How to Make the Leap to 8 Strings Easier
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- čas přidán 3. 03. 2017
- Here are some tips on how you might go about transitioning from a 6 string guitar to an 8 string guitar.
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I'm not getting an 8-string just to play lower notes, because I could just downtune my 6-string. 8-string guitars are only useful if you use the higher strings that are still there.
Good point. 8s sound better anyway. I remember from when I downtuned my 6 years ago. It's good to have high and low options too, like you said. :)
Okay look, have you ever heard of a fanned fret board? It goes from a 27 inch scale to a 24.5 inch scale for the strings. It keeps all of the strings tight and you can downtune the lowest note an octave and a half lower than a normal 6 string guitar's lowest gauge string. I'm honestly just going to build my own 8 string because there's not enough customizability even above $1000 for a good perfect 8 string of my choice. If i want a different body than a superstrat that has good locking tuning keys, a locking nut, normal slanted bridge with a fanned fret board and nice inlays with a neck through design rather than bolt on and it's the color i want... big yikes, I know. i'll have to build my own
@@BrandonBurch The cool thing about an 8 String Guitar is that from the Low F sharp up you can imitate the sound of those long horn Baritone Guitars used in pieces by an artist who recently died named Ennio Morricone.
🎯Greatest point to having a proper 8Str; Fanned frets🤘🏻📶🤘🏻
Cheers!!!
Yes an no, Down tuning is an option up to a certain degree, then scale length comes into play and most 6 strings can't handle and hold tune at such low tunings
After some time focusing on classical guitar (renaissance and baroque fingerstyle), ive realized that the approach to extended range guitars as a metal musician is different than the approach a classical musician takes to them. In Metal, we tend to focus more on the low notes, and build the music from the bass to the soprano. (I often play my chords rooted on the E or B string). In classical fingerstyle, we build our music from the melody and soprano notes, and accompany them with the lower bass notes. 7 and 8 string instruments (mainly lutes) were the norm in the 1500's, and by the baroque period, some of them could have up to 13 strings. Despite this, the majority of the playing was done on the highest 6 strings. This is just a great approach to extended range guitars i've learned and it can be applied to metal playing as well! try it out!
You said it yourself, the reason most people can cite Tosin Abasi and Rob Scallon as superb 8 string players is because they use this approach. Good insight!
Awesome! I never knew this history. Thanks for sharing.
Most of the top metal guitarists have had classical guitar teachers/influences. Pretty neat if you ask me.
So I got an 8 string for one reason... mick Gordon's work on Doom Eternal
Keep it metal!
same my g!
I just ordered an 8 string and I was wanting to actually play a lot of rob scallon and even just messing around with my own and of course metal too
Cool man!! Have fun!!
Just got my first 8 string today, I've been playing 6 string for 22 years (Since I was 10), and maybe 2 years on a 7 string so I decided to just go for it. I got an Agile Chiral Nirvana in Oceanburst, it's also my first headless guitar. I'm def a little intimidated by how dummy thicc the neck is but I'm in love with it either way and cannot wait to start writing some sick music with it!
That's great man! I'm rocking a 7 now because it's more comfortable
my first guitar was actually a 7-string, because seeing someone else play it made me love the tone. Took a while before I got my 8, but I knew pretty quickly when I found out about it's existence that I wanted one. All I need now is a 9-string. Listening to Chorder and After The Burial makes me want one..
I know the feeling. Haha
i just got myself my first 8 string and fell in love with it immediately. didn't quite feel any discomfort moving from 6 to 8, i just need to be careful to hit the correct string
+Cristian Popa Awesome to hear!
Same with me, really. I bought my 8 while my first and only guitar (at the time), which was a 6, was in the shop for too long. Took like an hour or so to get natural with it, but that's all. One thing that kept me away from 7 back then was having an odd number of strings. I want a good 7 now, but I couldn't deal with having one string in the middle of the neck after being used to the pair.
I want an 8 string because of Deftones lol
Ricardo Gonçalves Santos facts bro
same here, my guy. Poltergeist made me want one.
Great video. Keep up the good work, Brandon!
