff and tone.
I learned a riff on my 7 string last night and just ended up pitch shifting my 6 string, it was a little easier to play that way (shorter scale length and smaller neck.) 90% off riffs dont use all 7 strings. 11 semitones down on Neural DSP Petrucci was no problem (as long as you're not playing chords, it gets muddy then.)
Well, I have a standard 6 string, a 28” baritone 6 string, 2 26.5” 7 strings and an 8 string. My favorites are by far the 7 strings. They open up to so much more
Great video Ray and as for me I have never been interested in playing or buying a 7 string guitar. I can get everything I need to get out of a guitar on a 6 string just have no need for a 7 string guitar.
hearing your complaints about the scale length for 7 string..I very recently got my first 7 string but its a multiscale.
its 25.51 in to 27.01 in (had to convert from mm) . my 6 string is 25.5 in.
aren't multiscale guitars made to alleviate the issue of string tension? I think its perfect for 7 string guitars or beyond.
I started playing 7 strings because the neck being wider actually felt more comfortable for me to play versus a 6 string.
I got a 7 string solely for the extra range. Yes, I was in need of some lower octaves, but I'm too comfortable playing in standard and I didn't wanna sacrifice my high e string. I just always felt like I was missing the lower range whenever I would play certain chords. I would get to the end of the neck and it felt incomplete, like I was missing something that should've been accessible to me. I've tried down tuning my guitar to B-E-A-D-G-B but, again, felt myself missing my high e since I use it for certain chords. The sound I was looking for had been found in that tuning so I just figured it was time to upgrade to a 7 string. Now that I bought my first one about a week ago, playing a 6 string feels so naked to me lol. I have more percussive/rhythm options available to me with my 7 and everything just kinda clicked for me once I got it and I feel at home with it. Gonna enjoy experimenting with it and continuing to practice :)
I play a whole step down
DGCFAD
With a string guage thats a little thicker and tighter feeling 11-50
I also chug around on Perfect 4th intervals instead of the typical Perfect 5th interval. Its a preference thing, but I think 4ths are heavier sounding than 5ths
I am left handed. I've gotten to try 1 left handed guitar, a Kiesel my buddy had. I've always wanted one wilthout comitting heavy cash to get a lefty, at 25.5" scale length. But I usually play thrash in standard and death metal in C#. Do I need a 7!? Revocation makes it sound cool.
My first 7 string was bought purely to play korn songs, plain and simple. A standard and love it. But in saying that I had a Ibanez Prestige RG1127 and personally didnt like the neck and got rid of it and happy with my Jackson JS32-7 my Ibanez GRG7221. Ray brilliant video as always bro
Got a 7 string kinda regretting it at first, second guessed getting a baritone 6string, it was a 27 inch Jericho to play in Drop F, I was wishing it was longer even tho it held up fine once set up. I don’t solo or shred, but once I got familiar and started writing, I found my self actually using the high E string a lot for a bunch of the ambient/emotional Melodie’s, so no regrets, but for sure get a 27inch or longer from Drop F.
Love seven strings (outside of the chug chug), wider neck (helped with my technique), less string spacing (helped with keeping pick strokes tight). Love it. I also like 25.5 especially with lead.
my 7 string made me a better player on my 6 string :). same story as you. had to rework my hand technique on the neck especially which really improved the way I played when I switched back to 6. and thats after 15 whole years of playing 6 strings. crazy
I totally agree asking why you want one. I use a seven string for melodic doom. I can get heavy low riffs and high melodic leads out of it. I couldn't do that with a 6 string tuned to drop a.
Get a 7 string! Play one for 2 hours and then go back to a 6 string and it will be like playing a baby guitar. Definitely makes you better on a 6 string
I picked up an 8 string a few years back and I felt like I got in over my head a bit. I tuned it to drop A on the top 6 and then drop E from there on the bottom string, but I found myself just riffing in drop A and ignoring the 8th most of the time so I sold it. Picked up a cheap 7 string about a year ago and it's like it's been a straight up muse. I had a dry spell for some years where I was just creatively stumped, or just lost the motivation to even play. The 7 string was the remedy for that for me.
