Anyone else having this problem?

[r3tr0sp3ct1v3]

I can NOT for the love of God write on my 7 string anymore. I played 6 string for 4 years and composed so much music. I got my seven about a year ago, wrote a few songs.

Now, I can't write anything. I can still write on a 6 string but when I pick up my 7, nothing comes out.

Anyone else having this problem?

[BIG ND SWEATY]

i had that problem for a bit, try using a new tuning

[r3tr0sp3ct1v3]

Originally Posted by BIG ND SWEATY

i had that problem for a bit, try using a new tuning

Thanks!I've been using drop A the whole time. I used drop A on a 6 string for like most of my old writing, that's what confused me so much when I couldn't write. I think i'll try drop G.

[BIG ND SWEATY]

dont be afraid to venture way out of what you normally use, i normally change every 4 months or so just to keep from writing the same thing over and over again.

[thedonal]

To be honest, I've had my 7 for a year and barely written a riff on it! I've pulled a few things out of it, but I think I'm taking time adjusting to it.

It's kind of odd as it's a pleasure to play and the low b is by no means a stretch to the headology of it all (I've played a 5 string bass for about 10 years!), but there you go.

I did buy it for those low, earthy thrashy riffs like DT's the Glass Prison. But I can't seem to ever be convinced enough with what I riff out to keep on to it.

I am getting to grips with the thing, but slowly. Ever. So. Slowly.

Time will tell...!

[The Reverend]

It's just another string, I don't know how people get so confused?

[thedonal]

I don't think it's about confused. I think for me it's getting around the sound (the 7th does seem to sound fairly different from the others to me) and, I dunno, maybe just a feel thing.

Having 20 years of automating the fingers/mind to 6, I guess it's just a little stretch that's taking an old mind a bit of time!

I think as well that, being a lead guitarist by nature and play more rock than metal, I'm trying to get things out of myself I never really have as such. But it's a case of keep plugging away... I'm going to be getting a lot of creative stuff out of me this year (I've been a bit stagnant for quite a few years in terms of writing).

[Rain]

Writer's block really sucks. I'd say try to venture out of the Low B string. I've written songs in E minor instead of B minor scale on my 7 string and used mainly the top 6 strings the way a regular 6 string guitar in E standard tuning would, only using the Low B for heavy chords or to do a variation of the riffs on the 6th string.

[The Reverend]

I approach it as two guitars: one in drop tuning, and one in E standard. Try ripping around on some power chords, then switching to the root notes using open chords. Or if you're down with triads, you can make some amazingly groovy little melodies.

I don't think it's the extra string that's giving you issues, I think your writer's block is just hampering you from finding creative uses for it.

[hellraizer84]

it makes me happy that im not the only one getting this problem haha in all honesty it seems to come from not being as good at the 7 as the 6,iv been playing 6 for 15 years and seven for well a matter of 5 months really but iv found as i gain confidence on the instrument my ideas are more inspired and not all an low A chug haha which is pretty much all i did for the first few months haha

iv found a good thing to do is play it like a 6 and write in higher keys and then use the 7 for extending the range

to me its way more effective this way as i think once you have heard a load of A or whatever it stops sounding low and you become desensitized to it somehow,

but yeah man im right with ya there i ran out of ideas pretty fast early on

alt tuning help also,rather than going lower on the 7 try open tuning it like tesseract,also i tend to use regular drop D tuning and have an A on the bottom and that brings out some new flavours

sorry this message was so long haha and good luck!

[hellraizer84]

Originally Posted by BIG ND SWEATY

dont be afraid to venture way out of what you normally use, i normally change every 4 months or so just to keep from writing the same thing over and over again.

and yeah ill second this man,im using 6 7 and now an 8 string and lots of different tunings just to break this habbit and stop it all being monotonous ect

iv still not nailed soloing on the 7 at all though,its pretty noisy at the minute and i ....in hate solo palying in A minor haha!

great thing about the 8 is i drop tune it to E so im back in standard again haha yeah bring back me old licks!

[Floppystrings]

I hate to admit this, but shredding on a 6 string is easier.

Half wound, half unwound, your brain gets used to that. Good thing I got sick of sweep picking and don't care.

Every now and then I do get the urge to get all neo-classical, maybe throw a wig on and play some epic reverb drenched emotional solo though haha.

[Stealthdjentstic]

Tune up to drop c

[MatthewK]

I'ver never found any difficulty in switching from 6 to 7. I do, however, have a problem with 8-strings. That's one toke over the line for me.

[r3tr0sp3ct1v3]

It's not that I have trouble adjusting to the string. I switch very easily. My problem is I can't write with such a low tuning sometimes.

As i've gone further into my guitar playing, i've noticed that I have started to play in higher tunings. I mean I play in D# standard and drop B [it isn't much a difference but it sounds that way to me]

I may also not be getting into my 7 because of the EMGs.

[master of the human race]

Originally Posted by r3tr0sp3ct1v3

I may also not be getting into my 7 because of the EMGs.

What would that have to do with anything?