@@federicogonzalez8945 No problems so far. The only thing you need to know is that SE SVN pups aren't designed for all-out metal tone. It's natually more like a jack-oif-all-trades 7 string. BTW, for 2020, the SVN has been discontinued and replaced with SE Mark Holcomb SVN. This bad boy comes standard with SD Alpha&Omega, ebony board as well as flatten radius of 20 inches. So if you can wait, I recommend you consider the SE Holcomb SVN for better performance. Oh and all PRS SE come with their gig bags.
7 and 8 string guitars are great. Not just for the low notes but allow you to play a lot of notes without jumping too much all over your fretboard. For an 8 string guitar I definitely would choose a multi-scale guitar! That's the best option without going to ticker string gauges.
@@tallciaran Lol! No problem playing a neck that wide, providing you've got hands as wide as Popeye's! Then the real question would be: Who plays meaner Thrash Metal? Popeye or Bluto?
I've never been good with relationships. Is it an open relationship ? they only like me for my cash. Seriously though, I did get one of his online tutorials. He's very intelligent and explains things very thoroughly.Excellent Guitarist. I actually forgot all about having that. Thanks for reminding me.
The best 7 string running I’ve found is B E A D F# B E. Tuning this way means you are playing in B standard with a high E as opposed to E standard with a low B. It means all the chords and scales (especially with open strings) you are used to on a six can be played on the 6 strings B to B.
that best tuning you're talking about is not "B standard" with a high E . Its called Baritone Tuning. B Standard for 7 Strings is the one mentioned in the video. The tuning you mentioned is a workaround tuning for 6 strings guitars to have the "B standard" of 7 strings guitars on the 6 strings guitars. B standard for 6 strings would look something like this B - F - A# - D# - G - C (I guess)
That's true if you talk from the perspective of 6 string, for 7 string guitars "B standard" is BEADGBE. I'd call your tuning baritone 6 tuning with added high E to avoid confusion
When I bought my 7 string I was like yeah metal. Which dont get me wrong I still love to play but I have also found that 7 string jazz playing is awesome and I'm trying to learn more about that. And when I get an 8 eventually I'm gonna do that same thing.
If you're interested in Jazz, chord melody, and chord accompaniment, I'd strongly suggest the 7th tuned to A not B. I've been playing like that for 40 years. Of course I'm not playing metal and grunge. I sound more like a fusion of Bucky Pizzarelli, Tony Mattola, and Joe Pass. Tuned 7th=A all your conventional chords with root on the 5=A is a simple finger drop to put it in the bass range instead of baratone. And by the way, I play the 7 string mostly finger style (coffee house jazz flavor, as i had a lot of classical training.
I never consciously thought about compensating for the palm mutes on the low string before, I just did it naturally. Interesting to hear some reasoning behind it.
The tips are great!!! Thank you. I must also add I’m glad to see you not standing in front of tens of thousands of $$$$ worth of guitars and amps most of us can’t afford. Makes me want to scream ...Yeah we get it “ya got money” but I’m here to watch you play. Thanx for just playing. Keep it up.
I've been a bassist all my life,recently decided to pick up guitar and drums to help my writing process. The muting explinations here really helped me out
Thanks for this great video, I learned a lot and am gonna purchase my first 7-string soon. I recorded my debut album on a 6 string and now it's time to step up my game.
Thanks Trey. Great basic info on buying / playing 7 string. Wish I would have known the newer PRS 7s were 26.5. The old ones were 25" scale. Which is stupid.
I don't think that 25" are stupid. He said that he plays A-Tuning on a 25.5" scale, so when he can do this then you can surely play 25" scale 7 strings in B or Bb. Matt from Trivium plays a 24.75 scale Les Paul tuned to Bb. Just try to do some experiments.
@@stevestevestevesteve6466 Lee Malia plays non Evertune guitars with 24.75" scale in Drop-A. There are so many examples. It's not about the Evertune bridge, it's about the setup of a guitar
Been playing a 6 string for 30 years and finally going to buy my first 7 string in a couple months. Drop A is going to be my tuning. It's low but not LOW. Chord extension is important to me and getting the biggest chord voicing is very important.
I've played 6 string for about 15 years, primarily drop C, Drop D and standard. My first 7 string will arrive next week, so I'm trying to figure out what tuning I should keep it in, really into "nevermore" but they play in Bb, so that wouldn't be ideal for jamming with others. So ye ill be joining you with the drop A... or D standard with the 7th string dropped to G🤔
Thank you for your good pointers on the 7-string guitar! I wonder if Jazz guitarist George Van Eps, who had promoted the 7-string guitar, ever had any idea about just how much the 7-string guitar would eventually take off? For ages, I had been curious about how some Metal guitarists had been achieving this fantastic big guitar sound, and eventually realized that these musicians were playing 7-string guitars.
You can do the same with a baritone though. If you think about you only need a way to get a few semitones lower for that metal stuff. I'm pretty sure they don't play 7 string chords that often, do they?
@LuLeBe In loose general terms, I've seen the term "Metal" used almost synonymously with Hard Rock by some. But, to me at least, correct use of the term gets one among the assorted sub-genre Metal types, which often emphasize darker, & more sinister sounding musical themes. With use of the 7-string guitar for those sub-genres, one hears a lot of lower-register triads, double stops, and "Chugs" or "Djents" (Onomatopoeia for palm-muted, & sometimes rhythmic, staccato pulses of a high-gain distorted guitar tone). These expressions give the guitar a bigger, meaner sound. (I also anticipate that some hard-core devotees of such sub-genres may pounce all over me for trying to define this). So, as you might gather, in some instances only a few strings may be played. However, when one wants that big growly tone, a triad or partial bar chord that dips into the lower register does the job, is easy to get to on a 7-string, and doesn't require as much string length, when putting on new strings. Regarding a baritone guitar's longer scale, I myself don't mind a longer scale. I just don't run across baritone guitars much. I enjoy playing an 8-string bass (about a 30" scale, a shorter bass scale). It can be harder though to find long enough strings for the higher octave part of certain pairs.
