Baritone vs. 7 String Guitar: Battle of the B Strings!

We explore the advantages and disadvantages of Baritone guitars and 7 string guitars - which will win?
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#Baritone #7String #Djent

[@mus0rmus1c3]

I have no preference. I don’t play lead, so you could literally hand me a guitar with 4 strings and I would be fine. I have two 8-strings 🙄

[@AndrewJayGuitar]

For my music, I would be team 7 string. I like using a 7 to orchestrate parts for other instruments while retaining my guitar sensibilities. Having said that, I have yet to find a 7 string that I feel as comfortable as a 6. That is where a baritone would be more physically comfortable. But if I had to have only one, it would have to be a 7 because I am not giving up anything, only adding.

[@jeffmckinnon5842]

I think I agree. That extra string and some imagination for tunings, has the potential to become a very different instrument with more variety to offer than a Baritone does. These guitars might be used for more than just Metal, some day, and in the proper hands, anything is possible.

[@newtonlkh]

what was being given up is the familiarity.

[@sccrash420]

One thing that may help with a 7-string, is tune your G a half-step down to an F#. I've heard it helps. I play a 7, but my tuning is Modal D with a LOW G: GDADGAD. To each their own. Experimenting is right up there with practicing. Great video!

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

You can play Kashmir! And a ton of fingerstyle version of Irish tunes!

[@EveyoneCallsMeTheDude]

I’ve got everything from 7.5’s to 12’s, and I love them all!!

[@RobertFisher1969]

If I ever get a 7-string, I’ll tune it in major 3rds E-to-E. (Though I’ll have to find one of those rare non-pointy ones.) For lower range, I’d go baritone instead. Although my hex-pickup equipped Strat gives me the ability to virtually play around with major 3rds tuning or shifting down to baritone range so I keep putting off getting either.

[@ryanohlson4181]

As a 7 string metal player, that 3rd relationship between the G and B is still super important for how I play. I build a lot of riffs from chord shapes. A lot of 7 string players are also shred guys, and you really want that for playing things like sweep arpeggios. Personally, my favorite thing about playing a 7 string is that it gives me access to that lower register without sacrificing anything, I play 6 string material the same exact way. It's also really convenient to have that on demand, for example if you're writing a song in E minor, changing to B phrygian is a really natural and logical move. And that's how I use it most of the time. Probably 80% of what I write could be played on 6 strings, but the 7th gives me options that I wouldn't otherwise have on one instrument.

[@JT-hs6hc]

yeah I play an eight string partly due to fun alt tunings and neat hyperchord stuff *but* really I use it so I don't have to retune all the time and still be able to play in any range I want

[@RickBomhof]

nah you wouldn't be able to grab the drop chords you can grab on a 6

[@carlbaumeister3439]

Another advantage of a baritone is that it can act as a sort of “reverse capo.”

[@JunkheadAlice]

Team 7 string here. I made the permanent switch after years of juggling between 6 and 7. In my cover and days i used it for my standard E songs and would sometimes use it as a baritone to fatten up the mix since thr other guitar player was playing standard 6 string. Overtime i began transcribing 6 string songs to utilize the whole range. I love it!

[@Emily_M81]

*laughs in baritone 7-string tuned to drop A* I have an ESP Ltd SC-607 (27" scale) tuned like a baritone with an extra upper string (BEADF#BE) and then dropped the low string to A. It has a custom Stringjoy set on it: .064 .048 0.36 .026w .018p .0135 .010 - It's so much fun to treat it this way vs a 6-string with a lower string for me. As primarily a bass player, I am also considering tuning it in 4ths across the strings >_> I've seen a few 30" baritones that are rousing my curiosity, too...

[@FrancoW1]

*laughs in 7 string baritone tuned to Drop F# (also 27 inch)*

[@deanathan]

Just get both. You most likely won’t regret it 🤷🏽‍♂️ 😂

[@SpaceOddity87]

Overall, I'm definitely more team baritone, but I do own a Schecter 7-string and find it useful for some songs. It really just depends on what you're trying to do. 7-strings are great if you're really just trying to extend the range of the guitar, but not everything that I do on a 6-string translates well to having an extra string, and that's where my baritone guitars are really great. A 6-string baritone might sacrifice the high E, but you can just pick it up and play it like you would any other guitar. You can still play a lot of open and barre chords on a 7-string, but unless you're using an extended voicing, the extra string can get in the way, especially if you are using a wide strumming pattern. No such issues with a baritone. I think both are worth having around, and I use both in my band, depending on the song.

[@sepherus]

Like most things the extra string becomes a non issue if you practice around it. The only exception being thumb over chords. Almost 20 years of 7 string playing and I haven't figured out a way to get around that, not that it's a big deal to me.

