7 strings are a gateway drug.

[kn1feparty]

After getting serious about playing guitar again for the first time in a couple of years, I was shopping around for an 8 string. After trying a couple, I found that coming straight from playing 6 strings for 15 years, the 8 felt like an insurmountable task, especially after not playing much at all for the last 2 years. I decided to go middle of the road and picked up my first 7 string a couple months ago, and I was playing last night and realized for the first time how natural it feels now. As I was noodling away, I kinda watched my right hand and noticed that I've adjusted my fretting technique without even knowing it, so I think I would have plenty of room to play 8 fairly comfortably with a little transition period similar to going from 6 to 7. Is it time to move up? Is this a similar experience to what you ERG players found when making the switch?

[troyguitar]

I can play a 9-string without issues if I'm sitting down or have it strapped up high, but a 7 is already pushing it to play in what I call 'normal stage position' i.e. somewhere in between Petrucci and Hetfield. There wasn't much of a transition necessary though, I can either do it comfortably or not. Adjusting my brain to remember where all of the extra strings/notes are, on the other hand, did take awhile.

[RV350ALSCYTHE]

I've only played 7 string for under a year before getting an 8 string and the transition wasn't a problem. I no longer touch my 7 or 6s even though they are infinitely better than my SC208 quality wise.

8 String feels more comfortable than 6 and 7s for me personally and I don't have much time on it thus far.

My only problem so far is adjusting to string spacing for the first few minutes when i pick it up. Picking hand skips over/misses the correct string.

If you enjoy the 7 you will probably love an 8, I do and I can't wait to get a nice one!

[sage]

I've never played a 7 string. I have 2 8s and I don't even think that hard about switching back and forth between 6 and 8 string guitars. Or from fanned frets to straight frets for that matter. I think you'll have an adjustment period (also a ".... yeah! there's so many possibilities!" followed shortly thereafter by a "what the balls was I thinking, I can barely play a one string guitar" moment), but it'll be worth it.

[JStraitiff]

Originally Posted by troyguitar

I can play a 9-string without issues if I'm sitting down or have it strapped up high, but a 7 is already pushing it to play in what I call 'normal stage position' i.e. somewhere in between Petrucci and Hetfield. There wasn't much of a transition necessary though, I can either do it comfortably or not. Adjusting my brain to remember where all of the extra strings/notes are, on the other hand, did take awhile.

This.

I can easily play a 7 or 8 string sitting down but standing i refuse to wear my strap like a retard all up by my chest. As every guitarist knows if you wear your strap too low you'll have a difficult time reaching the strings with your third and fourth fingers. Especially up higher.

When im playing a 7 (or even a 6) standing i find myself having to tilt the neck up in the air so that i can reach the strings. Luckily this is a pretty righteous pose for soloing and such so its not a big deal. im sure that pose originated from the issue we're discussing.

[Cremated]

I think wearing a guitar low looks more "retarded" than wearing it high. I wear mine high and I'm one of the baddest motha....as whoever lived. I'm one of the best singers. I'm one of the best lookin motha....as you ever looked at. LOL It's a celebration! Hold my drink bitch.

[K3V1N SHR3DZ]

Originally Posted by Cremated

I think wearing a guitar low looks more "retarded" than wearing it high.

I am of this mindset as well. Anytime I see some dude on stage with his Les Paul around his knees, I immediately think "WHAT A CLOWN". Their playing usually (but not always) backs up this thought.
Having short arms, I've always felt more comfortable with my guitar up high. I fought against it for a long time, lest I look like a nerd, but .... it.

Playing better > looking cool (that's what The Beard is for).

[Dayn]

Six-string guitars are a gateway drug I think. I got a guitar, and wanted a seven. Nah, bugger that, I jumped straight to an eight, right into the deep end spending a lot on a guitar I'd never played.

Totally worth it.

[yellow]

i missed something. what drugs have you tried since getting the 7 string?

[Cremated]

Originally Posted by kgad0831

I am of this mindset as well. Anytime I see some dude on stage with his Les Paul around his knees, I immediately think "WHAT A CLOWN". Their playing usually (but not always) backs up this thought.
Having short arms, I've always felt more comfortable with my guitar up high. I fought against it for a long time, lest I look like a nerd, but .... it.

Playing better > looking cool (that's what The Beard is for).

This. My beard is the reason that I am one of the baddest mutha....as whoever lived. It's also why bitches hold my drink. But on a serious note, I always thought playing with your strap low as lame. Shitty playing is the first thing that comes to mind, even though it's not always the case. I guess I associate it with the nu-metal scene among other shitty genres.

[troyguitar]

I didn't mean stupid low, I meant "badass guitarist low"











That's just how you play the guitar on stage, unless you're a ....ing wizard in which case you do what you want:

[CyborgSlunk]

Wow, I watched way too many Progressive Metal shows, now I can´t even think of somebody wearing his guitar that low

[leftyguitarjoe]

My upper horns on my guitars (all super strats) usually touch my nipples. I wear them extremely high because it helps you play better.

[Jakke]

Originally Posted by Cremated

I think wearing a guitar low looks more "retarded" than wearing it high. I wear mine high and I'm one of the baddest motha....as whoever lived. I'm one of the best singers. I'm one of the best lookin motha....as you ever looked at. LOL It's a celebration! Hold my drink bitch.