I was at the gates Ram's legs, my pizza black, my plants dead My planet X, I might bleed green I'm what's under the uncut chia seed I'm what, what, what, what from the guillotine A little flea and tick, a little fever dream A little plead the fifth Roadkill, I'm off leash
I've owned a 7 for a few months now and I also like playing around in A E A D F# B E. It shifts that weird "one fret off" string from string 2, to string 3, so it feels more familiar from a top-down perspective. Does that make sense?
I bought my 1st 7 string the day before yesterday an played it 5 hours straight. I caught onto it quick thankfully and I must admit it’s the way to go. I’m hooked for life.
wow man. it took me almost a year to get used to my 7 string headless ibanez and now i have a prs but the ibanez is so sweet. even better than my prestige that's worth over three times as much.
My first guitar was a strat style electric, my second was an Ibanez gio 7 string, I wanted because of korn lol so quickly after learning 6 at 14/15 years old 7 wasn't a huge stretch
@@unknownuser38 I bought a 7-string GIO back in high school that I like to noodle around on, it's currently my first and only 7-string. Coming from being a bass player the neck felt more comfortable compared to a 6-string, which felt like I was going to snap the neck like a toothpick at any second. I've had a few issues with it over the years that I had to have a tech fix but at $200 for a 7-string you only have so many options. The thing's super light too, every time I pick up another guitar I'm like "Oh yeah, these are made of much denser wood." If you do get one it may need some work out of the box to get it in good playing condition, mine had issues with fret sprout and humming.
I prefer Devin Townsend's tuning - GCGCGCE (Open C with extra low G)- great range and also having those Gs and Cs in multiple octaves makes it easier to learn chords and scales.
@@Tangalang22 Yeah, slide works great with that tuning. Also there's Devin's way- just play octaves with two fingers and let the orchestra do the rest 😁
@@courtneymunger9094 yes, learn positions of notes in a scale for C and G strings and boom- you know how to play that scale on 6 strings out of 7. For chords- you can play same chords on same frets in multiple octaves, for example, all chords you can play on strings 4-5-6 can be played on strings 2-3-4 on the same frets.
Here’s what I do for one of my 7-strings. It’s an Agile Interceptor Pro 727. 27’’ scale length, tuned to E standard (1 octave below standard tuning (EADGCFA). To achieve this, I installed a set of D’addario NYXL 8-string .010-.074 (leaving out the .010). The guitar has a Floyd Rose installed, keeping it in tune, well-intonated, and plus you get to dive bomb until your audience loses control of their bowels. Excellent little djent machine, for a great price!
I really appreciate this. Having just bought my first 7 string I've been feeling a little discouraged because there are small things no one talks about that make playing quite a bit different lol. Still figuring out what gauge strings I like and all that other shiz is stressful and a little demoralizing. Thanks for the content! :D
Also check out Rob Silvers 7string website. He has it all free and it is a huge wealth of information as well as notes and scales specifically for 7 string. It’s my go to and it’s absolutely free.
Just take your time and enjoy the process. It will grow Into you and your style. Recommend staying with a standard 10 set for a year at least just to eliminate that variable. The 7th string is more than enough variable to figure out for at least that long. But it can be so much more personal than a six. More like a symbiotic relationship. My Jackson custom shop Dave Davidson built by Mr. Mike Shannon is my best friend and confidant. I love stating at her curves. She loves the attention. And she rewards me with a masterbuilt feel that is like falling Into the arms of your woman that happens to be your best friend. When I look at her my wife gets jealous. No joke. True relationship. True love.
I just picked up a Jackson JS22-7 for $150 and man, I think that’s a freakin steal and I’m stoked to finally have a 7 string! I was debating between this and an ESP LTD MH-17. From what I’ve read, it does come down to preference but for being on a slightly tight budget, but the JS22 seems a bit better quality A few weeks back I picked up a Jackson JS32 which I love, but having to keep the tuning and string gauge exactly the same for the guitar’s life to keep it in good shape is a bummer From what I’ve learned from tuning with 7 strings, it’s nice to see the only difference in tuning is just the B string, but I have much to learn! Thank you for the video, now I know a little bit before jumping in
"but having to keep the tuning and string gauge exactly the same for the guitar’s life to keep it in good shape is a bummer" whoever told you this is full of shit.
Hey, you've mentioned, that you are tuning your 7strings with 25,5 inch scale lenght one step below. So than the notes will be ADGCFAD. Is that called A standard?I only have found dropped tunings and of course BEADGBE ( B STD). Thanks for the answer(s).
Im building myself a guitar and I really wanted to build a 7 string but I was afraid it would be to complicated for me so I ordered a 6 string bridge and now I regret not getting a 7 string bridge
My first build was a 7 string man, it was tough but I doubt that it was any tougher that building a 6 string for the most part since I was just starting out anyway
I`d also add choosing string gauge may also depend on bridge system, I had a guitar with Tunomatic and .60 Low B was floppy, and with Evertune and some hardtail bridges .54\.56 seems tight enough. Standard scale on both.
When i get an electric guitar, it'll be a 7-string. Gotta have all the chugs without loosing the ambient highs Oh and also, i think it was Tom Searle (rip) from Architects who said that he'd rather have a longer scale length than thicker strings because of weird overtones appearing with thicker string gauge
Great video! I used to have my 25.5” 6s tuned to drop B with 13-70 strings. Now with my 7 that’s 27”, I tune to standard with the low B an use a set of 9-46s and buy a low 60, or String Drop compensated sets. I’ve got the muting down good enough that I can even play drop D and not hit the low B when I do. The fret wrap is vital. When I first got the guitar the extra ringing drove me crazy. They are cheap and came in a 3 pack and totally kill the noise.
Have a Dean 7 s style, 25.5" scale. I like to tune to drop A and found the standard 7 string packages to flimsy. Currently rocking a .074 tuned to drop G. Previously used a bass D string but the ball end was huge and stuck out the back (string through body)
i have 6 string and im getting 11-50 strings to drop tune to A opinions? 5fdp and red plays drop B on 6 strings motionless in white also plays drop A on 6 string
I would probably go heavier than that. If it's a 25.5 scale, D'addario makes a 56-11 set and a 60-13 set, that would probably suit that way more. The 50 probably won't like going below C
I have a Dean Avalanche 11 thru 70 Double drop D. 7th string is an octave lower, than the 6th string drop D! I take a Zakk Wylde lotune set add a .26 to the set. Sounds huge!
