Choose a seven-string guitar if you want extra low range with less adjustment from six strings. Choose an eight-string if you need deeper bass notes while retaining the familiar upper strings. Neither is inherently better: the right choice depends on your tuning, arrangements, playing comfort, and willingness to develop more precise muting.
7 vs 8 String Guitar at a Glance
- Standard tuning, low to high: Seven-string: B–E–A–D–G–B–E. Eight-string: F#–B–E–A–D–G–B–E.
- Lowest standard open note: Seven-string: B1, approximately 61.7 Hz. Eight-string: F#1, approximately 46.2 Hz.
- Retained upper six strings: Both preserve E–A–D–G–B–E in standard tuning.
- Neck width: Eight-strings are generally wider; dimensions and string spacing depend on the model.
- Muting demands: Both require additional control, but eight strings usually create more opportunities for unwanted resonance.
- Strongest use case: Seven strings suit familiar guitar parts with additional bass range; eight strings suit arrangements needing deeper notes and the same upper-string layout.
The principal advantage of a seven-string is manageable expansion. You gain lower notes without changing the tuning relationships of the familiar six strings.
An eight-string expands that same concept downward again. Its benefit is not simply “heavier tone,” but access to low F# alongside the upper seven strings.
Physical differences are less predictable. Neck profile, scale length, fretboard radius, and bridge spacing can make one eight-string more comfortable than another seven-string. Compare actual instruments rather than assuming string count determines feel.
The Seven-String Guitar Adds Low Range With Familiar Shapes
A seven-string guitar is an extended-range guitar with seven individually played strings, commonly adding a low B beneath standard six-string tuning. Manufacturers including Ibanez, Schecter, Jackson, and ESP LTD produce these instruments. They are primarily used for lower-register riffs, expanded chord voicings, and arrangements that retain familiar upper-string parts. For players moving from six strings, they offer a relatively modest adjustment in neck width and technique.
The Eight-String Guitar Extends the Bass Register Further
An eight-string guitar is an extended-range guitar with eight individually played strings, usually adding low F# and B beneath standard six-string tuning. Ibanez, Schecter, Strandberg, and other manufacturers build conventional and multiscale versions. These instruments primarily serve music needing deep bass notes alongside normal guitar registers, including progressive metal, tapping-based compositions, and solo arrangements. Their extra string expands musical options but also increases string-tracking and muting demands.
Standard Tuning and Available Range
The standard seven-string guitar tuning, low to high, is B–E–A–D–G–B–E, often called B standard tuning.
Standard eight-string tuning is F#–B–E–A–D–G–B–E, commonly called F# standard tuning. These layouts are also described in Guitar World’s extended-range guitar guide.
Both preserve the familiar upper six strings. Existing scales, chord shapes, and melodies remain available there, although strumming must avoid unwanted bass strings.
The eighth string adds lower range, not a higher top note. With equal fret counts, both instruments reach the same highest fretted pitch on their high E string.
Alternative tunings change the comparison. Drop A on seven strings lowers the bottom B to A; Drop E on eight strings lowers the bottom F# to E.
Playability and the Learning Curve
Adaptation depends on instrument dimensions and technique, not string count alone. Evaluate comfort and control separately before judging either format.
Neck Width and Playing Comfort
An eight-string’s wider neck can make bass-string reaches and thumb-over playing less convenient, but large hands are not a requirement.
Neck thickness, shoulder shape, string spacing, and playing posture all matter. A slim eight-string may suit you better than a thick seven-string. Try seated and standing positions, checking whether your wrist stays comfortable during chords and stretches rather than forcing familiar six-string hand positions.
Muting and String Tracking
Additional bass strings can vibrate sympathetically, especially under distortion. Eight strings also give your picking hand more positions to track.
Coordinate both hands: use the picking-hand palm to control lower unused strings and available fretting-hand fingers to silence adjacent strings. Practice slowly with a clean sound, then distortion. A noise gate can reduce idle noise, but it cannot reliably remove ringing strings during played notes.
Scale Length and Low-String Tension
Tuning, scale length, and string gauge work together. At the same pitch and gauge, a longer scale produces greater string tension. Lowering pitch reduces tension; increasing gauge generally restores some firmness.
For example, seven-strings are available with 25.5-, 26.5-, or 27-inch scales, while eight-strings may use 27 inches or longer. These are examples, not minimum requirements.
Multiscale guitars, also called fanned-fret guitars, use longer bass-string scales and shorter treble-string scales. This can support firmer low strings without imposing the same long scale on the high strings. Bending feel still depends on gauge and setup.