Well, I do apologize for my long arms forcing me to have a low hanging guitar... IF ONLY I COULD TURN BACK TIME AND NOT BE SO TALL!!!


Please, everyone wears the guitar in the way it suits them, and no way is more retarded than the other (that is excluding the crab core way, having it by the ankles). I won't judge you for having your guitar high up, and I hope you won't judge me for having it lower down

Originally Posted by leftyguitarjoe

My upper horns on my guitars (all super strats) usually touch my nipples. I wear them extremely high because it helps you play better.

No, it helps you play better. I have never been able to play very good with a high-hanging guitar, my basic biology is against it. I could maybe cut my arms....

Originally Posted by CyborgSlunk

Wow, I watched way too many Progressive Metal shows, now I can´t even think of somebody wearing his guitar that low

Indeed, I would also suspect some wear their guitar high because everyone else does it, kind of like how everyone worn their guitar low earlier.

[Cremated]

Well if you're really tall then it's probably not that low. None of these pics are what I was considering ''retatded'' low anyway. I don't really consider any strap height to actually be retarded. Someone mentioned that wearing it high is retarded and I'm just reinforcing why it isn't. I was just saying playing high looks better than playing ridiculousy low. I don't judge anyone let alone for guitar strap height. Why would you even care if some random guy from the internet hated the way you wear your guitar? I play mine ''medium'' anyway, I suppose. I've never been turned off by the way a band wore their guitar. Just do what's most comfortable for you and I will too.

I have noticed that eight+ strings are hard to get comfy with while standing. I find seven strings even more comfy than six, in any stance. But eight's take a little while to get comfortable with. It's not that they're harder to play. It's more of adjusting to the right positioning of your fretting hand to get used to the width. I've noticed if I'm playing erect, instead of sitting, an akward strap position can make my hand lose stamina amd start cramping up. I try to keep my guitar level and the neck perpendicular with my body. That way I'm not angling my hand over the fretboard and adding bulk to the neck that isn't there. It's kinda hard to explain without seeing what I'm referring to.

[axxessdenied]

I dunno, when I play seated, I don't hang the guitar on the ground while I'm playing... so, why hang it around my knees while I'm standing? lol. Just do what's comfortable. Or, be like buckethead and get an elastic strap.

[Jakke]

Originally Posted by Cremated

Well if you're really tall then it's probably not that low. None of these pics are what I was considering ''retatded'' low anyway. I don't really consider any strap height to actually be retarded. Someone mentioned that wearing it high is retarded and I'm just reinforcing why it isn't. I was just saying playing high looks better than playing ridiculousy low. I don't judge anyone let alone for guitar strap height. Why would you even care if some random guy from the internet hated the way you wear your guitar? I play mine ''medium'' anyway, I suppose. I've never been turned off by the way a band wore their guitar. Just do what's most comfortable for you and I will too.

Good to know I have your permission


Nah, I'm just joking. I was mainly adding to a, what I would consider, one-sided discussion

[Rook]

I'm over 6'2 with correspondingly long arms and my guitar sits on my chest haha, I just play so much better at that height. The upper horn is usually crossing my left pec/nipple.

I've never had a problem with my arms being too long.

As for the OP. I never transitioned really, I play 6's, 7's and 8's totally differently and that's why I enjoy them all so much. 3 different instruments rather than one with a couple of variations. I guess as others said the 6 was my gateway because that happened to be how many strings my first guitar had.

EDIT: also



That's about where I wear mine, and from my understanding Chris is a pretty tall guy. I think he may be a few inches taller than me.

[EtherealEntity]

Originally Posted by CyborgSlunk

Wow, I watched way too many Progressive Metal shows, now I can´t even think of somebody wearing his guitar that low

This

Consequently I don't think of high straps only being practical, I also think they are cool as ....

[thesnowdog]

Originally Posted by Fun111

I'm over 6'2 with correspondingly long arms and my guitar sits on my chest haha, I just play so much better at that height.

+1

I'm a few inches taller again and I wear mine like a necklace. I don't think arm length has much to do with it...

[bhakan]

I think it is dependent on a lot of things. I wear my superstrats up really high, but my other guitars are more comfortable hanging lower. What you're playing probably makes a huge difference too, because I find when my guitar is higher, complex fingerings are easier, but really fast aggressive picking has a tendency tire my arm faster when my guitar is higher up.

And actually on topic, seven strings are definitely a gateway drug, as soon as you play one, you realize that you're not limited to a standard six string, and then you start gassing for more and more strings.

[yellow]

i still wanna know what drug it leads to

[Rook]

MDMgAs



C wut I did thar?

[ZEBOV]

STARTING on a 5 string bass and immediately tuning it to ADGCF has been my gateway drug to EVERY ....ING THING ELSE!
My next instrument after that was an RGD2127z (which I had to return so I could pay to have my truck fixed after a wreck), then my Alesis DM10 Studio, then my Carvin XB76, and in just a matter of hours..... a DC800. That's all I have and have ever had so far when it comes to instruments (excluding amps and other gear). Am I crazy? Or just extremely ambitious?
If I get in a wreck anytime soon, I'm not returning that DC800. I'm not nearly as broke now as I was when I bought that RGD.

[yellow]

Originally Posted by Fun111

MDMgAs



C wut I did thar?

ooooooo good one lol