[@SpaceOddity87]

@@sepherus I definitely am a thumb over type of player. I learned to play barre chords with my thumb, so using the index finger is an adjustment from my normal playing style. You definitely can work around the extra string with careful picking, but it's a nuisance on some of my songs. Then again, I've only had the 7-string for a little under a year, so I'm probably not as acclimated to it as you.

[@arunthebuffoon4554]

I use a Cory Wong style strumming technique, lots of quack. I've been playing a 7-string for 4 months now. Even on 6 you have to avoid strings, so I'd say this is just a technique adaptation.

[@sons.moon.leather]

I have that $150 Jackson only because I couldn’t find an affordable baritone at the time. With that being said, playing it in C standard with the low G has an ambient elegance that deceives its metal appearance.

[@gwarriorfromhell]

I picked one of them up when they were on sale at Guitar Center. Paid 109 for it out of the box, but Holy hell that thing is my daily driver. Sounds so good, plays amazing, and a simple swap of the tuners to Grover ones made a WORLD of difference.

[@SamBrockmann]

I use a 7 string, and I actually tune BEADGBE. I'm a pretty metal guy, and I've recently written a "Jazz inspired Metal" song. A lot of maj7, dom7, half-dim. Etc., etc. One thing I'm seeing a lot of, especially in progressive metal where the guitar player has a 7 or 8 string, is more use of the third interval in an interesting way. Because of those extended ranges, you can now play full chords like a dominant 13. Sure, you can technically play those on a 6 string. Yes, but . . . keep in mind, a full 13th chord is 7 notes. (E.g.: C - E - G - Bb - D - F - A makes up C Dominant 13.) So, if you're interested in chords with more voicings and arpeggios and so on; a 7 string (or even 8 string) offers that opportunity.

[@Just-Michael]

If you want something that covers both and then some, try an 8 string. Hear me out. Yes, the neck is wider, so that takes a bit of getting used to, but my small hands figured it out just fine. If you don't want to play all 8 strings, remove or tape off the lowest string to get a 7 string, and remove the high E to get a baritone. I have a Schecter C-8 Deluxe that I upgraded with locking tuners, DiMarzio Ionizer pickups, and 2 volumes that can split the coils of their respective pickups. Makes for a very versatile instrument. It's a bit of a janky solution to play without 1 or 2 strings, but it is an option. 😅

[@brnexus7475]

It depends on what you are trying to do. Obviously with a 7 string you have more versatility by retaining that high E string. Baritones have their pros and cons as well. You can intonate better at lower tunings and you don't have to use as thick of gauge of strings to achieve the same tension, but you'll have to get use to the wider spaced frets.

[@theiranxican7412]

One idea I have about 7 or 8 stringers and determining whether or not you'll be utilizing the whole fretboard: "better to have it than not need it, then to need it and not have it." 6 string baritones won't have that but instead gives you a more familiar yet focused extended range as the man says it doesn't take much to pick up and play. But I digress. I would love to choose which one is better but there's just no way in my opinion.

[@EricJamesVideo]

The word of the day is, "ethos." I'm on Team 7 for low tunings as well. Not having played or have had access to a bari-6, I can't be to sure if I wouldn't like it. I do know the bari would be a work out to do bends with.

[@sepherus]

Like most things the extra string becomes a non issue if you practice around it. I've been playing predominantly 7 strings for over 15 years now, and only have 6 strings for D standard, C# standard and C standard tuning. There are plenty of aftermarket pickups, and even small winders who will/do make non metal oriented pickups for 7 string. Bareknuckle even offers HB sized p90s for 7 string ina range of outputs. Another thing to mention is the 3rd relationship is still very important. While many don't play big extended barre chords, there are a lot of chords and arpeggios people DO play on the on upper 4 strings that rely on that G to b relationship. Not to mention scale shapes that people already know. Being a guitarist first, any time I've played 6 or 7 string bass, I've tuned the high string(s) with that same relationship. I try and stick to 4s and 5s though. There are some people I know who play 7 strings in Baritone with a high string tuning. So B E A D F# B E. It helps a lot of self taught people who learned from the low end up to wrap their heads around it more. Really though, the moral of the story is actually practice more. Regardless of which you choose, there are some things that need to be learned. Depending on how you learn, how you think, and what you play will influence that the most.

[@mus0rmus1c3]

One reason I’m thinking about a baritone currently, is to use a MIDI pickup. No one makes one for ERGs

[@BluntInnit]

INTERESTING, I CURRENTLY HAVE MY 7 STRING TUNED IN A TUNING I CAME UP WITH BASED ON DADGAD BUT ADDED A LOW A,SO I HAVE A 4TH AND THEN A 5TH. I DID CONSIDER DOUBLE DROP, BUT DECIDED NOT AS WOULD LIMIT ME TO 2 NOTE POWER CHORDS AND ALSO MEAN THAT THE REST OF THE STRINGS WEREN'T OPEN TO THE ROOT NOTE. SO MY ACTUAL TUNING IS G#C#G#C#F#G#C# ALTHOUGH STILL DEBATING DROPPING TO LOW F#

[@brnexus7475]

BTW, most 7 strings have a scale length of around 25.5" so in terms of actual tension you don't benefit buying a 7 String vs just tuning down a standard 25.5" six string with thick gauge strings. If your goal is simply to have better tension at lower tuning without having to use cables for strings then get a 26.5" scale 6 string guitar.

