At the time, I ran into a huge problem. I did not know the order of the Russian seven string guitar and no one could tell me about it. I figured it out for several long months. Saved me from ignorance, our Russian bookstore.

Once I went to a bookstore, I found on the shelves a manual for playing the seven-string guitar for 40 rubles. First of all, I eagerly drank from the first pages of the tutorial and found out the structure of the seven-string guitar. But I didn't have 40 rubles with me. Therefore, I went home for money and finally bought the treasured book, which I not only do not regret, but on the contrary, I am grateful to God for such a priceless gift.

Will not big secret that a classical six-string guitar is built in fourths and has E-H-G-D-A-E(from the first string to the sixth), which gives her special flexibility in playing music and performing various musical works.

The invention of the Russian seven-string guitar and its special tuning is attributed to Andrey Osipovich Sikhra. They say he was a harpist, and six strings were not enough for him, so he came up with a seven-string version of the guitar. In addition, the Russian seven-string guitar is distinguished by its tertian tuning, which gives it a special musical and timbre flavor.

The tuning of the seven-string guitar is as follows:

1st string - D (Re) of the first octave

2nd - H (Si) small octave

3rd - G (Sol) of a small octave

4th - D (Re) small octave

5th - H (Si) of a large octave

6th - G (Sol) of a large octave

7th - D (Re) of a large octave

As you can see from the tuning, the open strings of the Russian seven-string guitar make up a G major (G) chord, so we can safely call such a tuning "open G". By the way, the famous Rosenbaum, who plays the twelve-string guitar, uses the “open G” tuning. Only it is expressed with one difference. It uses a seven-string guitar tuning with the fifth string omitted. Therefore, string pairs are built in D-H-G-D-G-D. This also explains the effect that many novice guitar players cannot determine from the video what chords he takes :)

However, do not forget that when recording music for MOST guitars, sounds are recorded an octave higher than their actual sound. Therefore, the system of a seven-string guitar in notes will look like this (the numbers in circles are, as always, the strings):

If all this is translated into a guitar neck (in notes, that is, an octave higher than its real sound), then this picture will turn out:

As we remember from previous articles for a six-string guitar, horizontally from top to bottom we have strings from the first to the seventh, and vertically (columns) these are the frets of the guitar from the zero nut to the 19th fret. Well, and, accordingly, the sounds of C major on these frets (the rest, altered sounds, you can easily find out yourself).

TUNING A RUSSIAN SEVEN-STRING GUITAR

As you can see from the illustration above, given that the guitar sounds an octave below its musical notation, we can tune the guitar in the following way.

The seventh fret of the first string is built in unison with the tuning fork A of the first octave.

The second string, clamped at the 3rd fret, is built in unison with the open first string.

The third string, pressed at the 4th fret, is built in unison with open second string.

The fourth string, clamped at the 5th fret, is built in unison with the open third string, or the open fourth string is an octave below the open first string.

The fifth string, pressed at the 3rd fret, is built in unison with the fourth open string, or open fifth an octave below the second open string.

The sixth string, clamped at the 4th fret, is built in unison with the fifth open string, or an open sixth an octave below the third string.

The seventh string, clamped at the 5th fret, is built in unison with the sixth string, or an open seventh one octave below the fourth open string.

Thus, having tuned and checked the system, we get the G major chord on the open strings. What next…

TO BE CONTINUED…

Elliot Craig.

You can discuss this article in the FORUM in the "Site Discussion" section.

Rock music does not stand still, and many musicians began to add seven-strings to their guitar arsenal. Perhaps this is a tribute to fashion, perhaps something more. In any case, it's time to talk about how to setup seven-string guitar . But let's make a reservation right away, there are two types of seven-string guitars, each with its own repertoire, tuning and pantheon of virtuoso guitarists. So, let's begin.

1. Tuning a Russian seven-string guitar

Short story

The Russian (gypsy) seven-string guitar has been known in Russia since the 18th and 19th centuries. Andrey Osipovich Sikhra (1773-1850) became its active propagandist, author of arrangements and initial repertoire. According to one of the legends, Andrey Osipovich was the inventor of this instrument. The repertoire of the Russian seven-string guitar consists mainly of Russian romances, an author's song, as well as arrangements the best samples classical music.

