7 String Jazz Guitar
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7String.shtml | Updated: 18-Jun-2009 - 23:29
7 String Guitar
Contents
American Archtop Custom Collector Series 7 String
[ September 2007 Update ] Here is my new, FINISHED, 7 string American Archtop Collector Series 7 string guitar that master luthier Dale Unger created and I picked up on September 14, 2007. So, when I'm not getting much publishing company work done you can blame it on Dale.
- Custom Collector Series 7 String
- 16" Spruce top
- Maple Back and Sides
- Ebony Fingerboard, 25 inch scale and 2 1/4 width neck
- 3 inch Body Depth
- Florentine Cutaway
- Violin Burst Finish
- Built-in Pickup
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Click on image for larger view
Here is the guitar in action
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Video: The Girl from Ipanema
Posted a video to YouTube of myself and Pat Lenz jamming on the standard The Girl from Ipanema at the Nazareth Guitar Institute January 30, 2008.
Each guitar building class that Dale Unger has I make a trip to Nazareth and shoot some photos and this time I brought along a HD camcorder and captured some great video footage and Dale shoot me performing with Pat Lenz who attended past classes and came in to help Dale with this class. Pat is a great jazz guitarist as well.
I'm playing my 7 string legend that Dale finished for me September 2007 and Pat Lenz is playing Dick Boak's American Archtop.
YouTube: The Girl from Ipanema
Broadband QuickTime Version: The Girl from Ipanema (32.7 MB)
High Def (HD) QuickTime Version: The Girl from Ipanema (254.1 MB)
The 7 String "Jazz" Guitarists
Fellow 7 String Jazz Guitarists
The 7 string jazz guitar has been around for a while. From
George Van Eps and
Bucky Pizzarelli, the original west
coast and east coast seven string slingers to moderd day 7 string jazz guitarist
Howard Alden and lots more.
Never really taking hold in the rock word like the jazz world...they have enough trouble with six strings. The seven string guitar expands the harmonic and melodic possiblites of jazz guitar. Typically an additional low string commonly tuned to A an octave below string 5 of a standard tuned guitar or the less common low B.
Forum: Sevenstring.org - The Sevenstring Authority (link)
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If you are a 7 string jazz guitarist let
me know if you want added to this list.
Some of the jazz guitarists that I'm aware of that currently play 7 string guitar. For more information check them out on the guitarists pages. ( links will open in www.JazzGuitarResources.com )
- Howard Alden (Tuning: Low A)
- Victor Baker (Tuning: Low B)
- Lenny Breau (Tuning: High A)
- Jimmy Bruno (Tuning: Low A), now back to 6 string
- Chris Buzzelli
- Mike Cea
- Dave Cross
- Alan de Mause (Tuning: Low A) - Alan also has a Mel Bay book out on 7 string guitar
- Billy Denk
- Dan Dowling
- Ron Eschete
- Steve Herberman (Tuning: Low A)
See Steve's note regarding George Van Eps and his 7 string guitar. - Paul Hintz
- Diane Hubka
- Buddy Jones (Tuning: Low A) NEW
- Ole Kirkeby - (Tuning: Major Thirds Tuning)
- Neil Lamb (Tuning: Low A)
- Ed Laub
- Rick Matle
- Richard Maxwell
- Ron Murray
- Michael Qualls - Jonesboro, Arkansas vii_stringer@sbcglobal.net
- Tao Højgaard
- Van Moretti
- Howard Morgan
- Mike Oria
- Howard Paul (Tuning: Low A)
- Bucky Pizzarelli (Tuning: Low A) - Bucky has been playing the 7 string guitar for longer than most.
- John Pizzarelli (Tuning: Low A)
- Doug Proper
- Adam Rafferty
- Matt Raines
- Michéle "Mick" Ramo
- David Reiter
- Tom Salvo (Tuning: Low A) (Long Island, NY)
- Rick Schilling
- Karl Schloz
- Curt Sheller (Hey that's me ;-)) - I have a volume available for 7 string guitar from my Advanced Guitar Chord series. This is available here on my web site. (Tuning: Low A)
- Jerry Sims (Tuning: Low A)
- Pete Smyser (Tuning: Low B)
- Bill Solley
- Jim Soloway
- Ryan Tucker, Baltimore, Maryland (Tuning: Low A)
- George Van Eps (Tuning: Low A and all strings drop a whole step)
- Jon Wheatley (Tuning: Low A)
- Tonnie van der Heide
- Rene Oliveros, S.J. - S.J is the Society of Jesus the religious order that runs St. Joseph University, Philadelphia, PA, Play 7-string (exclusively) on nylon string archtop.
The Original 7 String Masters
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Links
George Van Eps is credited with creating the first 7 string "jazz" guitar". At one time Gretsch had a George Van Eps model 6 and 7 string production guitar.
George Van Eps created the first 7-string jazz guitar in 1938. He took his beloved Epiphone guitar to the Epiphone factory in New York and had the neck, tailpiece, and bridge replaced to accommodate an extra string, a low A tuned a perfect fifth below the low E string. Thus the seventh string did not alter the standard tuning of the instrument but enhanced it by adding the rich tones of the bass register. The 7th string opened up many opportunities for building walking bass lines while simultaneously comping chords. It also expanded the range of the instrument giving George a richer, fuller sound when playing solo guitar. Van Eps called it his "lap piano".
Here is a link
the George Van Eps iTunes music.