7 strings cost more when they are new but generally cost less used because it’s not as easy to sell a 7 string to the niche market. I picked up a 30th anniversary RG 7 string for $900 just before the pandemic. They generally sell for around 1200 but Guitar Center knocked down the price to get rid of it.
I bought a Schecter C-7 Deluxe for Korn and Galneryus, because it's kinda difficult to properly play those tracks on a 6 string imo
after playing 6 strings for nearly 30 years i picked up a 7 string as an impulse buy and i love it, i thought the extra b string would trip me up, but it was easier than i thought
bongripper tunes to f standard (lower than an 8 string) on 24.75" les pauls, you don't need extra scale length to play low
If you think about it as a different instrument, not just a big guitar, then it's actually easier to approach because you drop a lot more of your preconceptions. That said, a 6-string with a D-Tuna so you can drop the low-E a full step on the fly is going to cover SOOOO much territory before you need to add strings.
I do drop A on a 24.75 scale length. No issues with it and it is intonated perfectly.
Part of me wants a cool looking 7 string, the other part of me is just used to getting those tones from the transpose function on my plugins. It doesn’t sound the same sure but scratches the itch.
I just got a 7 string very cheap as a refurb/return, I guess some people regret their purchase. I looked into parts to "upgrade" it and there are fewer options, far less stuff on the used market, and parts are more expensive. I'm not sure I saved anything if I end up changing anything on this guitar, but out of the box it seems fun and the challenge at least will keep my interest.
I have been on drop B on my modern take on a tele (SS frets, direct mount HH w/splits) roasted maple neck and board, roasted mahogany body, bone nut) and just for fun went back up to drop D and I can’t stop playing. Yeah it doesn’t sound as “heavy” but it’s fun and the tension on the strings made it feel different enough to make it fun.
how do we even get private lessons?
Just beginning to play 7 string and I got a good quality Ibanez G10 for 260 new and it’s amazing. I haven’t got confused and I don’t think it’s hard with the wider neck.if any thing, 9 strings are outrageous
I play mostly play 6s in regular tunings and 6s tuned to drop A and A#. I also have a 17tone Ibanez rg350 tuned in between B and C standard. The necks on 6s just feel nicer and are generally more comfortable to me. As a rhythm player, losing some high end is no issue to me. I still like the 7s I’ve had. And I whip mine out to play stuff in drop F. It plays good.
What do you mean you cant do drop f on a normal 6 string. If you can do C standard/drop A# you can do drop f. Just get thicker strings and set it up maybe some guitars are better or worse at it but that's more a hardware problem
I got a Electro Harmonix Pitchfork +. Didn’t gel with my 7 string.
Thanks for making these points to think about and if I ever get a 7 string, it will be a standard tuning for me at the ver least.
I found for me and my style. Anything lower than drop C was an issue for me.
So I found an Ibanez rgd 26.5 scale so I could get the baritone feel and tension for more modern stuff and still be in drop C.
Then I have my schecter 24.75 in drop C# for a more old school metalcore vibe and grunge and post grunge riffs. like Alice in chains and tool style stuff.
Those cover all the bases for me. Since I tend to go for a late 90s to 2008 influence. Try to blend death/groove metal guitar tones with a more basic riffing and ambient clean playing style.
You and Reba have been instrumental in developing my style
Good video. I just bought a js22-7 with the maple board which yoy reviewed an equivalent of and said it was decent and I wanted to learned some polyphia riffs as well as some other songs that just require that lower octave so I feel more needed as the music I listen to are going towards that direction
I'm kind of stuck in between of buying a 7. Because i play in a band that plays a wide variety of music wherein we play a song that is in standard, THEN into a freaking drop C or drop C# or even lower and then back to standard again, So that's kind of the problem because mainly the strings would break, the setup or action would change making the guitar harder to play. So would a 7 string guitar could give me an opportunity to play different songs with different tunings with any hassle?
