How long does it take to get used to a 7?

[Edika]

It really depends on the usage, if you try to apply theory, licks, improv and a more educated approach it will take a bit more time but your understanding of the instrument will be better. If you just want to play 7 string songs, like I do, then the transition is a lot easier. Personally I struggle a bit when I play 6 string songs on the 7 and have to remember not to take the lowest string into account. That's why I try to play 6 string songs with a 6 string and not a 7. Unless I'm vibing with the 7 too much to change and/or I'm being lazy lol!

 

[Pingu]

I had a heavy reliance on 'counting the strings up from the low E' when I got my first 7 string. It took a couple days to get myself picking the higher strings accurately.

Two things that took a lot longer was noise muting, and the ability to switch between a 6 or 8 and back to a 7 without some sort of 'feeler' warm up.

 

[KailM]

Well, nobody talked me out of it — so I just bought it. Look what you guys did!!!

 

[GuyB]

If you only play in patterns, it shouldn't take more than a week.

If you want to learn all the extra 7 string notes on the whole of the fretboard it could take a year to be fluent, providing you already know all the notes on the fretboard on a 6 string.

 

[tedtan]

If someone already knows the notes in standard tuning, adding a low B string shouldn’t cause much of a problem since the notes are the same as on the existing B string, just two octaves lower. Reading them in standard notation may take a bit of getting used to, but otherwise it shouldn’t be an issue.

 

[kmanick]

When I first started playing 7's back in 2006 someone on this forum gave me the best advice I got anywhere. don't look down across the strings look, the bottom 6 are still the same.
I started playing just normal 6 string songs on it (RG7620 best 1rst 7 money can buy IMO ), then when I got it all figured out in standard tuning and got comfortable playing an E chord on the 5th fret etc, it didn't take me long at all. now almost 20 years later I switchback and forth between my 6's and 7 effortlessly, I actually prefer playing my 7 over almost any of my 6's but since I play is 'Dad Rock" classic rock band I have to play 6's when I gig. Once you figure out th n ew intervals you have available to you it's a piece of cake.

 

[Mathemagician]

Basically just start playing on one and give it a week. I like B standard more than drop tunings on a seven personally.

 

[Werecow]

Well, nobody talked me out of it — so I just bought it. Look what you guys did!!!

Does this mean you're gonna find an 8 string forum to hangout on now?

 

[Wucan]

Getting used to my first 7 was pretty much instant. Making good use of the extra string besides chugs is another matter altogether, though.

 

[Dayn]

I went from 6 to 8. It was fairly easy, about a week or two to adjust my muscle memory. Took a few weeks to adjust from 8 to 10 which had no inlays and a bigger scale.

You went from 0 to 6, so you'll be fine. If you have any doubts, ask yourself: do you find it difficult to play the 1st to 5th strings without hitting the low E? You'll be fine. (And if you answered 'yes', then practice will fix it.)

 

[bjjman]

Seem a lot of people are the same as me - 6 to 7 = no biggie. 7 to 8 multiscale = arrrgghh. I still like my 8 but I just don't know if I'll ever feel as comfortable with it as I do with 6s and 7s.

 

[OmegaSlayer]

If you just want to play, it's a no brainer.
If you want to learn shapes and note positions...well, that's about your learning speed

 

[Sleazy_D]

Won’t take long. Dive in.