I have a schecter demon-7 seven string guitar but I put eight string guitar strings on it and turned it into E standard E.A.D.G.B.E.A 74-13 the high A is now extra and you can play fiths with it
i have an agile 727 i absolutely love it. i have a 10-70 custom set from string joy so i can do a standard to, well i have it in drop c# rn and its pretty good. the practical tunings for it are a standard to drop f/f standard
Has agiles quality control improved? I got an 8 string awhile back and the intonation was off as well as some bad fret buzz. Would you recommend the 727?
Awesome. I got my first 7 string a little over a year ago and that's all I play now. I sold all my 6 strings to fund other gear. I miss 6 sometimes but I love my 7. I got an ESP E-II Horizon NT-7B with a 27 inch scale
I love GCGCFAD. Hella heavy and sounds amazing through my Kiesel Vader7 25.5” scale. 9’s on it. And it handles perfectly. Going to try with the 9.5’s NYXL.
7s start to get really fun when you tune the 7th string to a higher but still low tuning like C# standard or Drop C you get a huge amount of added higher notes which is really exciting if you’re into Prog and Jazz I own 2 seven strings one that’s 25.5 and and other that’s 26.5 the 25 I use in C# Standard/Drop C and it adds an extra high F#/G string The 26 in B Standard/Drop A For me I use 2 sets of Ernie Ball strings band hybridise them The Skinny Heavy 8 string and Mammoth Slinky pack So the 25 is strung with (9, 11, 16, 24, 34, 46, 62) The 26 is strung with (12, 16, 24, 34, 48, 64, 80) Hours of fun
Generally very good stuff, nice video! Though I think for the part about scale length and tension - I think it's important to say *not always* longer and tighter is better. If you want a slightly grittier, more oldschool tone I'm 99% sure 25.5" is fine unless you're really tuning way down - there's the timeless example of John Petrucci who uses 25.5" 7-strings and his tone is monstrous. The high strings also don't just get too tight on a long scale, but start to sound icepicky. Longer scale length is also not very comfortable for small hands. *sigh*
I'm decent with guitar music theory, but I don't understand why the B string (little or big string) isn't tuned to C. I realize chord shapes would be different from the traditional shapes. But wouldn't scales be easier? I don't know maybe not. Thoughts?
GhoulishTendancies I have a six string baritone and I love it. I do kinda wish I had a slightly smaller scale length seven string though. I want the range. The scale length on my baritone is 28 inches too which is a bit overboard for six strings in my opinion. I’d really like a seven string similar to the one in this video. 26.5 scale and throw in some locking tuners and an evertune bridge with some Duncan’s in it... bro. It’d be awesome!
I don't have the course but I am familiar with the method he's talking about for knowing scale shapes and it was one of the most important things I've learned about guitar, in my opinion. Definitely recommend checking it out.
I have a ibanez 7 strings universe 777bk 25.5" scale and i am tunning on step down A standart. what string gauges you advise? i Am a lead guitar. i am having tunning issues on the low 7th string. thank you
2:55 That's what my Pennsylvania license plate reads. I love watching people in my rearview mirror at red lights trying to figure out what it means. "Be A Digbee?", Bead gee bee?" "Be ag di bee?" I can read their lips the whole time. Sometimes I hold up seven fingers to give them a clue.
ADGCFAD for 7 String is probably my favorite. You can do so much with it. Alot of metal bands use it. If you need to play D standard (DGCFAD) then you ignore the low A. If you need to play Drop D, same thing. Need to play B standard? Put a capo on the 2nd fret. You can in most cases also get away with throwing a capo on the 3rd fret for C standard or drop C songs.
D standard is my favorite tuning as it is ESPECIALLY on my 7-string, it sounds awesome as GDGCFAD as well, and C standard is sick on it too. I 100% recommend to everyone using thicker stringers and drops tuning a 7 string is great.
I know this is an older video and you may not see it or even have the guitar anymore, but how did you find the radius on the fretboard. I've found someone kinda local selling one at a decent price, but read it's got a 10" radius. All my other 7s are either 20" or 12-16, so I worry 10 would feel a bit weird. I know they've replaced this with the Holcomb model now, which has a 20" radius. Hmmm.
I have an esp h207. I want to put a pick up in the neck position that can mimick as close as possible the sound of the classic strat neck/middle pick up position sound....anybideas?.
This is wicked, I've been 1 week getting into Nu Metal bands like Deftones, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Mudvayne, Static X and Disturbed, and just today I was thinking of getting a 7 string, but didn't know shit about 7 string guitars, so this is really cool and somewhat kind of creepy; but it goes to show the cyber spies really help out a lot sometimes with the youtube recomendations. This video was really helpful
Yeah, those microphones in the phones definitely help with some of the recommendations RUclips do. Also despite what several people say, only Korn, Limp Bizkit in Significant Other and Deftones post-White Pony are the only Nu Metal bands to use 7 strings in entire albums
Korn plays in A standard (ADGCFAD), not drop A. This happens to be the same tuning I use in my band, and I use .10-.56 and a .68 for the low A. I like pretty heavy gauge for the low strings though.
I kinda wish there were some 7 string semi-hollow/archtop guitars. I can think of a ton fo different possibilities for jazz and country playing. Hell, a basic strat or tele with 7 strings would be phenomenal. I've seen some custom 7 string jazzboxes where the bottom 3 strings are an E, A, and D bass string, and the top 4 are standard D, G, B, and E strings.
Hey, I've been playing 7's for years and tried alot of different tunings... They all work, it's more about what you wanna try to do with it or what you're comfortable with. Baritone doesn't matter much other than with string size so you can tune it to whatever just make sure you're not going too thick on some strings since you've got the longer scale length. If you're used to just standard E I'd say use 7 string Standard Beadgbe. If you like drop D, drop A (Aeadgbe) might work for you OR you could try a variation of that that I use sometimes where you drop the 6th and 7th strings a full step giving you (Adadgbe) so essentially you can have a drop d guitar in the top 6 strings and you can do standard barre chords on the low A and D Also any open tunings you may like can work on a seven. People have even tuned them like a six string but with a doubled high string to get a 12 string sort of effect, so if you wanted to do that with standard it would be Eadgbee They're fun instruments, just get yourself a bunch of strings and start trying whatever comes to mind.
