Its been a few years since I last contributed. In that time I have received many emails from folk who have purchased their first 7 string and are saying “cool, but now what?”

My reply in the past has always been “Good luck, now goto to the website and learn”. Anyway, it occurred to me whilst redesigning the site recently that beginners could really do with a basic set of tools to address the initial obstacles and set them in motion.

1. Incorporating the extra bass string:

Familiarizing your hands with an extra string requires determined graft. Invite the new string to play and it will join in. here is a chromatic scale and an Am add9 chord. Each covers the 7 strings. Master these and your hands will start to accept the newcomer. Keep your eyes on your fretting hand, use alternate picking and wind up the metronome.

2. 2. Tuning

For the most part I tune to an A i.e. 7A 6E 5A 4D 3G 2B 1E. The main reason is to throw a bit of variety into the existing standard tuning system. We already have four intervals of a 4th (6E-5A, 5A-4D, 4D-3G, 2B-1E), one of a third (3G-2B) and now one of a fifth (7A-6E).

3. Suggestions

Try moving bass notes from your existing chords onto the 7th. Work out and learn all the note names of the 7th. Experiment with the gauge and tuning of the 7th. Check any new mic or speaker you buy covers the mid 50Hz range to accommodate the 7th. Goto www.7string.za.net.