Ok 7 String Players... how the hell do you do it?

This has been a serious struggle for me for as long as I can remember... I just find it so hard to play 7 strings, it's not the scale length, it's the moved intervals... anyway, any assistance would be gratefully received.

INSTAGRAM ►► @Rob_Chappers

Here are some affiliate links to products that I use:

Thomann

➤ Disclaimers

No comments on these posts have or will be deleted. YouTube will automatically hide comments that they think are spam for review and then my team need to manually approve these. Please bear with us if your comment is not immediately visible.

I own/or am endorsed/sponsored or have done paid for advertising by the following brands:
►► Snake oil fine instruments, Chapman Guitars, Andertons, Thomann, Ernie Ball, Gravity, Victory, BadCat, Boss/Roland, Orange, Universal Audio ,Vans, Faith, Barefaced Audio, Mooer, Olimpus Music,

➤ Tags

#RobChapman #Chappers #RobChappers

[DoctorMcFarlandStudios]

The low B string is the same as your high B string. That is how I visualize the fretboard on a 7 string.

[shredenvain]

Drop A is an awesome use for 7 string. You get your standard E tunning and you get an Heavy A at the top when you wanna make some big deep chords.

[RobChappers]

Thanks for the advice and tips guys. Much appreciated – you guys are the best :-)

[freshelfpie]

I play mine in drop A - AEADGBE. So, it's basically a standard 6 string, with the bottom three strings in a one-finger power chord for da chugs. The key is to ignore the 7th for a while when you pick it up for the first while. Then work it in here and there. When you first start working it in, wank a lot in A minor since you can let the open 7th ring a lot.

[alioth]

I stopped using a string as a reference point (or an "anchor" if you will) and that really helped me. I play bass, but we deal with this when going from a 4 string to a 5 string or more. I could understand the confusion on guitar because of how it changes from a 5 semitone interval to a 4 semitone interval on the G to B string. We don't have to deal with that on a 6 string bass since the highest string is tuned to C!

[szneka]

Strong "Vampire Red" Loomis vibes - looks AMAZING!

[AutismRocksOfficial]

I agree with you 100%. Diablo 2 is the best.

[TheoKMilne]

Hi Rob. This is certainly a big question and there are many different approaches.

I think if the end goal is to be able to comfortably play a 7 in standard tuning, the best approach would be to learn to ignore the low B. As if the guitar is a regular 6, with an extra fun low string when needed.

When I first got a 7, I did the classic "Low String Go Djent, I'm in Periphery now". But after that I forced myself to play all my bands regular tunes, which were just in standard tuning. The new 7 was the only guitar I played for the next couple of weeks and it forced me to learn to ignore the low B.

I could then use the low E as a reference and play everything I would normally play.

So the TLDR version is, put it in standard tuning. Play nothing but the 7 for 2 weeks and don't play the low B. I hope this helps!

It was a pleasure meeting you and the new 7 is amazing. Incredible spec for the money, I'll be gigging it soon!

[mikecess]

I jumped to 7s when Ibanez released the first version, what ever tuning helps you create and play your music is not cheating, it’s creating so run with it Rob

[ganglewak]

The way I got my head around playing 7 string (I know this sounds daft) but ignore the low B and play AC/DC riffs as if you're playing a 6 string until you're comfortable... Then and only then start experimenting with the extra low B. I struggled for months, but learning this way helped me get to grips with it in no time! ...It's all about finding comfort first.

[germanomosconi]

Hey bro, I love these vids. Shows that everybody struggles with something and we are all on a path to learn stuff and the finish line is nowhere on sight. You raised some very interesting points :)

[baimun]

I haven't played 7 string for a while... but when I did, I liked setting it as a low A instead of B, so open the low three strings were AEA power chord. You just have to think from the high strings all the way to the 6th as normal... then any time you are on that 6th string (if you have large-ish hands like I do), can just peek that index finger over to grab that extra 7th string as well for a 5th lower. Also playing walking bass lines are more doable with the low two strings. ☮❤🎶

[VictorEMusique]

I played one once and as soon as I stopped thinking about it, my fingers knew what to do - E to B - .... it's the same interval as the top two strings :)

[darkesthour]

The best thing you can do is to ignore the 7th string. Learn to play 6 string material first before introducing the 7th. Learn to chug without hitting it and then learn how to implement it. You can also take your favorite scales and learn how to play down to the 7th and learn which frets the scale would continue towards. The true purpose for 7 strings to me is to drop tune it so that you retain your standard 6 string with an extra dropped string when you want it. Any note you play on your 5th string should be playable on your 7th string. That’s what helped me and now my main is a Strandberg Boden 8 with fishmans.

[SquizbarDeAlienOfficial]

I’d love to see how you handle an 8 or 9 string 🤘👽🤘

[cellarcatband]

We have just bought 8-strings in our band, Rob.

[Splenectomy]

think of it as playing a 6 string but with an extra low end. there’s some things that you can do on a 7 like weird chord shapes that you can’t do on a 6 string and have some really cool noises. the way i got good at playing my 7 was doing it as a 6 first and eventually worked on incorporating that extra low end. plus i went on a youtube spree where i learned exactly how to get it right.

[thecompletejake]

I play 7-string a little less than half the time so I can't wait to watch this because I remember being new to 7s years ago and trying to make it make sense.

[ImAFutureGuitarHero]

My comment originally said to try what you ended up doing at 3:40, so as for "is it cheating?"

That's exactly the same method that Ben Eller showed in one of his videos (great YouTube guitarist and teacher) and if it works for him, I don't think it's cheating

[BlackXhearT]

i had the same problem.... lol!!!. i just had my 7 string week a go... until today i still assuming the lowest string is low e.... damn this fingers lol... i use drop a tuning not the standard b... oh God help