Some bass and guitar players play versions of their respective instruments that have one or two (or more) extra strings to extend the range. Have you seen and/or played an instrument like this? The most common examples are seven-string guitars and five-string basses. In both those cases, the extra string is a low B, a perfect fourth below the low E-string (typically the low end). Lessonface’s Flavio Lira played a 6-string bass in a recent Lessonface Presents duet with flutist Ali Ryerson.
In the classical guitar world, extended range guitars are really useful for playing transcriptions of works written for other instruments. Music written for piano or orchestra often has the potential to sound amazing on a guitar, but it would lack range and depth on the typical six-string guitar. Paul Galbraith plays an 8-string classical guitar in a sitting position more typical to that of a cello. Narcisso Yepes (1927-1997) played a 10-string classical guitar.
Who are some bassists or guitarists in other musical genres who primarily play an extra-stringed version of their instruments?
Another very visually memorable kind of extended-range guitar is called the harp guitar. Harp guitars usually consist of a standard six-string guitar plus two, three, four, or more extra strings. The extra strings are lower in pitch, are usually played open, and can be tuned according to the key of the song. If you haven’t heard a harp guitar before, check out this ‘Summer Morning Rain’ by Muriel Anderson and ‘Into the Ocean’ by Andy McKee. Further notable players of the harp guitar include Michael Hedges, Kaki King, and Steve Bennett (see this wikipedia article for more info).
An extra string (or many extra strings!) can seem like an intimidating addition to an already complicated instrument. But you don’t have to be a virtuoso to benefit from an extended range. If you closely watch some one play a harp-guitar or extra-stringed bass or guitar, you’ll see that most of the time they’re not using the extra string in an especially showy or technically virtuosic manner. They may also happen to be ‘virtuosos’, and you can bet they understand their instrument and music theory in order to take advantage of that extra string. But the idea is to add depth to their sound, not to make things more complicated.
What do you think of the harp-guitar and ‘extended-range instruments’? Have you tried one out before? Do you own one? What made you choose it, and why do you like it? Does it make you more creative? Do you usually play your extended-range instrument, or do you use it in specific situations?