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Links
- ClassicJazzGuitar.com
- AMG
- Mel Bay Profile
- Jazz by Mail - Discography
- Recorded Telephone Interview of John "Bucky" Pizzarelli, July 6, 2006 by Michael Pettersen
- WidipediA: Bucky Pizzarelli
Artist Info
(from WidipediA: site) John Paul 'Bucky' Pizzarelli (born January 9, 1926 is an American classical jazz guitarist and banjoist, perhaps most notable for his work with jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli, his son. John has also worked for NBC as a staffman for Dick Cavett (1951) and also ABC with Bobby Rosengarden in (1952). The list of musicians Bucky has collaborated with over his career is considerable, including Les Paul, Stephane Grappelli, and Benny Goodman. Bucky acknowledges Django Reinhardt, Freddie Green, and George Van Eps for their influences on his style and mode of play.
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John and Bucky Pizzarelli: Father-Son Jazz
Fresh Air from WHYY, September 25, 2006 · John Pizzarelli has been playing jazz guitar with his legendary father, Bucky, since he was 6 years old. John's latest album is Dear Mr. Sinatra, on which he plays songs written for Ol' Blue Eyes. Pizzarelli appears at the Birdland jazz club in Manhattan this week... link
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Guitars
Your best bet it to have your 7 string built by a master luthier
The Guitars and
Luthiers pages
list builders and manufactures that have 7 string
guitars available. I personally play and endorse Dale Unger's American Archtop
guitars.
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Links
- www.AmericanArchtop.com
- Mel Bay's Guitar Sessions July 2005 Seven String Edition
Info
(From Dales's bio)
I was born September 16, 1954, raised in Nazareth, PA, home of Martin Guitar. In my teens I became inspired by meeting some of the world's finest guitar builders. This led me to play guitar and become a builder. Visiting the shop of one of Martin's craftsmen encouraged me to buy one of his guitars. I was overwhelmed by the craftsmanship and ease of playing. At that point I knew I wanted to build an instrument of that quality. I started building acoustic guitars in 1977 in collaboration with friend Dick Boak.
In 1993 I began an apprentice with Archtop guitar builder, Robert Benedetto. Working for Bob for several years was an experience of a lifetime. Teaching me his secrets and passions for the Archtop guitar that has taken him some 30 years to master. Together we built some of the worlds finest Archtop guitars..png){kind=icon}
American Archtop Flyer (Print Resolution)
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Books
Curt Sheller - I have a book from my
Advanced Guide to Guitar Chords series for 7 string guitar
tuned to low "A".
Sample page from: Advanced Guide to Guitar Chords- Vol III, for seven string guitar tuned with a low "A"
Commonly referred to as "jazz" chords. The Advanced Guide to Guitar Chords Volume I provides detailed information on voicing 4-part chords for 7 string guitar. (link)
Jerry Sims is a 7 string guitarist and owner of
Sims Music and
the author of The First Chord Book for Seven String Guitar published by Mel Bay.
| The First Chord Book for the 7-String Guitar by Jerry Sims. For Guitar (All). chord book. Jazz. Level: Beginning-Intermediate. Book. Size 8.5x11. 38 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (98220) |
Chris Buzzelli has a 7 string book titled
Complete 7-String Guitar Method published by Mel Bay.
7 String Guitar Books
|
Complete 7-String Guitar Method A Comprehensive Method Including Chords, Scales & Arpeggios. For Guitar (All). Methods. Complete. All Styles. Level: Intermediate-Advanced. Book/CD Set. Size 8.75x11.75. 144 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (99988BCD) |
|
7-String Guitar An All-Purpose Reference for Navigating Your Fretboard. By Andy Martin. Guitar Educational. Size 9x12 inches. 96 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (695508) |
|
7-String Jazz Guitar Chord Chart By William Bay. For Guitar (All). Chord book. Jazz. Level: Beginning. Chart. Size 11.75x8.75. 3 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (99936) |
|
7-String Guitar Chord Book By Chad Johnson. Guitar Educational. Size 9x12 inches. 48 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (695677) |
|
7-String Guitar By Tobias Hurwitz and Glenn Riley. Guitar Method or Supplement. Book & CD. 48 pages. Published by Alfred Publishing. (21892) |
|
Introducing 7-String Guitar By Dan Begelman. This edition: Guitar TAB. Guitar Method or Supplement. Guitar Masters. Book & CD. 52 pages. Published by Alfred Publishing. (0440B) |
|
Full-Page 7-String Tab Pad For Guitar (All). Manuscript. All Styles. Book. Size 8.75x11.75. 96 pages. Published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (99749) |
/7-String Guitar/Book-21892 Published by Alfred Publishing. (21891) |
/7-String Guitar/CD-21892 Published by Alfred Publishing. (21893) |
Strings
Visit the Strings page
for a listing of places to get 7 string guitar string. I get
mine from
Legato Guitars
. You can always just buy a single string the
gauge needed for the seventh string and add it to your favorite
set.
| La Bella Electric Black Nylon-Tape Wound 800 7 String For Guitar (Electric). Labella Strings. Rock & jazz. Accessory. Size 4x4.25. Published by Labella Strings. (99220AX) |
|
La Bella Phosphor Bronze Wound 7GPM Medium Guitar Strings For Guitar (All). Misc. Product. Labella Strings. Acoustic music. Accessory. Size 4.5x4.5. Published by Labella Strings. (99208AX) |
|
La Bella Phosphor Bronze Wound 7GPS Light Guitar Strings For Guitar (All). Misc. Product. Labella Strings. Acoustic music. Accessory. Size 4.5x4.5. Published by Labella Strings. (99207AX) |
Amplifiers and Speaker Cabinets
The BEST
speaker cabinet for a 7 string guitarist is a Raezer's EDGE Guitar Cabinet.
See the Amps page for more amp and cabinet choices.
Thanks for visiting and checking out my site!
Content is always being added and updated. So check-in often. Curt Sheller
MAY 2009 Now accepting selected advertising.
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