7 string sliders?

[Deleted]

For a few years now I've owned an old electric D'Armond 7 string that i acquired due to some erm......musical mojo I've never really paid it much attention as i thought that 7 strings were for shredders and jazz hounds.

Over the past year or so I've been using it for electric slide tuned optimistically to GDGDGBD (open G with an extra low G - a very loose, flappy low G) and BDGDGBD. It's not something that i could say I've mastered exactly (6 strings being 5 too many at times! ;D) but it does sound good with a drummer in the absence of a bass player for a stripped down raw blues vibe.

I was wondering if anyone else out there has dabbled with 7 strings and if so which tunings, gauge strings etc worked well with the baritone scale. I've seen a few bits and pieces on the web but any comments / suggestions at all really would be gratefully received.

Ta
Woz

[Michael Messer]

Hi Woz,

I can't advise on that one. I have never dabbled with a seven string guitar. I have played eight string lap steels and nine string acoustics (strung like Big Joe Williams had his...half a 12 string!), but never with seven strings. Maybe someone on the forum can help or talk about seven string slide playing.

Good luck!

Shine On
Michael

[Bob Brozman]

I use that low G format tuning on 7 string, but also you can simply add a 7th note or a 6th to get G7 or G 6 tuning.

Another way to try it is DGDGBDG (with a high G on the 1st string.

To me, 7 string is an easy adaptation from 6 string, but 8 string is another world of every note is a chord....

[Deleted]

Thanks for the much appreciated advice, and good to know that I'm not barking up the wrong tree. I didn't consider the 6th or 7th tuning but I'll give those a go - it makes sense now you've said it.

Perhaps you could both put in a good word to my wife on the virtues of 8 string playing... I'll be sleeping in the park if i bring any more guitars home but she might listen to you guys!

All the best
Woz