Transition from 6 to 7 STRING GUITAR: 3 Tips

Do you want to know the easiest way to transition from playing a 6 string guitar to a 7 string guitar? Do you already have a 7 string guitar but still struggling to play it?

You’re going to get 3 TIPS to help you with this transition from 6 to 7 string guitar (I’m assuming you play metal!!)

I’ll admit, this was a tough thing for me. In fact, I almost gave up and sent my 7 string back! I’m glad I didn’t.

So I’m going to share my pain points with you, and how I got over them!

These 3 tips may be hard to digest because I know as soon as you get your hands on that 7 string, you’re gonna wanna go for that heavy B string!

I’m going to ask you to refrain!! Actually, I don’t want you touching that B string at least for a week!

But why???? I wanna play heavier stuff!!!

Trust me on this...the goal is to not only play 7 string metal, but to also stay competent in play all the other strings!

Tip 1 - Don't touch the B string yet (for about a week). Play your normal metal riffs on the other strings that you're used to playing on

Tip 2 - Play full chords (like you're playing acoustic)

Tip 3 - Gradually integrate that B string

Doing it this way will help you become accustomed to play your new 7 string guitar without losing your 6 string skills.

Let me know if this video helped you, and what was your greatest challenge when transitioning from a 6 string to 7 string guitar? Leave that in the comments below!

Oh, and SHARE this video with the metal world!!

Keep it Metal,
Jason

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[variancewithin]

your voice sounds like you're always about to fry scream the next word.


not a complaint. just an observation

[cesarbeltran]

Tip #1 Don't play on the Low B String for a week

Tip #2 Play Full Open Chords

Tip #3 Is finally getting used to the 7 string guitar

[neckcheese]

I've only had mine for a day, and the hardest thing has definitely been playing the inner strings. My brain is used to the D and G being in the center. Now they are a little further over, which is a bit confusing.


I have already been integrating the low B string into stuff I normally play. It's really cool and gives old riffs a new dynamic.

[emanueln]

The first riff in the beginning on the 6 string sounded like classic thrash, whilst the same riff on the 7 string sounded like Amon Amarth imo. Great playing 👍

[LaziestBassist]

Just purchased my first 7 string last night, and while I’m waiting for it to arrive I figured I’d start learning about it. So glad I stumbled upon these lessons to help smooth the learning curve, thank you.

[justinstrange]

Playing everything I learned on 6 strings on my 7 made me feel like I wasted so much time learning all those chords. Then I did exactly what you said and pretended the B string wasn't there and it made ALL the difference. Now I don't even own a 6 string electric lol.

[radorado]

I've been playing guitar for about 15 years, 7-string for about 10. And I gotta say, before I clicked, I guessed all the 3 tips. I had EXACTLY the same problems when I was starting out on my 7-string Mayones. This vid would have helped a lot back then. All this comes even more into play when talking about 8-strings, because you can't really treat them the same way and play power chords all the time; you can get away with it on a 7-string, but not on 8. Great tips, listen to this dude.

[michellecooper]

The hardest part for playing a seven string is finding tabs and riffs to play

[Rock-N-Roll-]

Getting my First 7 string tonight !!! Will keep you posted! Rock On !!!

[RABBDSQRRL]

Im about 5 years late. But have been playing on 6 string for about 8 years now. Got a 7 string on the way. Should arrive tomorrow afternoon. Can't wait. Been wanting one for a couple years now, just didnt feel ready. Good thing I enjoy a challenge.

[bama]

Yes I'm thinking about going to a seven very heavily because I came out of the '80s era and for people like myself that came out of the '80s era there's so much more you can add with more range on the guitar and make everything sound so much newer and heavier

[MrWhitieWolf]

Definitely a period of adjustment. My biggest hurdle “for me” was how to tune this new beast of mine. So I learned to tune my G to an f# and then u can use the 7th-2nd string just like a normal 6. Rule of thumb, anything big brother can do, little brother can to. So if your finger is on the Low E, say, on the third fret? Make sure your holding the same fret on the high E. Same goes with the low and high B. Will make for some fully awesome sounding cords

[geofranker]

Have a 7 string for about 2 months. Went straight to playing the 7 string as soon as I got the guitar. Now 2 months later I'm having challenges playing the full 6 string chords that I've been playing since the 80s. Started to realize that I have to become familiar with playing all my 6 string music on the 7 string guitar first without playing the 7th string. Then like your instruction go to the 7th string comfortably. Otherwise my playing is becoming sloppy and I've losing my 6 string reference points (low E string).

[TheLane]

Just got my 7 string yesterday and your vid couldn't be more helpful i will be implementing these tips and i will get back to you with my progress

[kirkgifford]

I’ve been playing Guitar for about 14 years now and I have 3 Guitars that are 6 string (Ibanez Gio, Dean ML Dime O Flage, and a Cort X2) but last year in March I purchased my first 7 String and it’s a Jackson JS-22 7. The transition was a bit trickier than I initially thought but like you said in this video, keep on playing the 7 string instead of your 6 string for a while and it becomes natural. From my experience after playing the 7 string for so long going back to play on my other Guitars makes me better as a player altogether.

[Gas_station_glizzy]

I going from 6 to 7 at the moment and it's harder than I thought.

[ruidamosher]

Cool video, can’t wait to try these on my new guitar. Gonna be my first 7s :)

[greym]

My favorite/challenging part was figuring out the nuanced change to left and right hand positioning to keep the clarity of notes. It's also a ton of fun to drop the B to A...

[TimothyHuffGuitar]

I picked up a jackson slattxmg3 soloist 7 string about a year ago and it's been pretty much collecting dust...EXACTLY for the problems you mentioned in this video ironically!!! I'm going to try your advice and get used to playing this thing if it kills me. I started playing 70s and 80s hard rock/metal around 1985 on a 6 string. Later in my life I transitioned from 22 fret guitars to 24. It doesn't sound like much but the extra 2 frets and longer scale length really throws off your game for a while due to muscle memory!!! Lol (I'm sure I'm not the only one).
BUT now I have this beast of a guitar and was ready to dive into some slipknot, korn, soad, and other downtuned metal greats without having to deal with spaghetti strings...it was a lot more complicated than I thought it would be! Thank you for the tips!!!

[timhayes]

Ive played guitar for 24 years ive never played a 7 but your video helped me realize its very doable and im looking into one