Since its inception, the historical past of the 7-string guitar has been marked by steady growth, peaking within the fashionable period, particularly inside the steel group. From the 1980s, this instrument noticed a notable rise in reputation, attracting virtuosos searching for added expressiveness and sonic depth.

Properly earlier than the arrival of fashionable steel, this instrument established its relevance throughout eras. Initially designed to reinforce harmonies in Jazz and classical music, its functionality to combine bass traces instantly into the guitarist’s play captivated a variety of performers. This versatility elevated the 7-string guitar to a most well-liked alternative amongst seasoned musicians and professionals throughout numerous musical genres, providing a refreshed perspective on guitar artistry.

Towards the late 1990s, a pivotal interval started, seeing a rising curiosity in 7-string guitars inside particular genres akin to Nu-Steel, Progressive Steel, and Djent. This revival was fueled by the need to increase the realm of musical potentialities and to push innovation additional with an instrument that’s each strong and versatile.

The adoption of the 7-string guitar by these steel icons, coupled with technical additions such because the enlargement of tuning ranges, solidified its place within the music business. Tuning choices, starting from B normal to Drop A, and even to Drop E, have opened doorways for artists to deep and darkish sonic explorations, thus defining the sonic identification of many steel bands and different musicians from the 1990s to the current day.

What are the origins and evolution of the 7-string guitar?

From the 15th to the 18th century, the guitar advanced from 4-5 to six strings, then adopted steel strings round 1800 for extra quantity. Within the 19th century, Russia popularized the 7-string guitar, tuned in a different way and impressed by different devices. This model gained reputation in Brazil for choro and samba, adopting nylon strings within the 1980s. Concurrently, within the 1930s, George Van Eps performed a key function within the growth of the 7-string electrical guitar in jazz, in collaboration with Epiphone, marking its integration into Western music.

The Renaissance of the 7-String Guitar

Within the musical context of the 80s and 90s, a selected pattern emerged with the event of the electrical guitar: the looks and popularization of the 7-string guitar. On the forefront of this motion have been avant-garde artists akin to Steve Vai, who, in collaboration with the corporate Ibanez, designed the Ibanez Universe, the very first mass-produced 7-string electrical guitar. Greater than a mere redefinition of the electrical guitar sound, this innovation broadened musical horizons throughout many genres.

Initially, bands of nu steel and different steel like Korn have been among the many first to understand the potential of the seven-string guitar, utilizing its potential to provide a heavier and deeper sound. This early adoption was a significant turning level, increasing the instrument’s spectrum of use past conventional steel boundaries. Deftones took this experimentation even additional, integrating the instrument into a singular mix of different steel, shoegaze, and nu-steel, thus showcasing the extraordinary versatile capabilities of the 7 and 8-string guitars in creating wealthy and complicated sonic textures.

Jeff Loomis actually established new requirements of technical efficiency on the seven-string guitar via his exceptional work with Nevermore and Arch Enemy, inspiring an entire new technology of guitarists. On this similar vein of innovation, Dream Theater contributed to the adoption and popularization of the seven-string guitar in progressive steel.

Consequently, the band’s virtuoso guitarist, John Petrucci, used this instrument to push the boundaries of his compositions, incorporating complicated solos and melodic riffs.

Their music, usually famous for its thematic depth and technical complexity, was immeasurably enriched by the prolonged vary and flexibility provided by seven-string guitars, thus establishing the band as a benchmark within the use of these devices.

Djent bands akin to Periphery and Monuments subsequently positioned this instrument on the coronary heart of their sound, leveraging its prolonged vary to create heavy and technical riffs that turned emblematic of the style. Animals As Leaders, with Tosin Abasi on the helm, has since pushed issues even additional, exploring the boundaries of what 7 and 8-string guitars can obtain.

Their mix of rhythmic complexity, superior tapping methods, and jazz fusion influences has not solely redefined the function of the guitar in progressive steel however has additionally inspired many musicians from totally different kinds to hunt new artistic pathways.

Including to the 2020s panorama, metalcore artists akin to Spiritbox, END, Crystal Lake, Make Them Endure, Detest, Volumes, and Carry Me The Horizon have additionally proven spectacular variety within the use of the 7-string guitar, every bringing a singular contact to their compositions.

However these 7 and 8-string guitars have gone nicely past steel, actually breaking style limitations and discovering followers in jazz, blues, as much as the avant-garde. Musicians like Charlie Hunter or Ichika Nito have been in a position to undertake the 7-string guitar as a result of distinctive potential of the instrument to mix bass traces and melodies.

This versatility has confirmed that 7 and 8-string guitars are extra than simply instruments for excessive music however could be refined and subtle devices throughout a spread of musical functions.

The items and tunings that outline the sound of 7-string guitars

Dream Theater – The Mirror

Tuning: (B,E,A,D,G,B,E)

The 7-string guitar is central to the sound of Dream Theater, permitting John Petrucci to discover decrease registers whereas retaining the power to play complicated solos and melodic riffs in greater registers. “The Mirror” leverages this vary to ship heavy and deep riffs that will be much less accessible on a 6-string guitar, a significant addition in phrases of textures and dynamics of the piece.

