Comments on: What’s Up With 7 and 8 String Guitars? http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-7-and-8-string-guitars/ Heavy Metal News, Reviews & Opinions Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:49:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Fez Mey http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-7-and-8-string-guitars/comment-page-1/#comment-92919 Fez Mey Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:53:31 +0000 http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-8-string-guitars/#comment-92919 From what I've read, many people here seem to agree with me in the fact that if you don't use all of the strings in a musical sense, why bother? I play an 8-string in my band Artificial Life Forms. We play a mix of electronica and early 90's nu-metal. I use an 8-string for the simple fact that I need to hit some really low notes and really fricking high notes in more than one song. Yeah, some of the material can use just a baritone, or even a 7-string, but until I can justify the funding for either or both of those, an 8-string will have to do. The bass is done through a synth for the material we play. I'm not saying we are the best sound or best band, but we doing something that is not widely done to our knowledge, and to really pull this off we need some sounds that may not sound like they would sound good. We tried out a bassist tonight, and his sound was just too thin even with a good rig. Now, I'm the one of the first to say this, no, I'm not the greatest guitarist in the world. I like to listen to the virtuoso players and drool. I like what they do, and I can do some of that and a few things that they don't (not can't), but for what my band is calling for musically, an 8-string is perfect, if not sometimes too low. The 8th string is not always used, but also, it's not really ignored. To really say it for everyone, it's not the gear, but how it is used. If it's not used well, don't use it. If it fits, don't brag about it. If people ask, don't hide it. If it's a necessary tool for composing your music, please do so, but don't use it for your inability to play. Scott Ian from Anthrax even has a few 4-string guitars that he uses like baritones because he wouldn't use all of the strings on a 6. For all of the people that bash ERG's, don't do so just because you can't play one. If you can do all of what someone does on an ERG, please show me how it's done! From what I’ve read, many people here seem to agree with me in the fact that if you don’t use all of the strings in a musical sense, why bother? I play an 8-string in my band Artificial Life Forms. We play a mix of electronica and early 90’s nu-metal. I use an 8-string for the simple fact that I need to hit some really low notes and really fricking high notes in more than one song. Yeah, some of the material can use just a baritone, or even a 7-string, but until I can justify the funding for either or both of those, an 8-string will have to do. The bass is done through a synth for the material we play. I’m not saying we are the best sound or best band, but we doing something that is not widely done to our knowledge, and to really pull this off we need some sounds that may not sound like they would sound good. We tried out a bassist tonight, and his sound was just too thin even with a good rig. Now, I’m the one of the first to say this, no, I’m not the greatest guitarist in the world. I like to listen to the virtuoso players and drool. I like what they do, and I can do some of that and a few things that they don’t (not can’t), but for what my band is calling for musically, an 8-string is perfect, if not sometimes too low. The 8th string is not always used, but also, it’s not really ignored.
To really say it for everyone, it’s not the gear, but how it is used. If it’s not used well, don’t use it. If it fits, don’t brag about it. If people ask, don’t hide it. If it’s a necessary tool for composing your music, please do so, but don’t use it for your inability to play. Scott Ian from Anthrax even has a few 4-string guitars that he uses like baritones because he wouldn’t use all of the strings on a 6.
For all of the people that bash ERG’s, don’t do so just because you can’t play one. If you can do all of what someone does on an ERG, please show me how it’s done!

]]> By: anon http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-7-and-8-string-guitars/comment-page-1/#comment-86322 anon Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:59:16 +0000 http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-8-string-guitars/#comment-86322 Down tuning a 6 string is what metal players have always done. It doesn't make any sense adding a different string, when you can just downturn and change the voice of the instrument. Down tuning a 6 string is what metal players have always done. It doesn’t make any sense adding a different string, when you can just downturn and change the voice of the instrument.

