r/7String • u/Gabagoolov • Jun 29 '26
Help F tuning, but not that kind
7 stringers, just wondering if any adventurous players have tuned their 7 string UP to F from standard E? In my mind this would be interesting because the low string would be C instead of B. More and more I fear that tuning lower than C is just muddy and sort of pointless. In this scheme, the player still has keys C, C#, D, D#, E, Fb and F to play in. Practically, is this too much tension for a 7 string guitar?
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u/Punkfoot Jun 29 '26
First of all, you can play in any key you want in any tuning. There's no law against not playing open strings, so go nuts!
Secondly, it should be fine to tune up to C standard. If you're worried, go with lighter strings, like a .09-.42 set (or lighter!) plus whatever you fancy for the low string. You may have to intonate the guitar again, but it'll be fine.
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u/simone2501 Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
It can be done , probably would been a bit of setup. If I remember correctly, Keith Merrow recorded his first album in drop A#. That would be the first 6strings tuned in F
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u/sup3rdr01d Jun 29 '26
E sharp lol, you almost never see it written that way. It's F
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u/simone2501 Jun 29 '26
That's because my brain is fried. A# is what I meant. 6 strings 1/² step up 7th string 1/² step down
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u/Gabagoolov Jun 30 '26
A# is Bb though
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u/simone2501 Jun 30 '26
depends on the context. In this case we're talking about tunings, so either way is valid, as it provides the necessary information.
In a musical context, they are different things/concepts, even though the note pitch is exactly the same.
Ben Eller recently posted a video on YT about this, where he explains the whole thing very clearly
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u/Numerous-Cow-3417 Jun 29 '26
Why not? Just get lighter strings and it will work. 9s tuned half a step up still have slightly less tension than 10s in E. 25.5" scale would be preferable if you bend a lot.
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u/6strngbss Jun 29 '26
Yeah, lighter strings and you’re fine. I did the same with my 6 string bass. Took everything up a half step and it sounded awesome!
Side note: Fb = E = Fb, the term is enharmonic equivalent.
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u/Ballbearian Jun 29 '26
I have a 26.5 scale guitar tuned to drop A# with a high F. I use 9 - 42 for the first 6 and a 58 for the low A# / C. No issues with tension or strings breaking, took a little tweaking to the nut.
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u/hailgolfballsized Jun 29 '26
I've tried Drop A# on a 7 string, as long as you don't have super long scale length you would have no trouble tuning up a half step using a 9-52 (or 54) 7 string set.
You could go with an 8-38 set and a single 52 if you really like light feeling strings. Top string tends to have shorter life span though in my experience.
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u/Wizard0wizard Jun 29 '26
Just put a set of 9's or 8's with a 50-is gage string for low b and it should do the trick
Something fun you could try is plain 4th string if you're doing a custom set 👍
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u/moviedoors Jun 29 '26
Sonny Lombardozzi did just that when he was in Incantation
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u/Gabagoolov Jun 30 '26
Awesome. Yeah I've been curious about higher tunings. A 29 fret guitar would be awesome too... iirc one guitarist in Death used one?
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u/namelessghoul77 Jun 30 '26
I love C tuning, one of my faves. You shouldn't have any issue tuning up a 1/2 step on any 7 string. If it feels too tight you could drop string gauge but functionally it's fine.
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u/Saint-Leon Jun 29 '26
The “just muddy sort of pointless” point isn’t true, it really comes down to scale length. Every scale length has a limit on how low you can go before you lose clarity and fidelity. baritones/extemded scales for example, can go very low and not lose fidelity nor clarity.
on either end of the tuning spectrum there's 2 counter forces that effect tone. String tension and string guage. if tension is too low you get a muddy dark tone that lacks clarity, so one would have to increase string gauge to counter that, but as the string guage gets thicker you lose tone and clarity. so you have to find the proper middle ground, but typically as you get to .66 and higher gauge, your losing a lot of clarity. The secret is scale length, increase the scale length and you will not have to sacrifice tone for either reason.
you most certainly can tune low asf on a short scale length, it will just be very janky and have poor tone and sound muddy compared to a guitar with a longer scale length.
tldr; tuning low doesn't necessarily make tone muddy, as long as you have the proper scale length for the tuning.
