You will need

• Guitar
• Fork
• Chord Chart for 7 String Guitar
• Tablatures
• Digitalizations
• Sheet music for seven-string guitar

Instructions

Tune your guitar. The seven-string is built on the tonic triad of G major. The first string is tuned as D of the 1st octave. Test it with a tuning fork. If you have a regular tuning fork with, which makes the sound A, then the first string, clamped at the seventh fret, should sound in unison with the tuning fork. The following strings are tuned as B-sol-re-si-sol-d.

The guitar has a significant advantage over other instruments. It can be played with or without barre practically using the same position of the fingers of the left hand. Start with the chords that have the most open strings. The main chord is G major. It can be played without plucking the strings, but you can use different inversions - for example, plucking the first, fourth or seventh string at the fifth fret.

Learn to take the barre. Barre is a guitar technique when the index finger of the left hand pinch part of the strings (small barre) or all (big barre). On a seven-string barre, you can use your left thumb to pinch the bass strings at the desired fret. The neck of the guitar actually lies in the palm of your hand.

Learn basic chords in G major and G minor. This is the tonic triad, as well as the triads of the fourth and fifth degrees - C major and D major. Both of these chords can be played using barres on the fifth and seventh frets. In general, barre for a seven-string guitar is very important, since all major chords are easiest to play using this technique. The G minor chord is played with a barre at the third fret, and the first, fourth and seventh strings are plucked at the fifth fret. All other minor chords can be played in exactly the same position.

Learn to play the seventh chord. For example, an A major seventh chord is played with a barre on the second fret, and the first or fourth string is plucked with the little finger or ring finger on the fifth fret. Try playing the remaining seventh chords using barre on different frets. The seventh chord uses the index and little fingers or the middle finger. With the rest you can try clamping other frets. You will get different chords that can be useful when choosing an accompaniment.

Try playing without barre. Build the G major chord you already know on closed strings. The first string is plucked with the little finger on the fifth fret, the second with the index finger on the third, and the third with the middle finger on the fourth fret. Ring finger You can also try different sounds on the bass and listen to what happens - this will be useful in any case when playing chords.

At the same time, master the techniques of playing with your right hand. Start with simple fingerpicking, with ascending and descending arpeggios. Arpeggios are played sequentially with all fingers right hand except for the little finger. Then learn how to play simple combat. The fingers of the right hand touch the strings back side, mainly with nails. The thumb is in right time hits the bass string. Play in different rhythms. Try playing a waltz, a march, or something lyrical. When you learn to confidently play a simple strumming, try a more complex one, when the fingers of your right hand folded together touch the strings with both the nails and the phalanges on the side of the palm.

The power and range of sound of seven-string electric guitars exceeds the capabilities of more conventional six-string instruments. An additional string at the bottom gives more room for the guitarist's self-expression, and updated chords with changed fingerings and new sounds open the way to new interesting sound solutions.

How to play a seven-string electric guitar. Content:

What is the difference between a seven-string guitar and a six-string one?

Among the main differences, in addition to the number of strings, six-string and seven-string instruments differ in pickups and their characteristics, the length and width of the neck, as well as a different sound range. But first things first.

Pickups

Seven-string guitars are used in extreme and heavy styles of music - alternative metal, various cores and even djent. The low-end sound of these guitars is provided by special high-output humbuckers like those found in DiMarzio, EMG, or Fokin Pickups products.

7-string guitar pickups are designed to accommodate the increased number of available sounds and range of the instrument.

Mensura

Often, dropping the sixth string on a regular guitar causes problems with tuning the instrument, even when using extra-high tension strings.

Seven-string guitars are equipped with necks with scales ranging from 26 to 29.4 inches (660 mm to 749 mm). This size gives greater tuning stability. Sometimes there are guitar models on the market with necks like six-string instruments - the scale length of such necks is 25.5 inches (648 mm), just like Fender guitars.

The increased length of the neck and the use of extra-high tension strings force manufacturers to play it safe when designing. Many necks of seven-string instruments are reinforced with the help of additional materials.

Neck width

The standard neck width of an electric guitar is 43 mm. The neck width of the seven-string guitar has been increased to 48 mm.

Manufacturers are actively working to improve the playability of such guitars. Thanks to this, when playing, guitarists do not feel discomfort along the entire length of the neck and are not limited in the speed of movement along the frets.

Seven-string guitar tuning

In the industry, the standard tuning for such instruments is considered to be (from low to high):

• Si (B);
• Mi (E);
• A (A);
• D (D);
• Salt (G);
• Si (B);
• Mi (E).

