7 string ok for beginners?

[J_men]

So, I've been learning to play for a year now, and am looking to upgrade my guitar. How much more difficult is it to play a 7 string? and should I wait until I have more experience before getting one?

I wouldn't be only playing drop tuned music, I like Korn and Deftones, but also like playing blues, and want to learn more about jazz.

I am currently looking at either the RG652FX or the RGDIX7MPB


Also if a guitar has a longer scale length (like the RGDIX7MPB) does using standard tuning affect it's playability and sound? Was thinking about whether tuning it to have two low E's sometimes would be an option?

 

[Zeus1907]

I say go for it. I'm excited for you.
What really made me happy about your question was that you said you wouldn't only be playing down tuned music.
7 string is amazing for Jazz. That's been my focus the past few weeks (jazz).

 

[Zeus1907]

And yes, there is a slight adjustment period. Took me about a week to truly get comfortable with a 7 string, at 26.5 scale length.

 

[Ikke]

I think it would be fine to learn on 7 string. Agree with above guy/gal: great for jazz. The only playing adjustment you'll need is fretboard width/neck grip (and maybe finger span if you get an extended scale). Besides that, it's all the same.

And, as an added bonus, going from 7 to 8 will be easier because you'll already have the mindset of playing an extended range guitar. I don't have any 8's, but I've played one and the mindset was "stretch fingers just like when I started on a 7"; picked it up within a few minutes.

 

[A-Branger]

as long as you have a list of songs that you want to learn that are played in 7 string (korn and deftones as you mention), then you are fine to do so. Mind you those guys have a different tuninng from standard. But keep playing and keep finiding more 7 string covers to learn and play

 

[Petar Bogdanov]

Yes, so long as you accept that you will have to mute the strings more. It's caused mostly by the tuning, and not the number of strings, by the way...

 

[High Plains Drifter]

Moving from 6 to 8 strings can be quite a daunting move but moving from 6 to 7 is very natural... especially if you're in the mind-set that the concept already appeals to you. I don't have huge hands and despite that, the neck width and 26.5 scale was nothing very noticeable to adapt to. I stay in standard tune for the most part fwiw. I play a lot of sludge, metal, and blues... very comfortably on 7-strings.

You sound like someone that would transition well into 7's. Best of luck.

 

[Emperor Guillotine]

At this point, do you even need a 7? Sounds like you're just trying to fit into the trend of "more strings" or "7 is the new 6" (whatever the mentality is). Although getting it to play music by some of your favorite bands (like Korn or Deftones) is understandable since those bands have always been noted for their use of 7-string guitars.

You need to learn the basics first, and the basics include string muting and being able to play cleanly. Seems like many players, especially beginners, flat-out ignore this. If you know how to control all of the strings on a 6, then adding one more string won't be a problem.

 

[bostjan]

If the number of strings was equivalent to difficulty in learning, then we would have all started on one string guitars and worked our way up.

To me, a seven string is easier to play than a six string.

 

[Zeus1907]

At this point, do you even need a 7? Sounds like you're just trying to fit into the trend of "more strings" or "7 is the new 6" (whatever the mentality is). Although getting it to play music by some of your favorite bands (like Korn or Deftones) is understandable since those bands have always been noted for their use of 7-string guitars.

You need to learn the basics first, and the basics include string muting and being able to play cleanly. Seems like many players, especially beginners, flat-out ignore this. If you know how to control all of the strings on a 6, then adding one more string won't be a problem.

I totally agree, I've heard beginners who have less than one year of playing say, and I quote; "I need an 8 string for my progressive metal band. I'm buying one next week." That makes no sense to me. I think guitarist should be well rounded, before venturing too far left of center.
Learn the basics, then, transition to ERG's.

 

[J_men]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm leaning more towards sticking with the 6 string for now.

I'll try out both, and see how comfortable it feels.

I got the idea of buying a 7 string because I've always been interested in what gives a style of music it's signature sound. But I guess there's still a lot of fun stuff I can do with the 6, without needing to over complicating things

 

[Ironside]

Meh... I started on a 7 and have owned many 6's along the way as well.

I like 7's so much that when I pick up a 6-string, it feels 'too skinny' - the wider neck of the 7 feels right at home in my long-fingered hands.

Even when I don't use the 7th string, i'd rather have it and not need it, than want to transition to something on the 7, but realizing I have to switch guitars before I can (I actually got rid of all my 6's, I fly exclusively 7 now).

Go to a store, play both, see if you think 7 is too overwhelming. Then buy whatever you think feels best to you.

Have fun.

 

[bzhan1]

Even when I don't use the 7th string, i'd rather have it and not need it, than want to transition to something on the 7, but realizing I have to switch guitars before I can (I actually got rid of all my 6's, I fly exclusively 7 now).

playing 6 string songs on 7 is a huge pain, especially on chord or strum heavy songs

 

[madwham]

One more voice saying that it's OK. Everything written for 6-strings can easily be played on a 7. Rythm, solo, arpeggio, chords, tapping, all is fine.

I routinely play on both 6 and 7-strings now, but the 7-string is my only guitar in standard tuning, so it's my go-to instrument for most songs. There is a single issue that I can mention, due to the fact that I have short fingers: reaching high notes (near the pickups) on the low B string is sometimes harder, but it's easily fixed by adapting the way I hold my guitar. No biggie, and uncommon anyway.

Just make sure that you're comfortable with the neck, so try several models before buying anything. I couldn't do anything with Ibanez 7-string models (much to my regret) but was in heaven with an EBMM JP7, for example.

 

[Ironside]

playing 6 string songs on 7 is a huge pain, especially on chord or strum heavy songs

No it's not. Just don't hit the 7th string....

What do you do when you strum a song that doesn't require the 6th string??? Just mute it.

 

[Winspear]

No it's not. Just don't hit the 7th string....

What do you do when you strum a song that doesn't require the 6th string??? Just mute it.

This. Plenty of 6 string songs feature chords on the A string. Same for metal riffy stuff, plenty of riffs are rooted on the 2nd string.
Yes you'll be muting more often but that's literally it If anything it's a good incentive to not rely on the bottom string as a crutch from which your playing is always better.

 

[hodorcore]

To me it was all about getting used to the bigger neck. There is always that thought of making it harder on yourself unnecessarily. In most cases you can just downtune your 6 string guitar anyways. That way you get the low crushing sounds and you dont need to deal with all of the extra wood.

If your hands and fingers are big enough you should go for it. But i'd stick to a 6 string

 

[RaulThrashMetal]

On the right guitar you won't even notice. Its perfectly fine to carry on your learning process on a 7, you'll learn whatever you would have learnt on a sixer plus you get the advantage of already knowing how to use the 7th string in your music and technique.

 

[Ivars V]

Well, from my experience - I didn't play for a long time since I was focusing on doing vocals and I really hated my schecter six string. I wanted to practice guitar and get good, but everything held me away from it. If I managed to picked up guitar, I put it away asap, since it didn't feel right to me. After a year or so of total lack of playing I decided it's time to get back at playing, so I picked up a seven string and started from a blank page (kind of). So far it has been a really awesome journey. I had to adjust my technique, but I could apply concepts I still had in my memory. It was easier for me to wrap my hand around the notes I have on fretboard, etc.

TL;DR - Seven string guitar saved my life, go get one.

 

[cwhitey2]

Get a RG652FX and thank me later