25.5” is for standard dude I’ve always had trouble with that scale I have 27.5 with 11-60 and it perfect the low end is tight and the high end sings but you need hand strength
My AX7521 (I have the matte gray pewter and metallic cherry fudge, both, The Terror Twins I calls em lol) have some stock dimarzio codesigned pickups that grunt hard and I got both for less than $200, delivered, each. The scale length is like 24.75"/628mm - it sqwonks pretty hard even with the rubbery strings, sustain for damn days due to pickups screwed into solid slab of mahogany - basically a 7 string Ibanez version of the LPjr with murder-y high-gain pickups installed at the factory instead of rattleass soapbars (which have their place, but come on - screaming 7 string humbuckers included for the cost of...a pickup upgrade? For the whole instrument? 1999 was actually a pretty great year for guitars...those weird plum/purples
I don't think the lower notes make for a heavier sound, you can make some killer riffs with a standard tuned 6 string like Metallica or Slayer. I just like the extended range that you get from a 7 string guitar.
1 Tip: 0-0-0-0-0 riff always works
On high E-String of course.
Something else would be dumb.
00 0 0 000 000 00 0 0 000 0 0 classic
@@waltercelizmiranda1321 00 100 001 01 1 0 000 01
@@landhomer4627 lo voy a probar cuando tenga una de 7 cuerdas ajaj muy pronto jojojo
Im a big fan of Djent djent djent djent djent riffs personally
Can you tune this to C-A-B-B-A-G-E
BEST COMMENT AWARD
This made me laugh so much harder than it should have
Yes.
.54 - .9 strings would be able to do that.
Can do, & the Sam The Bass Man can tune to A-B-B-A & join in...
😅
As a friend once told me, 7 strings are the best of both worlds you can play death metal and still play some skynyrd 🤘😂
Fact.
Who says you can’t play skynyrd on an 8 string
I own a PRS SE SVN and completely agreed with your friend. Really LOVE this guitar despite not having owned any 7 string guitar before.
i also play some funky stuff on my 7 string ;-D
@@federicogonzalez8945 No problems so far. The only thing you need to know is that SE SVN pups aren't designed for all-out metal tone. It's natually more like a jack-oif-all-trades 7 string. BTW, for 2020, the SVN has been discontinued and replaced with SE Mark Holcomb SVN. This bad boy comes standard with SD Alpha&Omega, ebony board as well as flatten radius of 20 inches. So if you can wait, I recommend you consider the SE Holcomb SVN for better performance.
Oh and all PRS SE come with their gig bags.
7 and 8 string guitars are great. Not just for the low notes but allow you to play a lot of notes without jumping too much all over your fretboard. For an 8 string guitar I definitely would choose a multi-scale guitar! That's the best option without going to ticker string gauges.
This guy understands.
Multiscale are cool, my 7-string is a multiscale and it feels great.
I just ordered a 7 string multi scale 👍
What about 9 strings
@@tallciaran Lol! No problem playing a neck that wide, providing you've got hands as wide as Popeye's! Then the real question would be: Who plays meaner Thrash Metal? Popeye or Bluto?
Native English speakers: inextricably intertwined.
Non-Native English speakers: oh dios mio
for anyone who is thinking about it - relation shapes actually did the trick for me after trying for years
I've never been good with relationships. Is it an open relationship ? they only like me for my cash. Seriously though, I did get one of his online tutorials. He's very intelligent and explains things very thoroughly.Excellent Guitarist. I actually forgot all about having that. Thanks for reminding me.
The best 7 string running I’ve found is B E A D F# B E. Tuning this way means you are playing in B standard with a high E as opposed to E standard with a low B. It means all the chords and scales (especially with open strings) you are used to on a six can be played on the 6 strings B to B.
that best tuning you're talking about is not "B standard" with a high E . Its called Baritone Tuning. B Standard for 7 Strings is the one mentioned in the video. The tuning you mentioned is a workaround tuning for 6 strings guitars to have the "B standard" of 7 strings guitars on the 6 strings guitars. B standard for 6 strings would look something like this B - F - A# - D# - G - C (I guess)
@@MegaMad96 it’s b standard. It needs to preserve the 4ths and 3rd intervals. Your tunning the first interval is a 5th.
That's true if you talk from the perspective of 6 string, for 7 string guitars "B standard" is BEADGBE. I'd call your tuning baritone 6 tuning with added high E to avoid confusion
No korn tuning. ADGCFAD
When I bought my 7 string I was like yeah metal. Which dont get me wrong I still love to play but I have also found that 7 string jazz playing is awesome and I'm trying to learn more about that. And when I get an 8 eventually I'm gonna do that same thing.
If you're interested in Jazz, chord melody, and chord accompaniment, I'd strongly suggest the 7th tuned to A not B. I've been playing like that for 40 years. Of course I'm not playing metal and grunge. I sound more like a fusion of Bucky Pizzarelli, Tony Mattola, and Joe Pass. Tuned 7th=A all your conventional chords with root on the 5=A is a simple finger drop to put it in the bass range instead of baratone. And by the way, I play the 7 string mostly finger style (coffee house jazz flavor, as i had a lot of classical training.
Same bring the blues and jazz ...and of course metal
It took me nearly two decades to invest in a 7 string. I've now had one for a year and I'm never going back.
I have a Sickness for the Thickness....
@@buckeyeburl0162 18 years, give or take a month.
It didn't. My comment was just poorly phrased.
@@buckeyeburl0162 No, the comment was just poorly phrased.
Oscar Torres put me onto the sickness for the thickness line and I can't stop saying it
Same here. Been playing since 2002 (12yrs old). And just bought an Esp MH-1007QM. Definitely love it!
Just bought my first 7 string. This video was super informative and helpful. Thank you Gear Gods!
You can play a 7 string like a 6 string. But you cant play a 6 string like a 7 string.
