I grew up on Fear Factory and Korn, a week after playing 6 string l sold my playstation 3 at the time for a used RG7321 and it felt so much more natural to me and how l always imagined metal guitar in my mind, that low deep-end growl and the way it felt in my hands (huge hands, huge build l am 6'4''), ever since then, l've also learnt to love 6 string a lot but the 7 will always be my main, especially with the "bassist approach" to it, reaching lower notes on a standard tuning quicker with vertical movement rather than horizontally.
I started playing guitar around 11-14 ish and stopped until last year 2021 and picked up a 7 string instead of a normal 6 and found it to be no different felt very natural and didn’t even have to think just tuned it played it and was like why do people over complicate extended range guitars?
I’m 37, been playing 6 string since about 13, and purchased a 7 string back in the late 90s due to the korn craze but didn’t understand any of the scales etc and it was more confusing then anything, now about a month or so I just purchased a schecter 7 string, so sweet and slightly less confusing then the first time round
The day Rabea's video came out, it was on my YT recommended feed (had never seen one of his videos before). I watched it, and was so randomly inspired that as soon as the video was over, I got out of bed, drove to Guitar Center, and bought a 7-string hahaha XD. I've been wanting to write this album I've been thinking up for several years, and after hearing him play in that video, I thought "Wow... I *really* feel like a 7-string would help me produce the music/sound I desire for my music...!". I suck at guitar, and have never applied the time and effort it takes to "obtain an intermediate level". However, having this guitar now is *awesome*. I *LOVE* the depth that comes from the extra string. It gives a normal chord so much more life/power/passion, I feel. Anyway... thanks for the vid!! Like I said, I suck at guitar and have lots to learn, so anything 7-string related would be awesome. Sometimes, all it takes is a little "creative nudge". For example, you highlighting a chord you really like the sound of 5:50 , and other chords/progressions you played... For me, my brain is like "Woah! That's really awesome! I never thought of trying something like that!". And now I'm grabbing my guitar, and experimenting with brand new things, opening a door to a-whole-nother creative realm haha. Don't feel bad if you "didn't provide much" 9:58 because, like I said, you did a LOT for me just by saying and doing the simplest things! I think the video was very helpful, and absolutely not a waste of my time that I value so much. Have a great day! :D
Firstly the Kiesel is sounding SICK! I commented on Rabea's video yesterday basically saying the exact same thing - Tuning on 7 string has made a massive difference in how easy it was for me to transition from 6 string. Great point you made about treating 7 string as a low tuned guitar with an extra high string instead of an extra low string - that's exactly my thought process too. Once you start thinking about it that way it all starts to make sense. Looking forward to more updates on the guitar build too
Finally! Another modern djent/metal player who idolizes Rabea! Great to see your approach to 7-string, been a 7-string player for about 3 years now and I can never go back.
Actually this Guitar originated in Russia hence the name "Russian Guitar" & yeah that Drop Ab Tuning is also great for playing Van Eps Music. Bucky Pizzarelli used the 7 String Guitar as a Jazz Guitar which really rocked.
I love the versatility that comes with a 7 string guitar. It opens up a whole new world. The only problem with me and a 7 string is I have fairly small hands and short fingers, so I'm just trying to adapt to make it more comfortable to play. Slowly but surely.
I played a 7 string for nearly 20 years and after developing carpal tunnel in my hands a six string just feels more comfortable in my hands plus as a bonus now I can really play the hell out of a six string now after all that time on a 7, lol.
I’ve been on 6 for 30 years , huge fear factory fan . Jus picked up a Jackson 7 string 2 days ago and with my huge hands oddly I’ve never felt more comfortable and happy in drop A .
I got an 8 string a couple of years ago and when I don't play it for a few days, it still feels very alien to me, it's definitely a jump in to the deep end.
Awesome video! I'm looking for 7 string guitar lately and being used to play a baritone 6 string guitar, I always think of 7 strings as having an extra high string instead of an extra bass string.
i actually got a kiesel 7 string with a hipshot kiesel trem efter watching one of your demos on that guitar. i sold all my other stuff to get it, and its really the best buy i ever done in my life.
