Eight-string guitar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An eight-string guitar is a guitar with eight strings instead of the commonly used six. Such guitars are not as common as the six string variety, but are used by classical, jazz and metal guitarists to expand the range of their instrument by adding two strings.
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[edit] History and Variants
There are several variants of this instrument, one probably originating from Russia along with the seven string guitar variant in the 19th century. The eight string guitar has recently begun to gain popularity, notably among jazz artists such as Charlie Hunter, The Special Purpose, Terje Rypdal and Richard Scott, and metal artists such as Meshuggah. Korn guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer has also been seen with an 8 String variant during occasional live shows. There are steadily increasing numbers of manufacturers offering eight string guitars, and a production eight string was released in 2007 by Ibanez. Some of the main manufacturing companies of 8 and even 9 string guitars are Novax Guitars established by Ralph Novak and Conklin Guitars.
[edit] The Eight-string Classical Acoustic Guitar
Eight string variations are also found in classical nylon strung instruments. They are generally tuned with two extra basses ([BD]EADGBE) that vary in pitch depending on the piece being played. Another common variation is to add an extra bass and treble string. The extra treble is almost always tuned to A, while the added bass string usually falls on A, B, or C.
The Classical guitarists Paul Galbraith and Alexander Vynograd are two of the most notable 8 string players who use the extra high and low string tuning. Galbraith generally tunes (B)EADGBEA which puts standard 6 string guitar chord voicings and scale shapes within the neck and allows him to read directly off of lute tablature (a whole step higher). Vynograd chooses to tune AEADGCEA (notice the b string is tuned up a half step) which allows him to play the top 6 strings like a guitar a 4th higher. Vynograd writes his music on a grand staff in a different key and plays as if the guitar was tuned EBEADGBE. This is a less confusing approach than Galbraith for a 6 string transitioning to 8 because the fingerings and sheet music are more familiar.
[edit] The Eight-string Electric guitar
The 8 string electric guitars are used by Meshuggah, Asesino, Rusty Cooley, James Shaffer of Korn, Brian Earley of Lyre's Requiem and other metal artists are most often tuned in regular 4ths, with two extra basses (Low to High) F#,B,E,A,D,G,B,E. Fredrik Thordendal and Marten Hagstrom of Meshuggah tune their 8 string guitars F,Bb,Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Bb,Eb, and one and two semitones below this tuning. Rusty Cooley and also John Petrucci of Dream Theater have been seen using one extra bass and one extra treble string. Several smaller luthier companies now offer 8-string models, such as Klesh Guitars, Blackmachine Guitars, LGM Guitars, TK Instruments, Shamray Guitars Nevborn Guitars and Hufschmid Guitars.
8 string pickup makers include Lundgren, Kent Armstrong handmade pickups and EMG.
Ibanez has a single production 8-string model that came out during March 2007, the RG2228GK,it was introduced in the Winter NAMM -show of 2007[1]. This is the first ever mass production of a solid body 8-string electric guitar.
[edit] The Eight-string Baritone Tricone Resonator Guitar
Recently in Australia a unique type of Eight String Guitar has emerged. The 8 string Baritone tricone built by Ellis Guitars in Perth, Australia is an example of how the 8 string concept can be moulded to suit an artists style. In this case blues artist James Michael Thompson help Ellis to come up with a guitar that was like a seven string but had the highest string doubled in the same way as a 12-string guitar. It is tuned A E A E A C# e/e but can also be tuned A D A D F# A d/d for more open slide guitar styles. The design was a modification on the 7 string harp resonator guitar Ellis had built for Jeff Martin
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes and References
- ^ Official Ibanez Forums announcement: http://www.ibanez.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4151&PN=1