]]> By: Sidney http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-7-and-8-string-guitars/comment-page-1/#comment-85671 Sidney Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:46:45 +0000 http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-8-string-guitars/#comment-85671 7 string guitars are a good progression. I guitars used to have 5 strings until the late 1800s. E to A. and when they added the low E and it too faced similar criticism. It makes more sense if you play heavy music with low tunings to buy a seven string and than to the six string drop method. It saves time from having to tune to down drop D or C. And you don't have to sacrifice the high e string. The 7 string guitar's popularity from the Korn and Deftones, Fear Factory and Limp Bizkit earned the instrument a bad rep. Limp Bizkit did not play a seven string in the traditional sense tuned low to high C#F#BEG#C#C#. It became popular to criticize the instrument like by Mick Thompson in SLipknot who says that "7 string guitars are gay" even though he down tunes his guitar the same way. 7 string guitars are a good progression. I guitars used to have 5 strings until the late 1800s. E to A. and when they added the low E and it too faced similar criticism. It makes more sense if you play heavy music with low tunings to buy a seven string and than to the six string drop method. It saves time from having to tune to down drop D or C. And you don’t have to sacrifice the high e string. The 7 string guitar’s popularity from the Korn and Deftones, Fear Factory and Limp Bizkit earned the instrument a bad rep. Limp Bizkit did not play a seven string in the traditional sense tuned low to high C#F#BEG#C#C#. It became popular to criticize the instrument like by Mick Thompson in SLipknot who says that “7 string guitars are gay” even though he down tunes his guitar the same way.

]]> By: someone http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-7-and-8-string-guitars/comment-page-1/#comment-85507 someone Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:01:39 +0000 http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-8-string-guitars/#comment-85507 Dante Leblanc: Sounds like you don't really play "music". Maybe you should pick a different instrument. The whole sweeping thing in large ranges has been done and is boring. Dante Leblanc: Sounds like you don’t really play “music”. Maybe you should pick a different instrument.

The whole sweeping thing in large ranges has been done and is boring.

]]> By: Dante Leblanc http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-7-and-8-string-guitars/comment-page-1/#comment-85259 Dante Leblanc Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:34:42 +0000 http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-8-string-guitars/#comment-85259 Extended range baritones are very justifiable for musicians that fully utilize every string. I cannot live without my high A. I am at sixstring A-Standard, but with a 7th string G and 8th string D2, which I occasionally drop to C2. I frequently use my highest and lowest strings, do eightstring sweeps..which are a bitch to pull off, and for my combined rhythm/lead way of playing, I honestly am in need for a ninestring guitar. Having extra lower strings is ultimately so that I can go HIGHER. I have a sixstring tuned to F-Standard/drop-E. Anyone who uses sevenstrings and eightstrings simply to go lower is an impudant, ignorant fuck. Extended range baritones are very justifiable for musicians that fully utilize every string. I cannot live without my high A. I am at sixstring A-Standard, but with a 7th string G and 8th string D2, which I occasionally drop to C2. I frequently use my highest and lowest strings, do eightstring sweeps..which are a bitch to pull off, and for my combined rhythm/lead way of playing, I honestly am in need for a ninestring guitar. Having extra lower strings is ultimately so that I can go HIGHER. I have a sixstring tuned to F-Standard/drop-E. Anyone who uses sevenstrings and eightstrings simply to go lower is an impudant, ignorant fuck.

]]> By: anon http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-7-and-8-string-guitars/comment-page-1/#comment-80298 anon Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:47:05 +0000 http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-8-string-guitars/#comment-80298 I think a lot of people on here are being idiots about this whole thing. As james said "Would it not be better if, after say a few years experience, new players learned how to utilize a 7 string?". First off, this is insinuating that players should learn to play 7 strings. Why? A guitar has the range that it has. An instrument is defined by its essence. Players should play what they like. I find the 7 string crowd to be a small group that represents themselves well online, but that is all. They mainly play either boring chugging ala Meshuggah, or tasteless metalcore/indie that no one really cares about. The whole reason low tunings are incorporated in metal is because guitarists wanted a darker sound out of their guitars. Not to extend their range. Hence why they tuned down. The Swedish Death metal scene tuned B-B on their 6's, and the American band Demilich even tuned as low as A-A. If you like 7 strings, great, continue to post on ss.org, release your albums no one cares about and be done with it. If you genuinely prefer 7 strings great for you, just don't make jackass remarks about it. No one really cares what you use (except for hardcore metal fans), so why even other make an argument out of it? If your music is so poor you have to rely on the fact that you use more than 6 strings to increase popularity, then why even bother? I think a lot of people on here are being idiots about this whole thing.
As james said “Would it not be better if, after say a few years experience, new players learned how to utilize a 7 string?”. First off, this is insinuating that players should learn to play 7 strings. Why? A guitar has the range that it has. An instrument is defined by its essence. Players should play what they like.

