7 string composing... need your help

[fono22]

Right guys, at the risk of getting battered for repeating material, I would like to ask you all very nicely "Plllllllllllllllllllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeea aaaaaaaaasse!!"
Could you help me with my little dilema.

I have been writing my own music for about 2 years now. I have had formal training on guitar and even though I have been playing for many years, I am not getting what I want out of my gat.

Here's the problem. Most of my songs have been written through random improvisation.... which led to riffs that I liked, which lead to hours of testing chords/notes to find one that fit. Eventually I ended up with a decent song.

The problem is, I bought a 7 string guitar and my lack of theory training has meant that composing on the 7 has been somewhat uninspiring. I have made an effort to play on a regular basis but my old system of song writing isn't working.

I'm into progressive rock and I'm looking for lessons that will help me explore this on my 7 string guitar. I don't want to give up on this... so if any of you 7 stringers know some good theory/chord/scale sites please let me know.

Any other advice on this is more than welcome as well.

[Demiurge]

I think I can relate to your situation. It's easy for me to compose on a six-string, but on a seven I feel lost- and I think I know why. That low B string seems to take over tonality-wise, and I always feel prone to use it alot, therefore making it the tonic (or key). The trouble I have is using the other 6 strings for something complementary (in the key of B or a related key) because I normally don't write in that key on a six-string. I write stuff in a bunch of other keys on a six-string, but my "bag of tricks" is pretty much empty when it comes to composing around B. Some keys come easier on a 6 in standard tuning (like E, A, G, C, D), so I just chalk up the difficulties to that. Of course, give it time, and we'll "find" the notes we need to diversify.

[Demogorgos]

Try this:

Compose a basic riff in B as if you were using a regular 6-string. Then find out how to play that same riff using the open low B string (one octave lower than playing a B on the 5th). When you dig the riff, start fiddling with some scale embellishments. Again, throw in that low B. This should get you started on using the low B. After a while you should be using it in your chords and scales as if it always had been there. This approach definitely worked for me. Let me know if it worked out for you.

Regards,

D.

[jeffrey]

If you are comfortable composing on a 6 string, take some of your existing tunes and re-learn them on the 7. Don't play them in B, just play them normally. After you are comfortable with that sit back and figure out ways to add the low B string in with say chords, or runs (possibly an octave lower via string skipping?).

Once you get comfortable with chord inversions putting the low B in the bass (a simple example like a 3rd inversion BMsus2 low to high: F#, B, F#, C#, D#, F#, B) then you'll see more ideas get into the "ah hah!" stage where it all makes more sense.

Also as a good point of reference, if you know your high B string in most/all keys, the low B mirrors it positionally.

[fono22]

Thanks for your reply guys. I realise the fact that the low b mirrors the high b in most cases. I guess what I was trying to get at, is I want to write some bass driven progressive metal.

I'm going to mention any examples of bands because I hear the rythyms in my head and they are original. Translating the tunes in my head onto the 7 string has been difficult. Maybe it's a matter of practise..... it's just frustrating, being able to think of a tune and not being able to put it through the guitar.

[jeffrey]

Originally Posted by fono22

I realise the fact that the low b mirrors the high b in most cases.

All cases actually, I mean assuming all things are equal. It is the same string, just a different octave.

If you want to write some low-endy chunky stuff, find some double-bass drum patterns you like and try mimicking them with your picking hand.

It's a good start.

[Jempy(HoTrOd)]

Originally Posted by fono22

Thanks for your reply guys. I realise the fact that the low b mirrors the high b in most cases. I guess what I was trying to get at, is I want to write some bass driven progressive metal.

I'm going to mention any examples of bands because I hear the rythyms in my head and they are original. Translating the tunes in my head onto the 7 string has been difficult. Maybe it's a matter of practise..... it's just frustrating, being able to think of a tune and not being able to put it through the guitar.

Just write your stuff in E (lowest string 6 string guitar), like most players do.
Then you can add the notes D, C and B from you low B string to make them feel heavy. It's a common trick among sevenstingers. If you use the low B string only sometimes, you tend to surprise the ear, because you don't hear that low sound too much.

Keep on rockin dude!