Getting a seven string helps you become a better guitarist. I use my seven string as an all around guitar and even play songs in E standard on it. It feels more comfortable for me personally and I found that it helped my ability to control where I pick and on what strings, and allows me to know when I have more control and when I'm playing sloppy. I've gotten so used to them that 6 strings feel small in comparison. 7 strings may not be for everyone, but go to your music store and try one out. You may be very surprised with how awesome and versatile they are. You do not need it only for "low" tuning.
I've used an 8 string tuned up a full step with heavy strings on it to get C# standard in the middle six strings along with a low G# that worked out okay and a high 11 gauge Eb that really extended the instrument for minor voicings. All of a sudden I could go go low enough to be hEaVy and really make shit sound evil. 26.5" schecter omen 8 btw.. more strings can be cool for studio use, but the thought of using an 8 string live scares me, especially if I get ballsy when I write my parts. Baritones play more in tune and are easier to play. Nothing beats them for going low other than an extended scale bass.
Korn on the laptop 👌 fine choice sir
Only fitting for the topic at hand!
Heres a funky 6 string tuning thats really heavy, c# standard but the low e string is tuned down to G, its the tuning dimebag did on 2 songs off trendkill
Fun fact, I play 7 but I use my 7 as a 6. I play my a jp70 sterling and I took out the 7th tuner peg and use it as a 6 string. I blocked off the tremolo cause I don’t really use it for what my band plays but here is the kicker. I feel more comfortable playing a 7 string guitar as a 6 string without the extra string. I feel like I have more room for that high e for more bends.
I got a 7-string because the band I was in at the time played in drop-B and it's a nightmare to tune on a 6-string. So I just got a 7 and dropped the B to A and put capo on 2nd fret, whole lot easier. :D
When it comes to heaviness, I always argue that Sad But True is still one of, if not, the heaviest songs out there, right from the get go. And a big part of that is the overall sound. It punches you in the gut.
Iv been playing for 15 years or so and only play for fun at home. I like to play things ranging from acoustic songs, to thrash metal to nu metal and everything else out there. I enjoyed changing to a 7 string AND a drop tune pedal. I can play absolutely any song in almost any tuning all on one instrument. Keeps it fun for me without needing multiple guitars.
I love quirky guitars. I have a 7 string acoustic for jazzy stuff and a 6 string baritone tele which is surprisingly a quite decent djent machine (noiseless singles do help) in B standard.
My first guitar ever was a 26.5" 7 string, still love to play with it in Drop A/Drop G 🫶.
The perfect compromise to play these lower tuning while keeping it comfortable 👍
I find it hard sometimes to find packs of 7 strings they are not always stocked by retailers
I went from 6 to 8, it was easier than 7 because I play in drop e. I can play all my e standard stuff and also drop tuning stuff now. I only played standard till I got the 8.
I only play my 7 string now. I grew up playing bass, also a lefty! LMAO! I love how I tune to A standard and riff out! Got D standard with that extra low set of notes. I also don't like going lover than drop G on my 7 string because it can get "muddy" IMO but whatever you like! 🤘🤘
I have one 7 and was thinking about getting another before trying it out with my DigiTech drop pedal and playing a couple of 6 in drop D through it too. I’m considering a new guitar and it’s available as both. I’m planning on trying out a version of what I want as a 6, and a similar 7 to get a better feel for it before ordering a variant.
You got a great channel Xander ! thank your for your informations , influence and impressions ! Greetings from Germany
I think it's about what you want to use it for, for chugging/rhythm play just get a baritone, but they're pretty rad for shredding
I tried twice to add a 7 string to my collection and it didn't stick. I'd now consider myself back then as a novelty guitar player. I didn't know scales, modes, progressions, or any theory and I stuck to mostly covers. I wanted a 7 to be able to play covers. Well It's been over a decade since I've owned one a friend asked me to repair his 7 string with a faulty volume pot..... I fixed it and did a full setup and plugged it in to test it out.... OMG I had soo much fun riffing on it. NGL I want a 7 string again but It's not practical where I am in my playing career. I'm not writing much and am focused on teaching lessons to mostly beginners who are exclusively on 6 string. I have my eyes out and will jump on a stupid good deal for a mid range 7 string, but It's not really on my priority list.
