7-String, 8-String, & 9-String Guitars 101 - Extended Range Guitar Lesson
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- Опубліковано 9 чер 2019
- When you think of a guitar, what comes to mind? In most cases, it’s an acoustic or electric instrument with 6-strings. But there’s a growing guitar-niche in which guitars begin magically growing extra strings and traveling into bass guitar territory. Mostly, that space is the many subgenres of metal, however, these days, it’s becoming more and more common to see them in rock, jazz, and other more popular styles. In this lesson, Andrew Baena joins us to give you the rundown on extended range guitars.
These guitars typically sport 7-strings, 8-strings, 9-strings, and sometimes even more! And they give a guitar player the ability to go extra low. That usually means having the bass tuned even lower, or ditched altogether. It’s important to note that there is a difference between “extended range” guitars and “extended scale” guitars.
While extended range guitars give you the ability to go lower through having access to more strings, extended scale guitars have a greater distance between the nut and saddles. This gives you more room to tune the guitar lower. Both are good options for reaching lower notes, and the right choice comes down to what you prefer and what your specific needs are.
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How or what is it you use to get that tone?
Thanks so much for having me, guys!
what strings do you use on all your guitars
Thanks for the info. I subbed to your channel directly. I hope to hear more of your Agile guitars, I've been contemplating their 7 stringsmed guitars.
you dont have that many guitars i know someone who bought over 40 cause he thinks he needs new ones
Andy, what about the figurine atop the monitor, tho?
What’s a good multi-scale length for a nine string?
I’ve literally thought multi scale guitars were the most pointless thing ever.... turns out it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for 😂
D Bo they look cool to!
i was feeling the same when i decided to start playing again. I tried an Ibanez 7-string fanned fret and didn't really like the feel, but i was basically starting from a beginner level having not played for around 9 years. I got a 26.5" scale length 7-string and i am still struggling with the lover frets as i have smaller hands. This week i got a fanned fret 8-string Harley Benton from Thomann and i really like the feel in the lower frets as they aren't as large, and the same goes for playing on the higher strings and higher frets since the frets are smaller and stretched are much easier :D
@@apoplexiamusic Mostly the same here, I decided to try 7-string after not playing guitar for about 10 years (and only 6stg) and I got a Harley Benton 7-stg fanfret just to see (since I live in Europe, CS would have been a breeze, also because when I read it gave better overall string tension I tought "makes sense") and while I'm still getting used to it to some degree, it's actually super comfortable and feels great. Now I'm kinda thinking of multiscaling all my axes, I love it.
@@CyclesAreSingularities it is the Fanfret 8 QBB, but a 2017 deko model
Hahaha, you and me both my man.
Therapist: “Fanned fret Les Paul isn’t real, it can’t hurt you”
Fanned fret Les Paul: 3:34
The ugliest thing i have ever seen
@@nurikkulanbaev3628 IMO it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on in my entire existence
Not a Les Paul though, just a single-cutaway guitar.
Disgusting thing.
I love it!!
@@waltervt Les paul style
27” and 7 strings are what I keep buying. That 27” has a sweet spot in drop A. 🔥🔥
*laughs in Drop D and Whammy DT*
@@EpicStuffMan1000 what is that perhaps?
@@mihailmilev9909 a pedal that allows you to downtune electronically instead of actually tuning your guitar lower
I wish I had known about it when I got my 7 string. Its 25.5 and drop G is just too floppy and buzzy drop A is bearable
@@TheBanana93 just go up in string thing
Can really notice everything getting more professional after you decided to go full time, keep it up dude
The longer the scale the more tension on the string, meaning when you drop low with a longer scale, the string won’t be as wobbly than a shorter scale
My initial reason for wanting an 8 string was just so that I could go lower without having to tune differently. So, more strings, but that doesn't just mean going lower without down tuning, it means I can achieve two octaves in a single fretting position.
Thanks brother. I have been looking for a video like this for a couple of weeks. And then you popped up with exactly what I was looking for.
Super helpful. It took me a week or so to put this info together from multiple sources before finding this video that really sums it up and points you in the right direction.
Decided for a longer scale length 6-string guitar over an 8-string because I don't play much lead
Exactly the video I needed today❤
this was sooooo helpful thank you good sir!!
Thank you for this video
Great video! I would love to see more extended range guitar content!
7 Strings Life style
Very nice, very informative, very balanced!
Oh shiz guys, it's Andrew Banana Montana!
Who else came for Andrew?
Man, lots of great info in this vid! Thx duder!!!
I need a murdered out 7-string in my life.
Great video!!!!
Great info. Thanks.
I play a fanned fret 8 string. In particular it’s an Ibanez rgms8. I love it, possibly the most fun I’ve had on guitar. Super comfortable and helps me be more creative.