Just as on six-string guitars the sixth string is lowered to D to create a drop D tuning, on seven-string electric guitars use drop A tuning, dropping the seventh string to A.

Thus, the guitar tuning looks like this:

• A (A);
• Mi (E);
• A (A);
• D (D);
• Salt (G);
• Si (B);
• Mi (E).

Strings

Understanding how to play a seven-string electric guitar requires a lot of patience and a change in your own thinking. The sixth string is no longer the lowest, get used to it!

How to play a seven-string electric guitar. Scales and chords

Adding a seventh string better reveals the sonic potential of an electric guitar. When playing a seven-string guitar, the guitarist can use new chord fingerings enriched with additional notes. For example, chords often have added IX or XI degrees.

In this material we will only use standard setting seven-string electric guitars - B, E, A, D, G, B, E.

To understand how to play a seven-string electric guitar, let's understand the principles of constructing chords on such an instrument. The examples given are chords familiar to a six-string guitar, enriched with additional steps.

Badd9 chord diagram for seven-string guitar

Badd11 chord diagram for seven-string guitar

Bm9 chord diagram for seven-string guitar

Bsus9 chord diagram for seven-string guitar

Cmaj7 chord diagram for seven-string guitar

D5 chord diagram for seven-string guitar

The situation is similar with respect to scales: the form remains the same, but additional space for maneuver appears. The seventh string adds new colors to the sound, and the guitarist can cover almost three octaves within one scale when playing. At the same time, changes in positions during the game are kept to a minimum.

Pentatonic scale in E minor for seven-string guitar

Scale E major for seven-string electric guitar

Which seven-string electric guitar should you choose under $1100?

Most seven-string instruments can be found in the lines of Japanese guitar manufacturers Yamaha, Ibanez, LTD, Caparison, as well as from American companies Schecter, Washburn, Jackson. Other well-known companies also make seven-string electric guitars, but the choice of models is much smaller.

Seven-string electric guitars are divided by quality. The better the quality of the tool, the higher its cost. We chose three guitars - cheap, mid-priced and expensive in the price range up to $1100.

Schecter Diamond Series C-7 Deluxe

Price: $299

The C-7 Deluxe from Schecter is a versatile budget model with a basswood body and maple fingerboard.

LTD EC-407BFM

Price: $782

A killer-heavy seven-string electric guitar with a mahogany body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard and a pair of EMG pickups.

Ibanez RGIR27E

Price: $1099

A high-quality tool in the middle price segment. Pronounced bottom, bright top. Basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard. The guitar has a locking vibrato and killswitch.

How to play the seven-string guitar. Exercises and examples

Example 1. Getting used to the instrument

When first introduced to seven-string electric guitars, one is surprised by how low the extra string sounds.

To understand how to play a seven-string electric guitar, try a simple palm muting exercise. This exercise will help you understand the specifics of playing a seven-string guitar and teach you how to control the resonance of the instrument.

Example 2: Muting the Strings

Because the 7th string continues to sound as it moves to other strings, playing riffs with open strings runs the risk of polluting the sound.

To avoid dirt, mute the open string with the tip of your finger, which you use to pinch notes on other strings.

Example 3. Playing scales

Due to the wider neck, at first you may have problems playing the lower (bass) strings.

The third example is aimed at improving finger stretching. As you play it, you'll get used to the wider neck of a seven-string electric guitar.

For greater convenience, place thumb at the bottom of the bar, that is, make the reach of your palm as wide as possible. This will make it easier to reach the lowest strings.

Example 4: Changing strings

The fourth exercise develops clarity and purity of sound production of individual notes, especially those located on different strings. Please note that in the example the game is on alternating stroke, not straight.

Example 5: Power Chord Riff

Having become familiar with the instrument, let's play power chords. The difference between power chords on six- and seven-string electric guitars lies in the number of strings - on a seven-string instrument, power chords can be played on four strings. This makes the chords sound more powerful, and by palm muting you can achieve an even heavier sound.

The first measure uses a straight stroke (downstroke), while in the second the exercise switches to an alternating one.

Example 6: Trivium style

The example is inspired by the playing style of Corey Beaulieu from the group Trivium. The point of the example is to combine power chords and short melodic lines.

Mute all power chords that fall on the downbeat, and play power chords on the downbeat without muting. This will place emphasis during the game and give the game more dynamics.

Playing melodic sections will also require muting, but we will mute the lower strings to avoid dirt and unnecessary noise (see Example 2 above).