+missannecordelia Thanks
I Love the neck of an 8 string guitar, I think it's easier to play than a six, granted this is just MY opinion. I can relate understand the "discomfort feeling" though. When I went from acoustic guitar to classical guitar it was an AKWARD transition, but I got used to it. For me a Classical guitar prepared me for a full on 8 string guitar. Love the feel.
+Anthony Santiago Yeah I had used a classical when starting out before going to electric shortly thereafter. As documented in my documentary: czcams.com/video/eIy56jxVZ_c/video.html
Brandon Burch: Cool, thanks for the reply!! I've seen ur video, very encouraging.
i want a 8s to play some clean stuff personaly 😁
I want to play 8 string for the memes
Damn after watching the every new 8 string guitarist vid i was surprised to hear ur voice not pitch shifted!!
Little tip i almost use daily on my 9 string, i don't compose with the 8th and 9th string as my main pitch.
When i start to work on new material, or just jam at home, i mostly use my 6th and 7th string as a starting point. So for the most part i play my parts like on a regular 7 string, the main use i than find of having a 9 string is that i can now not only go higher but also lower than my starting point. To give a little example it goes like this : my main riff will mostly have the 6th or 7th string as a base, from there i will go up on the neck if i want to give a more melodic and lighter feel to the track or at the other end go down the neck to the 8th and 9th string to give it a more heavy and dark feel.
Nice tip!
I like your videos. They are different. They are like TV Series - Entertaining & Engaging. Like drama. I am hooked. Good job.
+Puneet Thank you so much man! I strive to keep it always changing and I rotate similar videos.
I agree with you 100 percent. I sort of did the same gradual step up to the 8 string without even knowing it. Got my 7 string played it for a year and a half, then I got my 8 string and had no difficulty switching. Justin Lowe (Rest in peace) also has very good advice on learning 7 and 8 strings. Just watch the video titled "After The Burial's Justin Lowe demos the Ibanez RG90BKP"
+Gabe Burciaga Indeed. That's a good video.
I found 8-string via Meshuggah, like the most of us propably. I fell compleatly for the massive sound it has. Far more massive than just down tuned a 6-string. When I started to actually thinking of buying one, I never had the chance to test it out cause my local shop didnt sell one. And still doesnt. So when Ibanez released the well priced RG8 (which still is veery good value guitar for anyone interested...) I just ordered one. All I wanted to know before buying was that I didnt need to learn anything new, kind of like with Ukulele that has strings in weird order. With 8 I only had to get used to having 8-strings and a wider neck. So my transition was quite rough, but i didnt mind cause I just wanted that sound.
And to be honest, the RG8's neck is more comfortable to play than my moms old acoustic.
Yeah that thin neck is nice. I like Ibanez for that reason.
Keep in mind that w/ 8 String Guitars you need really light gauge strings (9s or thinner) because their scale length tends to be longer than a Standard 6 String Guitar, in fact it's the same scale length as a Baritone Guitar at 27 inches. Lighter gauge strings & a longer scale length could make this great for playing SRV stuff w/ precision.
ik i’m late to the party, but this can be solved by jacinta. multi scale guitars
Well i started playing guitar after my band broke up (i was doing vocals) and tuned to drop a since i had no clue what i was doing and that was our tuning. When i first held/played an 8 string i was like "this is just too much". But then i stumbled over this 8 string online for only 150.- and went "well why the hell not"
I just got somewhat used and comfortable to playing guitar after about 2 years and there i was with this behemoth of an 8 string.. but i am getting more and more used to that also and now i am fooling around with different tunings and what not and its just fun playing and exploring this thing!
I totally agree! I still experiment with tunings myself.
I bought 7 string last year. I did not touch my 6 string guitar for a month. It took a month, just getting used to 7 strings. I was lost on low B string (even though same notes on the high B string are the same) Some things require an 8 string nowdays. I know it would take another month getting used to 8 strings. I make mistakes on the 6 string now. I can adapt though easier.
I think people overthink this, the jump from a 6 to an 8 string isn't bad at all, especially if you've been playing a while anyway.. Though its probably a different question if you incorporate a lot of theory into what you do.