Really nice. Thank you. I just wish you had more playing demos in a few styles. Thank you 👏🏻
Where was this video when I was getting into extended range guitars??
Great job, Andrew!
Man, I follow your channel and this video is filling in the gaps of all the research I’ve been doing myself. Awesome, thank you.
Ps also your 9 string vs the 5 string bass video was suuuuuper (exactly what I was looking for) helpful.
there is such misconception about extended range around, that this video is amazing, thanks so much.
great video dude👍
Nice video - would definitely like to know more about approaching the playing side
Very informative and valuable video material. :) Thank you. Will share my experience with you and the audience and hope it will be informative for others.
I had JacksonX Series SLAT7 MS Soloist Archtop with 25.5" - 27" Multi-Scale/Fan Fret Length, String gauge: 13-17-30-42-54-64-74 in Drop G tuning.
At first it was in Drop A tuning and then I lowered it to Drop G later. I ended up selling it.
Currently I own ESP E-II Horizon NT-7 EverTune with 25,5 Scale Length, String gauge: 13-17-30-42-54-64-74 in Drop A tuning.
As you see, both have String gauge: 13-17-30-42-54-64-74, because all the thinner ones I tried in 65 to 70 range as the lowest string, the 7'th string went always sharp and out of tune, so I had to put thicker string on as the 7'th one. I have not yet tried the drop G tuning with E-II and 25,5 scale length to see, whether the 74 will do the trick or not.
I had to buy the 8 string set package to keep those beasts in tune and without getting sharp, the 7 string packages did not work for me from those options I had on the table.
Until now, 7 strings is enough for me in terms of sound and of course I have been thinking about 6 string baritone, the 8 string guitar reminds me the basketball sound, so I have had currently no desire to own one, although I tried the 8 string Jackson but choose the 7 string one. The 8 string guitar neck is like a log/timber, but again I have played the 6 string so much, that the 7 string neck was definitely better for me. But again you already explained well in the video. :)
But again, it's very good that we as musicians and guitarists have so many options on the market and everyone can choose what they need.
Hope this information will be informative. :) Cheers Andrew (Y)
I tried G# on my Jackson for a bit and although it sounded preeeeetty cool using baritone strings. That longer scale would make it so much more satisfying imo! To me drop B seems perfect for that nice low tuning but you also get a nice sharp sound 😁
Drop F# and F are cool too. Vola makes some cool melodic riffs with that tuning
Oooohhh, that intro was tasty af broski!
I’d recommend checking out The Bunn’s channel for more baritone 6-string content if you decide to go with that option
Rabea Massaad is also a killer baritone 6 player.
You don’t need to order custom pickups for da feet guitars, just take the baseplate off of the original pickups and put them on the new ones. Works with any pickup as far as I’m aware.
It's a really good video. The only thing it needed was a segment where you hit the lowest pitch string on a 6, 7, 8, 9 string guitar in standard tuning to show the difference in pitch.
I've got a 30" 7-string I've been tuning to standard, definitely gonna try a lower tuning next time I restring it!
Been playing a 7 since forever ago use to think an 8 was ridiculous. Been playing a legator 7 for about 4 years now and hands down my favorite guitar I've ever owned actually just ordered another legator but in an 8 and super stoked to give it a try 🤙 also love the low tuning without sacrificing high strings
The advantage of having a low sounding B while keeping the normal tuning led me to searching out a 7 string. I enjoy the sound of chords brought out by having the extra string. It takes up more sonic space than a 6 string without losing the highs by tuning down.
i did the opposite of adding more strings for range extension. after a fun lil powertool accident that fucked my left hand i converted all my 6-string guitars to 5 string and instead of drop tuning the low string 4 notes instead of the standard 3, i space all the strings 4 notes apart each string. you end up with a 6-string range on a 5-string guitar. the strings are now physically further apart and also musically further apart in pitch. i do have a 6-string fretless bass but its more for goofing
GuitarLessons 10 String Guitars (G#, C#, F#, B, E, A, D, G, B, E) as well as 11 String Single Course (adds on High A) Guitars, & even Doubled Course versions like a 14 String (like a 7 String but with) etc, which are cool. Interestingly there are extended range Basses that go an Octave below those Extended range Guitars so low that it's lower than the frequency we can hear. Extended range Guitars are great because it makes transposing songs to every key alot easier to accommodate the ranges of other instruments, vocalists, or even both especially on church gigs.
When I first got my 8 string (26.5" scale), the standard tuning of it and even dropped E just made me feel like it was the wrong guitar. So I tuned it so the Low string is G# (better intonation) in the middle (strings 7 - 2) I have C# standard tuning, and then a High D# on the 1st string for a cool accent on all my chords. *the D# makes it sound really emo lol* Now I use all 8 strings.
