8 string guitar

Articles on 8 String Guitar

8 String Guitar / 7 Jun 2026 / James Harrison

How to Set Up and Use 8 String Guitar

A well-set-up 8-string guitar plays very differently from a factory-fresh one. Here is how to set the action, intonation and pickup height, and how to handle the muting extended range demands.

8 String Guitar / 28 Mar 2026 / Benjamin Wood

8 String Guitar for Beginners: A Complete Guide

The 8-string guitar adds two bass strings below a standard guitar. The technical challenges are real but learnable — and muting is the first thing to get right.

8 String Guitar / 10 Dec 2025 / James Harrison

Common 8 String Guitar Mistakes to Avoid

Most extended-range mistakes come down to the same short list: muting not sorted, scale length ignored at purchase, strings too light, and bass boosted instead of shaped. Here is what to watch for.

8 String Guitar / 8 Dec 2024 / Charlotte Bennett

The Best 8 String Guitars for the Money

The Ibanez RG8 remains the most trusted starting point, but Solar Guitars and the RGD series offer real improvements at mid-range prices. Here is what to buy and why.

8 String Guitar / 2 Nov 2024 / Benjamin Wood

8 String Guitar Explained: Features, Types and Tips

The 8-string guitar extends standard guitar range with two extra bass strings, changing the instrument's physics, neck dimensions and technique demands in ways worth understanding before buying.

8 String Guitar / 12 Oct 2024 / Rebecca Turner

8 String Guitar: A Complete Buyer's Guide

An 8-string guitar has more variables than a standard guitar — scale length, bridge type, neck profile, pickups. Understanding them before you buy prevents an expensive mistake.

Extended-range versatility

An 8 string guitar pushes the instrument further by adding even more range for low tunings, intricate chord work and advanced melodic ideas. It appeals to players who need a broader palette for modern, technical and experimental music.

Built for demanding parts

The 8 string guitar is often used in progressive metal, fusion and composition where clarity matters across a wide register. It can handle powerful low-end rhythms while still leaving space for lead lines and harmonically rich passages.

Setup and playing approach

With an 8 string guitar, neck width, scale length and string balance are central to playability. The instrument rewards a precise technique and a setup tailored to the player’s tuning preferences, helping keep the low strings articulate and stable.

A specialist instrument with scope

For guitarists who want maximum range from a fretted instrument, the 8 string guitar offers a striking combination of depth and flexibility. It is a specialist choice, but one that opens up bold new musical territory.