In This Guide
1 What Are Extended Range Guitars?
Extended range guitars are instruments that expand beyond the standard six-string guitar's pitch range, typically by adding extra strings below the standard low E. While the standard guitar covers roughly four octaves from E2 to E6, extended range instruments push the lower boundary down to B1 (seven-string), F#1 (eight-string), or even lower, giving guitarists access to frequencies traditionally reserved for bass guitar and baritone instruments.
The concept of adding strings to the guitar is not new. Renaissance lutes often had ten or more strings, and the classical guitar community has long used instruments with additional bass strings (such as the 10-string classical guitar developed by Narciso Yepes). However, the modern extended range movement in electric guitar is primarily a product of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, driven by the musical demands of progressive metal, jazz fusion, and experimental music.
The appeal of extended range guitars goes beyond simply playing lower notes. The additional strings open up new chord voicing possibilities, new scale patterns, and new approaches to arrangement. A guitarist with an eight-string instrument can cover the role of both bass player and guitarist, which has creative implications for composition, live performance, and recording. Extended range guitars have become essential tools for musicians who want to push beyond the traditional boundaries of the instrument.
2 Seven-String Guitars: The Gateway to Extended Range
The seven-string guitar is the most common entry point into extended range playing. Standard tuning adds a low B string below the sixth string, giving you the tuning B-E-A-D-G-B-E. This single additional string extends the guitar's range by a perfect fourth, adding five more semitones of bass range. It may sound modest on paper, but in practice, that low B string transforms what the guitar can do.
The seven-string guitar entered the mainstream in the early 1990s when Ibanez released the Universe model, designed in collaboration with Steve Vai. While jazz players like George Van Eps and Lenny Breau had used seven-strings decades earlier, it was the metal and alternative communities that drove widespread adoption. Korn's debut album in 1994 showcased heavily detuned seven-string guitar work that influenced an entire generation, and bands like Dream Theater, Nevermore, and Cannibal Corpse each used the extended range for different musical purposes.
For most six-string players, the transition to seven strings is surprisingly manageable. The upper six strings are identical, so your entire existing repertoire transfers immediately. The learning curve involves incorporating the seventh string into your playing—learning new chord voicings that include the low B, extending scale patterns across the additional string, and developing the right-hand muting discipline needed to keep the extra bass string from ringing sympathetically.
3 Eight-String and Beyond
The eight-string guitar adds a low F# below the seven-string's low B, giving you F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E. This puts the guitar firmly into bass territory—the low F# is only a half step above the bass guitar's lowest standard note. Meshuggah's Fredrik Thordendal and Marten Hagstrom were early champions of the eight-string, using its low-register capabilities for their signature polyrhythmic riffing style.
Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders) expanded the eight-string's vocabulary far beyond metal, combining tapping, slapping, fingerpicking, and classical technique on the instrument. His approach treats the eight-string as a complete orchestra rather than just a heavy guitar, with bass lines, chord progressions, and melodies all happening on a single instrument. His influence has been so significant that he launched his own guitar brand (Abasi Concepts) focused on extended range instruments.
Nine-string and even ten-string guitars exist but are rare and highly specialized. These instruments push the boundaries of what is practical—the neck widths become extreme, string tension management becomes challenging, and the musical applications narrow significantly. For most extended range players, the eight-string represents the practical limit of the format, offering a vast range without the ergonomic compromises of even wider instruments.
Pro Tip
Do not jump straight from a six-string to an eight-string. Start with a seven-string to acclimate to the wider neck and additional muting requirements. Once the seven-string feels natural (typically after a few months of regular playing), the transition to eight strings is much smoother because you have already developed the extended range habits.
4 Multiscale and Fanned-Fret Designs
One of the most significant innovations in extended range guitar design is the multiscale (also called fanned-fret) neck. On a standard guitar, all strings share the same scale length (the vibrating length from nut to bridge). On a multiscale instrument, the bass strings have a longer scale length than the treble strings. A typical multiscale eight-string might have a 28-inch scale on the lowest string and a 25.5-inch scale on the highest, with the intermediate strings fanning gradually between these two lengths.
The advantage is that each string gets the tension it needs. The longer scale on the bass side provides tight, clear low notes without requiring impractically thick strings. The shorter scale on the treble side maintains the familiar, comfortable feel for bending, vibrato, and standard guitar technique. The result is an instrument that feels like a standard guitar on the high strings and handles bass frequencies like a purpose-built low-end instrument.