I find the 7 string crowd to be a small group that represents themselves well online, but that is all. They mainly play either boring chugging ala Meshuggah, or tasteless metalcore/indie that no one really cares about.

The whole reason low tunings are incorporated in metal is because guitarists wanted a darker sound out of their guitars. Not to extend their range. Hence why they tuned down. The Swedish Death metal scene tuned B-B on their 6’s, and the American band Demilich even tuned as low as A-A.

If you like 7 strings, great, continue to post on ss.org, release your albums no one cares about and be done with it. If you genuinely prefer 7 strings great for you, just don’t make jackass remarks about it. No one really cares what you use (except for hardcore metal fans), so why even other make an argument out of it? If your music is so poor you have to rely on the fact that you use more than 6 strings to increase popularity, then why even bother?

]]> By: Lance Loverink http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-7-and-8-string-guitars/comment-page-1/#comment-78621 Lance Loverink Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:32:42 +0000 http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-8-string-guitars/#comment-78621 also check out the band Periphery, Misha aka Bulb is the guy who helped Tosin on his Animals as Leaders album. Very good guitar player as well who utilizes the 7 and 8 string. also check out the band Periphery, Misha aka Bulb is the guy who helped Tosin on his Animals as Leaders album. Very good guitar player as well who utilizes the 7 and 8 string.

]]> By: Lance Loverink http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-7-and-8-string-guitars/comment-page-1/#comment-78620 Lance Loverink Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:27:27 +0000 http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-8-string-guitars/#comment-78620 If you have listened to either Animal as Leaders or Scale the Summit, then you know that 7 and 8 String guitars do make a difference in the right hands. I just bought an 8 string myself and there is a bit of a learning curve, but in the process I would like to learn some of the aspects as the above two bands have acquired in an overall guitar sound. It adds so much more depth. And for me its not about the chugging sound, although its cool to fit in, its not what its about. Its about expanding your sound spectrum and that's all I have to say. If you dont believe me listen to the above bands and tell me they haven't brought it to the next level. Lance If you have listened to either Animal as Leaders or Scale the Summit, then you know that 7 and 8 String guitars do make a difference in the right hands. I just bought an 8 string myself and there is a bit of a learning curve, but in the process I would like to learn some of the aspects as the above two bands have acquired in an overall guitar sound. It adds so much more depth. And for me its not about the chugging sound, although its cool to fit in, its not what its about. Its about expanding your sound spectrum and that’s all I have to say. If you dont believe me listen to the above bands and tell me they haven’t brought it to the next level.

Lance

]]> By: james http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-7-and-8-string-guitars/comment-page-1/#comment-56841 james Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:46:51 +0000 http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-8-string-guitars/#comment-56841 In response to the "too many amateurs" vibe and the comment of the 6-stringer who found it hard to utilise the 7th string (scott). Would it not be better if, after say a few years experience, new players learned how to utilise a 7 string? ie not just chugging. Wouldn't that lead to future guitar players who were not too used to the 6 strings to never vary, but not too connected to chugging that low b that they cannot create anything worth listening to? In response to the “too many amateurs” vibe and the comment of the 6-stringer who found it hard to utilise the 7th string (scott). Would it not be better if, after say a few years experience, new players learned how to utilise a 7 string? ie not just chugging. Wouldn’t that lead to future guitar players who were not too used to the 6 strings to never vary, but not too connected to chugging that low b that they cannot create anything worth listening to?

]]> By: william http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-7-and-8-string-guitars/comment-page-1/#comment-5738 william Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:49:39 +0000 http://www.metalmartyr.com/whats-up-with-8-string-guitars/#comment-5738 the duo from Scale the Summit have truly inspired me musically.. I saw them open live for Protest the Hero and they brought all 7-8 strings alive the entire performance. I felt very comfortable with my skills on a 6er, but found myself in some sort of a writers block. When I bought my schecter hellraiser c-7 that all changed.. I thank the guitar gods every day for the 7 dog. the duo from Scale the Summit have truly inspired me musically.. I saw them open live for Protest the Hero and they brought all 7-8 strings alive the entire performance. I felt very comfortable with my skills on a 6er, but found myself in some sort of a writers block. When I bought my schecter hellraiser c-7 that all changed.. I thank the guitar gods every day for the 7 dog.

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