Example 7. Chris Broderick's style

Example based on the playstyle of Chris Broderick from Megadeth and Act of Defiance. The example is performed in the Phrygian mode (see).

Do not chase the speed of execution; first practice a clean execution of the exercise at a slower pace.

The most difficult moment in the example is the transition from a rhythmic line to a melodic line. Practice the transition very slowly and gradually pick up speed. When playing the melody line, mute the lower strings to avoid mud while playing.

Photo

Learning to play the seven-string guitar

Do you want to surprise others by playing an unusual musical instrument? Master the seven-string guitar! Seven-string guitar lessons, even for beginners, are a fun hobby that you will immerse yourself in.

This bright and unusual guitar was called “Russian”. Unlike her six-string sister, she is not intended to solo, but to accompany. But in the art of accompaniment, the seven-string instrument has no equal. Chords come easier to him.

But those who love the seven-string guitar are especially attached to folk songs and everyday romances. Many performers appreciate its extended range, lower tuning, bright and rich sound. It is not for nothing that the famous bard Vladimir Vysotsky recognized only this instrument. Modern musicians are also his fans: Amatori, Tractor Bowling, Crazy Efforts and others.

How to learn to play the seven-string guitar?

The main difficulty in mastering a seven-string guitar is that its neck is wider than that of a classic six-string. This is why some techniques, such as barre, are more difficult.

In addition, it is more difficult to find chords for this instrument - they are mainly written for the “six-string”.

That's why it's better to master the seven-string guitar with a professional teacher.

How are they taught to play the seven-string guitar at the Virtuosi school?

Experienced teachers at our school teach important skills step by step:

• Proper landing and placement of fingers
• Tuning a guitar using a tuning fork and more
• The basic G major chord and many other chords
• Mastery of the barre
• Seventh chords
• A game of combat and brute force.

To make learning progress faster and give you incentive, we learn your favorite song. In just six months you will play it masterfully at the reporting concert.

Don't believe me? Sign up for a free trial lesson and see the skills of our teachers!

Individual courses

Playing a seven-string guitar for beginners is quite simple, although it is very different from playing an acoustic six-string. This is a favorite instrument of the gypsies and is also popular in Russia. So information about it will be useful primarily to those who are interested in such musical instrument, as well as lessons in playing this instrument practically from scratch. The main difference is that the sound it produces is simply magnificent, so playing it will be interesting to many.

It is quite possible to learn the game on your own, without a teacher. The seven-string guitar is not very difficult to play, so it is suitable even for beginners. You can learn with modern means, such as videos on the Internet. You can try learning from books. Both books and videos are easy to find, and if you know how to formulate queries in search engines, this will not be too difficult for you. A self-instruction manual for playing the seven-string guitar can be either in a video version or with consideration only of theory - any of them will help you in your work.

Playing the seven-string guitar for beginners does not always require extensive knowledge. Sometimes superficial skills and abilities are enough to perform any melody. The most popular chords, if you learn them, will help you accompany easy songs. And the most important thing for a guitar is to be useful in big company to perform a soulful song.

Is everything as complicated as it seems?

Playing the seven-string guitar can seem daunting for any beginner. For beginners, it is worth explaining that a seven-string instrument differs from a six-string instrument, and not only in the presence of another string, but also in its entire structure. Consequently, many melodies are performed differently on it.

Semi string guitar- a separate instrument that has only a vague resemblance to a six-string. A person who is interested in learning lessons of varying complexity on a seven-string “gypsy” guitar from scratch will have to learn a huge number of nuances, but they are easy to remember. If you are looking for a tutorial on how to play a seven-string guitar, then remember that not only the playing, but also the sound in this case will be very different from a six-string.

For many young people, learning to play the guitar is especially important. There are popular motifs that, once you learn, will help you shine. Such melodies are given as examples by teachers who film video lessons on playing an ordinary seven-string guitar. A self-instruction manual for playing the seven-string guitar for beginners and video lessons on the Internet already have analyzes of popular melodies. Well-known and quite simple for beginners:

• songs by Nirvana;
• Metallica;
• popular motifs of Russian composers.

And admit it, it’s much more pleasant and interesting to take lessons on familiar songs on a seven-string guitar than to learn an unknown and boring tune.

How to study using a self-instruction manual?

To learn how to play a seven-string guitar at a sufficient level, it is most convenient for beginners to learn the symbols of all the chords and write them down in a special notebook. This is where seven-string guitar lessons begin.

You need to choose the right tutorial for playing the seven-string guitar based on your level of knowledge and preferences in music. These video lessons are very convenient for beginners, where the performer plays and simultaneously demonstrates chords.

