Are Extended Range Guitars Actually Better For Metal?
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- Опубліковано 20 вер 2024
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Are you a regular 6 string kinda person or an Extended Range multi string monster kinda person?
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#ExtendedRange #8String #Djent
Rob Scallon’s Shovel Djent Stick is my go to.
I actually have something like that, it’s just a wooden stick with a flattened “fretboard”, a single pickup and volume, and a string. My friends got it for me as a joke lmao
The *Djentrencher* ;3
6 STRING: LEAD
7 STRING: RHYTHM
8 STRING: RIFF
5 STRING: BASS
Hotel?: Trivago
Architects uses baritone guitars, and Josh uses an evertune bridge, which fully effects intonation
Yeah, I was just about to say that. Having a 27.5 in. scale length definitely helps with string tension.
Incidentally, I just finished putting an Evertuned 26.5" 6 string in drop A and it sounds pretty wonderful. Those architects guys are on to something...
Just recently. You can find plenty of older videos where they (mainly Tom) use regular 6 string LTD/ESP.
why does everybody forget about fucking baritone guitars ?
What do you mean it affects the intonation?
I haven't played an evertune so I'm honestly asking.
You made a interesting point that I would like to make a topic. Possible next video.
80s metal on a 7-8 string guitar
I personally would love this concept
💡
Like "Girls, Girls, Girls" all djented out👍...randomly, Meshuggah did like a remix of Rammstein's Benzine 👍
Do you prefer regular 6 string guitars or extended range multi string monsters? :)
I had an 8 string that I never got on with. I want to try a 7 string and a baritone to see what I want to go for.
I've been using 7 strings exclusively since 2012. 6 strings are super uncomfortable for me to play now
Extended range guitars boi
6 strings. Extended ones are for posers.
i bought my first 7-string in 2008, never went back to 6.
I agree with the whole “why not both?” Attitude. Why not try all of them? If you master the 8string, is it going to hurt your 7/6 string playing? Chances are, probably not.
I just can't be bothered to learn to deal with the extra strings... I just don't go that low in anything I make, and the two extra strings make me feel absolutely lost since I'm so used to knowing where all the notes are.
If you can afford to, sure.
Pentti Koivuniemi that’s how I felt when I first started playing a 7 but now I pretty much only play a 7 lmao
Being lower isnt always heavier. Heavy is about more than pitch
Danomite amen
yes!! bless you brother
Active Username wot
Sylosis and lamb or god are great examples of this
I want to play the doom and doom eternal soundtrack lol
9 string guitar it is then!
You can play it on 1 string guitar actually
Or the black ops soundtrack
Great video! What’s the best pedal in your opinion?
I play it on distorted bass
I use 6 string drop C, 7 string 26.5 inch drop A, and 6 string 28 inch drop G. I play different music on all of them. My 7 is a total death metal machine, my drop C guitar is great for ambient and faster riffage, and my drop G baritone is for ripping off meshuggah.
I love and have six string guitars, seven string guitars, and one 8 string guitar. 8 string guitar definitely feels like. Different instrument, but because of the lowest string you can make some very beautiful sounding chords with bass notes layered beneath. 8 string and above guitars are still pretty new compared even to 7 string guitars. Guitars are so much fun, and with different guitars you can do different things.
I personally feel like 6 string metal is more inspired and unique, mostly because anyone these days with a 7+ string guitar tends to write the same generic deathcore/melodeath type of riffs. Bands like Sylosis,Megadeth,Opeth or Metallica play in standard e/6 string guitars and sound fucking heavy and unique. Totally agree with the guy at 1:29
A few things to add to the conversation:
- Extended range guitars are built specifically for handling those low tunings, which unless you go with a baritone, you won’t get from a regular 6
- Personally, just having the physical difference in front of me, seeing more strings and bigger fretboard just freshens the guitar instead of using the same 6 over and over again and knowing exactly how it works inside out. With something like a 7 or especially 8 and 9, they’re a mystery, which makes them more fun and creates different ideas.
- Unpopular opinion, longer scales feel more comfortable because of the larger fret spacings
- To throw a completely different thing into the mix, there’s this thing:
www.fastguitars.com/builds/527-8-string-guitar/
25.5” - 22” scale I assume tunes B E A D G b e a. You can’t tune this high with a normal 6 so the extended range is absolutely necessary (Without crazy thin strings anyways)
Tuning would be f#BEADGBE. Extended range guitars are almost always set with lower strings only not higher.
