Hello! This is my blog about how to setup your guitar for a 7 string. All of the information was gathered from various places on the web, including Steve Vai’s Guitar Setup articles, Seymour Duncan’s setup guide, and various guitar techs. Basically, I’m just putting it all here in one place for you to use.
I am not a professional. I am just a guy who has been playing guitar for over 15 years, and has played around with many different setups. Take what you need and leave the rest.
If you are switching from 6 string to 7 string, your first inclination may be to just put the 7th string in there and tune it up like normal. That is exactly what I did when I got my first 7 string (an Ibanez Universe). Of course, that means that if you play any chords or anything in standard tuning that includes open strings, your 7th string will sound terrible. So then what do you do?
Well, as it turns out, there are several ways to fix this problem. The way that worked best for me was actually suggested by one of the guitar techs at Seymour Duncan: Use a capo!
Here are some tips to get your 7 string guitar setup properly.
The first step is to tune your 7 string guitar. After that you can start adjusting the action (string height).
There are a few things to do if you have a Floyd Rose style bridge. First, once you’ve adjusted the intonation to your strings, lock the bridge down so you don’t mess it up again. Next, loosen the springs at the back of the guitar. If you have trouble doing this by hand, get a wrench and loosen them (the springs will be located right beneath where the strings go into your guitar). If your guitar has locking tuners, loosen them too. Tighten or loosen the springs until you find a balance between the 7th string buzzing and having an action that is too high. You shouldn’t have either of these problems if everything is set up correctly, but sometimes it takes a few tries to get it perfect.
If your bridge doesn’t have fine tuners, like a Tune-o-Matic bridge on an Epiphone or Gibson for example, then you will need to adjust each string at the bridge or tailpiece individually. To lower the action on one string, turn its saddle clock
The first step in learning how to play 7 string guitar is to find a good capo. For this purpose, you can use a standard capo or an adjustable one that adjusts the tension of the strings. A good capo will ensure that all strings are played at the correct pressure and will also maintain the proper tuning of the strings so that they sound right when played together.
When choosing a capo, it is important to know what type of guitar you have and which type of strings you need to use. For example, if you have a 6-string electric guitar, then it is usually recommended that you use a regular capo as it has more flexibility and can help prevent problems with string breakage. However, if you have a 7-string acoustic guitar, then it might be better to get an adjustable capo since it has more flexibility and can help keep your strings tuned properly.
While choosing the best capo for your guitar, make sure that it is made from high quality materials so that it does not damage your instrument. Also make sure that you purchase one from a reputable company so that they can offer good service and support in case something goes wrong with your instrument.
Once you have found the right capo for your guitar, then it is
A capo is a clamp that clamps on the guitar neck and changes the position of the nut. This effectively raises the pitch of all strings. The device itself is simple enough: it is just a piece of metal or plastic with a spring-loaded lever to clamp it down on the fretboard.
Capos are used by guitarists to raise the pitch of the guitar without changing chord fingerings or tuning. You can use a capo to play in different keys without retuning. It is a very useful tool for songwriters, who may want to experiment with different keys for their songs, or for singers who may not be able to sing a particular song in their original key.
There are two basic types of capos: fixed and moveable. Fixed capos clamp down on your instrument at one particular location, usually close to the nut, and stay there until you remove them or move them up or down the neck. Moveable capos are clamped down at one end, but they have an adjustable arm that allows you to adjust where they clamp down along your instrument’s neck.
What is a capo? How do you use one? Why would you want to use one?
A capo is a device used on the neck of a stringed (typically fretted) instrument to shorten the playable length of the strings, hence raising the pitch. The term derives from the Italian word “capotasto” which means “the head of the fretboard”.
A capo can be used to raise the key of a song whilst still using the same fingerings as in its original form. Using a capo allows guitarists and other stringed instrument players to play in a different key without learning new chord fingerings.
The use of a capo allows certain chords to be played with no open strings or with open strings tuned to notes that are not part of the chord. For example, if you were playing in the key of C major and put your capo on the 2nd fret, you could play an A minor chord by barring all the strings at the 2nd fret and getting an A minor chord with no open strings. This gives aspects of playing in a different key while maintaining similar chord fingerings.
A capo (short for capotasto) is a device used on the neck of a stringed (typically fretted) instrument to shorten the playable length of the strings, hence raising the pitch. The term derives from the Italian capotasto which means “head of fret”. It was originally used on lutes by builders such as Venere and Van der Meer in the 16th century.[1]
Capos come in many different shapes and sizes. They are attached to the fingerboard with varying degrees of ease or difficulty. They can be as simple as a small piece of wood, rubber or plastic held down by tension on the strings or more complex devices that incorporate an adjustable clamping mechanism that locks onto the instrument neck. Musicians use capos to raise the pitch of a fretted instrument so they can play in other keys using the same fingerings as playing open. Capos can be placed anywhere along any fret of any stringed instrument; however, capos are most commonly placed on guitars, mandolins and banjos.
A capo, or capo tasto in full length, is a device used for change the key without changing the tuning. You fix it on a fret, so all strings are shortened and raised to a higher pitch. It is mostly used by singers who have to sing in different keys.
The word capo comes from the Italian for head, which is why you also see it spelled capotasto. The German is Bündchen (or Bundsteg), literally meaning string bank.