Drop tunings on an 8 string

[screamindaemon]

With a .80 guage string (thickest guitar string typically found) you could get it to work, though you would have much less tension (14.4 pounds as compared to 16+ pounds on the rest of the strings. But it would suffice.

You can get thicker guitar strings or bass strings to offset the tension issue though.

I went through this thought process too, but I opted for the 28.625 length to get an even tension across the fretboard.

 

[AATTWDIS]

I think I like it B standard with a Drop E OR Drop G# with a low D#.

 

[vampiregenocide]

Dead By April use drop G on an 8 string.

 

[Xiphos68]

Dead By April use drop G on an 8 string.

That wouldn't be dropped that would be tuned up a half - step.

 

[JettL]

hey i play six string in CGCFAD how could i use that tuning in 8 string form

 

[jerome snail]

DGCGCFAD

 

[Customisbetter]

Could you use string with a 27 inch scale for drop e with out it being a total mess?

Tosin's RG2228 is tuned this way. hear for yourself

 

[Antimatter]

hey i play six string in CGCFAD how could i use that tuning in 8 string form

Well, you could do as that guy up there said with the DGCGCFAD, or maybe you could have an extra higher string and a lower one, and go with GCGCFADG. It would be an interesting approach.

 

[blastbeatdown]

what gauge do you guys prefer for drop E on the low string? i'm getting a 28" scale agile soon, what do you think? i'm thinking .080, other than that all i can find is .074 or the .072 that it comes stock with.

 

[Philligan]

That wouldn't be dropped that would be tuned up a half - step.

Actually, if I'm not mistaken, man, it would be drop G. Since "standard" 8 tuning is low F#, the 8th string would be tuned up a half step, but the rest of the guitar would be tuned up one and a half steps. So yes, the whole guitar would be tuned up, but it would still be a drop G tuning.

To the OP, drop F# would be: F# C# F# B E a c# f#. Basically, the stock F# is the same, and the rest of the guitar is tuned up one whole step. Drop G would be the same thing, but everything tuned up another half step.

EDIT: blastbeatdown, for the 28.625" Agile, I'd say start with a .074 for E. Most people around here use a .080 for E on a 27" scale, and that's basically the reasonable limit before you get too thick (too boomy), so .074 is a safe bet.

 

[blastbeatdown]

I ordered a few .074 and a few .080, I'll let you know how I made out in a few weeks. Thanks a lot

 

[Peteus]

DGCGCFAD

When I get around to getting my band going properly I think I am going to push to play a few songs in 8 string 2 step drop as well. Has a Nice feel to it

what gauge do you guys prefer for drop E on the low string? i'm getting a 28" scale agile soon, what do you think? i'm thinking .080, other than that all i can find is .074 or the .072 that it comes stock with.

I use an 80 for a normal low F# on my agile however I like my strings tight so I would give that a ago for drop E.

 

[DeadSuspect]

When I get around to getting my band going properly I think I am going to push to play a few songs in 8 string 2 step drop as well. Has a Nice feel to it



I use an 80 for a normal low F# on my agile however I like my strings tight so I would give that a ago for drop E.

I agree... I myself also have an 80 on my 8th string for the low F, it feels good and tight and not sloppy like other's below that string gauge, specially if u have a big scale length like a 28" or even 30"...

 

[Aerospace274]

Edit: Oh shit, didn't realize I was on page one! xD Fail!
A lot of people seem to like .080's at at 27" or 28" scale! That'd be a good place to start!

 

[Eric Christian]

So I'm going to audition for this band and they tune to Drop B (B-F♯-B-E-G♯-C&#9839 with a 6 string. The question is does anyone think this tuning is doable on my 8 string? What would the last two high string be tuned to? I'm thinking they might be much too high to work. Perhaps there would be a variation where I tune the 4 low strings to B-F♯-B-E and then the 4 higher strings to something different. Any thoughts on that?

 

[saovi]

One option is to try tuning your middle six strings to their tuning and put F#s on the low and high string:

F# B F# B E G# C# F#

If this is long term you may want to look at lighter gauge strings for at least the six higher strings.

 

[Eric Christian]

Can anyone think of a variation that would allow for Drop A on a 25.5 inch scale length 8 string?

A, E, A, D, G, B, E, ?

Whats the next high string in this sequence? "A" again right?

Or how about A, A, E, A, D, G, B, E?

 

[Explorer]

I'd use ADGCFADG. That embeds your whole-step-flat six strings in the center, continues the normal interval down, continues the interval up, and allows using a normal string on that high G.

I currently use the bottom part of this on 8-string (EADGCFAD).

I'm planning on using a superset of this on a 10-string (BEADGCFADG). Unfortunately I have to unexpectedly travel a lot in the next few months, and so I don't have the money for this go-around in the semi-custom shop.

 

[Eric Christian]

I'd use ADGCFADG. That embeds your whole-step-flat six strings in the center, continues the normal interval down, continues the interval up, and allows using a normal string on that high G.

I currently use the bottom part of this on 8-string (EADGCFAD).

I'm planning on using a superset of this on a 10-string (BEADGCFADG). Unfortunately I have to unexpectedly travel a lot in the next few months, and so I don't have the money for this go-around in the semi-custom shop.

Its gotta be Drop A to play with another dude that plays 7 strings. Plus his A is 432hz instead of 440hz. Confusing I know.

 

[Dayn]

Given the music you'd be playing together, I think it'd be better to stick a high G string on there for an interval of a minor third. Interesting chord and lead phrasing.

You could do a low E maybe. Or have it stringed like I have, drop A with a low C#. A minor sixth between it and the A, I quite like it, but with my 27" I think it's a bit too bassy. If I had a 25.5", I'd go for the high G.