New to forum - was it difficult to switch to a 7 string?

Cryptic · #1 08-10-2002, 10:15 PM

I am new on the boards. I was wanting to pick up a Ibanez 7 string, but was wondering if any of you found it difficult to switch over? I have never played a 7 string, but we want to start using some detunings.

Two hands31 · #2 08-10-2002, 10:16 PM

This has been covered before, the general opinion of the forum is that it depends on the person.

Cryptic · #3 08-10-2002, 10:18 PM

I am fairly flexible - and adjust quickly, my only other worry is it will render all my 6 string guitars obsolete (in the band setting).

www.Crypticvisions.com

Two hands31 · #4 08-10-2002, 10:20 PM

Depending on whether or not you use alternate tunings, it might. If you stick to standard tuning, and maybe 1/2-step down, or drop-D, you may find you only need 7-strings. However, that may not be the case if you really like the sound of your 6-strings on their respective songs.

caprile · #5 08-10-2002, 10:37 PM

in my case the size of the neck was no problem. what got me a little lost at first is that in my mind the top string is the low E, so i don't think to hit it. with the 7, you have to think a little, and sometimes you want to play the D and hit A. a few hours solves it!

Cryptic · #6 08-10-2002, 10:52 PM

Thats what I figured. A few hours will solve it. I used to play scalloed necks all the time, it took a while to get used to, but regular fretboards felt strange after. Our bass player uses a 6 string - standard tuning starting with B - I would keep it the same. I guess I've got to go get a 7 string now.

THE UNIVERSAL ONE · #7 08-11-2002, 05:53 PM

I never had a problem switching from 6 to 7. It's really all in your head. And the cool thing about it is playing a 6 isn't really weird to me after years of a 7. You get used to them and they all have their own uniquness to them after a while in my opinion.

Two hands31 · #8 08-11-2002, 05:55 PM

7-strings are definitely very cool, and you most likely won't be disappointed (as long as you get a decent axe).

7 Dying Trees · #9 08-12-2002, 07:09 AM

How to get used to a 7string before getting it, a good tip:

take 2 guitars, keep one normally tuned, but tune the other to what the lower 6 strings on a 7 would be. Then practice your scales on the retuned guitar. Should give you a good idea of how it works. This did help me a bit...

Other than that, all I did was adjust my left hand position to a more classical style and was away. It takes a while to get used to, but it's worth it just for the fun you can have coming up with crap and new things

And you should be able to play all your old songs (if they were in E tuning) on the 7, also, learning to play them like that should improve playing and get away from a reliance (if you have one, if not, ignore) on the low string being the pivotal one for riffing

Coolness indeed

Cryptic · #10 08-12-2002, 05:35 PM

Thanks for the input guys. I have a RG 760 in route. If I can adjust okay, I'll pick up a Universe. All our material is in standard tuning - I will just have to get used to the idea of transposing the strings (placement changed from 6 string). I will probably spend about 3-4 hours with it the first day after I get it set up. I'll let you know how it goes.

kennydoe · #11 08-12-2002, 10:43 PM

On Wednesday morning, January 17, 2001, I walked into my local music store and saw a used UV on the wall. At that point , I'd never played a 7 string before.

On Wednesay evening, January 17, 2001, I walked into my gig with that very same UV and did the whole gig on it.

I was lucky enough to find the Jem I wanted a few months later, but both guitars come with me to both gigs - i use the UV as my backup and for all of the tuned-down/drop D stuff (standard tuning)

hope that gives you encouragement

~K

Drew · #12 08-13-2002, 10:51 AM

Kenny, that is AWESOME.

My transition was a bit slower, but for me, almost right off the bat the neck felt better than a regular Wizard neck.

Kinda a related story... I was drinking with a friend of mine one night, chilling in his room, and just for the hell of it i picked up his left handed banjo, flipped it over, and started doing some sitar-like riffs on the thing (actually sounded pretty cool- the "buzz" was pretty authentic). A couple minutes later, a few girls i didn't know walked in. We introduced ourselves, and they grabbed drinks, while i kept playing. Then, just to make conversation, one of them asked, "So... how long have you been playing banjo?"

I answered, "about 15 minutes." Her reaction was priceless.

-Drew

Gresh · #13 08-13-2002, 10:59 AM

I don't know what is worse....the fact that you continued to play banjo with girls around....or that the girls stayed around while you played the banjo

Two hands31 · #14 08-13-2002, 11:09 AM

After that "15 minutes" comment, I'm sure they were impressed enough to ignore the fact that it's a banjo.

SeRcH · #15 08-14-2002, 02:23 AM

I use it to put some add-ons on the covers we play, plus all the original songs that my band play, are done with the other guitarist playing a 6 string on E tuning and me on a 7-string using the drop-D tuning (AEADGBE), and believe me, you can make some killer combinations!!