I fully agree with what you said about how guitarists who want to just play lower end stuff should get baritone guitars instead, 7 strings and 8 strings are so much bigger, heavier and overall more clunky than a baritone so unless you’re actually playing all of the strings a baritone is just going to be much more convenient and easier on your back and shoulders as well
baritone sixes look goofy as hell lol i like the low chug of a 7 then u got loads more notes to play with. both have their place tho
7 strings are easier to find than baritones and often cheaper if you want to by in person in my experience.
By the time you add 5 inches to the neck it's just as heavy as a 7 or 8 string.
@@vorpalblades how low are you tuning your strings to need an extra 5 inches to the fret board?
@Matt-zu2lu that refers to the scale length of a baritone which is 30".
So 5" longer than an average scale length.
There are a couple of points missing:
First of all - if you're like me and you have gigantic hands, bigger instrument is simply more comfortable to play in my experience. I started to play bigger guitars after I tried 5 string bass - it was so much more comfortable than a regular 25.5 6 string guitar. After playing 7 string and a bass for a while, I tried 8 string and it felt like a perfect fit for my hands. Not only I like low chugs, but I also like when my instrument is comfy.
Second: (guitar solos are kinda cringe (hot take:D)) - extended range is not only useful for solos, but also for creating ambience and nice clean sections or arrangements in general. It is mentioned a bit, but only in the context of guitar solos. The actual point is that you can have a single guitar to make chugs and make arrangements for the song or whatever you want to make. Quoting Carpenter of Deftones: "More guitar! Why have less guitar, when you can have more guitar!"
Also aesthetics is important. For example, I don't like how 6 string guitars look - they are too tiny. And I also don't like how I look with them - I'm too big and guitar's too small. But I also know people who don't like how big guitars look. Playing guitar is fun. Playing guitar while enjoying how it looks or how it looks on you is even more fun.
Interesting fact: if I puck up a 6 string guitar - it feels weird to me and I don't know what to do with it. I'm used to a 5/6 string bass, I'm used to an 8 string, but 6 string guitar throws me off a bit. It is really a force of habit. If you play big guitars mostly, you will probably need to adapt to a 6 string and vice versa.
Not atting at you, but there is an early XX century brazillian genre called chorinho that is played mostly in 7 nylon strings acoustics. Lol
C standard is low as I would tune on 6 string 25.5 scale
B tuning literally means extended scale or a thicker bass string to accommodate that extra slack. Low tuning literally means less tension.
i'm a lower tuning engoier and i'm totally agree with you, i have a normal 6 string with big string on it for drop A#, recently i want a 7 string because i want to go even lower but a don't want to lose the high E note, because i like to do cleans and kinda alien guitar sound on the high E strings, it's kinda for the use of the guitar
if its in standard tuning, why would it be something more to keep in mind, its just a b string above the e string, which if you memorized the fret board in standard tuning you should already know
My FR equipped 7 string is my lead guitar. My 8, 9 & 10 string guitars are my riff machines. Got two 6 string baritones that I don't even use anymore. Long scale lengths and heavy gauge strings are mando if you want to go low.
well i would say A1 standart is the deepest what make sence to me. So i use G#1 standart on my 27" baritone.(c# standart) and i use 85 on 7 th string to make it sound. if you whant go deeper just grab a bass.
i want 7 string guitar tonplay the heavy low pitched drop A riffs and then shred those high string like on normal guitar. i tried 7 string in store and absolutely fell in love. also i will build my own i have a friend who have some experiences so i would be pleased if he is willing to help me.