Consult the manufacturer’s specifications and D’Addario’s string-tension resources when comparing gauges. A guitar string tension calculator helps establish a starting point, but cannot predict every aspect of feel or clarity.
Avoid buying by a universal rule such as “Drop E requires exactly this gauge.”
A Downtuned Seven-String Versus an Eight-String
A seven-string can reach an eight-string’s lowest pitch, but matching that note does not preserve the same simultaneous range.
Example: seven-string tuned down a perfect fourth versus standard eight-string, low to high:
- Downtuned seven-string: F#–B–E–A–D–F#–B.
- Standard eight-string: F#–B–E–A–D–G–B–E.
Both reach F#1. However, the seven-string’s highest open string becomes B3 rather than E4. With equal fret counts, its highest fretted note is also a perfect fourth lower.
A seven-string can also use a custom Drop E arrangement, but “Drop E” alone does not specify every string. Always confirm the complete tuning before buying strings or learning an arrangement.
Increasing gauge may require nut-slot work, sufficient bridge and tuner clearance, and adjustments to action, relief, and intonation. Check compatibility before installing an unusually thick bass string.
Musical Uses Beyond Low Riffs
Extra strings can support a bass note beneath a melody, spread chord voicings across registers, or create tapping patterns that would otherwise require larger position shifts.
Tosin Abasi and Animals as Leaders demonstrate how eight-string guitar can combine rhythmic bass figures, chords, and upper-register lines. Seven-string guitars also offer useful possibilities for progressive metal, jazz, and solo arrangements.
Neither djent nor heavy tone requires eight strings. Picking articulation, amplification, arrangement, and bass-guitar interaction matter more than owning the largest available pitch range.
A Practical Buying Checklist
1. Identify target songs and tunings. Write down complete tunings, not just the lowest note.
2. Decide whether simultaneous range matters. Do you need deep bass and high-register melodies in one arrangement?
3. Test identical material. Play the same familiar riff, chord progression, bend, and muted bass passage on both guitars.
4. Check ownership details. Confirm setup costs, replacement-string availability, and hardware compatibility.
5. Confirm the return policy. Brief showroom comfort may differ from an hour of practice.
When comparing amplified sound, keep the signal chain consistent. If you only want lower tuning—not additional simultaneous range—a baritone six-string guitar deserves consideration.
Recommendations for Different Players
For a first extended-range guitar, choose seven strings unless your target repertoire specifically needs eight. The smaller adjustment makes it easier to identify whether added range genuinely benefits your playing.
For bass-plus-melody arrangements or eight-string repertoire, choose eight strings. Buying seven solely to avoid adaptation may create unnecessary tuning compromises.
For budget-conscious players, prioritize setup quality over string count. Reserve money for suitable strings and professional adjustment. Premium buyers should pay for demonstrably better comfort, construction, or hardware—not assume multiscale frets automatically solve every problem.
Conclusion
The seven-string vs eight-string guitar decision comes down to usable range and comfortable control. Seven strings offer a straightforward route to lower notes; eight preserve that range while extending further downward. Choose the instrument that supports your actual songs and arrangements, then verify its neck dimensions, scale length, and setup suit your technique.
FAQ
Is it worth buying a 7-string guitar?
A seven-string guitar is worth buying when your repertoire or songwriting benefits from additional low notes while retaining standard upper-string tuning. It is not automatically an upgrade over six strings. If you only need a lower overall tuning, a suitable six-string or baritone may already meet your needs.
Are 8-string guitars harder to play?
Eight-string guitars generally demand more muting and string-tracking adjustment than seven-strings. Their wider necks can also change reaching and fretting comfort. However, difficulty depends on neck profile, spacing, scale length, setup, and technique. A well-matched eight-string can feel easier than a poorly matched seven-string.
Did Metallica ever use 7 strings?
Metallica’s familiar repertoire is primarily associated with six-string guitars, and ESP’s James Hetfield signature instruments reflect that approach. This does not establish that no member has ever tried or used seven strings. For buying purposes, follow the documented tuning and arrangement of the specific Metallica song you want to play.
Can you play 7-string songs on an 8-string guitar?
Usually, yes: a standard-tuned eight-string contains the complete standard seven-string tuning on its upper seven strings. You must mute the unused lowest string and adjust your string tracking. Songs using alternative seven-string tunings may require retuning or fingering changes, so check the complete arrangement first.
Can a downtuned 7-string replace an 8-string guitar?
A downtuned seven-string can replace an eight-string for parts that only need its lowest pitches. It cannot preserve all eight open-string positions or the same full range at once. If an arrangement combines deep bass notes with high melodies, losing the upper string can require substantial rearrangement.