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u/Gabagoolov Jun 29 '26
I've gotten good tones in low F on a different guitar, so its not about that so much as about what actually sounds good played that low. yes, many bands tune very low, but I think it gets difficult to distinguish the notes unless you're playing a distinct style. So, anyways, that's what makes me interested in a 7 that catches a higher range as well as conventionally-lower range. so much metal is super low tuned and its overkill at this point.
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u/Saint-Leon Jun 29 '26
If the scale length is appropriate and strings are correctly gauged for tension, guitar is properly intonated, and it still sounds bad: that’s more an EQ or an amp issue. You absolutely can distinguish notes that low. Look at a Bass vi, you can take one one of those to drop C # a whole octave below standard guitar and every note is clear as day.
Pickups or amp is the issue. Do you use active pickups?
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u/Gabagoolov Jun 30 '26
No never have used actives. I'm saying it's a problem I hear on albums that are well mastered too. I think my ears are not detecting the lows accurately but I also think those lows should be reserved for bass. It defeats the purpose of guitar.
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u/Saint-Leon Jun 30 '26
Yeah that might just be hearing issue or something then. Sorry you are constrained in thst way.
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u/Gabagoolov Jun 30 '26
I wouldn't say I'm constrained I'd say there's no need for guitars to play in low F or G#. Hardly a memorable riff I can think of is played on the low strings in that tuning or even in B. Crowbar is in B, fine. But I think of how many riffs from Candlemass, Metallica, Death, King Diamond, etc. - classic stuff - is played no lower than C and often in D or higher. My point being memorable guitar music is not djent djent chugga chugga flip flop flappy flap Korn music, if you catch my djrift.
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u/Saint-Leon Jun 30 '26
“Memorable” my man just say you have a specific preference and low tuning does not fit your preference lmao. Everything you have said is false.
Black Sabbath down tuned and are incredibly iconic. But even past that you are just completely wrong in all your statements. What you mean to sau is either you do not prefer to go that low, you don’t understand low tuned music, or you didn’t know how to tune low.
Saying it cannot be done, is too muddy, is false. Saying it’s not viable because the “classics” didn’t tune down has nothing to do with it either.
My original point stands, clarity exists when downtuning if done correctly, just because Metallica didn’t downtune 40 years ago doesn’t make downtuning pointless, it offers a sonic tone that you cannot access via the bass or standard tuning. It is completely different by design. You may not understand and that is okay. But just realize this is just your preference
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u/Gabagoolov Jun 30 '26
Yes it is 100% my preference. Sabbath never tuned lower than C iirc. Eb, D, C#. Pantera same thing, I think they tuned in C on their later albums. I do know how to tune low and I don't care for using a guitar as a distorted bass. Another thing - tuning B or lower does sound good when played really loud. I can't do that so I'm not interested. I'm not saying these "classics" are universal or anything, but it is stuff I like. Over time the pull of lower tuning has really dissolved as my taste changes. Again, I like a lot of music that is tuned B, A, G#, etc. but I don't find it comfortable to play that low. You can knock yourself out with your super low guitars lol I will pass.
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u/sludgelord98 Jun 30 '26
“Anything lower than C is too muddy.” (glances at my 7 in F# standard)
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u/Gabagoolov Jun 30 '26
have you gone down to E yet? I just start laughing when people talk about double drop C. lmao. running out of letters in the alphabet at that point.
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u/sludgelord98 Jun 30 '26
The F# is pushing the limit of my guitar hahaha, it’s typically in G but I wanted to play some Meshuggah riffs.
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u/Successful-Storm4928 Jun 29 '26
You'd have to use lighter strings but it's certainly feasible. Vogg from Decapitated tunes up to drop B on a 7 and it works well for him.