Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Guitar Amps
  • Plugin Week 25
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Artist news
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • Drums
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Plugin Week A-Z
  • You Oughta Know
  • Fake AI band
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Wrecking Crew
Recommended reading
Jackson Pro Series Misha Mansoor Juggernaut HT7 and HT7P
Artists Misha Mansoor spills blood as a home shopping TV presenter to unveil new signature Jackson 7-strings
Jackson X and JS Series Surfcasters: the long-awaited offset electric guitar is now being offered in white, satin black and metallic black, and and at the entry-level JS price point and the mid-priced X Series.
Guitars “A bold new take on a classic metal machine”: Having ridden the wave of popular demand, Jackson’s Surfcaster offset has landed – and it’s built for speed
Misha Mansoor poses with his new Jackson Juggernaut in Red Crystal. On the right, his heavy relic shell pink Jackson offset
Artists Misha Mansoor on how the Bass VI inspired his Jackson baritone and a tuning so low it’s “absurd”
Jackson Pro Plus Series Misha Mansoor Juggernaut: the newly refreshed signature Superstrat is offered in Red Crystal and Blue Sparkle with a string-through-hardtail, and in Riviera Blue with an EverTune bridge. Stainless steel frets and an ebony fingerboard come as standard.
Guitars Jackson gives Misha Mansoor’s Juggernaut a new lick of paint and upgrades to stainless steel frets
Acoustic Guitars From Parlour to Jumbo: The beginner's guide to acoustic guitar body shapes (and which one is right for you)
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Plini Edition Mirage
Guitars Strandberg launches limited edition Plini Boden Standard with glow-in-the-dark Mirage graphic finish
Jackson Pro Plus Pure Metal Series: the new limited range strips the Soloist, Rhoads and Kelly down with a single Fishman bridge humbucker, Floyd Rose and black finishes as standard
Guitars Jackson unveils stripped down single-pickup shred classics in ltd edition Pro Plus Pure Metal range
  1. Guitars

In pictures: an introduction to seven-string and eight-string guitars

News
By Total Guitar ( Total Guitar ) published 17 November 2015

What's different about extended-range axes

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Introduction

Introduction

They produce a gut-busting sound, but there’s nothing scary about playing a seven- or eight-string. Here’s what’s different…

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Pickups

Pickups

Given their use by djent and alt-metal bands, seven- and eight-strings tend to come loaded with high-output humbuckers from the likes of DiMarzio and EMG.

These pickups are produced with extended-range guitars in mind, given that they have to handle a wider range of octaves than your average six-string specimen without getting muddy in the low-end.

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Scale length

Scale length

Even when using heavy-gauge strings, down-tuning a six-string often results in tuning problems.

Extended-rangers deliver anything from 660mm (26-inch) up to 749mm (29.4-inch) scales for utmost stability, although you’ll still find Fender-style 648mm (25.5 inches) on some guitars. Many necks feature graphite reinforcement to better cope with the extra string tension, too.

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Tuning

Tuning

The industry-standard seven-string tuning is (low to high) B E A D G B E, but just as you can drop your six-string’s low E to D for drop D tuning, a seven-string allows for drop A tuning (A E A D G B E), too.

An eight-string’s standard tuning, meanwhile, is F# B E A D G B E - that’s practically a bass and a guitar in one instrument!

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Neck width

Neck width

While 43mm is the standard electric width, you can expect that to extend up to 48mm on seven-strings, reaching 54mm or 55m on eights.

It’s not as intimidating as it sounds; over the years, manufacturers have worked hard to give eight-string necks a flatter shape and non-intrusive heels for quick movement, while mid-range instruments and above often feature a compound radius for comfortable playing all the way up the neck.

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Strings

Strings

For starters, there’s at least one more to contend with. It takes some adjustment, a bit of patience and retraining your brain that the E is no longer the lowest string of the bunch.

Once you get past the learning curve, you’ll find that you can play six-string tunes comfortably, while riffing heavier than ever before.

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
Total Guitar
Total Guitar
Social Links Navigation

Total Guitar is Europe's best-selling guitar magazine.

