The 8-string experience

Humwawa · Post by **Humwawa** » 06 Aug 2010, 21:33

I was wandering how cool it would be if Trey got himself working on some 8-string song for the new album. I remember how cool it was with Covenant back in the day, where he introduced his 7-string madness with the likes of God of Emptiness and World of Shit.

It opened up a total new spectrum for the albums D-H and maybe getting into some 8-string stuff could do the same in the future of the band.

I knew Meshuggah experienced with 8-string guitars, but I'm sure Trey would do a lot of wacky stuff with it

What are your thoughts on it?

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 07 Aug 2010, 01:26

I'm not sure if the sound of an 8 string would suit MA's music... I do love what Meshuggah and Ihsahn do with it.

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » 07 Aug 2010, 01:47

im not sure how eight, or even seven strings is all that pointful.

maybe someone who know things about guitar playing can explain to me the benefits?

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 07 Aug 2010, 01:55

first of all, a 7 string can handle the tension of a thicker string tuned to a lower pitch better, than a 6 string guitar.

second, you can play/compose music in lower keys/registers while not losing your high E string for soloing.

Shredlord · Post by **Shredlord** » 07 Aug 2010, 03:06

[quote name="Void"]first of all, a 7 string can handle the tension of a thicker string tuned to a lower pitch better, than a 6 string guitar.

second, you can play/compose music in lower keys/registers while not losing your high E string for soloing.[/quote]

Can't improve much on that explanation! It can also create dramatic and a broader range of key changes--if a lot of the song is in the normal E range, then suddenly dropping down to say C# or something, which you could only do on a 7 or 8 string guitar, would be very dark and intense sounding. I think chugging away on the 8th string like Meshuggah does is rather mindless. Use it to expand harmonic possibilities; otherwise, the ear will soon adjust and it won't sound as "low" anymore.

zim · Post by **zim** » 07 Aug 2010, 03:09

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 07 Aug 2010, 06:22

[quote name="Shredlord"]
[quote name="Void"]first of all, a 7 string can handle the tension of a thicker string tuned to a lower pitch better, than a 6 string guitar.

second, you can play/compose music in lower keys/registers while not losing your high E string for soloing.[/quote]

Can't improve much on that explanation! It can also create dramatic and a broader range of key changes--if a lot of the song is in the normal E range, then suddenly dropping down to say C# or something, which you could only do on a 7 or 8 string guitar, would be very dark and intense sounding. I think chugging away on the 8th string like Meshuggah does is rather mindless. Use it to expand harmonic possibilities; otherwise, the ear will soon adjust and it won't sound as "low" anymore.[/quote]

Exactly this. I was going to explain the usage of bigger harmonic range, but you did it well.

bob_here · Post by **bob_here** » 07 Aug 2010, 06:56

[quote name="Shredlord"]
[quote name="Void"]first of all, a 7 string can handle the tension of a thicker string tuned to a lower pitch better, than a 6 string guitar.

second, you can play/compose music in lower keys/registers while not losing your high E string for soloing.[/quote]

Can't improve much on that explanation! It can also create dramatic and a broader range of key changes--if a lot of the song is in the normal E range, then suddenly dropping down to say C# or something, which you could only do on a 7 or 8 string guitar, would be very dark and intense sounding. I think chugging away on the 8th string like Meshuggah does is rather mindless. Use it to expand harmonic possibilities; otherwise, the ear will soon adjust and it won't sound as "low" anymore.[/quote]

Harmonic possibilites for sure... but the tone aesthetics of the nature of this baritone instrument can't be denied. I don't think "mindless" and "meshuggah" can be in the same sentence together, to be frank. Anyway the tone and texture you get out of it creates a new tonal world in and of itself. Since Meshuggah is more of a mind fuck and play on rhythm, the low tuning and tonal texture of an 8-string adds to the effect. Just like God Of Emptiness: it's not a vastly far reaching harmonic song but picture it done on higher pitched guitars; probally wouldn't work so well or as well I should say. So even though it's definitely true that harmonic and melodic range can be extended, just the sheer tonal disparity of 7 and 8 strings gives rise to a different sound and feel with or without using extended ranges.

Lieutenant Ripley · Post by **Lieutenant Ripley** » 07 Aug 2010, 07:48

8 strings. wow that would be very sweet to watch Trey play a fuckin 8 stringed guitar in a video or even better; in real life.

totally

Anjel · Post by **Anjel** » 07 Aug 2010, 08:12

[quote name="zimberly"]no.[/quote]

FUKKET · Post by **FUKKET** » 07 Aug 2010, 09:38

[quote name="Void"]I'm not sure if the sound of an 8 string would suit MA's music... I do love what Meshuggah and Ihsahn do with it.[/quote]

FUKKET · Post by **FUKKET** » 07 Aug 2010, 09:39

[quote name="TranscendingMusic"] "mindless" and "meshuggah" can't be in the same sentence together[/quote]

bob_here · Post by **bob_here** » 07 Aug 2010, 10:59

[quote name="FUKKET"]
[quote name="TranscendingMusic"] I don't think "mindless" and "meshuggah" can be in the same sentence together[/quote][/quote]

FUKKET · Post by **FUKKET** » 07 Aug 2010, 12:32

fixed

bob_here · Post by **bob_here** » 07 Aug 2010, 12:37

painfulloss · Post by **painfulloss** » 07 Aug 2010, 13:07

Meshuggah's the only band so far that has done something cool with an 8 string so far, at least for me, anyway. But I'm a huge Meshuggah fan from way back, so I'm biased, lol.

