F# tuning a 7 string.

[Iron Beard]

ive looked all over the place and cant really seem to find the tunings im looking for. im playing an 8 string tuned standard. f# b e a d g b e. the other guitar player in my band has no interest (or money) in getting an 8 string so we are trying to find a way to tune his 7 string to f# while still being able to play scales normally. ive found all the different gage string suggestions but no idea what the notes them self would be. so my question is, what would the notes be? also, if this tuning doesnt sound that well on his 7 string, how would i tune my 8 string to g and he tune is 7? thanks.

[MJS]

This seems too simple, so maybe I'm missing what you're asking, but...

F#, B, E, A, D, F#, B

Is that not what you mean?

That keeps the 7 string fingering the same, just tuned way down.

If he'd rather not lose as many high notes, while still going as low as you, he could use Drop F# instead, which would be...

F#, C#, F#, B, E, G#, C#

That will change fingerings between the 6th & 7th string, though... so it's just up to him to decide what he wants.

As far as string tension goes, that depends on the scale length each of you have. The shorter the scale, the thicker the string needs to be to keep the tension up.

If you don't know the scale length, you can just measure from the face of the nut to the center of the 12th fret, then double it. You could also just post the make & model of the guitars and someone here would probably know the scale length.

[BIG ND SWEATY]

the tuning would just be missing the high e on the seven. none of the notes would change, not sure why you think they would

[MJS]

Originally Posted by BIG ND SWEATY

the tuning would just be missing the high e on the seven. none of the notes would change, not sure why you think they would

That would change the tuning from the 3rd to 2nd string, though... which is what I assumed he didn't want to do when he said "play scales normally." Unless he meant something else.

Kinda like how a lot of people would tune a 6 to B standard (B, E, A, D, F#, B) instead of the low 6 of a 7 string (B, E, A, D, G, B) to keep chord fingering the same as a standard tuned 6.

[Iron Beard]

Originally Posted by MJS

That would change the tuning from the 3rd to 2nd string, though... which is what I assumed he didn't want to do when he said "play scales normally." Unless he meant something else.

Kinda like how a lot of people would tune a 6 to B standard (B, E, A, D, F#, B) instead of the low 6 of a 7 string (B, E, A, D, G, B) to keep chord fingering the same as a standard tuned 6.

this is exactly what i meant. i think i get it now was just over thinking it.

[Eric Christian]

Originally Posted by Iron Beard

ive looked all over the place and cant really seem to find the tunings im looking for. im playing an 8 string tuned standard. f# b e a d g b e. the other guitar player in my band has no interest (or money) in getting an 8 string so we are trying to find a way to tune his 7 string to f# while still being able to play scales normally. ive found all the different gage string suggestions but no idea what the notes them self would be. so my question is, what would the notes be? also, if this tuning doesnt sound that well on his 7 string, how would i tune my 8 string to g and he tune is 7? thanks.

What exact model 7 is he playing? Despite what some would say here if it's a 25.5 inch scale you can pretty much forget tuning it to F# Standard. The F# string will sound like dookie. Heck even on a 27 inch scale an F# doesn't sound tight with a .074 string.

[JosephAOI]

^ I disagree. My 7 is in Drop G (so just a half step higher) and I use a .059 on 25.5". I think it feels and sounds great. Don't believe me? Listen to anything on Born Of Osiris' newest album. They tune to drop G with a .056 for the G on 25.5". I personally would use like a .066 or so for F#

[Stealthdjentstic]

Originally Posted by JosephAOI

^ I disagree. My 7 is in Drop G (so just a half step higher) and I use a .059 on 25.5". I think it feels and sounds great. Don't believe me? Listen to anything on Born Of Osiris' newest album. They tune to drop G with a .056 for the G on 25.5". I personally would use like a .066 or so for F#

Thats kind of crazy, I use a 66 for an Ab/G# on 25.5 and don't find it tight enough. I'll probably be using a 68 instead.

[Cremated]

Originally Posted by JosephAOI

^ I disagree. My 7 is in Drop G (so just a half step higher) and I use a .059 on 25.5". I think it feels and sounds great. Don't believe me? Listen to anything on Born Of Osiris' newest album. They tune to drop G with a .056 for the G on 25.5". I personally would use like a .066 or so for F#

I use a .059 for A (at 25.5 scale) and find anything lower tuned a little flubby. I guess it's somewhat a personal preference thing. It doesn't sound horrible but it's loose enough for the 7th string to fly over the side of the fretboard in fast riffs. You have to apply a different amount of force to the lowest string than to any of the others at that gauge IMO. Maybe force isn't the right word, but I have to use my fretting hand a little differently on the lowest string (if the gauge is light) than with the other strings.

Fellow Louisvillian though? What part of town u in bro? Southside here, iroquois park area.

[JosephAOI]

I know what you mean. There is a different way of getting used to it. Once I did though, I fell in love with them.

I'm in Middletown though, right across from St. Matthews mall. Awesome to see more guys from around here! We should get together sometime!

[Cremated]

Gotcha. We should jam son. The few buddies that I had to jam with quit playing pretty much after having kids and shit.

[SirMyghin]

Why do you both need to be able to play F#? That is a question you should dwell on.

[Bigfan]

Originally Posted by SirMyghin

Why do you both need to be able to play F#? That is a question you should dwell on.

Because they're using it as a pedal note, I assume. Nothing wrong with that.

[JosephAOI]

Originally Posted by Cremated

Gotcha. We should jam son. The few buddies that I had to jam with quit playing pretty much after having kids and shit.

Woah, how old are you?? Haha, I'm only 17, none of my friends are having kids.

Originally Posted by SirMyghin

Why do you both need to be able to play F#? That is a question you should dwell on.

What's wrong with tuning low? It's the same argument with everything else. If you want to play 6's, 7's, 8's, even 9's, if you want to play in Drop Z#, if you want to write 26 minute songs, if you want three bassists and no guitarists, ect. Who cares what you do to make music? It's YOUR music.

He made this thread to ask what he should do to tune that low, not if he should and why he should or shouldn't tune that low. Just sayin'

[JamesM]

^I think he was implying that they could make the best of the their situation and have the different tunings compliment each other.

[SirMyghin]

Originally Posted by The Armada

^I think he was implying that they could make the best of the their situation and have the different tunings compliment each other.

Precisely but I suppose the mindset of the folks around here answers the question one way or another. No?

[JosephAOI]

My apologies then, SirMyghin. Someone was bashing me today at Guitar Center for tuning low on a 7 string so I was already a little defensive about it. I agree though, that two different guitarists using different tunings has cool outcomes. The only bands I can think of though off the top of my head are Scale The Summit and Dancing With Paris, which i love both bands.

[Cremated]

Originally Posted by JosephAOI

Woah, how old are you?? Haha, I'm only 17, none of my friends are having kids.

Lol I'm 23. The majority of my friends are a couple years older though. And I think keeping the 8 and 7 both in standard would work fine. The 7 will just have to play different riffs to compliment the 8 when it's playing lower notes.

[Lern2swim]

Originally Posted by Eric Christian

What exact model 7 is he playing? Despite what some would say here if it's a 25.5 inch scale you can pretty much forget tuning it to F# Standard. The F# string will sound like dookie. Heck even on a 27 inch scale an F# doesn't sound tight with a .074 string.

Yes. Continue telling people that, despite the fact that it's not factual, just your opinion, and it's been demonstrated to not be true time and time again.