[@Stringjoy]

A lot of 7 strings do come with 26.5 scale or higher nowadays. 🤙

[@tallciaran]

does it djent?

[@x.eternal.x9150]

7 string for years now. Going to get an 8 string soon

[@nickk6109]

Just built a 7 string 28.625" scale.

[@NickSupernois]

I have two seven string guitars, one in Drop A and one in a baritone tuning down a whole step with the extra high string. I also have a 27 inch baritone tuned down to G standard. And now I want to experiment with 7 string in all 4ths... This will obviously require a new guitar... My wife is going to kill me one of these days 😂

[@9th_note]

I have a seven string fan fret that also doubles as a baritone. I tune mine like this. A3 0.15 E3 0.19p B2 0.28 G2 0.36 D1 0.50 A1 0.64 D1 0.95 and this works out pretty good for me. Yes the strings are extremely thick but the tension isn’t very high because I matched it to the scale length of each individual string so it’s no different than a set of 10’s as far as the tension is concerned. I love playing TOOL songs on this guitar because you get the largest open D chords and it just sounds so full and amazing.. I like baritone guitars but I would rather own a multi scale multi string set up like I have because the options are endless. With your guys string tension calculator really helps out a lot. And this thing is fucking brutal with metal LOL.

[@9th_note]

Sidenote, if you plan on doing what I did you were going to have to have the nut re-cut to accommodate the larger string size and you are going to have to have the seventh tuning machine drilled out to accommodate that 0.95 string. It wasn’t really a big deal though it sounds like a lot more work than it really was. I dropped my guitar off at my local guitar shop told him to file the nut accordingly and he charged me 50 bucks. Far as the tuning machine was concerned I ordered that through hipshot they will drill it out for you from the factory and send it to you ready to go. So that was just a matter of bolting it on. Probably cost me a whole whopping $65 for the modifications. I like to experiment with shit so it was more or less just for shits and giggles but it just happen to turn out pretty good.

[@silvamorphisphaeble7863]

@OU812 Curious to know what 7-String Fanned Fret Guitar you have. Thanks 👍🏼

[@9th_note]

I have several, the one that I was referring to is a Harley Benton cheap ass piece of shit that I did some modifications to. The others are both Kiesel's

[@9th_note]

@@silvamorphisphaeble7863 The Kiesel's are both Aries

[@9th_note]

@@silvamorphisphaeble7863 I did all the modifications to the Harley Benton because I didn't want to screw up a really expensive guitar experimenting. I threw some Seymour Duncan pick ups in it along with some hipshot hardware and upgraded the potentiometers and selector switch. Took it to my local luthier had them do a little flat filing to get things in order. Guitar played pretty good out of the box for being as cheap as it was but I'm picky lol

[@AldeanLeger]

I love the nerd content! Have you come across 7 string harp tuning with a high A instead of the low B? Check out Lenny Breau and Phil deGruy

[@samiam9059]

Active pickups sound terrible to me...😟

[@daponygang]

thanks folks, helped me decide baritone or 7-string, all the way 7-string lol

[@matthewdancik5515]

I’m on team, d). all of the above. Granted, financially feasible, it is not for many people, but if you can afford it grab one of every genre. There’s no such thing as “ too much” inspiration.

[@awertyuiop8711]

6:48 Is that Giant Steps?

[@luisbarrera5740]

Baritones have and always will be superior.

[@Stringjoy]

In the words of the great Dalton from Road House: "Opinions vary..."

[@smokindrinker]

I think it depends on a number of factors which guitar you would use. I have both. But an interesting twist is to use the 7 string as a soloist guitar like I do with a singer. I am a big fan of Charlie Hunter, but could never play a hybrid like he does, however, to use an Acoustic 7, gives you the bass notes, while not interrupting what you would do with a 6 string and it's not hard if you picture it as a 6 string with a extra low B/A, as you prefer. The trick is to use it for single bottom notes in a chord like a low D shape for instance or as pick up fills in between your chords, which can make you sound like you have bass & guitar at times and can be effective. One more thing... It only works with 7 string acoustic electric guitars and with the proper Amp & EQ. Great Video!

[@Shutupyoubird]

25.5 is more than enough with the correct string gauge for b or even a tuning baritones are only really necessary for drop g or lower and even then