Or maybe OCD made me skip the uneven number 🤔
+Astrictus Perhaps. It was drastic for me, but as you pointed out, it helps if you've been playing a while. I was still early on in my journey. However, I've heard seasoned guitarists say the same about 8s being huge.
Animals as Leaders + Modern Day Babylon - The reasons I want a 8 String.
+Progwale Yes! 🤘🏻
After the Burial is what gave me the fever.
i actually switched from 6 to 8 without the 7. and to make it worse, i got it after only a few months of playing guitar... but i didnt regret it. for a while i could only play on the 8th string and i wasnt capable of doing anything else. i actually hit a block and didnt play at all for over a month. then a friend showed me a band called infant annihilator. and as crazy their music is, there was one thing that i picked up from it. they tuned 8 strings EAEADGBe. they mainly played 7 string drop a riffs while only using the 8th string for specific parts, just like brandon said in this video. so i thought id try it. and for the first time i was able to play more than just the 8th string. i wasnt very good at it at first but i got a hang of it quickly. and now here i am able to play the entire instrument to its full extent, and with a solo album coming out soon (shameless plug). my advice for 6 string players looking into extended range guitars is this. if you absolutely KNOW FOR A FACT that you want to play 8, and you know that 7 wouldnt be satisfying enough, then go for it. but expect allot of trouble for the first month or two. if youre only a beginner thats been playing for only 2-4 months, maybe you should just get a seven, then sell it and get an 8 after like 4 or more months(or just keep the seven as well if youre not poor like me). but if you do decide to just get the 8 straight away like i did, dont expect anything good for the next 4 months, depending on how fast you learn and master new techniques. but dont give up. if anything try the EAEA tuning, and play it ONLY like a seven for a while. dont even touch the 8th string. and in general, dont stick with the standard F#BEADGBe tuning until you know what youre doing. play it in drop E (EBEADGBe) this will allow you to take any 6 string rooted chord and add the extra two bottom strings while still being in key. look at this video at 0:58 for more info on that tuning (czcams.com/video/PPpbekTXC2M/video.html). just do yourself a favor and let the F# standard tuning wait a bit, ESPECIALLY IF YOURE STILL A BEGINNER. even now i still like playing in drop E. so take this as you will and good luck. also check out my solo ep when it comes out :3
Great words man
+Brandon Burch I also recommend.agile guitars. their lower end stuff is around the same price as the average rg8. buuuuut, they are better in every way imo. the string spacing is more like a normal guitar and the neck isnt as huge and formidable. and instead of just a non carved solid black, you can get quilted maple and flame maple and other stuff in a hunch of different colors. also alot of them have reverse headstocks, which you don't see very often on low end 8 strings. can't wait to try out their high end stuff in the future. you should get one too Brandon, just make sure you change the strings cause my 8 came with a 9 to 64 set ._.
+Jack Latham my guitar is in my profile pic, but it doesn't come with the tree of life inlay, just no markers. the inlay is actually a bunch of stickers. I got them from inlay stickers.com and they are incredible. this one is a perloid tree of life inlay for 27 inch scale. it also comes in abalone and other stuff. you don't feel them when you play them, they look exactly like the real thing, and they WILL NOT come off unless you want them to. great product.
What I really like is my Schechter Hellraiser CVI guitar. I was looking for a way to start doing more lead type playing. It's still tuned E-e just an octave down so it's in bass range. I feel like this is a good way to get the low range without the extra thick neck.
Nice, bro! 🤘🏻
How about an ultra-thin neck 8 string w/ a cylindrical neck as it has a highly radiused fretboard.
I have the same poster with the les Paul
I'm planning on getting a schecter omen, but I've never played a 7 or 8 string, and I'm a big Deftones fan, should I get the 7 or 8 string model? I'm worried I might regret getting the 7 string because I won't be able to play 8 string songs without heavy down tuning, but also dont know if the 8 string fret board might be too big for 5-6 fret stretches, so I'm afraid I might regret it either way, also I heard down tuning a 7/8 string guitar a lot can warp the neck, is that true?
