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One String Attached
Making the Transition to the Seven-String Guitar, Part One
by Darryl Cunningham
August 8, 2000
In our two-part feature, we'll look at some techniques to help you get
started playing the seven-string guitar. Part One will get you familiar with
the neck and introduce some chords; next time, we'll look at scales and
other exercises, and have a listen to some of the players who are making the
seven-string today's hottest axe.
Is guitar music on a downward spiral? Judging from the bone-crushing riffs dished out by bands like Limp Bizkit and Korn, the answer is yes -- in a good way. And one of the main components of the deep groove is the seven-string guitar. Once considered a specialty instrument best left to fretboard adventurers like Steve Vai and John Petrucci, the seven-string -- which in its most common configuration extends the guitar's range by adding a low B-string -- has quickly become almost required equipment for the serious hard rocker.
But while it may be the weapon of choice for new-breed grinders, the seven-string has actually been around for a long time. Jazz players such as Howard Alden and Jimmy Bruno have long used the extra string to delve into chord voicings unavailable on a conventional guitar. In fact, playing the seven-string guitar doesn't have to be limited to any genre. With a wide range of affordable models available from Ibanez, Schecter, Carvin, Dean, Jackson, ESP, Fernandes, and others, it may be time for you to take the plunge.
Steve Vai helped pioneer the seven-string as a rock instrument. He's pictured holding one of his signature Ibanez JEM models. |
Overcoming the Intimidation Factor
Unlike another popular member of the guitar family, the 12-string, seven-string guitars require some physical and mental adjustments. As with any instrument, learning the position of the notes is job one. The standard tuning is B, E, A, D, G, B, E, (low to high). The low B -- a 5th lower than the E string -- allows guitarists to dig deeper into the range of the bass and voice chords in new ways.
Unfortunately, many of the habits we develop on a conventional guitar don't translate well to the seven-string. I like to think of myself as a shredder, with a comfortable command of the neck. So when I took up seven-string guitar, I expected to play a run starting on the G string without a problem. But when I would move my hands over to play on that string, I would end up fretting the D string, or landing between the G and D strings. I came off as sloppy. I had to retrain my muscles to adjust to the position of the G string all over again.
Next Page: Introducing the Seven-String Neck....
Darryl Cunningham has been playing guitar for over 25 years. He studied under two GIT instructors, including Jennifer Batten, and has played in church bands and as a pit musician for the Omaha, NE Community Playhouse. He's currently working on the debut CD with Omaha-based rap-core band Altar.
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