What is your approach to seven/eight strings?

[DancingForFables]

Hey guys, I have recently acquired an eight string guitar (Schecter Omen 8) and I was wondering how do you guys approach having extra strings on. I don't wanna be boxed into the chugging-the-bottom-string mindset. Also what different chords can you guys provide utilizing the extra strings?

[MrPepperoniNipples]

i put my 8 in drop E which gives a ton of neat bar chord options

i use it when i do jazz and with the chords having all the lower registers sounds incredible

[DancingForFables]

Yeah I just dropped it, and it sounds amazing hearing the lows in the notes ring in the chords!

[Loxodrome]

I'm currently setting my Omen-8 up so Its Tuned to B,E,A,D,G,B,E,A. This is so the I don't have my guitar clashing with the bass.

[Sam MJ]

if you don't want to get stuck chugging, don't chug, simple

have a look at extending the chords you already know onto the extra two strings, for the low B its simple, you just mirror whats being played on the high B and if you drop the F# down to an E you can just mirror that

[theo]

Pretty much the same as a 6 really.

[TankJon666]

I generally approach playing an 8 string the same as playing a 5 string bass. I try to use the low string sparingly. For example ..you have a track thats written in drop E ...where do you go after that? Surely not lower otherwise it just starts getting f*ckin' stupid. My approach is to say write a track in B with the lower string tuned to either F# or Drop E so I have that extra low to go down to emphasise the br00talz ...if any of that makes sense

[InfinityCollision]

For me the appeal of ERGs is in the tonal and harmonic possibilities the extra string(s) open up. You can play chords with a more "open" voicing (more space between individual notes in the chord) and the low notes give you some extra depth if you want to play a bass line on guitar (whether for accompanying yourself or allowing someone else - perhaps even your bassist! - to play melodic lines over your bass line and harmony). Having access to more notes within a single position can be useful as well. Basically this:



George van Eps, for reference:



Fred's video does a good job of explaining the benefits of an ERG, the van Eps vid demonstrates the chord voicings and bass line playing in practice.

[Dayn]

After a couple of years of having an eight-string, I've settled completely on tuning to drop E and approaching it the same as a six-string guitar. In other words, just as a guitar, with an extra octave of range. I make use of those lower notes in clean music, using the extra range to space notes out more if I need to. I might use that extra range to add some low end as a lead-in to higher-pitched chords. In one of my clean songs, I don't bother with bass. My guitar takes care of all of that.

Of course, there's no harm in chugging. For less intricate low distorted lines, I'll drop the bass an octave too to fit under the guitar. Otherwise, I'll keep the bass in the same octave for more technical lines to reinforce the guitar. Otherwise, the guitar just sounds lost to me.

[celticelk]

Originally Posted by TankJon666

I generally approach playing an 8 string the same as playing a 5 string bass. I try to use the low string sparingly. For example ..you have a track thats written in drop E ...where do you go after that? Surely not lower otherwise it just starts getting f*ckin' stupid. My approach is to say write a track in B with the lower string tuned to either F# or Drop E so I have that extra low to go down to emphasise the br00talz ...if any of that makes sense

I find myself working in a similar fashion on my 8. I really like riffs rooted in B, so I'll use my lowest string (tuned to F#) to thicken up a chord, or to provide a lower note (usually a fifth or seventh) to lead back to the root. I don't riff in F# very much.

[Splinterhead]

My approach is to try my best to assimilate the two extra strings (F#, B) into my playing style and use them as I would any other strings. For me its a work in progress as I'm continuing to find new cool harmonic ideas to play. Also I recommend learning all the scales that you're familiar with using the notes on both low strings for the root notes. Also 7 and 8 string arps sound positively frightening.

[Asrial]

Right now, my main seven (Ibby RG1527) is tuned in open C minor, but normally it's in drop A.
That said, it depends on what I feel I need. In drop A, the strings are thin enough to not mud the low chords, so I treat it like a riff tool on the 4 lowest strings, and let anything solo'y or fast happen when it's needed.
In open C minor though, the low G needs a far thicker string which gets a much different sound thanks to timbre. That case, most of my riffing and writing occurs on the same range as a normal guitar set in open C. I only use the low G on passages and as a supplement to get some depth. Octave-sliding gets sooo much thicker when I pair the low and mid G instead of mid and high.

