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Whether you’re contemplating investing in a Classical 7 string guitar or simply curious about its capabilities, this comprehensive guide will serve as your one-stop resource.
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3 of The Best Classical 7 String Guitars
When it comes to investing in a 7-string classical guitar, quality should be your foremost concern. Below, we review three carefully selected 7-string classical guitars that are not only exceptional in build and tonality but also offer great value for the price.
AIERSI 7-String Classical Guitar
Specifications
Top: Solid Cedar
Back & Sides: Laminated Rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Tuners: Gold-plated
Why Is This Guitar Worth It?
The AIERSI 7-String Classical Guitar offers a premium experience at a mid-range price. Its solid cedar top provides a warm, full-bodied tone, while the rosewood back and sides add a touch of brightness. The gold-plated tuners not only add to the aesthetic appeal but are also highly functional, ensuring stable tuning.
Pros and Cons of The AIERSI 7-String Classical Guitar
Pros
- Affordable Price Point: Offers professional-level features at a fraction of the cost.
- Versatile Sound: The combination of cedar and rosewood offers a balanced sound palette suitable for various genres.
- Stable Tuning: The high-quality tuners maintain tuning stability, essential for live performances and recording sessions.
Cons
- Laminated Back & Sides: While cost-effective, laminated wood may not offer the same resonance as solid wood.
Sete Cordas Brazilian 7-String with Cedar Top
Specifications
Top: Solid Cedar
Back & Sides: Solid Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Tuners: Silver-plated
Why Is This Guitar Worth It?
This Brazilian 7-string guitar offers a unique blend of quality materials and craftsmanship. Its all-solid build ensures excellent tonal quality and projection. The silver-plated tuners are not only elegant but also highly functional. The guitar is well-suited for both ensemble and solo settings.
Pros and Cons of The Sete Cordas Brazilian 7-String with Cedar Top
Pros
- All-Solid Construction: Superior resonance and tonal quality due to the all-solid wood build.
- Artisan Craftsmanship: The level of detail in the construction is notable and adds to the guitar’s overall quality.
- Excellent Projection: The choice of solid cedar for the top gives the guitar a powerful projection, ideal for performances.
Cons
- Price: Higher cost due to all-solid construction and artisanal craftsmanship.
Sete Cordas 7-String Brazilian Classical Guitar (All Solid)
Specification
Top: Solid Spruce
Back & Sides: Solid Rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Tuners: Gold-plated
Why Is This Guitar Worth It?
This is a top-of-the-line, all-solid 7-string classical guitar aimed at professionals and serious enthusiasts. With a spruce top and rosewood back and sides, the guitar offers unparalleled tonal clarity and richness.
Pros and Cons of The Sete Cordas 7-String Brazilian Classical Guitar (All Solid)
Pros
- Top-Grade Materials: The use of solid spruce and rosewood ensures maximum resonance and sustain.
- Professional-Level Features: This model includes features commonly sought by professionals, such as a wider neck for advanced techniques.
- Exceptional Craftsmanship: The build quality is impeccable, making it a long-term investment for serious musicians.
Cons
- Premium Price: The high cost may make it less accessible to hobbyists or beginner players.
Check out the best classical guitars of 2023.
The Evolution of 7-String Guitars
The intriguing history of 7-string guitars is a tale that weaves through various genres of music and crosses numerous cultural boundaries. Far from being a contemporary novelty, the 7-string guitar has deep historical roots that stretch back centuries.
A Journey Through Time
The 7-string guitar wasn’t born yesterday; its evolution has been a slow burn, emerging from its 6-string predecessor to offer musicians greater range and versatility.
The additional string, commonly tuned to a low B in electric guitars or different notes in other variations, has allowed musicians to push boundaries, both in creativity and technical execution. For an in-depth look at how this fascinating instrument evolved, make sure to check out From Folk to Metal: The Story Behind 7-String Guitars.
Genres and Adaptations
The beauty of the 7-string guitar lies in its adaptability. It has found a home in an array of musical genres, from the intricate compositions in jazz to the heavy riffs in metal.
Folk musicians also utilize its additional string for more complex harmonic structures, and classical players have exploited its wider range for more expansive compositions.
A Cultural Instrument: The Russian Connection
While 7-string guitars have become increasingly popular in contemporary Western music, they also have an essential historical role in Russian culture.
The Russian 7-string guitar, often tuned to an open G, is a staple in Russian folklore and classical music. The open G tuning adds a unique tonal palette that distinguishes it from its Western counterparts. To further explore this Russian variant, you can visit the Russian 7-string Guitar in G Tuning.
Why is the Classical 7 String Guitar unique?
When one mentions 7-string guitars, the mind may wander to the world of electric guitars and metal music. However, classical 7 string guitars have their own unique charm and capabilities, adding a whole new dimension to traditional classical music genres.
Level of Complexity
“Are 7-string classical guitars harder to play?” It’s a natural question that emerges when discussing these instruments. The truth is that the seventh string adds both challenge and opportunity. Players must develop additional techniques to master the wider fretboard, but once mastered, the rewards in musical expressivity are invaluable.
Utility and Versatility
So, what are 7-string classical guitars good for? The added string introduces a broader tonal range and harmonic richness, providing classical guitarists with new avenues for artistic expression.
Whether it’s through exploring lesser-known compositions written specifically for the 7-string guitar or adapting traditional pieces, musicians can dig deeper into the classical repertoire.
Tuning Options
The tuning of a 7-string classical guitar can vary but is often set to a low B or a low A. Tuning, like in 6-string classical guitars, significantly impacts the mood and texture of a piece. It allows for a more extended bass range, offering greater harmonic depth and enhancing the guitar’s overall resonance.
Who Are the Champions of the 7-String Classical Guitar?
7-string classical guitars may not be as mainstream as their 6-string counterparts, but they have a dedicated following and are favored by guitarists seeking new creative avenues.
Masters of the Craft
While less common, some musicians specialize in the classical 7 string guitar. These artists, often deeply involved in the worlds of composition as well as performance, showcase the added musical possibilities and complexities afforded by that seventh string.
Classical and Beyond
Although rooted in classical music, the classical 7 string guitar has also found its way into other genres, such as jazz, where artists are looking for that extra tonal range to broaden their musical storytelling.
A Global Instrument
As previously mentioned, the 7-string guitar is not limited to Western classical music. It holds a significant place in Russian musical traditions, often tuned to an open G for a distinctive tonal flavor. For more about this, check out the Russian 7-string Guitar in G Tuning.
Classical 7 String Guitar FAQs
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