Eight-String Guitar Guide

1 What Is an Eight-String Guitar?

An eight-string guitar is an extended-range instrument that adds two strings below the standard six-string guitar's range. While the seven-string guitar adds a single low B string, the eight-string goes even further, adding both a low B and a low F# (or sometimes an even lower note). This extended range gives guitarists access to bass-like low frequencies while retaining the full standard guitar range on the upper six strings.

The modern eight-string guitar gained prominence in the mid-2000s, driven largely by bands like Meshuggah (whose guitarist Fredrik Thordendal was among the first to use custom eight-strings) and Animals as Leaders (whose Tosin Abasi brought the instrument to a wider audience with his blend of metal, jazz, and progressive techniques). Before these players, eight-string instruments existed primarily in classical and experimental contexts.

The appeal of the eight-string is its sheer range. With a standard tuning spanning from F#1 to around E5 (or higher), the instrument covers nearly the full range of a bass guitar and a standard guitar combined. This makes it possible for a single player to handle both roles, which is why some bands with eight-string guitarists perform without a bass player. The low strings produce sub-bass frequencies that create a physically powerful, almost seismic quality in heavy music.

2 Standard Tuning and String Gauges

The standard tuning for an eight-string guitar is F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E, from lowest to highest. The top six strings (E-A-D-G-B-E) match standard six-string tuning exactly, so everything you already know transfers directly. The seventh string is B (the same as a seven-string guitar), and the eighth string adds F# below that. Many players also use drop E tuning (E-B-E-A-D-G-B-E), which places the lowest two strings a fourth apart for easier power chord access.

Standard 8-String Tuning:
8th string: F#1  (lowest)
7th string: B1
6th string: E2
5th string: A2
4th string: D3
3rd string: G3
2nd string: B3
1st string: E4   (highest)

Common Alternative: Drop E
8th string: E1   (lowest, dropped)
7th string: B1
6th-1st:    standard
        

String gauges for eight-string guitars are critical. The lowest strings need to be thick enough to maintain tension and clarity at sub-bass pitches. A typical set might run from .010 on the high E to .074 or .080 on the low F#. Some players use even heavier gauges (.085 or .090) for the eighth string to achieve better definition. The seventh string typically sits around .059–.065. These heavy strings require guitars built with longer scale lengths (typically 27–28 inches, compared to the standard 25.5 inches) to maintain adequate tension.

3 Adapting Your Technique for Eight Strings

The wider neck of an eight-string guitar is the first adjustment most players notice. Eight-string necks are typically 2.25–2.5 inches wide at the nut (compared to about 1.69 inches on a standard six-string), which requires a wider thumb position and more hand stretching for chords and scale runs. Your fretting hand will need time to build the strength and flexibility to navigate the extra width comfortably.

Right-hand muting becomes significantly more important on an eight-string. With two additional low strings, any unmuted sympathetic vibration produces rumbling low-frequency noise that muddies your tone. Develop a disciplined palm-muting technique where your picking hand rests on the strings you are not playing. Many eight-string players adopt a "floating thumb" bass technique for the right hand, where the thumb moves to rest on lower strings as you play higher ones, muting them in the process.

Picking precision also demands extra attention. With eight strings packed across a wider neck, accurately hitting the intended string requires refined right-hand targeting. Start by practicing scales and arpeggios slowly across all eight strings, focusing on clean string-to-string transitions. String skipping exercises are particularly valuable because the wider spacing between non-adjacent strings on an eight-string guitar amplifies any imprecision in your picking hand.

4 Chord Voicings on Eight Strings

Standard six-string chord shapes work perfectly on the upper six strings of an eight-string guitar—they are tuned identically. The creative opportunity lies in extending those voicings to include the seventh and eighth strings, adding bass notes that create enormous, organ-like chords with deep harmonic richness. However, playing full eight-string chords requires careful voicing to avoid muddiness in the low register.

The key principle is wide spacing in the bass, close spacing in the treble. In the lowest register, intervals of a fourth, fifth, or octave sound clear, while thirds and seconds become indistinct and muddy. Use the low strings primarily for root notes and fifths, and build your chord colors (thirds, sevenths, extensions) on the upper strings. This mirrors how orchestrators and pianists handle voicings across a wide range.

Effective 8-String Chord Voicing (E major):
e|--0--|
B|--0--|
G|--1--|
D|--2--|
A|--2--|
E|--0--|
B|-----|  (muted)
F#|----|  (muted)

Using the low strings for bass:
e|-----|
B|--0--|
G|--1--|
D|--2--|
A|-----|
E|-----|
B|--4--|  (E note on 7th string)
F#|----|  (muted)
        

Experiment with voicings that spread notes across all eight strings with gaps between them. These open voicings, where some strings are muted or skipped, create a spacious, orchestral quality that is one of the eight-string guitar's most distinctive characteristics. Tosin Abasi is a master of this approach, using tapped and plucked voicings that span the full range of the instrument.

5 Riffing and Rhythm Techniques

The eight-string guitar excels at heavy, low-register riffs that combine the rhythmic drive of guitar with the low-frequency power of bass. Meshuggah pioneered the approach of playing complex, syncopated single-note riffs on the lowest strings while the drums provide a polyrhythmic counterpoint. Their technique involves extremely tight palm muting on the low F# and B strings, producing a percussive, staccato attack that is one of the most recognizable sounds in modern metal.

When riffing on the low strings, clarity is everything. Use a tight palm mute and a precise pick attack. The low strings respond differently than standard guitar strings—they need a firmer pick attack to produce a clear fundamental tone, but too much force causes the string to rattle against the frets. Find the sweet spot where the note speaks clearly with a defined, punchy attack. Many players angle the pick slightly for a smoother string contact on the thicker strings.

Djent-style playing, which originated on seven- and eight-string guitars, relies on heavily palm-muted, staccato power chords played with high-gain amplification and precise rhythmic placement. The term "djent" is onomatopoeia for the sharp, metallic sound of a tightly muted power chord on the low strings. This style emphasizes rhythmic complexity and groove over traditional melodic content, treating the guitar almost like a pitched percussion instrument.

6 Choosing Your First Eight-String Guitar

If you are ready to try an eight-string guitar, there are several factors to consider. Scale length is the most important specification. Look for a guitar with at least a 27-inch scale length; many eight-strings use 27.5 or 28 inches. The longer scale provides the string tension needed for the low strings to sound clear and defined. Shorter scale lengths may work for standard tuning but will struggle with lower tunings.

Pickup selection matters more on eight-strings than on standard guitars. Not all pickups handle the low frequencies of the F# string well. Look for pickups specifically designed for extended-range instruments. Brands like Fishman, Seymour Duncan, and Bare Knuckle offer eight-string pickups that are voiced to handle the extended bass range without losing clarity. Active pickups are popular for eight-strings because their higher output and flatter frequency response handle the low strings well.

For budget-conscious first-time buyers, brands like Ibanez (RG8 and RGA8 series), Schecter (Omen-8), and Jackson offer quality eight-string guitars at accessible price points. For higher-end options, Strandberg, Abasi Concepts, and Ibanez premium lines offer refined playability and superior electronics. Try before you buy if possible—the wider neck and longer scale length feel dramatically different from a standard guitar, and comfort is essential for a guitar you will spend hours practicing on.