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Korn – Freak On The Leash

Tuning: (A,D,G,C,F,A,D)

Korn is one of the pioneers within the use of the 7-string guitar in nu-steel, and “Freak On The Leash” completely illustrates the attraction of this strategy. The low tuning and the use of the seventh string enable for significantly heavy and darkish riffs, attribute of Korn‘s sound and counterbalance with lead within the highs.

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Muse – Supremacy

Tuning: (A,E,A,D,G,B,E)

Though Muse doesn’t historically use 7-string guitars, including such a guitar to play “Supremacy” might enrich the guitar preparations by providing the chance so as to add bass traces or counterpoints in additional orchestral sections, accompanying the heaviness of the sound density.

Slipknot – The Satan In I

Tuning: (A,E,A,D,G,B,E)

Slipknot often makes use of low tunings, and integrating a 7-string guitar for “The Satan In I” permits exploring even deeper and extra menacing sonic textures, providing an prolonged sonic palette for aggressive riffs and breakdowns.

Meshuggah – Demiurge

Tuning: (F,Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Bb,Eb)

Meshuggah is synonymous with the use of 8-string guitars, however taking part in “Demiurge” on a 7-string guitar stays related to get nearer to their distinctive sound. The polyrhythms and complicated rhythmic patterns give a sonic depth that’s elementary to the djent model, the signature sound of Meshuggah.

Babymetal – Karate

Tuning: (B,E,A,D,G,B,E)

With a B normal tuning, utilizing a 7-string guitar for “Karate” by Babymetal exploits the seventh string to construct riffs on the primary 5 semitones of the B string, permitting for very heavy and dissonant sounds, making a putting distinction between steel and the foremost and joyful tones of J-pop. This strategy enhances the ability of the steel sections whereas preserving the pliability wanted to carry out catchy melodies.

George Van Eps – Prelude To A Kiss

Tuning: (A,E,D,G,B,E,A)

Although much less widespread in jazz, utilizing a 7-string guitar for “Prelude To A Kiss” provides a brand new strategy between concord and accompaniment, permitting for deeper basses and enriching preparations with a wider vary of notes. This brings a brand new depth to the interpretation of jazz requirements.

What are the specificities of the 7-string?

Electrical guitars with 7 and Eight strings, with their strong design, characteristic a wider neck and an prolonged scale size to accommodate the extra strings and guarantee optimum string pressure just like that of baritone guitars (typically between 27 and 25.5 inches). This configuration permits for clearer low notes, even with low tunings. Moreover, these guitars are sometimes geared up with pickups specifically designed to seize low frequencies.

A notable innovation within the design of some of these guitars is the adoption of the multiscale configuration (or fanned frets), the place every string advantages from its personal scale size. This ends in a number of benefits, akin to higher low-finish definition, extra balanced string pressure throughout the fretboard, and improved intonation.

These options make multiscale guitars significantly suited to fashionable methods and demanding taking part in kinds. Whereas their look could appear unusual at first, the ergonomics of the fanned frets naturally comply with the angle of the fingers on the neck, offering a taking part in and tonal benefit.

The seventh string provides a renewed sonic dimension to the instrument, providing depth and energy that considerably enrich guitar taking part in. With this extra string, guitarists even have a variety of tunings to discover, from Drop A (AEADGBE) to Drop G (GDGCFAD), via open C (GCGCGCE), and many others. Every tuning provides a brand new spectrum of creativity and musical expression, particularly due to the normal B tuning (BEADGbE).

This configuration, although just like the usual tuning of a six-string guitar, introduces a seventh string tuned a fourth decrease than the low E, thus providing a low B. This characteristic facilitates a logical transition for guitarists accustomed to the six-string guitar, whereas increasing the out there sonic spectrum, permitting for normal E taking part in or explorations into decrease registers. Whether or not for modern musical compositions, dense riffs, or complicated chords.

With this extension of the tonal vary, guitarists can play richer and extra complicated chords, or just add some low notes to a chord, thus enriching their compositions with unprecedented nuances and sonic textures.

The 7-string guitar enriches the musical panorama by providing an prolonged sonic palette, significantly valued in genres like steel, djent, and past. The addition of an additional low string permits musicians to discover decrease registers with out sacrificing the power to play complicated chords or detailed solos. Well-known guitarists in progressive steel and djent genres haven’t solely tailored this instrument to their particular wants however have additionally innovated in phrases of taking part in methods and sound. Its adoption throughout totally different musical kinds testifies to its important affect on broadening sonic horizons, providing musicians a precious software for his or her creative expression.

My suggestions

To conclude this text on the 7-string guitar, I supply a range of items carried out with this instrument, reflecting my private favorites. This choice demonstrates the wealthy sonic potentialities afforded by the 7-string guitar. We hope these items will convey you as a lot listening pleasure as they’ve delivered to their choice, making your playlists as gratifying as studying this text.