Tweek The Mighty unless you just tune down to baritone. It’s gonna be flubby but it works
You cannot play Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer, etc because your thumb won't reach low e string 😝
Cam Dero not if ur scale length is long and string gauge is good, it should be just the same 🤑
@@abhaysharma5072 dude, there is john mayer video, putting his thumb over Abasi's 8 string
Cam Dero that’s how I play, just use thicker gauge strings
They missed the opportunity to call this the 24/7 lol
Truuuuu
Underrated comment
The Jackson Rhodes RRX24-7
I never consciously thought about compensating for the palm mutes on the low string before, I just did it naturally. Interesting to hear some reasoning behind it.
A 7 string guitar with dropped Ab tuning is master race
Joey Virrueta Drop A# on a 7 string is also bae ❤
A standard is pretty dank for me
nah drop g gang all day
Got mine tuned in drop F🤘🏻 so djenty
@@juliancx A standard is just awesome
The tips are great!!! Thank you. I must also add I’m glad to see you not standing in front of tens of thousands of $$$$ worth of guitars and amps most of us can’t afford. Makes me want to scream ...Yeah we get it “ya got money” but I’m here to watch you play. Thanx for just playing. Keep it up.
I know exactly what you mean and its annoing a f
Don't hate , appreciate
I've been a bassist all my life,recently decided to pick up guitar and drums to help my writing process. The muting explinations here really helped me out
Thanks for this great video, I learned a lot and am gonna purchase my first 7-string soon. I recorded my debut album on a 6 string and now it's time to step up my game.
Thanks Trey. Great basic info on buying / playing 7 string.
Wish I would have known the newer PRS 7s were 26.5. The old ones were 25" scale. Which is stupid.
I don't think that 25" are stupid. He said that he plays A-Tuning on a 25.5" scale, so when he can do this then you can surely play 25" scale 7 strings in B or Bb. Matt from Trivium plays a 24.75 scale Les Paul tuned to Bb. Just try to do some experiments.
Robin you are correct
@@stevestevestevesteve6466 Lee Malia plays non Evertune guitars with 24.75" scale in Drop-A. There are so many examples. It's not about the Evertune bridge, it's about the setup of a guitar
Been playing a 6 string for 30 years and finally going to buy my first 7 string in a couple months. Drop A is going to be my tuning. It's low but not LOW. Chord extension is important to me and getting the biggest chord voicing is very important.
I've played 6 string for about 15 years, primarily drop C, Drop D and standard. My first 7 string will arrive next week, so I'm trying to figure out what tuning I should keep it in, really into "nevermore" but they play in Bb, so that wouldn't be ideal for jamming with others. So ye ill be joining you with the drop A... or D standard with the 7th string dropped to G🤔
I want to get a 7 string for drop A as well (aka Van Eps tuning). Low A is pretty low for a guitar. Same frequency as the A string on a bass!
Thank you for your good pointers on the 7-string guitar! I wonder if Jazz guitarist George Van Eps, who had promoted the 7-string guitar, ever had any idea about just how much the 7-string guitar would eventually take off? For ages, I had been curious about how some Metal guitarists had been achieving this fantastic big guitar sound, and eventually realized that these musicians were playing 7-string guitars.
You can do the same with a baritone though. If you think about you only need a way to get a few semitones lower for that metal stuff. I'm pretty sure they don't play 7 string chords that often, do they?
@LuLeBe In loose general terms, I've seen the term "Metal" used almost synonymously with Hard Rock by some.
But, to me at least, correct use of the term gets one among the assorted sub-genre Metal types, which often emphasize darker, & more sinister sounding musical themes.
With use of the 7-string guitar for those sub-genres, one hears a lot of lower-register triads, double stops, and "Chugs" or "Djents" (Onomatopoeia for palm-muted, & sometimes rhythmic, staccato pulses of a high-gain distorted guitar tone). These expressions give the guitar a bigger, meaner sound.
(I also anticipate that some hard-core devotees of such sub-genres may pounce all over me for trying to define this).
So, as you might gather, in some instances only a few strings may be played. However, when one wants that big growly tone, a triad or partial bar chord that dips into the lower register does the job, is easy to get to on a 7-string, and doesn't require as much string length, when putting on new strings.
Regarding a baritone guitar's longer scale, I myself don't mind a longer scale. I just don't run across baritone guitars much. I enjoy playing an 8-string bass (about a 30" scale, a shorter bass scale). It can be harder though to find long enough strings for the higher octave part of certain pairs.
This makes me want to listen to At the gates
Budgetgitarr they use baritone guitars in b standard
I was at the gates
Ram's legs, my pizza black, my plants dead
My planet X, I might bleed green
I'm what's under the uncut chia seed
I'm what, what, what, what from the guillotine
A little flea and tick, a little fever dream
A little plead the fifth
Roadkill, I'm off leash
That organ sound in the background is driving me nuts! Great video though
Ducaines1 hahaha I’ve been pausing the video every 5 seconds to figure out what this creepy sound is inside my house. 😂 Good to know it’s the video!
Tone on guitar/amp is garbage too
that noise gate is too agessive for my taste but for your style of playing i see it fits quite well
I've owned a 7 for a few months now and I also like playing around in A E A D F# B E. It shifts that weird "one fret off" string from string 2, to string 3, so it feels more familiar from a top-down perspective. Does that make sense?
Vincent Costa for drop a yes, if not playing drop tuning, I highly recommend B E A D F# B E
I heard A D G C F A D is a really good tuning.
9:07 Hey Trey, I would say also the picking force should be less on the 7 string, if you play too hard the note tends to go towards the sharp.
I bought my 1st 7 string the day before yesterday an played it 5 hours straight. I caught onto it quick thankfully and I must admit it’s the way to go. I’m hooked for life.
wow man. it took me almost a year to get used to my 7 string headless ibanez and now i have a prs but the ibanez is so sweet. even better than my prestige that's worth over three times as much.