8 strings are the new trend in guitars, seems everywhere I look there's a headstock with 8 tuning pegs on it. Probably because everyone has been playing 7 strings for years now and they've lost that "wow, you play a seven string? Whoa!" factor for sure. To make it clear, I LOVE the sound of a 7, BTW. Are guitarists having that much trouble coming up with new ideas on a 6 or a 7, that they have to go with an 8? Maybe in time I'll get on board with it, but for now, it's all a trend that I could do without.

Personally, I like how Trey always mixes the 6 with the 7 in his tunes. 6 for the crisp top-end & more old school type riffing, and the 7 for more sludgy, slimey stuff. Where the Slime Live & World of Shit wouldn't be the same without it, that's for sure. It makes for an interesting listen, keeps things fresh. So Trey, please don't get an 8!

FUKKET · Post by **FUKKET** » 07 Aug 2010, 13:45

[quote name="painfulloss"]Meshuggah's the only band so far that has done something cool with an 8 string so far, at least for me, anyway. But I'm a huge Meshuggah fan from way back, so I'm biased, lol.

8 strings are the new trend in guitars, seems everywhere I look there's a headstock with 8 tuning pegs on it. Probably because everyone has been playing 7 strings for years now and they've lost that "wow, you play a seven string? Whoa!" factor for sure. To make it clear, I LOVE the sound of a 7, BTW. Are guitarists having that much trouble coming up with new ideas on a 6 or a 7, that they have to go with an 8? Maybe in time I'll get on board with it, but for now, it's all a trend that I could do without.

Personally, I like how Trey always mixes the 6 with the 7 in his tunes. 6 for the crisp top-end & more old school type riffing, and the 7 for more sludgy, slimey stuff. Where the Slime Live & World of Shit wouldn't be the same without it, that's for sure. It makes for an interesting listen, keeps things fresh. So Trey, please don't get an 8!

[/quote]

everything he just said

Mutilator · Post by **Mutilator** » 07 Aug 2010, 16:04

An 8 string would be nice to slow songs, but the thickness of the string makes it hard to play on speed.

Pestilence play on 8 string Ibanez and I saw they had hard time mastering it, hopefully that is now resolved.

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 07 Aug 2010, 16:25

the thickness shouldn't be a problem

Spirits of the Deep Waters · 07 Aug 2010, 16:54

I'm sure Trey could do something cool with it. Megachugging hardcore XXX-chugging

M.Bison · Post by **M.Bison** » 07 Aug 2010, 18:52

Nah... 8-strings are

zim · Post by **zim** » 07 Aug 2010, 20:30

[quote name="M.Bison"]Nah... 8-strings are

[/quote]

xpocalypse · Post by **xpocalypse** » 07 Aug 2010, 20:58

if he uses an 8-string, I'm sure that would sound awesome

but its not a must

Humwawa · Post by **Humwawa** » 08 Aug 2010, 00:02

Personally, I like how Trey always mixes the 6 with the 7 in his tunes. 6 for the crisp top-end & more old school type riffing, and the 7 for more sludgy, slimey stuff. Where the Slime Live & World of Shit wouldn't be the same without it, that's for sure. It makes for an interesting listen, keeps things fresh. So Trey, please don't get an 8!

Seems like a contradiction to me... if you like the combination of 6 & 7-strings and the separate feelings they evoke in the songs, then I'd think it would be just great to have those two mixed with a new spectrum of songs on 8-string too?! That is if the 8-string stuff just gives us a different sound than the sludgy 7-string of course, otherwise it would make no sense at all.

I'm just convinced that Trey would do something far more evil and creative

with an 8-string than most other artists...

Lieutenant Ripley · Post by **Lieutenant Ripley** » 08 Aug 2010, 02:32

[quote name="Maze"]I'm sure Trey could do something cool with it. Megachugging hardcore XXX-chugging

[/quote]

Metal

TamPron · Post by **TamPron** » 08 Aug 2010, 06:39

[quote name="Anjel"]
[quote name="zimberly"]no.[/quote][/quote]

painfulloss · Post by **painfulloss** » 08 Aug 2010, 07:38

Personally, I like how Trey always mixes the 6 with the 7 in his tunes. 6 for the crisp top-end & more old school type riffing, and the 7 for more sludgy, slimey stuff. Where the Slime Live & World of Shit wouldn't be the same without it, that's for sure. It makes for an interesting listen, keeps things fresh. So Trey, please don't get an 8!