Thing is not every 7 string has an extended scale length, most entry and mid level 7 strings all have a 25.5 inch scale
After adjusting to the 7 string, going back to the old six string just isn't the same..
7's hit the sweet spot! It's all personal preference at the end of the day tho
Just bought a Squier Bass VI recently, having played on an eight string for a while made me realize I just don't care for higher range playing so the Bass VI is a good option for me to have 6 string feel with 8 string range
Surely they should tap into the market and expand like different specs and price.
Could even apply the same gubbins to just a Strat, Tele, SG.......everything.
@@danmaycock9238 Oh for sure, the electronics are really the only thing I dislike about it. Would love some SG pickups in it instead
I guess the strings in neck and birdge have more distance from each other compare with the electric guitars. I think in electic guitars this distance is 8-10 millimeters (and in bass 18- 20)
Is that bass guitar or a baritone?
Don't know why I'm asking. I'll get it either way
@@antenna7002 You can string to be either or. I string it with flatwound bass strings for bass range, but you could just slap your normal strings on it and play baritone tunings since it's a 30 inch scale length
Just for fun, tune your 7 string to std B (or drop A). 🤪 Simples! You keep your standard scales and theory (ignoring high e), and get to play around with other scale degrees adding some dimension to the sound.
I don't mind either. I use a 6 string in B Standard and I use an 8 string in Drop E.
Holy shit that transition into advertisement is so seamless
Holy shit! I didn´t expect to see my IG comment on your video! Thanks Pet, great video as always!
Love the shout out to Ro and IBTS! Much love from Down Under, Pete!
I love a 7 string, been playing them since 2006. They are great for metal and classical.
I’ve always preferred lower tunings even back when I played 6-strings listening to Carcass, Morbid Angel and Suffocation back in the early 90s. However, I still love guitar players who play in standard. Ben Weinman from Dillinger Escape Plan is a perfect example. Love how heavy his tone is.
I tried the extended range guitars when Animals as Leaders came out. I was amazed by the sounds they created.
It didn't take long for me to go back to just 6 strings though. I'm happy with just 6 strings tuned a whole step down/drop C.
Drop c is great, its like the perfect middle ground in terms of string tension to tone ratio and riffs can sound heavy and melodic stuff sounds really good at the same time.
I gotta say, man. I really like your channel. I stumbled across it a few days ago, and you're one of only three or four Metal/Rock/Music UA-camrs that I enjoy. Keep it up!
Thanks for watching! :)
Bass player, I bought a 5 last year and have barely played my 4 string since. It's an amazing instrument.
I'll literally use anything tbh. 8, 7, and 6 have never really bothered me but something that does bother me is not being able to tune to certain tunings. For example, Drop G/G# on a 6. I actually use the higher strings so not having the High E would suck. Now before you say, "Just Drop the Low E to a G#" I have. And then I was missing a Low E.
I agree with this. I like most tunings, but if I'm gonna do Drop A, I may as well just use a 7 string so I still have that high E. So the lowest I go on a 6 string is Drop A#, and the lowest on a 7 is Drop F before adding a string.
@@Crash_Knight if you're going as low as drop E, i would get a 7-string aswell
the amount of work a 6 string guitar needs to keep tune on that (like setting up the bridge for these thick ass strings) isn't worth the hassle, it will be practically useless as a standard E 6 string afterward.
in which case i would say, just get a 7 :D
maybe it's less hassle for hardtails, but i wouldn't know, i play a floating bridge strat clone, and it's wayy too much hassle to fix it for the real thicc strings, never seemed to got a set which results in equal tension to a standard E .10 to .48
and yeah, you'll still miss the high E :D
I prefer 80s style metal over modern stuff so 6 strings is all I need. Playing guitars with multiple configurations can actually get in the way of getting better at the instrument, and even 6 strings are plenty and can give you enough challenge for a lifetime. So it's just better to pick something that resonates with you and stick with it.
I think a lot of us can be guided by the guitarists we hear. I love carcass, at the gates and amon amarath, and they all use 6 strings on B/dropA so i prefer that.