Thats a great idea i am thinking about having a custom schecter 7 string guitar made soon my very first ever over 700.00 guitar ever.. THANK YOU VERY YOUR APPROCH
We share the common inspiration from Rabea, brother. But seriously...your style and tone are an inspiration to myself and certainly others. I really enjoy the melodic elements of your play-style. It's not just "chug, chug, chug, widdly diddly, shred shred, look how fast I can play." It's beautiful in all the best ways. Maybe you could touch on how you approach that in a future video? I personally feel there aren't enough guitarists in the "djent" scene playing melodies that you can sing/hum. That's the stuff that really gets stuck in my head.
What you are talking about is actually very easy for me to understand I actually feel like it's quite simple in a way because it's very similar to how I play in that you never treat the seventh string as just the seventh string you start from there and then progress
i played one just like it in the same color but with gold hardware... greatest guitar ive ever played hands down. my life will not be complete until i own one.
Been playing guitar for about 30 years and looking at getting my first 7 string. Ibanez has some really cool series to look at. I have watched reviews of them all and seems to either be really good or extremely bad. The demo videos show a well made guitar. Probably going to GC 🤮 to try them out. If I find one I like then I will order it from Sweetwater.
You should try ending on other notes instead of always the root note. It can become predictable to a listener. Maybe try ending on the 4th, 6th or 7th to add tension. Make the listener wonder whether you resolve the tension straightaway, or delay the resolution to tease
Would love to see you playing Periphery's new single, Blood Eagle. You are an amazing player and your playing style has encouraged me a lot in playing guitar and to keep learning. Keep up the good work :)
hey maybe you can do a smal video series on how to get from one single riff to an arrangement. especially the part where you play your first idea and then try to find other parts for the song. There are soo many videos about how to record and how to get the heavy sound, but nearly all of them didn't show how they find / create their songparts (with errors during this process included) cheers
Nice explanations. Off topic, but I didn't really like the Vanquish so much until I saw yours. Somehow the color really makes that guitar work for me. Awesome!
This made a ton of sense (you asked yourself several times)! Very interesting for me (and honest), about your approach with the root string and going from there, because I do pretty much the same though I got no educational background like you did.
I just bought my first 7 string last week. And having a hard time choosing what tuning to play it in. My band plays in D standard, so I dont want to drop too low and compete with the bass.
Dave Braund tune your first 6 strings in D standard and tune your 7th string in G, and you’ll get a 7 string drop G. UPD. You can’t compete with bass, it will always win
Hey man so I've been really diving deep into the 7 string for months now. Basically i've been writing progressions using a scale and then making sure the progression lines up with that scale. And the tuning im using is standard with dop A on the B string. But theres a couple things that are baffling me a bit. 1.) If Im playing say a Prog-ish bar chord that I would normally play on a 6 string and then bar with the extra string does it change what chord im playing since the root note of the chord has changed? I suppose its just two A strings instead of one but my lack of theory makes it confusing haha. 2.) If you're playing a drop tuning where ALL your strings are tuned down, does that mean you have to play the scales you know in standard tuning differently? Thanks :)
Ok, you gained a sub now. I would for you to explain more about your tuning and approach note by note how you create the chords (?) I hope this makes sense lol. I am new to the genre and will really love to create something with my new 7 string. Also, would love to see you programing your drums. Thanks!
Hey man, late to your channel but thanks for this! I would like to see a video of how you prepare a song, moving through finding the chords and riffs. I love those videos :D
New to 7 strings. Is your tuneing, Fattest string G#, E, A, D, G, B, E? I did follow that you build your playing off of a horizontal use of the scale and then build vertically to embellish that scale position, etc. That seems cool, and I'm looking forward to working with that idea. Thank you!
Thanks so much man! Really useful video, Awesome tone and I would really like to hear more about how you approach writing melodies (that are so heavy!!). Peace
Alder body 7 strings are the BEST case scenario for the lithium’s. Even the guys at kiesel have told me it’s where they sound best. Replaced mine with the suhr ssh+ and ssv. I liked how the lithium’s sounded but I knew they were lacking. Would you ever consider swapping?
