8 String Guitar Guitar Lesson
8 String Guitar
Tosin explains some of the intricacies of the 8 string guitar such as his personal setup and approach to playing.
Taught by Tosin Abasi in Tosin Abasi Artist Series seriesLength: 7:49Difficulty: 1.0 of 5
Chord Charts for 7 and 8 String Guitars
Note: The first chord diagram listed for each chord voicing shows the fret numbers as well as the corresponding note names. The proper left hand fingering for each chord is included in the second diagram under each chord. Both chord charts are written out just like a tablature staff. In other words, the eighth string is listed at the bottom of the chart. All voicings are for an 8 string guitar tuned E, B, E, A, D, G, B, E from low to high.
A
_5_A
_5_E
_6_C#
_7_A
_7_E
_5_A
_x_
_x_
_1_
_1_
_2_
_4_
_3_
_1_
_x_
_x_
A/E
_5_A
_5_E
_6_C#
_7_A
_7_E
_5_A
_5_E
_x_
_1_
_1_
_2_
_4_
_3_
_1_
_1_
_x_
A
_5_A
_5_E
_6_C#
_7_A
_7_E
_5_A
_5_E
_5_A
_1_
_1_
_2_
_4_
_3_
_1_
_1_
_1_
Em9
_0_E
_3_D
_0_G
_4_F#
_2_B
_0_E
_0_B
_0_E
_0_
_2_
_0_
_3_
_2_
_0_
_0_
_0_
Em9
_0_E
_12_B
_11_F#
_12_D
_10_G
_0_E
_0_B
_0_E
_0_
_4_
_2_
_3_
_1_
_0_
_0_
_0_
Supplemental Learning Material
Tosin Abasi Artist Series
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsLead guitarist for Animals As Leaders, Tosin Abasi brings his knowledge of extended range guitars to JamPlay.
Lesson 1
Interview with Tosin Abasi
As an introduction to JamPlay, Tosin Abasi provides an interview outlining his playing style, influences and musical background.
Length: 14:46 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
8 String Guitar
Tosin explains some of the intricacies of the 8 string guitar such as his personal setup and approach to playing.
Length: 7:49 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Hybrid Picking Techniques
Tosin Abasi demonstrates how he uses hybrid picking styles in the song "On Impulse."
Length: 9:28 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Theory Ideas
Tosin discusses harmonic and music theory ideas as they relate to the Animals As Leaders song "On Impulse."
Length: 8:38 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Economy Picking
Tosin discusses and demonstrates economy picking technique.
Length: 14:41 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Economy Picking and Note Grouping
Tosin explains how he achieved some of the sounds in his song "On Impulse."
Length: 8:50 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Thumping
Tosin Abasi explains how bass style thumping and slap techniques can be performed on an 8 string guitar.
Length: 15:26 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Advanced Economy Picking Technique
Tosin Abasi expands further on economy picking.
Length: 9:54 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
8 String Jazz Voicings
Tosin Abasi covers jazz voicings for the eight string guitar.
Length: 8:18 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
8 String Chord Voicings
Tosin discusses how he voices chords on the eight string guitar.
Length: 9:15 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Emulating Bass
Tosin Abasi discusses how bass techniques can be emulated on guitars with extended ranges as well as standard 6 string guitars.
Length: 6:53 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Two Handed Tapping
Tosin Abasi takes a look at a two handed tapping technique that emulates a piano-like feel.
Length: 31:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Muted Tapping
Tosin Abasi discusses a muted tapping techniques he utilizes in his playing.
Length: 5:25 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Polymetrics
In his 14th lesson, Tosin discusses riffing in compound meter over a straight back-beat.
Length: 12:30 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Full Range Economy Picking Licks
In this lesson, Tosin demonstrates a few of his favorite licks that utilize the full range of the eight string guitar as well as the economy picking technique.
Length: 23:17 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Electric Fingerstyle
Tosin Abasi discusses how fingerstyle can be adapted for use on an electric guitar. Additionally, he takes a look at some advanced one string tremolo techniques that can mimic non-percussive bass thumping.
Length: 13:24 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Songwriting Approach
In his 17th lesson, Tosin discusses how he goes about composing for guitar.
Length: 5:59 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Organizing Scales
In lesson 18, Tosin discusses how to organize scale patterns on the neck of the guitar using the CAGED system.
Length: 24:30 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Alternate Picking Exercises
In this lesson, Tosin demonstrates several alternate picking exercises aimed at improving dexterity, speed, and accuracy.
Length: 6:12 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
About Tosin Abasi
View Full Biography
Hi. My name is Tosin Abasi. I'm the lead guitarist for Animals as Leaders. I've been playing the guitar for 15 years, and touring professionally on and off for about 6.
A majority of that time has been spent playing extended range guitar (7 and 8 strings) . I'm primarily self taught but I studied jazz and classical guitar briefly at the Atlanta Institute of Music.
The extended range guitar can offer a lot of possibilities for composition. Unfortunately, the resources available to 6 string guitarist don't exist in the same prominence for the seven guitar (especially not the 8 string guitar). Through my compositions I hope to break down my approach to utilizing the 7 and 8 string guitar in both lead and rhythm work. We'll also examine multiple techniques such as Hybrid picking, Sweeping, Tapping and Slapping.
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Scene 2 is not playing for me, I get the message "video not found"
Just to add: it doesn't play in High quality, but medium is playing ok.
I must have said "that's what she said" eight times in regards to the guitar size.
Awesome guitar Tosin! Like your style :P
Sweet guitar! Is it the same as the guys in meshuggah use?
Meshuggah now have a signature Ibanez, the custom M8M with Lundgren pickups.
I don't know if Mushugga spacifically uses Ibanez, but they do use 8 string guitars. Mushugga use the instrument more for it's incredibly lowend where Tosin tends to use the entire range of the guitar to create wide spaced intervals.
Meshuggah* Mr. Mounce and yes Meshuggah is endorsed by Ibanez. They are the reason Ibanez has that particular guitar in production. Good to see someone go crazy with its possibilities as well.
That is very cool
In many ways this instrument is like a Chapman NS Stick.