My first guitar was a strat style electric, my second was an Ibanez gio 7 string, I wanted because of korn lol so quickly after learning 6 at 14/15 years old 7 wasn't a huge stretch
Hey man you still rockin that gio? I'm thinking about buying one lol
@@unknownuser38 I bought a 7-string GIO back in high school that I like to noodle around on, it's currently my first and only 7-string. Coming from being a bass player the neck felt more comfortable compared to a 6-string, which felt like I was going to snap the neck like a toothpick at any second. I've had a few issues with it over the years that I had to have a tech fix but at $200 for a 7-string you only have so many options. The thing's super light too, every time I pick up another guitar I'm like "Oh yeah, these are made of much denser wood." If you do get one it may need some work out of the box to get it in good playing condition, mine had issues with fret sprout and humming.
Im going to buy a Legator Ghost FS7, it will be my second guitar
I prefer Devin Townsend's tuning - GCGCGCE (Open C with extra low G)- great range and also having those Gs and Cs in multiple octaves makes it easier to learn chords and scales.
Just get a massive slide and play major chords all day
@@Tangalang22 Yeah, slide works great with that tuning. Also there's Devin's way- just play octaves with two fingers and let the orchestra do the rest 😁
Haha easier?
@@courtneymunger9094 yes, learn positions of notes in a scale for C and G strings and boom- you know how to play that scale on 6 strings out of 7. For chords- you can play same chords on same frets in multiple octaves, for example, all chords you can play on strings 4-5-6 can be played on strings 2-3-4 on the same frets.
is that the tuning for by your command?
Here’s what I do for one of my 7-strings. It’s an Agile Interceptor Pro 727. 27’’ scale length, tuned to E standard (1 octave below standard tuning (EADGCFA). To achieve this, I installed a set of D’addario NYXL 8-string .010-.074 (leaving out the .010). The guitar has a Floyd Rose installed, keeping it in tune, well-intonated, and plus you get to dive bomb until your audience loses control of their bowels. Excellent little djent machine, for a great price!
I really appreciate this. Having just bought my first 7 string I've been feeling a little discouraged because there are small things no one talks about that make playing quite a bit different lol. Still figuring out what gauge strings I like and all that other shiz is stressful and a little demoralizing. Thanks for the content! :D
Once you figure all that out bro, it makes so much sense, and your playing really takes off! It's a great feeling! Cheers my dude.
Also check out Rob Silvers 7string website. He has it all free and it is a huge wealth of information as well as notes and scales specifically for 7 string. It’s my go to and it’s absolutely free.
Just take your time and enjoy the process. It will grow Into you and your style. Recommend staying with a standard 10 set for a year at least just to eliminate that variable. The 7th string is more than enough variable to figure out for at least that long. But it can be so much more personal than a six. More like a symbiotic relationship. My Jackson custom shop Dave Davidson built by Mr. Mike Shannon is my best friend and confidant. I love stating at her curves. She loves the attention. And she rewards me with a masterbuilt feel that is like falling Into the arms of your woman that happens to be your best friend. When I look at her my wife gets jealous. No joke. True relationship. True love.
I just picked up a Jackson JS22-7 for $150 and man, I think that’s a freakin steal and I’m stoked to finally have a 7 string! I was debating between this and an ESP LTD MH-17. From what I’ve read, it does come down to preference but for being on a slightly tight budget, but the JS22 seems a bit better quality
A few weeks back I picked up a Jackson JS32 which I love, but having to keep the tuning and string gauge exactly the same for the guitar’s life to keep it in good shape is a bummer
From what I’ve learned from tuning with 7 strings, it’s nice to see the only difference in tuning is just the B string, but I have much to learn! Thank you for the video, now I know a little bit before jumping in
How are you liking that JS22-7 now that it’s been a few months?
"but having to keep the tuning and string gauge exactly the same for the guitar’s life to keep it in good shape is a bummer" whoever told you this is full of shit.
Hey, you've mentioned, that you are tuning your 7strings with 25,5 inch scale lenght one step below. So than the notes will be ADGCFAD. Is that called A standard?I only have found dropped tunings and of course BEADGBE ( B STD). Thanks for the answer(s).
Yes, A standard
@@treyxaviermusic Thank you very much!
Im building myself a guitar and I really wanted to build a 7 string but I was afraid it would be to complicated for me so I ordered a 6 string bridge and now I regret not getting a 7 string bridge
Who built you?? Woah, a sentient guitar... Must be Yuri from the Custom Shop
@@danterosales6985 hahah
@@danterosales6985 lol fixed it
My first build was a 7 string man, it was tough but I doubt that it was any tougher that building a 6 string for the most part since I was just starting out anyway
I`d also add choosing string gauge may also depend on bridge system, I had a guitar with Tunomatic and .60 Low B was floppy, and with Evertune and some hardtail bridges .54\.56 seems tight enough. Standard scale on both.
When i get an electric guitar, it'll be a 7-string. Gotta have all the chugs without loosing the ambient highs
Oh and also, i think it was Tom Searle (rip) from Architects who said that he'd rather have a longer scale length than thicker strings because of weird overtones appearing with thicker string gauge
Where’s the link to buy? Love your tips
Great video! I used to have my 25.5” 6s tuned to drop B with 13-70 strings. Now with my 7 that’s 27”, I tune to standard with the low B an use a set of 9-46s and buy a low 60, or String Drop compensated sets. I’ve got the muting down good enough that I can even play drop D and not hit the low B when I do. The fret wrap is vital. When I first got the guitar the extra ringing drove me crazy. They are cheap and came in a 3 pack and totally kill the noise.
Got my first 7 string last week and I’m having so much fun lol
Have a Dean 7 s style, 25.5" scale. I like to tune to drop A and found the standard 7 string packages to flimsy. Currently rocking a .074 tuned to drop G. Previously used a bass D string but the ball end was huge and stuck out the back (string through body)
i have 6 string and im getting 11-50 strings to drop tune to A
opinions?
5fdp and red plays drop B on 6 strings
motionless in white also plays drop A on 6 string
I would probably go heavier than that. If it's a 25.5 scale, D'addario makes a 56-11 set and a 60-13 set, that would probably suit that way more. The 50 probably won't like going below C
I'd buy 62 or 68 gauge myself
I have this same PRS. I replaced the stock pickups with Fishman Keith Merrow signature pups and it is now a sonic machine!
You switched the SVN from passive to active?
@@brettfox7869 Yep! The battery had plenty of room in the back cavity. I've switched over quite a few passive guitars to active without issue.