There is a certain tone that I don’t like with seven strings there seems to be a sweet spot to my ears when I hear a good six string.
lol same
Yeah same here, cant describe it, more "woody"??
@@Airtrooper719 I think maybe it has to do with the scale length? Could be the pick ups were designed for 7 strings so maybe the 6 string riffs don't sound quite the same? Idk something I can't explain I just feel it.
Thomas Mims I'm guessing it's just the sound of thicker lower strings, e.g. playing the same notes but on the lower string has its own sound. Lamb of god play many riffs up and down the whole fretboard on the low e because the thicker strings have different sounds and feel
I personally love my 10 string, I can play drop tuned songs without retuning my entire guitar which is really nice. Going from djent to power shredding gives me an interesting range.
9 String Life because I just use a lanyard to mute the lower strings if I don’t want them lol. Sometimes the increased scale makes playing close to the neck difficult bc I have to stretch my fingers more but in general I don’t mind.
I feel the same as you Pete, you are one of the main reasons I gave 7 strings a fair shake while back. More low notes without losing high notes for leads and I don’t have to recalibrate mentally where my notes/scales are on the fretboard.
The actual Andrew Baena hahahahah fucksakes
Lol! You spotted it! Much love Andrew! :)
This is a little convoluted way of looking at it, but here I go:
6 string guitars are like Gen 1 of Pokemon. I love them and it's a ton of fun to play.
Then, a 7 string is like Gen 2, super exciting, new features, and overall, an extension of something awesome.
But then 8 strings are like Gen 3 for me: it's starting to get a little too much.
9 strings is Gen 4, which is now ridiculous.
10 strings: Gen 5... who cares anymore? I won't even bother.
Generally, I prefer to use 6, 7, and 8 string guitars (since I bought one of each of them). 9 string guitars are pretty much for me to use, and I really don't want to think of using a 10 STRING at all.
I never played a baritone guitar, and I hope one day I can get one just to see how it compares with a seven string.
7 string would be good for current metal though you can be plenty heavy with a 6 string. Also I really like that desktop wallpaper. Excited for this fall release?
I still love normal 6 strings they will always be home , but every now and then. It’s fun to fuck around with my 6 string 30 inch baritone guitar
@UCXOf0fbOAhL_BPpVGDP_VnQ
Extended Range gives us more versatility. The 7 String Guitar is called the Van Eps Guitar because George Van Eps added a Low B String to his Guitar, so he can play some lower notes to extend his Voicings. You can also use Extended Range Guitars in a Gospel Setting because the additional Strings make transposing & reading Band charts easier. Gospel Choirs love extended Range Guitars too.
If I may, I actually don't quite like the question this video is posing and I'll try to explain myself. Firstly though, I like a lot of different artists across the whole range in metal music. I like Meshuggah, Archspire, Gojira, Opeth, Periphery, Mastodon, Behemoth, Nightwish, Cattle Decapitation, Sabaton, etc., and so I've really come to appreciate all of the different sounds that metal music has achieved and continues to experiment with.
But I think what bugs me about this question is the somewhat implied assumption that there's an answer to which range of notes or pitches is actually "better" for metal (or more generally speaking any style of music).
It's kind of like asking, "where can 'better' music be found? Is it in the range of E standard, drop C, A standard, drop D, Eb standard, or that weird time Pantera tuned between E and Eb standard?
The question can keep going down a rabbit hole that eventually becomes mostly nonsensical. And I think the answer that all of us would more or less agree with is this:
It is not about a specific range of notes or tuning low enough to get specific notes. Good music lies in the composition. It's the melodies, it's the interplay of instruments, it's taking listeners' expectations and subverting them in ways that are new and refreshing, or rehashing a good solid song structure that's tried and true and makes you bang your head no matter how many times you hear it.
Does anybody else feel this way or get where I'm coming from? What are your thoughts?
Best regards, cheers.
It also has to do with personal taste, all music is subjective to the listener. But you're correct, the question does send you down a rabbit hole, one with no bottom and infinite branches, there's no one definitive answer that fits everyone's standards.
Man, this post is just too long
@@StuntcatTV Don't strain yourself, you might get a headache.
I love playing open note chord progressions on my 7/8 string guitars, usually arpreggiated and with a sea of reverb. Get the metronome going and put it on the looper pedal, then improvise around all day. Literally heaven.