Performers on the Russian seven-string guitar

A. O. Sikhra (1773 - 1850), M. T. Vysotsky (1791 - 1837), S. D. Orekhov (1935 - 1998), Sasha Kolpakov (born 1943), V. S. Vysotsky (1938, - 1980), B. Sh. Okudzhava (1924 - 1997), S. Ya. Nikitin (born 1944), Yu. I. Vizbor (1934 - 1984) and others.

The build of the Russian seven-string guitar in Latin letters

• Standard tuning: D, H, G, D, H, G, D (all tunings are written starting from the thinnest string).
• The build of the seven-string guitar of Bulat Okudzhava: D, H, G, D, C, G, D.
• Sergei Nikitin's guitar tuning: D, A#, G, D, C, G, D.

This material will be handy when tuning the guitar. But the seven-string can be tuned and in a standard way aurally.

Build, musical staff

How to tune a seven-string guitar by ear (standard tuning)

• We tune the first (thinnest) string according to the carmerton “la”. That is, we achieve that this string pressed on the 7th fret sounds the same as our sound standard - the note “la”. To do this, turn the peg on which this string is stretched, tightening and loosening the string until it gives the desired sound at the desired fret.
• Tune the second string. We press it on the third fret. On the third fret, it should sound like the unpressed first string. We also twist the peg of the second string to find the right note. Here and below, we will use this method. Therefore, I will not repeat this further, as a matter of course.
• Tune the third string. It sounds like an unpressed second on the fourth fret.
• Tune the fourth string. It sounds like an unpressed third on the fifth fret.
• Tune the fifth string. We press it on the third fret, here it should sound like an unpressed fourth.
• Tune the sixth string. It sounds like an unpressed fifth on the third fret.
• Tune the seventh string. It sounds like an unpressed sixth on the third fret.

And now it's the same, only the scheme.

Perestroika in the system of Bulat Okudzhava

Restructuring a seven-string guitar by Sergei Nikitin

• Tune the fifth string so that it sounds like the fourth at the second fret.
• Tune the second string so that it sounds like the first at the fourth fret.

Chords for Russian seven-string.

2. Tuning a rock seven-string guitar

Short story

In the middle of the 19th century, Russian gypsies, having immigrated to Brazil, brought a lot to the culture of this country. Including in musically. So New World got acquainted with the Russian (gypsy) 7-string. True, over time, the seven-string guitar changed its Russian tuning to the standard six-string tuning with the seventh string in H or A. But the real boom of this instrument began only in the 1990s. This was facilitated by the music of the Korn group with a reduced system of seven-string guitars from the seventh "si".

Performers on the fatal seven-string guitar

James "Munky" Shaffer (Korn), Wes Borland (ex-Limp Bizkit), other musicians of the alternative scene.

Build a fatal seven-string guitar in Latin letters

Standard tuning: E, H, G, D, A, E, H (all tunings are written starting from the thinnest string).
Korn guitar tuning: D, A, F, C, G, D, A. (similar in intervals to standard, just lowered by a tone)

Build, musical staff

How to tune a seven-string guitar in standard rock tuning

The first six strings of a seven-string guitar are tuned similarly to a six-string (). Therefore, I will not repeat myself here. The seventh - at the fifth fret sounds like an unpressed sixth. But nevertheless, I give a configuration scheme, if anyone is too lazy to view other pages of the site.

I hope it helped to understand the variety of tunings of the seven-string guitar.
I wish you success and more swing in the game!

Was one of the most popular instruments both upper and lower circles of society. Her sounds could be heard not only on the outskirts of the working rows, but also in the high-society salon. It's a pity, but it's less and less possible to hear its magical sounds, despite the fact that playing it gives no less pleasure than a six-string guitar gives.