As for the down tuning, I never had a problem frequently tuning my instrument. I had my 8-string for a while, but I got tired of it and downgraded to a 7-string. I might recommend starting with the 7-string, and then if you want more then you can purchase an additional 8-string or trade the 7-string in for the 8-string. This is ultimately your call, this is what I ended up doing. I prefer a 7.
Changing from 6 to 8 was easy for me tbh. The only challenge was my hands getting tired from not being used to the big neck but ot really didn't take long to get used to.
I am going to get an 8 string just for Rob scallon lol. He is my favorite musician.
Cool! Yeah he's good at what he does
I'm thinking about getting a 8er to have that wide range of playing options but the transitioning was also good for bass going from a 4 string to a 6 string as I own a 4, 5 and 6 string
+MrGH3Man4 Nice!
Brandon Burch although the transition from electric guitar to bass was a bit hard at first but now I'm use to playing both
Can you play 8 string in 7 string drop tunin like drop f on the seven strings but what would tge lowest be
you can basically play in any tuning you wish. you can tune lower on a 7 to be in the 8 string range, but if you try to tune higher on an 8 to match a seven, there really isn't a point to that.
I HAVE THAT SAME POSTER AS YOUUUU
Why do I want an 8 string? To use on my spanky, country, Christmas album I'm putting out later this year. What else would you use one for?
Thinking about getting a 7-string and a bass this year... Do you know any decent 7-strings or bass guitars for under $250?
Not exactly sure, but check out some guitars made by Ibanez. They make some good ones.
Check out Legator and/or Agile (rondomusic web site).
i went the other route im playing a 8 string with a 7 string G# tuning and a high F#, the soloing is fun...thinking of buying a nine just so i can have the normal 8 string tuning + the fun above
That would he interesting. I can see myself with a 9
What would you recommend for an 8 string for a high school student? I want a Strandberg to be my dream guitar, but i need practice with one in general.
+D'Mitrius Oleskevich I recommend one of the lower end 8 string models from ibanez. I have the RG8.
Brandon Burch Thanks so much!
D'Mitrius Oleskevich I would look for a used one
I had a 7 string but I traded it up for a better 6 string mainly because I did not have any accual good 6 string guitar to play. Iv been looking at some of the cheaper like $300 to $400 ibanez 8 strings. I like playing a ton of clean ambient stuff and being able to go lower and playing chords with really low notes can sound good clean. Sure im gonna play metal but im not gonna play default just open 8 string. Ill probobly play use chords on the 7th or 6th and use the 8th for fills full chords and clean parts of songs. I think the thing is so many intermediate players grab an 8 string and its just too much to handle and use every string so they only play one or two strings. I mean if you are into that stuff just buy a set of string for a 9 string and string up the 9th where the 6th is soposed to be on your six string and have your highest string be the D string lol.
Sounds like a plan! It's handy to have an 8 whilst tracking guitars, having all that range.
I play my 8 and 9 like a Chapman stick with tapping sometimes. Chugging is fun too of course. But I'm interested in the broader tone/one man band range of it
After the 9 string, my 7 has basically become my 6 string now xD (still play normal 6 too)
I have a 7 now because I got tired of the 8
I made the mistake of snagging one of the dean ml 8 strings when they first came out. Between the jump from 6 to 8 being difficult and the scale length making the 8th and 7th string a floppy buzzing mess I just never clicked with it.
Thanks for commenting your experience. 😎 And thanks for the support in your subscription!
@@BrandonBurch no problem, I've been watching since the "wood panel studio" days but hadn't seen you in my feed in quite a while. The Al Gore Rythym works in weird ways.
@@Terribleguitarist89 Yeah definitely lots to catch up on :)
Where can I purchase the eight string that you have? Or what is it called?
It's the Ibanez RG8. Probable still available at some guitar stores for cheap. It's been out for a few years. If you can scrape together some more money, save up for the Iron Label series that came out.
"what do you want an 8 string for", "oh i'd like to use it as kinda the way rob plays bc its adds a nice low end" next thing i know you bring up rob scallon, small world i guess! :D
+Levi Block He's the master :)
I got these really long fingers that aren't fat either. I actually really like the wide necks, my six string has a wider radius.