Always love your content Pete
I only have 6 string guitars currently but any time I go to a guitar store I always have to try a 7 string and since I like almost any kind if metal 7 strings are great to get the Djentyness of periphery while also being able to shred some Metallica!
I use a 8-string. The 6-string guitar is still there just with 2 other strings added on. Easy enough to ignore them, just takes some getting used to. Plus it is fun to mess with tunings on an 8-string. I've dabbled with E-A-E-A-D-F#-B-E and that is pretty fun. It is basically a drop A with two extra strings surrounding it (high and low E). It is also fun to have notes below your lowest root when you find yourself using the four cords yet again.
You are the one who introduced me to sylosis! Thanks mate!
I see baritones as extended range, because theyre designed to handle lower tunings without needing ridiculously thick strings, although i could also see them being considered a sorta middle ground, being able to go lower like 7+ string extended range guitars while still only having 6 strings
One thing is that keys are really important in music, six strings allow you to be in a different key if you down tune/drop than you would on a 7 string guitar. Some riffs just dont sound good on a 7 string and vice versa, so you can create completely different music with both instruments.
I think my favorite way to use a 7 string is to play it like a normal guitar and have some of those surprising moments where you dip into that low guttural range out of nowhere. It's a nice surprise because you get used to the feel of the song and then suddenly it drops into the caverns.
Edit: Nolly covering CKY at 0:53 in this video is a good example of what I'm talking about. ua-cam.com/video/6yx2h4fdI-o/v-deo.html When he hits that bottom string it just has that growl to it that adds so much to the sound.
I agree, 8 strings are like in a category on their own whereas 7 strings are like that middle ground but closer to what most people are comfortable with seeing how most people start learning on a 6 string.
Great content, I loved this episode, keep up the good work man.
I'm a 7 string guy myself, at the mo I only have 7 string guitars and a 5 string bass. I agree, that's the middle ground, a best of both worlds. I must admit that I do miss a 6 string very occasionally tho, so I might get one soon.
Honestly I love them both equally and each has their place
I play my 6 string bass the most, but it makes me most comfortable on 7 string guitars. I'm already used to a low B and can do the same trick I use on bass where I shift octaves when playing a repeating chord progression. It expands the song and makes it sound bigger. Also on 7 strings, the frets tend to be close enough that you can usually play the same chord in 2 octaves simultaneously which offers some cool sonic options. I'm about to pick up my first 8 string though, so looking forward to seeing what I come up with on that!
I like having a 7th string because I like having a few extra low notes. More than that and the bass is competing with guitar for that range.
Started playing 7 string exclusively back in 2003, recently moved up to an 8-string because my wife bought me one, I’m absolutely addicted to it.
My favorite reason to play extended range is because I can cover so many tunings/genres simply because I have an extra string.
I can even tune my 7 string UP and it’s the same thing as tuning my 6 string down 2 steps, and it always sounds much clearer than doing the latter, ESPECIALLY when recording with finicky 6 strings that won’t stay in tune because it’s detuned so far.
Great stuff. It’d be cool to have a short demo of each type of guitar to showcase the added benefits of each new string. Maybe more baritone inclusion as they do have a place too. Love your channel. I’m sure you hear this one all the time too, “it’s hard enough to play six strings let alone seven or more” lol. Keep up the great content!!🤘🏻🔥🤘🏻
Thanks for watching! :)
I own three 6 strings and an 8. I have large hands with long fingers. I have used the 8 for a year now and just tried going back to a 6. The 8 is so much more comfortable to play with my hand size - thinking of selling the 6 strings and if I only need the normal six E to E set up I can play on the 8 with more ergonomic comfort. Personal preference I know, but after 30yrs playing it is like a revelation 😎
I bought a 7 string earlier this year just because both Epica and Unlucky Morpheus use them. Now I can't go back and already ordered a second 7 string 🤘
i like 8 because it leaves room for the bass to still go an octave below without going under human hearing, and i'm not hurt by the extra strings if i'm not using them-- they're just as easy to mute as normal
Heck yeah to the baritone! I can't sing a lot of songs I like in standard tuning so I often tune down to D Standard and something like a B Standard 6 string would be amazeballs.