[Stealthdjentstic]

I tune up to drop C with a high and low G because why not.

[JPhoenix19]

I keep my main 7 in A standard. I used that tuning in the band I was in last, and I got used to it. I've also found it quite useful for church music applications. I'm still deciding what to do with an 8-string if I do end up having one long-term.

My inspiration for wanting to use the range of an 8-string is Robert Conti.

[Solodini]

Originally Posted by InfinityCollision

For me the appeal of ERGs is in the tonal and harmonic possibilities the extra string(s) open up. You can play chords with a more "open" voicing (more space between individual notes in the chord) and the low notes give you some extra depth if you want to play a bass line on guitar (whether for accompanying yourself or allowing someone else - perhaps even your bassist! - to play melodic lines over your bass line and harmony). Having access to more notes within a single position can be useful as well.

Pretty much this. Extended range doesn't just mean being able to go lower than you can on standard tuned 6 string, but also means being able to reach a wider range of notes at once. A lot of the time, my 7th and 8th are used to reach notes which already reside on higher strings but then I can reach higher notes in higher positions of the higher strings, while still reaching the notes which would otherwise reside on the low frets of the lowest strings.

It also means you can play closer voicings, by use of open strings. 8 string is surprisingly good for country inspired stuff, in that regard.

Like Greg, I also just approach them as I do any other strings.

[Konfyouzd]

7 is in standard. My 8 is in drop E. I use it like a 7 mostly, but if I need to hit a chord lower than the B I barre it on the 8th. Or I use it to add some chunk to the bottom end of a chord I play on the E2.

Originally Posted by Solodini

Pretty much this. Extended range doesn't just mean being able to go lower than you can on standard tuned 6 string

A lot of the time, my 7th and 8th are used to reach notes which already reside on higher strings but then I can reach higher notes in higher positions of the higher strings, while still reaching the notes which would otherwise reside on the low frets of the lowest strings.

Like Greg, I also just approach them as I do any other strings.

All of this...

I'm still confused as to why people seem to think adding strings implies a completely new purpose. If you know the intervals between the strings, it shouldn't matter whether you have 6 or 600.

[All_¥our_Bass]

Play 'em like any other guitar, as for tuning, it's a stack of fourths starting on F#.
F#BEADGCF

[JosephAOI]

I tune to Drop G and approach it in mostly the same way as a 6. I absolutely need the 7 thought because for some reason, that extra string feels like it frees up my mind. I can't think on a 6, there's just not enough thinking space if you know what I mean.

I also like that in G, I have the ability to write songs in G (obviously), but also, G#, A, B, C, C#, whatever, and still have that low note to hit should I need it.

[Stealthdjentstic]

Originally Posted by Konfyouzd

7 is in standard. My 8 is in drop E. I use it like a 7 mostly, but if I need to hit a chord lower than the B I barre it on the 8th. Or I use it to add some chunk to the bottom end of a chord I play on the E2.



All of this...

I'm still confused as to why people seem to think adding strings implies a completely new purpose. If you know the intervals between the strings, it shouldn't matter whether you have 6 or 600.

This is something I've wondered about too, especially when people ask about playing scales on a 7 compared to a 6 in standard...all you do is play the same thing you would for the scale on high b but now on your low b, OMG!

[Chiba666]

My 7 is in A Standard at the moment but Im think ing of tuning it up to C and having 2 high C strings, just to see what I can come up with. Still not sure, I would liek to try something different and see what I can come up with.

[McBonez]

Originally Posted by Sam MJ

if you don't want to get stuck chugging, don't chug, simple

Lol!

I've always said that August Burns Red could likely pull off an entire album of nothing but open chugging.

[trickae]

listen to some Tosin Abbasi, monuments etc and slow that stuff down. The best thing about these bands is there epic riffs sound just as good slow as it does fast. There's so mcuh flexibility with these instruments and stuff you can do.