I've seen your vids before but may I just say I love that the audience are gear mortals ahahaha it's flawless
I have a Dean Avalanche 11 thru 70 Double drop D. 7th string is an octave lower, than the 6th string drop D! I take a Zakk Wylde lotune set add a .26 to the set. Sounds huge!
I have a fan fret/ multi scale 8 string it is absolutely awesome
I have a schecter demon-7 seven string guitar but I put eight string guitar strings on it and turned it into E standard E.A.D.G.B.E.A 74-13 the high A is now extra and you can play fiths with it
thats a cool tuning
I just got a Schecter C-7 Deluxe and it plays like a dream, came here for tips and tricks 👌 thanks Trey
i have an agile 727 i absolutely love it. i have a 10-70 custom set from string joy so i can do a standard to, well i have it in drop c# rn and its pretty good. the practical tunings for it are a standard to drop f/f standard
Has agiles quality control improved? I got an 8 string awhile back and the intonation was off as well as some bad fret buzz. Would you recommend the 727?
@@loa_loveoverall hell yes, the 727 plays like a DREAM, i love it
Just ordered my first 7 string after playing on a 6 for 15 years i cant wait for it to get here
What did you order? I'm curious
@@manbird2184 Legator N7GT ut was on clearance for 279.99
Awesome. I got my first 7 string a little over a year ago and that's all I play now. I sold all my 6 strings to fund other gear. I miss 6 sometimes but I love my 7. I got an ESP E-II Horizon NT-7B with a 27 inch scale
Update the legator n7gt is one of the best bang for buck guitars ive ever owned
Sunday i will swap my razorback for a 7 String Warlock after almost 15 years playing 6 too. So excited man
I love GCGCFAD. Hella heavy and sounds amazing through my Kiesel Vader7 25.5” scale. 9’s on it. And it handles perfectly.
Going to try with the 9.5’s NYXL.
drop c with a low 4th g
@@quantumxfluxmd6821 ya i switched it up to 9.5's and now drop B with a low F#
@@PakaShreds polaris using that tuning alot I see
great tone!
Such a clear, friendly and informative video. Thank you!
That tone is GNARLY
You can thank STL Tones Will Putney plugin for that!
7s start to get really fun when you tune the 7th string to a higher but still low tuning like C# standard or Drop C you get a huge amount of added higher notes which is really exciting if you’re into Prog and Jazz
I own 2 seven strings one that’s 25.5 and and other that’s 26.5
the 25 I use in C# Standard/Drop C and it adds an extra high F#/G string
The 26 in B Standard/Drop A
For me I use 2 sets of Ernie Ball strings band hybridise them
The Skinny Heavy 8 string and Mammoth Slinky pack
So the 25 is strung with (9, 11, 16, 24, 34, 46, 62)
The 26 is strung with (12, 16, 24, 34, 48, 64, 80)
Hours of fun
you use 12s on a 26.5 in standard tuning? that's fucked
Wes Borland from limpbizkit used a 7 string in C# standard with 2 high C# strings
I literally just got my first 7 string today so this was perfectly timed on your part
Generally very good stuff, nice video!
Though I think for the part about scale length and tension - I think it's important to say *not always* longer and tighter is better. If you want a slightly grittier, more oldschool tone I'm 99% sure 25.5" is fine unless you're really tuning way down - there's the timeless example of John Petrucci who uses 25.5" 7-strings and his tone is monstrous. The high strings also don't just get too tight on a long scale, but start to sound icepicky.
Longer scale length is also not very comfortable for small hands. *sigh*
I play a lot of dream theatre and I just ordered a schecter Hellraiser c7fr and I am so fucking excited
I've turned mine down to A, D, G, C, F, A, D. Only really know Korn so far 😂
I'm decent with guitar music theory, but I don't understand why the B string (little or big string) isn't tuned to C. I realize chord shapes would be different from the traditional shapes. But wouldn't scales be easier? I don't know maybe not. Thoughts?
What do you think of 6 string baritones? Like Motionless in White use them or the third guitarist in ghost
GhoulishTendancies
I have a six string baritone and I love it. I do kinda wish I had a slightly smaller scale length seven string though. I want the range. The scale length on my baritone is 28 inches too which is a bit overboard for six strings in my opinion.
I’d really like a seven string similar to the one in this video. 26.5 scale and throw in some locking tuners and an evertune bridge with some Duncan’s in it... bro. It’d be awesome!
@@beastlybeast2716 you should check out the black metal esp 7 string baritone sg
GhoulishTendancies I’m gonna check that out right now! Thanks man!
@@beastlybeast2716 it's 27" so not quite 26.5" but still shorter than 28"
@@beastlybeast2716 check out solar guitars. They come with evertune bridge, Duncan design pickups stock. And I'm pretty sure their sevens are 26.5
Excellent description of the benefits of a 7 string!
Curious what you’re using for tones in this video, sounds awesome.
STL Tones Will Putney, literally just opened the plugin and this was the tone. It’s fucking 🔥
I don't have the course but I am familiar with the method he's talking about for knowing scale shapes and it was one of the most important things I've learned about guitar, in my opinion. Definitely recommend checking it out.
I love the tone & sound of your guitar
I have a ibanez 7 strings universe 777bk 25.5" scale and i am tunning on step down A standart. what string gauges you advise? i Am a lead guitar. i am having tunning issues on the low 7th string. thank you
I use 10-68 for that very same tuning
A velcro cable wrap works to mute the strings past the nut, is more discreet than the fretwrap (in black) and is way cheaper :D
2:55 That's what my Pennsylvania license plate reads. I love watching people in my rearview mirror at red lights trying to figure out what it means. "Be A Digbee?", Bead gee bee?" "Be ag di bee?" I can read their lips the whole time. Sometimes I hold up seven fingers to give them a clue.
oh man just got my first 7 string and was going nuts about that 7 string muting!! thanks for the tip!!!
How about this tuning: E - A - D - G - B - e - a
Use a .007 gauge string at the top
ADGCFAD for 7 String is probably my favorite. You can do so much with it. Alot of metal bands use it. If you need to play D standard (DGCFAD) then you ignore the low A. If you need to play Drop D, same thing. Need to play B standard? Put a capo on the 2nd fret. You can in most cases also get away with throwing a capo on the 3rd fret for C standard or drop C songs.
