Most versatile/comfortable tuning for 8-string?

[bostjan]

Ok, that helps a lot.

What about DAEADGBE? Standard 6 string tuning and then two dropped fifths. I know you tried it, but I bet it'd be a week or two and you'd be used to it.

 

[Dayn]

Power chords with a low A are much easier than a low E, as well. I rarely play power chords on my low E unless it's on the fifth fret or above anyway... so if you want that, A and D would be good fun.

But I still think drop E is as close to being the most brain-dead (in a good way) tuning you could use for an 8-string. That's why I haven't changed it in a decade...

 

[LunatiqueRob]

Ok, that helps a lot.

What about DAEADGBE? Standard 6 string tuning and then two dropped fifths. I know you tried it, but I bet it'd be a week or two and you'd be used to it.

That's what I'm thinking too. It'll take a bit getting used to when playing scales on those two bass strings due to the shifting required, but I rarely play melodic lines on the bass strings anyway--I usually just shift positions since I prefer the same notes played on thinner strings for better clarity.

Power chords with a low A are much easier than a low E, as well. I rarely play power chords on my low E unless it's on the fifth fret or above anyway... so if you want that, A and D would be good fun.

But I still think drop E is as close to being the most brain-dead (in a good way) tuning you could use for an 8-string. That's why I haven't changed it in a decade...

I don't know how power chords on the two thickest strings will sound on my H/08 when I get it, but on my 6-string with a pitch shifter it's pretty muddy, and like you said, you'd have to get higher in the frets to it to start sounding good. This is why I need at least another pair of 5ths for when I need power chords lower in the frets, and the A to the E will serve that function. I hate to be that guy who only uses the thickest string for just chugging 0's, but there's a reason why people tend to default to it.

 

[slimefuzz]

DEADHEAD

 

[Bevo]

I guess you have a point there.

If I have to break it down in detail, I guess what's important to me are:

1) Ability to voice chords (especially jazz) without more difficulty than a standard 6 string (which means I might need to keep standard tuning on the higher 6 strings).

2) Easy power chords, which probably means the lowest 2 strings will be tuned to fifths, so I can have two sets of fifths when writing/playing riffs and power chords.

3) Playing scales wouldn't require big shifts.

But after my experimentation yesterday, I realized this is one of those situations where you can't have your cake and eat it--there has to be a compromise somewhere. And that's what I'm trying to decide on--exactly where to compromise. But I'm only simulating what it might be like on an 8-string with my 6-strings and a pitch shifter, so when I actually do get the H/08 in my hands, it might be different. Perhaps no matter what I tell Aristides to set it up as at the factory, I'll end up having to change it later anyway, so it's just something I'll deal with as it comes.

Just a thought, can you rent an 8 string for a weekend to really dig into tuning?
May be worth the couple of bucks…

 

[LunatiqueRob]

Just a thought, can you rent an 8 string for a weekend to really dig into tuning?
May be worth the couple of bucks…

I bought an Ibanez RG8 shortly after this post, which I've been experimenting with different tunings on to figure out how I want to set up my Aristides H/08 when it's finished (it'll probably be done around May).

Currently, I've pretty much settled on EAEADGBE. I feel like I don't need the thickest strings to be in fifths because I'm not going to be using them to play power chords (too muddy), and on my 7-string, I use drop A, which I do use to play power chords. So the drop E on the 8-string is really my chug string--at least until I learn how to incorporate it more into overall playing.

 

[CanserDYI]

Drop E is my favorite personally, and the stock pups in RG8's and terrible nut and light strings on it are awful for power chords I had the same issue until I had a TUSQ nut cut for it and threw a pegasus in bridge and now powerchords sound great on it, little muddy sure, but that can be dialed out.

What string guages are you using for that on your RG8? I have 85 64 on the bottom for my E and B.

 

[Grindspine]

I really like EADGCFAD.

The bottom four strings are EADG, like a standard bass guitar or like standard tuning on an electric guitar, only one octave below.

The top six strings are DGCFAD, like a standard guitar tuned down one full step.

Since my seven string guitars are all ADGCFAD (factory tuning on Ibanez RGD), carrying that tuning over to an 8 and having a low E is a bit more comfortable for me than F, F#, or Drop E tunings.

 

[Dayn]

I bought an Ibanez RG8 shortly after this post, which I've been experimenting with different tunings on to figure out how I want to set up my Aristides H/08 when it's finished (it'll probably be done around May).

Currently, I've pretty much settled on EAEADGBE. I feel like I don't need the thickest strings to be in fifths because I'm not going to be using them to play power chords (too muddy), and on my 7-string, I use drop A, which I do use to play power chords. So the drop E on the 8-string is really my chug string--at least until I learn how to incorporate it more into overall playing.

Glad you've found your tuning. I used to have my 2nd 8-string tuned with the lowest two strings in fifths, but since then I gave it up and just tuned it to drop D, to complement my other 8-string in drop E. It just feels so right. Sometimes it's best to stick with what you're most familiar with.

 

[Go To Bed Jessica]

After playing EBEADGBE basically the entire time since I started playing 8 string, I decided to change it up a bit.

I'm really enjoying F#BEADF#BE at the moment. B standard 6 string in the middle, with a low string and a high string. I'm really enjoying the chord voicings I'm finding with the "extra" high string.

I'll probably end up dropping the low string to E again, but it's been fun

The other interesting one I messed with for a while was EADGBEBE - which is like a bass VI plus the two high strings from a guitar. I didn't really love that tuning tbh. It did make for some very rich sounding chords though.

 

[Captain Shoggoth]

FA#C#G#C#F#A#A#