Visually, multiscale guitars have frets that are angled rather than perpendicular to the neck. This looks dramatic but feels surprisingly natural in playing position. Brands like Strandberg, Dingwall (originally a bass company), and Ibanez (with their Axion Label series) have made multiscale designs increasingly accessible. If you are serious about extended range playing, a multiscale instrument is strongly worth considering—the improvement in low-string clarity and high-string playability is substantial.
5 Baritone Guitars and Alternate Approaches
Not all extended range involves adding strings. Baritone guitars use six strings but with a longer scale length (typically 27–30 inches) and heavier string gauges, tuned lower than standard. Common baritone tunings include B-to-B (a fourth below standard) and A-to-A (a fifth below standard). The result is a six-string guitar with an extended low range but without the wider neck and additional complexity of a seven- or eight-string.
Baritone guitars occupy a unique sonic space between standard guitar and bass. Their tone is deeper and more authoritative than a standard guitar, with a rich, dark quality that works beautifully for ambient music, doom metal, film scoring, and anything that benefits from a darker tonal palette. Bands like Mastodon, Baroness, and Devin Townsend have used baritone guitars to achieve their massive, low-tuned sounds.
The advantage of the baritone approach is simplicity: six strings, familiar chord shapes, and standard playing technique, just transposed lower. The disadvantage is that you lose the standard guitar range on top—you cannot play both bass-register riffs and standard-register solos on the same instrument the way you can on an eight-string. For players who want a focused, deep sound without the learning curve of extra strings, a baritone is an excellent choice.
6 Choosing the Right Extended Range Guitar
Selecting an extended range guitar starts with identifying your musical needs. If you want slightly more low-end range for metal or jazz while staying close to the standard guitar experience, a seven-string is your best bet. If you want bass guitar territory and are willing to invest in technique development, an eight-string offers the widest practical range. If you want lower tuning without extra strings, a baritone keeps things simple.
Scale length is the most critical specification. For seven-strings, 25.5–26.5 inches works for standard tuning and moderate drop tunings. For eight-strings, 27–28 inches is essential. Multiscale instruments solve the tension problem elegantly but cost more. Pickups must be designed for extended range; standard guitar pickups may not handle the low frequencies well. Neck profile matters enormously for comfort—extended range necks come in various widths and thicknesses, and what feels comfortable varies greatly between players.
Budget options from Ibanez, Schecter, Jackson, and ESP provide solid quality for first-time extended range players. Mid-range options from Strandberg, Kiesel, and the higher-end lines of established brands offer refined playability and better electronics. Custom builds from boutique luthiers provide exact specifications tailored to your hands and playing style but come at a premium price. Start affordable to confirm that extended range playing is right for you before investing heavily.
7 Technique Adjustments for Extended Range
The most important technique adjustment for extended range guitars is muting. Extra strings mean extra opportunities for unwanted noise. Develop a systematic muting approach: your picking hand palm rests on strings below the one you are playing, your fretting hand fingers lightly touch strings above the one you are fretting, and your thumb position shifts to mute the lowest strings when they are not in use. This requires deliberate practice but becomes second nature with time.
Your picking hand will also need to recalibrate its string targeting. With eight strings, the margin for error when crossing strings is smaller because the strings are packed more closely together (or spread across a wider area, depending on the string spacing). Slow, deliberate scale practice across all strings is essential during the adjustment period. Do not rush this—accuracy now prevents sloppy habits later.
Finally, rethink your approach to composition and arrangement. Extended range guitars are not just regular guitars with more low notes. The additional range invites you to think differently about bass lines, chord voicings, and melodic movement. Study how players like Tosin Abasi, Misha Mansoor, and Sarah Longfield use the full range of their instruments to create music that could not exist on a standard six-string. The extended range is not just more of the same; it is a creative expansion that opens new musical territory.
Key Takeaways
- Extended range guitars add strings below the standard low E, expanding into bass territory
- Seven-string guitars (B-E-A-D-G-B-E) are the most accessible entry point to extended range
- Eight-string guitars (F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E) cover nearly the full range of both guitar and bass
- Multiscale designs use different scale lengths for bass and treble strings, optimizing tension across the range
- Baritone guitars offer lower tuning without additional strings, keeping the six-string format
- Muting technique is the most critical skill to develop when transitioning to extended range instruments