I play 7 string, it's just nice to have the option of an extra string. It can do everything a 6 string can and more, without being ridiculous
Humanity's last breath is good example of what you can do with a 6 string.
I own guitars with 6-10 strings and they're all good for their own things. Something people don't often take into account is that when you get into 8-10 string territory, you have the option to play well below the root note, but still have a low root note. It helps give your music extra flavor it wouldn't get otherwise
4 strings were enough for Max on Arise so I feel spoiled with all six on my guitar.
Well, I played one day in the past, where 7/8 strings were already in the game, my Ibanez SZ320 6-string in standard tuning just in a freestyle Internet live stream and people started to ask me which tuning I was using. It was surprising the audience. Reason why some got puzzled was the tight setup of this wood. Thicker strings and quite flat string level (yeah, greetings to Korn). Also, maybe the fact that it was passive pickups used, audience weren't used to this sound anymore 😉 You can go pretty heavy and modern with 6-strings in standard tuning. All a matter if the playing style
I like a lot of variety in playing guitar; I have a 6, 7, and multiscale 8 string
I'm fairly certain that Sleepwaker uses 6 string baritones and they know what they're doing with them. Their song Melatonin is a prime example of this.
For me its about what feels comfortable to play. I just feel like holding and fretting a 6-string is the most comfortable for me. On the other hand I got a 5-string bass the first time because the necks of 4-string bases just felt too narrow.
7 makes it possible to play softer styles too, like country and such. Baritone guitars are already popular in other styles (including country and jazz), and a 7 makes it possible to play in both ranges without switching guitars (plus it makes it fun for rockabilly low string walking)
Interesting... As a bassist I know that 5 string basses came about mainly for making it easier to play in different positions on the neck, so I assume the original creation of 7 string guitars was for the same reason. I remember seeing some jazz hollow body 7 strings. This one local artist in particular.. I wish I could remember her name, but its been years since Ive seen her perform. Also having a few extra low notes added the extra possibility of an extra octave. I think I'd have to agree that the 7 string guitar is the most versatile, for any genre of music. :)
I started my music journey from little me discovering Bolt Thrower and Dismember. I knew they are playing 6 strings but tunned down. Then Korn comes and that changed my game. I luckly won a prize in lotery and being able to buy Ibanez K-7
My only and my lovely guitar :D
I love using 8 strings just for the fact that I love to play/write in different styles. They are so damn versatilie in my opinion as I can easily switch from super low metal sound like Vildhjarta to more metalcore'ish stuff like Veil of Maya without having to completely change my tunings. It's just a comfort thing for me :)
as mainly a rhythm guitarist, i gravitate more towards 6-stringers (including baritones) for recording; i only pull out the 7 if the riff necessitates using all 7 strings, or if i'm performing that song live and need access to the low B/A and the high E in the same song. for example for songs in Drop A, i'll have my baritone setup for Drop A 7 string tuning without the high E, and then my other guitar in standard for leads. then again, not everyone has 3 or more guitars to do this with...
I play a 6 string Warwick Thumb Bolt-On bass. Not very metal, but boy does it give you such freedom: low B string for metal and the high C for the occasional melodic solo.
Plus, I did not pick up the extended range bass because of metal but after watching a Scottish folk band live (Wolfstone). That evening I knew I wanted to play a six string bass!
I only have a 6, but I really wanna buy a 7 for the reasons you described. Easy learning curve, extra string doesn't get in the way too much if I want to play 6 string stuff, small neck, and I rarely like the sound of stuff that's lower, like and 8 or a 9. If feels like the perfect middle ground.
Well, since I got my 8 string Ibanez I fell in love with it. And I really don't djent, like I usually play on clean channel with a bit of Cathedral reverb on that and oh boy it's great.
I'm a 7 string guy (mainly) but I can definitely gel with a 6 string if the mood hits. It doesn't matter what you use, as long as it suits you. Same way as people saying 'you only need 6 strings'. Fuck off, I'll have however many I want.
The reason I use mainly 7s is because of the tunings I use. If you've heard of the Monuments/Tesseract tuning, I use that in A or B. The actual tuning is AEADead and as you may notice, there's a repetition of the EAD strings. What I use this for is taking a riff written on one set of those strings and then easily moving individual notes, chords, or even entire riffs/parts I've come up with up or down an octave. This helps for scales and such as well.