Many who inherited this instrument from their fathers or grandfathers are not averse to mastering at least the initial chords, learning a couple of songs that can please relatives and friends. Not everyone knows how to tune a seven-string guitar on their own. Like any instrument, this one has its own characteristics that should be considered when it comes to starting to master the basics of music and playing. There are several ways to tune a seven-string guitar so that the sound is clear and pleasant.

Learning to self-configure

One of the most known ways- tuning the guitar to the voice. For this type, a subsequent study of the initial chords will suffice. However, most people prefer to tune the instrument with a tuning fork.

Despite the above methods, both among beginners and among amateurs, you can find a different type of tuning, which will be discussed later, namely, how to tune a seven-string guitar by ear.

The very history of this instrument dates back a lot of time, because the Russian, or, as it is also called, the gypsy guitar, has been known since the 18th century. There are many legends about who exactly began to promote the use of the tool. The most common name is A.O. Sikhra. It was he, as the story goes, who invented the guitar. She accompanies some types of classical music, author's songs, Russian romances, which, oddly enough, have been quite popular over the past few years.

Famous musicians who preferred this instrument were Yu.I. Vizbor, B.Sh. Okudzhava, V.S. Vysotsky and others. History has preserved many such names.

Many people study and learn how to tune a seven-string guitar by ear for a long time. This is not as difficult as it might seem, of course, if a person has natural data.

• The thinnest first string is tuned according to the tuning fork - La. This means that by pressing the string at the 7th fret, the sound was identical to the reference "A". Using the peg, directing it in one direction or the other, loosening and tightening, you should achieve the perfect combination of sound.
• The tuning of a seven-string guitar is carried out further as follows: the second string is pressed at the 3rd fret. Its sound, in turn, coincides exactly with the not clamped first. You will have to use a peg every time you select a certain sound for a string. Keep this in mind when setting up.
• While the mood of the seven-string guitar "reached" the 3rd string, it is important to achieve its unison on the 4th fret with the 2nd not pressed.
• By this principle, the tincture of the remaining strings occurs. The fourth at the 5th fret makes the same sound as the free 3rd.
• The fifth, pressed at the 3rd fret, is identical to the free 4th.
• The sixth string of the 3rd fret makes the same sound with the free fifth.
• As for the seventh, the following rule also applies here: on the 3rd fret it is identical to the not clamped sixth.

This may seem like a complicated operation, but for those who have ever held a guitar in their hands and have an ear, this will be quite a simple tuning. And even if future musician no experience, do not be upset. You can use either another method, such as tuning a seven-string guitar on the Internet through a microphone, or make another attempt.

We use the help of the Internet

Many do not know, but there are also seven-string guitars in rock music. Among them, the most notable are such performers as "Korn" and former member Limp Bizkit. As for the tuning of this type of guitar, the first six strings of it sound like a Spanish six-string, and the final one at the 5th fret, like a free 6th.

Those who have the technical ability and can tune a seven-string guitar online through a microphone can say happy people. After all, there is nothing easier than to go to a specialized site, of which there are quite a lot on the network, connect a microphone to a computer and start setting it up.

Using a tuner (a small device that helps you get the right beautiful sounds for your musical instruments), it is quite easy to bring the sound of a seven-string guitar to perfection. In order not to make a mistake during tuning, both programs and Internet pages offer to listen to the correct sound, combine the resulting “melody” and bring the instrument to the desired sound. We must not forget that the guitar is a “live” instrument and from time to time it is advisable to check its mood, which can go astray.

The power and range of the sound of seven-string electric guitars exceeds the capabilities of more conventional six-string instruments. An extra string on the bottom gives more room for the guitarist to express himself, and updated chords with re-fingering and new sounds open the way for new interesting sound solutions.

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

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

Comparison of six-string and seven-string electric guitars

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

Pickups

Fokin Pickups Demolition 7-string humbucker set

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

Seven-string guitar pickups are designed to take into account the increased number of sounds available and the range of the instrument.

mensura

Often the descent of the sixth string on regular guitar causes problems with tuning the instrument, even when using extra-tight strings.

Seven-string guitars are equipped with necks with a scale length from 26 to 29.4 inches (from 660 mm to 749 mm). This size gives greater tuning stability. Sometimes on the market there are models of guitars with six-string necks - 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-strong strings force manufacturers to play it safe when designing. Many necks of seven-string instruments are reinforced with additional materials.

