Geluksgetal: waarom een 7-snarige gitaar gelukkig maakt.

Almost every guitarist on Earth started their journey with a six-string guitar, usually sticking to standard E, A, D, G, B, E tuning. But while some guitarists are more than satisfied with just six strings, others prefer to get a bit more extreme by bumping things up to seven. And it’s happening more and more. So, what makes seven-string guitars so great?

In the Beginning…

Even as far back as the 1930s, a version of the seven-string guitar existed, designed by George van Eps. The model was a hit among jazz guitarists because, besides the standard-issue six strings, it featured an extra, lower-tuned A string, making it possible to play full bass lines alongside melodies.

Steve Vai & Korn

The first seven-string guitar ever to feature a solid body didn’t appear until 1990 when Ibanez joined forces with Steve Vai to develop the Ibanez Universe. The Universe came fitted with an extra low-B string, which didn’t just expand the note-range but suddenly made it possible to play chords and melodies in an entirely different way. This seven-string wonder didn’t really break into the general consciousness until the nu-metal band Korn got hold of it; pushed the tuning down to A, D, G, C, G, A, D; and started crunching out some relatively simple yet devastating riffs.

Best Friends With the Bassist

While that extra low-B string is still a relatively rare sight in the guitar world, it’s been a standard among bassists for a while thanks to the five-string bass. With a standard six-string guitar, the notes sit two octaves above the note-range of this bassist, which is great, but with a seven-string model you can actually double the bass riffs, bulking up the band-sound and completing a super-tight and cohesive whole.

Get Lower, Get Brutal

In heavier genres, it’s not unusual for six-string guitars to be tuned differently, whether it’s just drop-D tuning (where the low-E is tuned down by one whole note) or where every string is tuned down (starting with Eb, D or even lower). The potential problem with doing this is: the lower the tuning (which in practice can go as low as C or B) the more slack and loose the strings get. This can be compensated for by using a thicker, higher-gauged set of strings, but it will give the guitar an entirely different playing feel. The beauty of a seven-string guitar is that you actually retain the tension across the six strings, all while getting the low range you need from the extra seventh string.

Banging Solos

Assuming that the majority of rock and metal tracks are played in E-minor, the solos are probably played somewhere around the 12th to 15th fret. In a lower tuning, the standard solo patterns are also shifted down, cutting a bit of ferocity out of the trebles and making your solo work jump out less. But guess what? A seven-string guitar also bypasses this problem, giving you those brutal low notes alongside fully retained solo patterns backed up by more than enough mix-cutting fire and treble definition.

It Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive

Ibanez is no longer out on its own in the seven-string game, since other big names like Jackson, ESP LTD and Schecter also now build seven-string guitars. And, because they’re more and more common, the price of seven-string models has also come down a lot over the years. So if you’re curious, you can even pick up a beginner-grade model just to try it out. However, be warned: when you pick up a seven-string guitar for the first time, it’s likely to feel really weird and maybe even feel like you’re holding an unplayable instrument. But luckily, that feeling quickly passes.
Which guitarist or artist first inspired you to pick up a seven-string guitar? Let us know in the comments.