I tried 8 strings. Not for me but I can definitely see the appeal. If you look at someone like the Meshuggah guys and Tosin Abasi/Javier Reyes and claim that many strings are absolutely unnecessary, you need to get the fuck out.
7 string is my go to. I love being able to have low strings for meaty breakdowns and chuggs while still having the higher range for all kinds of chords. However I own several 6 7 and 8 strings and love all of them. They all have their place and I find each guitar brings something different to the table.
I play 6, 7, and 8 string guitars. It's all up to what specific sound I want to achieve and what style I'm going for. They all serve their purposes within the genre, I don't think any string configuration is necessarily better than the other. You're only limited by your creativity.
I have a baritone that I use for lower tunings. I find I don’t need the super high register if I’m playing anything super heavy so I have find it’s the best of both worlds. The comfortability of a 6 string, with the lower register of a 9 string
I have done allot of thinking about extended range guitars, the conclusion I've come to is that the reason a 7 string feels kind of perfect after you're used to it is because it creates a weird perfect symmetry that your just able to pick up on naturally. I personally never play in alt tunings unless I'm playing Yvette young stuff, but the base of a 7 string is BEADGBE so you get the physical symmetry of having 7 strings in general however you get the additional symmetry of the double set of BE. It feels incredibly weird to jump into but after you're body adjusts it becomes really natural. The only thing I really had a gripe about is it limits my ability to use my thumb efficiently (not totally) as a note holder the same way I can use it for bluesy low e string stuff on my 6 string.
There is a need for everything.
Want to play Anchor-EP stuff? 8 string is your friend. Want to play some Maiden? 6 string in standard's what you need. Into Merrow and Conquering Dystopia? There you go 7 string. Tuning down to D standard with A in the bottom on a 6 string? Mastodon asks for it. Doing the same thing a half step lower and sometimes dropping the bottom even to F#? For that Architects stuff a 6 string baritone might come in handy. Another one in B standard to drop A? For At the Gates, yes.
Apart from that a 6 string in D standard, Drop C# to C and C standard for classic Death Metal, Metalcore and QOTSA stuff.
So yes, everything is needed. :D
why are you on a slope my brain can not comprehend this but it makes me want to keep watching
Let me also weigh in for baritone guitars - they can be really helpful if you prefer to play lower down, but don't necessarily want to bother with the extra strings
I love 7 mostly! The chords you can get sound massive. I dont lose any of my range of 6 and still have a low string that can give me some heavy stuff. I also really like 9 strings and yes it sounds excessive but it really does add a lot of depth and such especially while clean. I can get stupid low but also keep my normal standard stuff
I prefer playing sixes, and typically in standard or drop D. I did a lot of time playing 7's and 8's, which are great, but I generally just like the way those tunings sit in a live mix much more than lower tunings.
I only have 6 string guitars right now, cause that's all I need for my punk rock, and thrash. I will be getting a 7 shortly so I can start a heavier project that sounds entirely different from my current stuff
I don't know I kind of agree with that dude at 3:30. I have a 6 string baritone with 72-14's on it in A standard and it chugs, destroys, dooms and booms, really comes down to a proper setup and proper pickups.
For me, I love playing on 6 String guitars. 7 Strings are awesome too! 8 Strings do get a bit too much sometimes, but 8 Strings are like my maximum level of strings. I mainly stick with 6 and 7.
My 24.75 scale has been able to handle Drop A, GGCFAD tuning with no problems.
I switched to 7 string because I think fretboard memorization and knowing the notes, chords, scales you're playing is important rather than just playing cool riffs, which is fine too.
I don't think I'd do 8+ versus downtune a 6 or 7.
I'm mostly a 6 string kind of guy, but I do have an 8 string as well. I had a 7 string before and it was ok but it felt like it was too specific in what it could be used for. Also if you want to record with it, you pretty much need a 5 string bass. So I got rid of the 7 string and 5 string and got an 8 string and it's fun. I have small hands but it didn't take long to get used to. So now I can just use a 4 string bass to record with the 8 string because of the tuning I write in, which is DGDGCFAD. Basically it's dropped G with a low D. So I just tune my bass to DGDG, create a sub octave track, and it works really well. The sub track on it's own sounds pretty bad but if you mix it with the higher octave it really fills in the mix and gives you that rumble that you expect. And if you're feeling particularly 7 stringy, just take the 8th string off. 😂
Pete, you are a delightfully hilarious chap. Keep up the great work.