+Garrett van de Gelder I'll bet those long fingers come in handy. Mine are probably medium range haha
i want an 8 string cuz of mick gordon lol \m/ doom's soundtrack is kickass and deserves to be played on a 7-8 string
eh, the way i see it, i would personally suggest getting a six, seven, and eight string. i feel as if it would be better to move up one string instead of jumping straight to eight string as you said in the video, because even a seven string can catch you off guard a little bit.
+sha-d paul I agree. I wish I had a 7.
I like 8 strings guitar.One day I will have one
+Shredder 🤘🏻
What's the exact name of that Jackson you own?
It's the SLSMG. It was discontinued, and the main color was black. But there was a certain time in which the color "inferno red" was available before it was discontinued.
I'm planning on going from a 4 string bass to an 8 string....that's gradual, I think lol
Do you tune to F#,in your 8 adventures,just asking.Thanks.
I no longer have the 8, as I switched to a 7, but yes I did at times.
@@BrandonBurch Thanks,did not expect a reply.
I want an 8 string to make low notes so i can play percussive slap sorta stuff
its possible with a 6 string but 8 strings are probably easier and more versatile
+SquireCat Nice! That's cool
Slsmg for the win. My fav guitars
Rock on!
i got an 8 string, cause i had some riffs in my mind. she's completly new, still searching the right tuning.
It's a fun experimental stage to be in. :)
@@BrandonBurch yeah your right 😁
Want one because of kevin sherwood
If i could find a acoustic 8 string ill probably be interested. Ill at least be interested to try it as i never play with more then 6. But just to have 2 extra string. Extra length in scales and so many more opinion without having more opinion. Sure im game lol
+Patrick Robichaud An acoustic option would be interesting
Agile makes an 8 string acoustic called the "Agile Renaissance 8X"
Thanks for the tip my mistake was buying a cheap 8 string instead of buying a good quality 7 string guitar I would rather do that but I can't go back in time lol
+Triple Sounds You're welcome
i had a bc rich lucky 8 because is was cheapo then i put some white bareknuckle juggernaughts in it
+leighton lanzetta I'd love to try bare knuckle pickups
Brandon Burch I loved them . in it even though I suck at guitar lol .
i have that poster
+Forest Steel cool bro!
Shucks, I've dived straight in. It's in the post now. Fan fret too. NEVER even picked one up before!!!
God help me!
I did the same. You will go mad while trying to stick the 8th put into a pentatonic scale. Than you will use it as a 7 string guitar with lots of power chords and some single note bass action for complementary. You will try to hit the 8th string for "thicker and more evilish breakdowns" but each time you try in the middle of your improvised sesion, you will consider your decision and think of going back to a 7 string.
After a few weeks, your djent soul will awaken and you will just feel fine with it. Do not forget; Size does matter :)
8 string is king……. Yes you can tune down to drop g maybe but I can do that and also have two lower strings still….
I can say that I will NEVER buy an 8 string, because little hands (7 its enought)
I went from a 6 string to a 7 string now on an 8 string
+zombiejambo Cool man! I wish I had a 7 in my collection
Just do it
ha ha yeah that would work too
after the burial neo seoul😃👍🏻
Ah yes! A great song, but their mix is a little guitar forward ^_^
Now that 9-string axes are out, are you going to make the leap from 8 to 9?
I'm trying not to entertain such a notion... xD
I don't own a 8 string yet, but why not just get the 8 string, remove the strings (you probably should change them anyways), restring only the top 6, and get used to it as a regular guitar with a bit of extra space. A bit later, add the 7th string and get used to playing a 7-string, and finally add the 8th string.
+Dr. Florence It's the feeling is the huge neck is the biggest issue for most.
Well I agree, that's what I noticed the most while playing an 8string in the store, and you can't adjust that on a guitar. But you can still get comfortable with having two additional string above your 6th string while playing with your right hand. Also the view on the neck and the left hand becomes a bit irritating once you jump from 6 to 8, so yeah.
+Dr. Florence Yep
Mick Gordon made me do it...
who is rob scallion? ha. its scallon
Yeah, misspoke haha
just spend an extra $300 for a good transition and then buy another 8 string guitar for another hefty fund of money.
Yes but no