Oh man that hurt my head reading that god knows how you played it.
drop E is possible with drilling the tuner head a little and using a bass string, not everyones pick but works for me
yOu CaN jUsT tUnE LoWeR.
I have a Floyd rose man 😂
😭😭 same here😭
Get a tremol-no guys. It's magic. Thanks me later.
Time to buy a digitech drop
Found out that I need a seven string tuned ADADGBE for extended range chords with the joe pass style for how I play.
I just bought a 7 string, and it has ended my hunt for red October. I just couldn’t find a 6 string I liked. I’m hooked on 7 now.
Who built the fan fret beast at the end ..it’s a beaut !!
you can change the pickups for whatever pickup on a Strandberg. the pickup slot is just angled
I have a Hagstrom Fantomen (25.5") that plays perfect in drop A or B standard. It just needed 14-68 strings and the nut slots widened to accommodate the thicker strings.
Just want to say that pickups are built to accommodate standard tuning, or near standard. Dropping a six string to drop F will work but your pickups will struggle with the signal. ERG pickups are designed for the lower notes and will make a noticeably better signal. Just saying it’s worth mentioning.
thanks
Great video and channel, thanks for the info. I'm thinking about buying an 8 or a 9 string guitar. The reason is, that I want to play some stuff that I can't play with my 6 string definitely.
1) So based on what you say, a 30 inch guitar will be really stiff when soloing, for example, when bending the thin E B G strings right? So we can definitely say that an 8 or a 9 string do not carry a 6 string within the 6 lower strings. So at what scale you think a guitar stops being "soloable".
2) This, and also is it REALLY hard for the fingers to reach the low C# string on the 9 strings (let's say 63mm at nut)?
3) Given all my concerns do you think it would be better to, let's say, buy an 8 string of 28 inches and when I want to play heavier stuff, maybe tune it down to reach a 9 string? Or go yolo and buy a 9 directly?
Thanks
I don't play, know nothing, did not realize this was a thing. So thanks. It was interesting.
10:33 Harley Benton has Fan Fret 7 string and 8 string guitars for less than $200 USD. FYI. :D The parallel fret versions cost even less. I'm super tempted by those prices. Even if they're not great, as long as they're fine instruments, it'll give you a good idea if you want to play ERG for a very low upfront investment.
Just my 7-string sounds too muddy to me, lol. Oddly, this $20 dirt box I bought off Temu just to be stupid, “The Riffer”, is the only way I’ve found that when I tried my 7 with it, the tone was clear and sharp. A very “crisp” distortion box. And surprisingly good.
sounds reeeally good. What amp or amp model you use, please ?
Wish something like this was around when i started playing 7 got a 25.5 scale 7 string i had to use a 70 because when i tuned to A the low string was always to floppy now i got my schecter its a lot better at keeping the tension i want on the lower string without using a massive string
Hi, what VST plugins do you use to edit the sound of guitars? The sound on video is amazing.....
Thank you so much for the reply....
Another tip to make a more financially responsible decision
1. Do you have multiple 6 strings? you're balls deep in, go for thicker strings and let the chonkiest one be the djent stick (if you cant make it work then thats when u know you actually 'deserve' your extended range.)
2. You have 1 solid 6 string guitar and love it, but the music you like is getting lower and lower. Go for it! You can keep the 6 string in uncommon tunings and play your 8 string and practice better muting technique, picking, etc by practicing on easy 6 string songs but using the 8. It is very practical for a 2nd guitar.
Riff at the intro just kills it for me. Is that a complete song?
I did drop E on a 25.5" but I needed like 80 or thicker on that low string
Well since you referenced my bois in the Ghost Inside, and are so informational= Subscribed!~ Represent* MIchigan`
What brand is that 8 string Jazzmaster? That thing is awesome!
Gr8 vid. Thanks. Do you know of a multi-scale guitar (8 string) with 24.75 scale on high strings?
What was that tune at the beginning? Chuggy goodness!🤘🏻💀🤘🏻
Saving up for an 8 string so I can learn BFG Division and finally be worthy of entering the world of TRUE CHADS.
Literally this. Mick Gordon started this I wanna play the doom soundtrack so fucking bad and possibly add in my own take to it.
There are some fanned frets 7's and 8's Harley bentons in Thomann for just 300 and they are pretty decent and gorgeous looking
They definitely look intriguing
Legator seems to have great deals on their fanned fret 7s. I picked mine up in March for 50% off, originally $650.
@@JoeizzleReghzizzle Yeah they usually have good prices. I just remembered Agile guitars too, fair cheap and decent quality with tons of options (to be honest, i won't buy Agile cause i don't like 'em too much, but they could be a really good option anyways)
@@CarlosSaulRodriguezA I used to want an Agile when I was younger, but that's was because they had the only 9 string I could find. From what I've heard the quality has gone down hill a bit, but I could be wrong though since I haven't played one in like 10 years.