The advantage of such seven-string guitar lessons is that you can clearly see how this or that task is performed, how to perform the composition correctly and avoid mistakes. You constantly hear the sound of Moldova itself performed by a professional, which a book cannot provide you with.

This self-instruction book for beginners is very suitable, where the process of performing any techniques by the performer will be shown in detail in close-up. Experience shows that such lessons help to better understand the material and repeat it in practice. It is also convenient when the display is accompanied by the text of notes, chords, strings.

The game is not a very complicated process, and absolutely anyone can learn the game. Of course, musical data plays an important role, but far from the key one. Guitar playing is largely based on chords, that is, how well you know the combinations of strings and frets and can press them.

If you are starting to play from scratch, it is better to use a tutorial that will show you exactly the chords. Lessons for playing the seven-string guitar from scratch in this form will be simpler. Start, of course, with the basics. Carefully watch how a professional who is filming a video lesson for you performs this or that technique.

Unless you have unique musical talents, you can always learn chords and chord progressions through hard work. It may not be virtuoso performances or your own compositions, but you will be able to play the melodies you have learned with dignity.

If you are new to playing a seven-string guitar, you should know that the strings of such a guitar are usually metal. This means that your fingers will hurt from playing the guitar. You can, of course, take nylon ones, but their sound is not as clear and resonant. And seven-string guitar lessons from scratch can be shorter than lessons on a classical instrument.

If you learn to play the seven-string guitar from video lessons, you may have problems understanding some of the nuances of the game. If something is unclear, you can watch lessons from other guitarists or write to the author of the video, asking him to tell you something in more detail. Usually “teachers” willingly agree to help - this is how you will have a remote guitar teacher. You should not “lean” on a person - after all, you are simply asking a person for help, and not hiring him.

What should you know about learning to play the seven-string?

If we talk in general about playing the seven-string guitar, we can confidently say the following things:

• this instrument has not lost and will not lose its relevance and popularity for many years;
• a seven-string is a universal musical instrument that will help you (if you have musical ear) play any song on the guitar, even in camping conditions;
• A seven-string guitar is different from an acoustic guitar in many ways, but that doesn't make it any better or worse. She's just different;
• Learning to play a seven-string guitar for someone who expects instant results is useless, especially if you practice on your own using a self-instruction manual.
• the most important thing is work and perseverance.

Except six string guitar, there is also a seven-string guitar. There is a fatal seven-string, the tuning of which repeats the tuning of a six-string with a lower B string. And there is a typically Russian seven-string instrument with a slightly different tuning. We wrote about this in detail in this article.

Chords for rock seven-string guitar

Since the tuning of such a guitar is similar to the tuning of a six-string, the chords are played on it.

Chords for Russian seven-string guitar

The repertoire performed on such a guitar is slightly different: mainly Russian romances. Let us first remember the structure of this instrument: the string count starts from the thinnest: D of the first octave-B-Sol-D of the small octave-B-Sol-D of the large octave. Moreover, this is not the only option; some musicians adjust the guitar to their voice, for example, Vladimir Vysotsky lowered the strings a tone lower.

1. C chord

As with the six-string, this chord here should not pose much difficulty for a beginner.

• Forefinger placed on the fifth string of the first fret (this is the tonic of the C chord).
• The middle finger pinch the second string of the first fret.
• The ring finger is placed on the fourth string of the second fret.
• Finally, use your little finger to pinch the first string on the second fret.

A simplified version of this chord - without the fourth string pressed.

This triad can also be played with a full barre at the fifth fret.

Surely you have already realized that the G chord in the first position with this tuning is played on empty strings, that is, without the participation of the left hand. However, there is another variation of this chord that uses all four fingers of the left hand.

• On the third fret, press the second string with your index finger.
• At the 4th fret, pinch the 3rd string with your middle finger.
• Use your ring finger to press the 4th string on the 5th fret.
• Use your little finger to press the 1st string at the 4th fret.

The thumb is not involved in the chord.

This chord involves the thumb pressing the 7th bass string. The index finger presses the 3rd string on the 1st fret, the middle finger presses the 4th string on the 2nd fret, and the ring finger presses the first string on the third fret.

4. Em chord for seven-string

The fingering is almost the same, only the 3rd string remains open.

This is one of those chords for seven-string guitar, which requires the left thumb to pick up. However, do not be alarmed: practice makes perfect.

7. H chord

Here you also need to take a barre, but only a full one, on the 4th fret. Other fingers are not involved in this triad.