Neck Width

Jackson Chris Broderick Pro Series Soloist 7

The standard neck width of an electric guitar is 43mm. 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. Due to this, when playing, guitarists do not feel inconvenience along the entire length of the neck and are not limited in the speed of movement along the frets.

Seven-string guitar tuning

Standard tuning of a seven-string electric guitar: B, E, A, D, G, B, E

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

• C (B);
• Mi (E);
• La (A);
• Re (D);
• Salt (G);
• C (B);
• Mi (E).

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

Drop A tuning for seven-string electric guitar: A, E, A, D, G, B, E

So the guitar tuning looks like this:

• La (A);
• Mi (E);
• La (A);
• Re (D);
• Salt (G);
• C (B);
• Mi (E).

strings

Jackson Chris Broderick Pro Series Soloist 7

Learning how to play a seven-string electric guitar takes a lot of patience and a change of mindset. The sixth string is no longer the lowest, get used to it!

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

The addition of a seventh string brings out the sonic potential of the electric guitar better. 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 steps.

Within the framework of this material, we will use only the standard tuning of seven-string electric guitars - B, E, A, D, G, B, E.

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

Badd9 chord chart for seven-string guitar

Badd11 chord chart 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

Similarly, the situation develops in relation to scales: the form remains the same, but there is additional room for maneuver. 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, position changes during the game are minimized.

Pentatonic scale E minor for seven-string guitar

E major scale for seven-string electric guitar

Which seven-string electric guitar to choose under $1100?

Most of the seven-string instruments can be found in the lines of Japanese guitar manufacturers Yamaha, Ibanez, LTD, Caparison, as well as 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. How better 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

Schecter Diamond Series C-7 Deluxe

Price: $299

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

LTD EC-407BFM

LTD EC-407

Price: $782

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

Ibanez RGIR27E

Ibanez RGIR27E

Price: $1099

Quality tool in the middle price segment. Pronounced bottom, bright top. Basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard. The guitar has a lockable vibrato and a killswitch.

How to play the seven string guitar. Exercises and examples

Example 1: Getting used to the tool

The first acquaintance with seven-string electric guitars is surprising in how low the additional string sounds.

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

Example 2: Muting strings

Since the seventh string continues to sound when you change to other strings, playing open-string riffs runs the risk of sound pollution.

To avoid dirt, mute an open string with your fingertip, which is used to pinch notes on other strings.

Example 3. Playing scales

Due to the wider neck, it may be difficult to play the lower (bass) strings at first.

The third example is aimed at improving the stretch of the fingers. By playing it, you will get used to the wider neck of a seven-string electric guitar.

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

Example 4: Changing strings

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

Example 5 Power Chord Riff

Having mastered the instrument, let's play power chords. The difference between power chords on six-string and seven-string electric guitars is the number of strings - on a seven-string instrument, powerful chords can be played on four strings. Thanks to this, chords sound more powerful, and by muting with the palm of your hand, you can achieve an even heavier sound.

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

Example 6 Trivium Style

The example is inspired by the playing style of Corey Beaulieu of Trivium. The meaning of the example is the combination of power chords and short melodic lines.

Mute all power chords that fall on the down beat, and play power chords on the down beat without muting. This will set the accents during the game and give the party more dynamics.

Playing melodic segments 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 Style

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

Do not chase the speed of execution, first work out the clean execution of the exercise at a slower pace.

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

Here you can tune a seven-string guitar through a microphone using online tuner.
As well as tune the guitar by ear using the recorded guitar string sounds in different tunings for 7-string guitar.

How to tune a 7 string guitar?

A seven-string guitar is tuned in the same way as a six-string guitar.
The only difference is that the 7-string guitar has one more, thickest, string - the lower B (si).
In order to tune it, you need to hold down the 6th string E (mi) at the 5th fret, as a result, we get the sound of an open 7th string.