You mean in drop D , the tuning will be BDADGBE ?
D standard is my favorite tuning as it is ESPECIALLY on my 7-string, it sounds awesome as GDGCFAD as well, and C standard is sick on it too. I 100% recommend to everyone using thicker stringers and drops tuning a 7 string is great.
I know this is an older video and you may not see it or even have the guitar anymore, but how did you find the radius on the fretboard. I've found someone kinda local selling one at a decent price, but read it's got a 10" radius. All my other 7s are either 20" or 12-16, so I worry 10 would feel a bit weird. I know they've replaced this with the Holcomb model now, which has a 20" radius. Hmmm.
got my first 7 string a month ago, this video is amazing starting poijnt
Just recently got my first 7 string and love it 🤘
I have an esp h207. I want to put a pick up in the neck position that can mimick as close as possible the sound of the classic strat neck/middle pick up position sound....anybideas?.
1 year into guitar so far and I got my first 7 string 🤘 best idea I ever had. Getting a bass soon to
I use d standard adding a extra string to a standard feel easy but feel uneasy on doing muddy power chords
The fact that your 7-string is a PRS.....God Tier 👏👏👏👏
D standard with a low a is fun.
I just played a prs svn last week they play so good. Its insane.
This is wicked, I've been 1 week getting into Nu Metal bands like Deftones, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Mudvayne, Static X and Disturbed, and just today I was thinking of getting a 7 string, but didn't know shit about 7 string guitars, so this is really cool and somewhat kind of creepy; but it goes to show the cyber spies really help out a lot sometimes with the youtube recomendations. This video was really helpful
Yeah, those microphones in the phones definitely help with some of the recommendations RUclips do.
Also despite what several people say, only Korn, Limp Bizkit in Significant Other and Deftones post-White Pony are the only Nu Metal bands to use 7 strings in entire albums
Very helpful, just bought my first 7 and I'm so excited and less intimidated :)
I am saving up for my custom 7 string guitar to play drop tuned stuff like Korn and DT. But 6 strings challenge me enough right now.
Buy a cheap 7 string to learn on. I got an Ibanez RG7321 for $200 on ebay
What amp were you using? It sounds awesome.
Looks like Revv. Great Amps. Love his tone.
@@teriakamoto that's just the cab. It sounds more like a peavey 5150 or sth. Maybe a revv generator or even a peavey invective.
What gauge and brand of strings do you use to get that Drop A balance? Been looking everywhere
Great tone. What’s your effects/amp setup here?
i want play drop A, like korn band what should i choose for string..
Korn plays in A standard (ADGCFAD), not drop A. This happens to be the same tuning I use in my band, and I use .10-.56 and a .68 for the low A. I like pretty heavy gauge for the low strings though.
@@treyxaviermusic nice, thx for respons..
I kinda wish there were some 7 string semi-hollow/archtop guitars. I can think of a ton fo different possibilities for jazz and country playing. Hell, a basic strat or tele with 7 strings would be phenomenal. I've seen some custom 7 string jazzboxes where the bottom 3 strings are an E, A, and D bass string, and the top 4 are standard D, G, B, and E strings.
Actually, the first seven string electric was tuned in drop A. George Van Eps and he used it to play jazz. When he got older he would tune to drop G
Do you still need a fret wrap if you have a Floyd Rose, i.e. a locking nut? 🤔
thanks! How should i tune a 7 string for drop c#? thanks!
These are great videos! Thanks for posting
Cool video love that guitar!
Thanks for the tips and tricks Trey by the way love your sense of humor you either get a giggle or a smile out of me :)
Do you have a video for 8 strings? I getting one soon
Check his older videos. He does have one
Hi III, Which tuning(s) would you recommend for a 7 string baritone guitar please? Thank you kindly, SM
Hey, I've been playing 7's for years and tried alot of different tunings... They all work, it's more about what you wanna try to do with it or what you're comfortable with. Baritone doesn't matter much other than with string size so you can tune it to whatever just make sure you're not going too thick on some strings since you've got the longer scale length.
If you're used to just standard E I'd say use 7 string Standard Beadgbe.
If you like drop D, drop A (Aeadgbe) might work for you OR you could try a variation of that that I use sometimes where you drop the 6th and 7th strings a full step giving you (Adadgbe) so essentially you can have a drop d guitar in the top 6 strings and you can do standard barre chords on the low A and D
Also any open tunings you may like can work on a seven.
People have even tuned them like a six string but with a doubled high string to get a 12 string sort of effect, so if you wanted to do that with standard it would be Eadgbee
They're fun instruments, just get yourself a bunch of strings and start trying whatever comes to mind.
@@brazenatheist1676 That was exceptionally in-depth & extremely helpful. Thank you.
Thank you, now I'm seriously considering having a 7 string as my next purchase.
Just received my 7 string! Great video
25.5” is for standard dude I’ve always had trouble with that scale I have 27.5 with 11-60 and it perfect the low end is tight and the high end sings but you need hand strength
My AX7521 (I have the matte gray pewter and metallic cherry fudge, both, The Terror Twins I calls em lol) have some stock dimarzio codesigned pickups that grunt hard and I got both for less than $200, delivered, each. The scale length is like 24.75"/628mm - it sqwonks pretty hard even with the rubbery strings, sustain for damn days due to pickups screwed into solid slab of mahogany - basically a 7 string Ibanez version of the LPjr with murder-y high-gain pickups installed at the factory instead of rattleass soapbars (which have their place, but come on - screaming 7 string humbuckers included for the cost of...a pickup upgrade? For the whole instrument? 1999 was actually a pretty great year for guitars...those weird plum/purples
I know it sounds stupid but I feel like I'm playing a flat baseball bad attached to a piano bench. SOLID.
Thanks for explanation, I'm a beginner who loves this sound...
This is not really "tips" and "tricks" it's more an introduction to 7 strings for people who don't know what they are
It’s super helpful
I don't think the lower notes make for a heavier sound, you can make some killer riffs with a standard tuned 6 string like Metallica or Slayer. I just like the extended range that you get from a 7 string guitar.