Every month we feature interviews with the biggest names and hottest new acts in guitar land, plus Guest Lessons from the stars.

Finally, our Rocked & Rated section is the place to go for reviews, round-ups and help setting up your guitars and gear.

Subscribe: http://bit.ly/totalguitar

Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition. image
Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition.
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Read more
Jackson Pro Series Misha Mansoor Juggernaut HT7 and HT7P
Misha Mansoor spills blood as a home shopping TV presenter to unveil new signature Jackson 7-strings
Jackson X and JS Series Surfcasters: the long-awaited offset electric guitar is now being offered in white, satin black and metallic black, and and at the entry-level JS price point and the mid-priced X Series.
“A bold new take on a classic metal machine”: Having ridden the wave of popular demand, Jackson’s Surfcaster offset has landed – and it’s built for speed
Misha Mansoor poses with his new Jackson Juggernaut in Red Crystal. On the right, his heavy relic shell pink Jackson offset
Misha Mansoor on how the Bass VI inspired his Jackson baritone and a tuning so low it’s “absurd”
Jackson Pro Plus Series Misha Mansoor Juggernaut: the newly refreshed signature Superstrat is offered in Red Crystal and Blue Sparkle with a string-through-hardtail, and in Riviera Blue with an EverTune bridge. Stainless steel frets and an ebony fingerboard come as standard.
Jackson gives Misha Mansoor’s Juggernaut a new lick of paint and upgrades to stainless steel frets
From Parlour to Jumbo: The beginner's guide to acoustic guitar body shapes (and which one is right for you)
Strandberg Boden Standard NX 6 Plini Edition Mirage
Strandberg launches limited edition Plini Boden Standard with glow-in-the-dark Mirage graphic finish
Latest in Guitars
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: It's your last chance to grab a Prime Day deal on gear from Fender, Roland, Casio, Yamaha, Toontrack & more - but you'll have to be quick
Darkglass Electronics Kaamos: this high-end twofer is a hard-working addition to any bass player's pedalboard, and features a comprehensive suite of controls.
“A versatile overdrive and a high-quality octaver – two pedalboard mainstays in one box”: Darkglass Electronics Kaamos review
Ernie Ball Music Man Pino Palladino StingRay: the bass legend's new signature model is offered fretted or fretless, and in a deep and luxurious 79 Burst finish.
Pino Palladino teams up with EBMM for a signature StingRay inspired by the bass that started it all
Mooer Audio F15i Li Intelligent Amp: this battery-powered take-anywhere guitar amp is packed with amp and effects models, and is an all-in-one practice solution.
Mooer’s F15i Intelligent Amp is a desktop doozie equipped with 55 amps, 69 effects and a touchscreen
Epiphone 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue
“A really vintage‑flavoured friend”: Epiphone 1957 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue review
EVH Gear Hypersonic FR-12: The newly launched FRFR speaker packs 1000-watts, is available in black or ivory, and might just be the perfect companion to your amp modeller.
EVH Gear drops the Hypersonic FR-12 FRFR speaker – 1000-watts to get the most from your amp modeller
Latest in News
Exodus Gary Holt
"It might have been like 12 people there”: Exodus’ Gary Holt pulls zero punches in his new autobiography
blur and oasis
“I am happy to accept and concede defeat”: Damon Albarn just admitted that Oasis won
Jeff Lynne ELO
"Jeff is devastated": ELO's last ever mega-gig plunged into jeopardy after last-minute cancellation of last night's Manchester show
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: It's your last chance to grab a Prime Day deal on gear from Fender, Roland, Casio, Yamaha, Toontrack & more - but you'll have to be quick
Ernie Ball Music Man Pino Palladino StingRay: the bass legend's new signature model is offered fretted or fretless, and in a deep and luxurious 79 Burst finish.
Pino Palladino teams up with EBMM for a signature StingRay inspired by the bass that started it all
Amerie
How Amerie created a ‘00s R&B/funk classic with producer Rich Harrison

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...