[MerlinTKD]

Yeah, I'm trying to stir up trouble!

No, seriously... it's a question that's come to mind lately: for rhythm playing, is a seven-string necessary? Or would a six-string with high-gauge strings do just as well, or better? Or perhaps is a baritone the way to go?

The reason I ask (other than to stir debate) is, I'm not a lead player, never gonna be. Not a diss on myself, I'm primarily a drummer, I write on the guitar, I love low and/or detuned riffage, if I have dedicated practice time I'm going to be working on drums or writing, not scales and leads. Just my personal preference/priority, I'll leave that stuff to the experts!

Don't get me wrong, I have 7, I love it, my other guitar is an acoustic Spanish nylon string (wide, flat neck) so I'm right at home with the size... and I'm loving this board! So I'm not being a troll... I love seven-string guitars... and this board... and all you guys...

*sniff* I'm verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves. For dedicated rhythm playing, is a seven-string necessary? Discuss.

[Unknown Doodl3.2]

I think it could very well be. There's no law that says rhythm playing should be dedicated to the bottom 3-4 strings of a guitar Just look at bands like Necrophagist or Gorguts or Hell even DT and LTE...

[NegaTiveXero]

Yes. /thread

For me at least, 6ers just have a different feel to me whenever I use one I use it for different styles of music. I tend to drop D them and play faster hard/metalcore-esque stuff. Whereas with sevens I write different things than that, because I don't like drop-Aing, so it forces me to think in standard (or Bb standard, or A Standard, depending on how I feel). I don't know, it's hard to explain and I probably don't make any sense.

[Cancer]

Why not? Rhythms don't have to be restricted to the lower strings. Ultimately it depends, ask yourself, what are YOU planning on doing with? Do YOUR rhythms require all 7 strings? I think you'll find your answer there. Personally I approach the 7 string much more than I do the 6, I tend to think more "across the board" then the lateral thinking (nut to bridge) I had with the 6, and I expect that continue once I get an 8 string.

[Unknown Doodl3.2]

Originally Posted by NegaTiveXero

Yes. /thread

For me at least, 6ers just have a different feel to me whenever I use one I use it for different styles of music. I tend to drop D them and play faster hard/metalcore-esque stuff. Whereas with sevens I write different things than that, because I don't like drop-Aing, so it forces me to think in standard (or Bb standard, or A Standard, depending on how I feel). I don't know, it's hard to explain and I probably don't make any sense.

I know exactly what you mean. My rhythmic style varies a lot when I got from a 6 to a 7 string. I play a lot of Tool-esque stuff on a 6 and on a 7 it challenges me to move forward in songwriting and try multiple Ideas...

http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/ext...st-people.html

http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/ext...tunings-5.html

http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/ext...-string-5.html

http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/sev...t-shred-3.html

[Vince]

necessary? no.

A tool used to create interesting soundscapes? Yes.

[djpharoah]

I actually kinda like playing a 6 with heavy gauge strings. I mean I love my 7, but I dont play everything on the 7th string. Also sometimes there are somethings I can only do on a 7 but cant do on a 6.

A 6 string baritone had I gotten one before getting a 7 I truthfully wouldnt be playing a 7. I was looking at a couple of LTDs etc..before I found this place.

[distressed_romeo]

If you take this arguement to its logical extreme, then a lot of metal bands, particularly from the 90s, could probably make do with four-string guitars, Max Cavalera-style.
The way I see it, even if you never used the full extended range of the seven-string, it's still there if you need it, even if that's just for just one song. Having extra options never hurt anyone.

[Variant]

Originally Posted by distressed_romeo

If you take this arguement to its logical extreme, then a lot of metal bands, particularly from the 90s, could probably make do with four-string guitars, Max Cavalera-style.
The way I see it, even if you never used the full extended range of the seven-string, it's still there if you need it, even if that's just for just one song. Having extra options never hurt anyone.

Scott Ian did the same thing at one point in time, as well as having guitars with no frets on the upper part of the board. For me, I like to do a range of things with my playing and I rather not have four different guitars to accommodate that. I just want to sit down go wherever whim takes me creatively. I'm already coming up with new things on my RG2228 that I couldn't have done on my seven strings, tuned down or not.