Thank you for being such an inspiration for me. Your Videos are so fun to watch and they make me pick up my guitar and Djam around. Could you do more 'No Ostriches' stuff?
What scales are your favorites? I have the black grimmoire for six strings but haven't gotten into it yet. I also just picked up my first 7 string guitar, and how you explained it is how I've been going about things in this first week so far.
I think overall your explanation was pretty good. And can you do a video on the tone you used for this video and how you got it? Because it's amazing lol
As a songwriter and i would say decent guitar player is it better/easier to start with rythm or a melody? Ive had trouble evolving my riffs into what i want and i was curious where the best place to start is? Like riffs, melodies, lyrics?
Niko Matthee I think in this genre it's mostly with the rhythm, that's what I do very often. It happens that I've found a cool lead part and then I look for a rhythm sometimes. And about lyrics, I have no idea since I'm quite bad at that😅
This video is actually really useful, and the fact that you don't throw music theory everywhere makes it easier to understand. Would like to know your approach on sweep picking maybe. Good video anyway !
I just bought my first 7 string today. I was buying guitar after guitar, and I was never happy with any of them. But when I started playing it, I instantly felt at home and started writing my first song. I’ll never go back to 6 string again that I can foresee.
I would love to see a video explaining your go-to patterns, shapes and ideas in this tuning. It sounds so much like erra.. why is that? I know they use the same tuning but what gives them that sound? Thanks!!!
Gremlin #Dream Arts I would say they make life a bit easier if you have a longer scale, like 27" for instance! However I think the fan (the angle at the first fret) should not be too extreme, otherwise it misses the point of being for ergonomic. The multiscale is technically "better", but it comes down to taste and hand size. I do perfectly fine on my 27" Ibanez RGA8 aswell without missing multiscale
As a jazz player and someone that *attempts* to play metal, I think of it as an extra low string because it's too strange to almost throw away my fretboard knowledge .
Nice video, also using this approach to 7 string. What string gauge do you use? I also play in G# on a 27“ baritone and havent found a suiting set yet, 09-64 too flubby, 10-68 too tight
Hey! I love your videos and your playing. Could you make a video on your approach to downtuning? Like string gauges and and scale length etc? I love your playing and would appreciate your thoughts and opinions!
Questuion - since this video was about Drop A# tuning what about standard B tuning on the 7th string, as many new to 7 string will probably start with?
I want to replace my neck position pick up on my esp h207 with something that will get me as close to the classic strat nexk/middle position tone... Any suggestions??
Hi, I enjoy your channel since a long time. Great playing, fine guitar-building. Now I have a cheap Harley Benton just to try how I get a relationship to the 7th string. Everything on that guitar is good except the Pickups. Can you give me a Tipp? I need a 7-String Pickup for a Fanned Fret Guitar. Bridge and Neck. It should be passive because of the Input of my Helix. The Presets in my Helix are programmed for my other guitars. They are all 6-Strings with passive Pickups. The Pickup should deliver a good clean sound and a fat distortion. I think the DiMarzio D Activator 7 is a good choice but it has polepieces and is for guitars without Fanfret. I need to put them in slanted and this could be a problem for the strings on the outside. Thank you for answering. You can do it in English or German if you like to...I saw, you are from Danmark. Viele Grüße aus Kiel Marco
Interesting. So low strings are tuned essentially like a 6 string. And then the high 7th is tuned differently. So you can play dropped bar chords just like a 6?
Not quite, tuning wise it's still a standard E 6-string with (in my case usually) a low A to get Drop A tuning on the bass side. But You could technically tune it so that it is a downtuned 6 in Drop A with an additional high string. It's just a matter of perspective really.
Funny enough I mistook Rabea's video yesterday for one of yours. I couldn't figure out why you doing a video on a Chapman with a Floyd... You don't look much like Rabea though. I look forward to more content whichever direction you take it.