I’m very much in the “Why not all of the above?” camp, but prefer multi scale for 8 string. I agree with you that going lower than C-ish on a 6 starts to make things feel and sound weird though...
I love both 6 & 7 string guitars. My approach to writing riffs is definately influenced by the guitar & tuning I use. I probably play my 7 in B standard the most, but I like to switch up to keep inspiration going. Drop D on 6, Drop A on my other 7 or if I'm feeling bluesy I prefer my standard tuned 6. Although blues in B on a 7string is quite fun to play. When it comes to metal, or any genre, what ever guitar you play, if it feels right it is, cheers!
I play and write mainly in e and d standard. The lowest I go is b standard and I go there pretty rarely (something like one in every 6-7 songs) and I mainly use the bottom 3 strings for those riffs and songs only. So I don't need an extended range guitar
I jumped straight from 6 to 8 strings because I wanted to play Meshuggah lol. I have found though that the 7th string tends to have my favorite sound to it, that open B sounds so beautiful and the fretted notes have a sound to them that I just can’t get from tuning a 6 string to B. But I appreciate it way more having the F string to pair along with it, the first time I played a 7 string I felt really naked and put it down to see if the store had any 8 strings lol.
It all comes down to personal preference tho! I find it funny when people say “you don’t need 8 strings.” To that I say “I don’t need to play guitar at all, but here I am!” Luckily none of the bands I listen to have ventured into 9 or 10 string territory which is just way too much for me, but hell if you can play a 10 string and have fun with it knock yourself out!
love both 6 string metal sound (Melodic Death (scandinavian style) and Progressive Metal, Folk\Viking\Pagan and regular Death metal, Thrash and etc) and 7 strings stuff like Technical Death\Progressive Death, but if we are talking about super atmospheric cosmic sounds like Uneven Structure,Stömb,Between The Planets,Stealing Axion and etc -well still need a 8 string guitar anyway.Probably that kind of deviations its only in me :)
My main guitars are Ibanez K7, 7620, and a 2120z Prestige. The k7 and 7620 are 7 strings and the 2120z is the silver RGD that's 26.5. I love 7 strings and I feel like it opens up so much more ideas for me personally I just can write so much more with one. 8 feels like a different instrument and the scale length difference you need between the top and bot strings is rough, I have one but use it for some songs.
6 string 28" scale baritone guitar will achieve any of the heaviest riffs and super low tunings as your dirty lil' soul desires.
Speaking of, I am getting a Chapman ML1 Pro Modern Baritone here in the near future!🤘
I like them all for different reasons... I play differently on each.. of course, 6 string for the classics.. 7 for the newer stuff I like, and an 8 when it calls for it.. I play alot of covers in all genres so just depends on what I'm wantin to jam on calls for.. love them all!!!
As a personal die hard Sylosis and AAL fan i prefer 8. If im doing something super technical I'll probably pick the 6 string, but honestly i love the way an 8 string multiscale feels in my hands. Both have their applications but i find myself picking up my 8 string 90% of the time, so much more versatile. Even playing Sylosis on an 8 is fun. Love both but if i had to pick I'd pick 8 for the versatility.
For years I was using heavier strings on 6 string for Drop A and Drop F# tunings. I found out one of the tunings I was using all wound strings on one guitar and the tension was insane. So I went screw it, switch over to extended range for those 2 turnings and never looked back.
7 strings are actually the holy grail of metal, you get litetally the best of both worlds. They offer the range and versatility without the added problem of extra maintenance and overall hassle when playing 8 or 9 strings.
I just got my first 7 string a couple months ago. The Matt Heafy epiphone that Pete mentioned, actually. 24.5 inch scale length makes it feel like a normal guitar, but it's slightly wider around the neck. It's a lot of fun. I kinda like both. I mean, why limit yourself to one option? I figure I can play all 6 and 7 string standard tuning songs on the 7, and drop the 6 string to maybe drop C# or something fun like that. You can transpose D standard stuff onto a 7 easily (for the most part). Is really, both is best. Plus, I always feel like I can play so much better on a 6 after playing on a 7 for a long time.