Instructions for tuning a guitar with an online tuner:

1.Plug in your microphone

2. Press the "Allow" button on the tuner.

3. Take one note and look at the tuner.
The tuner will display the name of the note played, and the accuracy of its tuning.
If the green pointer on the scale deviates to the right of the letter, then the string is overstretched, if to the left of the letter, then it is not stretched.
You need to change the tension of the string by releasing or tightening it with the tuning pegs.

If the sound of the guitar string matches the standard, the letter will turn green.
And that means that given note sounds right, and other strings can be tuned.

Seven-string guitar tuning

For the seven-string guitar, there are many various options guitar tuning: basic - standard, Russian, as well as - lower tunings, Dropped builds other.

1.Standard tuning of a seven-string guitar - BEADGBE

• 1st string - E (Mi) (the thinnest)
• 2nd string - B (B)
• 3rd string - G (Sol)
• 4th string - D (D)
• 5th string - A (La)
• 6th string - E (Mi)
• 7th string - B (B)

2. "Russian" system - d¹bgdBGD

Mostly used by bards. The guitar in this tuning is tuned in G major on open strings. This system is also called "Open G".

• 5th string - note B (Si) of a large octave

3. Gypsy minor scale - d¹b♭gdB♭GD

Its difference from the standard Russian tuning is that instead of a major quadruple-sextakcord, a minor one is used: the 2nd and 5th strings are lowered by half a tone.

In this tuning, the strings are tuned as follows:

• 1st string - note d¹ (Re) of the first octave
• 3rd string - note g (Sol) of a small octave
• 4th string - note d (Re) of a small octave
• 5th string - note B♭ (B-flat) of the big octave
• 6th string - note G (Sol) of a large octave
• 7th string - note D (Re) of a large octave

Naturally, with such tunings, the fingerings of the chords will differ from those usual for 6-string guitars.

4. Reduced tunings of a seven-string guitar

Some guitarists tune their instruments lower or higher than standard to match the sound of the instrument when played to the player's voice.

Bb action- Bb-Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb- Tuned a semitone below the standard.
A system- A-D-G-C-F-A-D - One tone below standard.
G# system- G#-C#-F#-B-E-G#-C# - 3 semitones below standard.
G system- G-C-F-A#-D#-G-C - 2 tones below standard.
F# build-F#-B-E-A-D-F#-B- 5 semitones below standard.

5. Dropped-tuning a seven-string guitar

In these tunings, the seventh string is tuned a tone lower than usual.

Drop A-A-E-A-D-G-B-E- The same as the standard, but with the seventh one tone lower.
Drop Ab- Ab-Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb- Half step below Drop A.
Drop G-G-D-G-C-F-A-D- One tone below Drop A.
DropF#- F#-C#-F#-B-E-G#-C# - 3 semitones below Drop. A

6. Other tunings of the seven-string guitar

6.1.Stroy Sergey Nikitina (performer, composer) - d¹ b♭gdсGD:

1st string - note d¹ (Re) of the first octave
2nd string - note b♭ (B flat) small octave
3rd string - note g (Sol) of a small octave
4th string - note d (Re) of a small octave
6th string - note G (Sol) of a large octave
7th string - note D (Re) of a large octave

6.2.The system of Bulat Okudzhava and Vera Matveeva - d¹bgdсGD:

1st string - note d¹ (Re) of the first octave
2nd string - note b (Si) of a small octave
3rd string - note g (Sol) of a small octave
4th string - note d (Re) of a small octave
5th string - note from (Do) small octave
6th string - note G (Sol) of a large octave
7th string - note D (Re) of a large octave

6.2. And others:

Open E- BEBEG#BE
Open A- AEAEAC#E
Open D- ADADF#AD
Open B-BD#BD#F#BD#
Drop D Drop A- ADADGBE
C 6th- CEGCGAE
jazz tuning- AEADGBE
Lute tuning- BEADF#BE
Blues tuning (Fourths tuning)- BEADGCF
Jimmy Page tuning- ADADGAD
Rain Song tuning- CDGCCGCD
Major 3rds- EAbCEAbCE
GDAEBGBA- modified Robert Fripp New Standard Tuning