Seems like a contradiction to me... if you like the combination of 6 & 7-strings and the separate feelings they evoke in the songs, then I'd think it would be just great to have those two mixed with a new spectrum of songs on 8-string too?! That is if the 8-string stuff just gives us a different sound than the sludgy 7-string of course, otherwise it would make no sense at all.

I'm just convinced that Trey would do something far more evil and creative with an 8-string than most other artists...

My beef really is just the whole trend factor with 8 strings over the past couple of years. The last thing I want Trey & MA to do is jump on the latest fad(s) to try and win back some of their audience that has left for other bands, or to entice the Mall Core crowd to get into the new album. Trey doesn't need 8 strings to write fresh-sounding material.

Like I said earlier, Meshuggah's the only band doing something unique & special with their 8's. There's a lot of videos on Youtube of guys playing 8's & it's just the same shit, different band name. How low is low enough? In a few years, will it be 9 strings with an even lower string? Do we really need 8 strings to write heavy material? Jazz - not Metal - is where 8's are sounding amazing, IMO.

I apologize for rambling, all I'm saying is: Trey, stay away from 8's....and guitarists, how low is enough?

Anjel · Post by **Anjel** » 08 Aug 2010, 16:08

Brining lows is the bassist's job, not the guitars.

Desoppus · Post by **Desoppus** » 08 Aug 2010, 22:17

Six strings is enough I think. Seven is good when used appropriately, but eight it´s too much.

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 09 Aug 2010, 00:03

[quote name="wimr"]Six strings is enough to Trey I think. Seven is good when used appropriately, but eight it´s too much.[/quote]

you do realise Trey already uses a 7 string since Covenant, and loves the instrument, right?

Desoppus · Post by **Desoppus** » 09 Aug 2010, 00:23

[quote name="Void"]

you do realise Trey already uses a 7 string since Covenant, and loves the instrument, right?

[/quote]

Yeah, I know that, but that was my opinion.

Sorry bad english. I e-dit my post and hope you caught my point.

vO)))id · Post by **vO)))id** » 09 Aug 2010, 03:06

Ok, then I understand what you were trying to say.

Abzu · Post by **Abzu** » 22 Aug 2010, 09:20

[quote name="Void"]the thickness shouldn't be a problem

[/quote]

...and then she left you.

Abzu · Post by **Abzu** » 22 Aug 2010, 09:22

Personally, I like how Trey always mixes the 6 with the 7 in his tunes. 6 for the crisp top-end & more old school type riffing, and the 7 for more sludgy, slimey stuff. Where the Slime Live & World of Shit wouldn't be the same without it, that's for sure. It makes for an interesting listen, keeps things fresh. So Trey, please don't get an 8!

Seems like a contradiction to me... if you like the combination of 6 & 7-strings and the separate feelings they evoke in the songs, then I'd think it would be just great to have those two mixed with a new spectrum of songs on 8-string too?! That is if the 8-string stuff just gives us a different sound than the sludgy 7-string of course, otherwise it would make no sense at all.

I'm just convinced that Trey would do something far more evil and creative with an 8-string than most other artists...

My beef really is just the whole trend factor with 8 strings over the past couple of years. The last thing I want Trey & MA to do is jump on the latest fad(s) to try and win back some of their audience that has left for other bands, or to entice the Mall Core crowd to get into the new album. Trey doesn't need 8 strings to write fresh-sounding material.

Like I said earlier, Meshuggah's the only band doing something unique & special with their 8's. There's a lot of videos on Youtube of guys playing 8's & it's just the same shit, different band name. How low is low enough? In a few years, will it be 9 strings with an even lower string? Do we really need 8 strings to write heavy material? Jazz - not Metal - is where 8's are sounding amazing, IMO.

I apologize for rambling, all I'm saying is: Trey, stay away from 8's....and guitarists, how low is enough?

Being on the contrast of a trend is just as bad as being in line with it. Personally, I do not care if something is trending or not. If I like it, I like it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with an instrument having even more range.

Jackson · Post by **Jackson** » 22 Aug 2010, 09:53

zim · Post by **zim** » 22 Aug 2010, 09:58

Shredlord · Post by **Shredlord** » 22 Aug 2010, 13:19

or better yet, this!

[youtube]Rcc7IL18m0I[/youtube]

Verbal · Post by **Verbal** » 22 Aug 2010, 14:16

whats the point in a quadruple guitar if youre only going to use three of them?

zim · Post by **zim** » 22 Aug 2010, 20:15

i think most of those were stolen

xpocalypse · Post by **xpocalypse** » 22 Aug 2010, 20:51

ridiculous and unnecessary

maybe if Trey was

Haunty · Post by **Haunty** » 01 Sep 2010, 19:13

Nah, that wouldn't work either. Goro has bass player fingers, and you know it.

Anjel · Post by **Anjel** » 01 Sep 2010, 20:26

It got to be hard to play fast with those fat fingers.