@@JoeizzleReghzizzle exactly, agree. That's what i meant without being too hater to agile since i don't have one to prove it
EMG makes special pickups for them too.
So does the intonation change when you go from .60 string to let's say a .80 or something like that? I use a .60 for drop C and I'm having trouble with intonation below A. If I get like a .80 is it easier to intonate below A?
i brought my first 8 strings at thomann for 175 CAD + 75 CAD shipping.
me too xD Harley Benton 160€ incl shipping
@@Vlad-bo8py how does it perform?
Brother Baena is an extended range evangelist 💪
Somebody explain this to Ibanez because the majority of 7-strings they have made since going into production are all 25.5
Andrew why don't you have an Ormsby?
After the Burial album cover screen saver -> expertise confirmed.
Cool
have you ever tryed to tune the 9 string ever like a 8 string in drop tuning from the 9'th string and added a 4th up on the 1'st string?
What pick ups are you singing in your 8 string multiscale? I've been looking for something better than my stock pickups
That Solar is GORGEOUS! Also, I don't think these are weird numbers and terms. If you are considering spending hundreds of possibly thousands of dollars on a specialized guitar, you should know this stuff first. I used to cycle competitively. If you just want to ride a bicycle, get some exercise and some fresh air, sure, you can go buy an bicycle and probably be fairly happy. If you want to start racing, you need to know frame size, rake angles, materials, geaing, etc. It matters when you are going to be dropping thousands on a race bike.
But what if you wanna hit the low notes but you still want to be able to the guitar like a 6 string in standard? Is that the right idea for getting a 8 String? Kinda looking into the Chapman Rob Scallon Sig 8 String but idk if that thing is all too good tuned to E Drop 24,5" that is
GuitarLessons They should make Fanned Fret Multi-Neck Guitar
What do you guys think about the Ltd 1008et?
Why does the active pickups make a difference in multi scale vs passive?
if I want to tune down to drop A, so I get thicker strings, right? can I still tune the up to standard tuning?
Note that if you go too heavy on the string gauge you may need to make changes to the nut.
Okay so, I'm currentling running an Ibanez RGA8 and I have some troubles with my low E.
It doesn't sound pleasant at all when fretting higher up. It sounds like there are some harmonics that obfuscate the sound.
I wish I could send somehere a video of it somehow because I really need help with this - I've tried lowering pickups. I've tried changing strings (currently at .74 and .80 for B and E.
But it still sounds muddy and weird when fretting. Completely the opposite of the intro clip here.
I like this video a lot but one of the things that I disagree about is putting thicker strings on a six string guitar. I was going to do that to my Gibson SG but you could only put strings on it that are so thick before you have to modify the nut or the bridge.
I have an question: going from a 6 string guitar to an 7 one was a challenge due to the finger space and fret .... from 7 to 8 is the same?
What brand is that fanned fret guitar at the end? Its amazing🤟
Fast Guitars. They're a custom guitar brand out of Canada.
It was really fun messing around with my 8 string but I think 7 str ist defo enough for me
I tuned my jackson dinky 6 to drop g#
The strings are the same gauge as my acoustic strings though lol top 56- 13
What's your oppinion on buying an 8 string, just to "have" the extra string? I'm pretty sure that a 7 string would fit my needs right now. But i'm not 100% sure that i'll never need an 8th string.... you now?
Plus i'm trying to combine electronic music with metal. The thing is: in the range where (normal) guitars sound good, electronic elements usually sound whack af. So i'll definitely need a 7 or 8 string.... Question is: Aside from the wider neck: is there a downside to having that extra string?
What about playing jazz improv on 8 string? There's a lot of tonal range to play with.
HB from Thomann do a fan-fret 8-string ridicously cheap - maybe good for a project guitar to mod the pups etc..
What brand was that fan fret guitar ?
Hi andrew.i’m thinking of tuning my 8 string to A0AEADGBE on my 27” scale. What string gauge do you think is suitable for the low A0?
i would say 0.65 is pretty good tension for the low A
I use to play only 7 strings... I moved up to 8 strings. When I played the 7 I tuned a full step down...
What should I tune my 8 string to!!
Can I tune a 26.5" in Standard E to play some classic ones?
Well yes if you ignore that low B or A whatever you’ve tuned that 7th string to your basically in E standard
I have a 27“ multiscale and couldn’t dream of tuning it to E even with .80s on there…..
I’ve got a pair of 13. on a strat because Stevie
Do you have suggestions on strings to put on my existing 6 string?
I personally like D'Addario and Rotosound strings.
True tempered frets for true kvlt metal!
Edit: but legit, are true tempered frets worth it? I feel like you'll give the most straight forward answer :)
If you are a tone snob/tuning snob then yes. If you think not having true perfect intonation is ok then dont go for it.