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{{Short description|Fretted string instrument}}
[[File:Nine String.jpg|thumb|Nine string guitar]]


A '''nine-string guitar''' is a [[guitar]] with nine strings instead of the commonly used six strings. Such guitars are not as common as the six-string variety, but are used by guitarists to modify the sound or expand the range of their instrument.
A '''nine-string guitar''' is a [[guitar]] with nine strings instead of the commonly used six strings. Such guitars are not as common as the six-string variety, but are used by guitarists to modify the sound or expand the range of their instrument.
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The first style is often employed with three pairs of [[course (music)|coursed strings]] similar to a [[twelve-string guitar]]. Often the three wound strings are single and the three thin strings are doubled to six strings. This allows dry power chords on the lower three and a more atmospheric [[choir|chorus]] sound when all strings are played. Some examples of this type of nine-string guitar are the [[Vox Mark III|Vox Mark IX]] and the [[Vox Phantom|Vox Phantom IX]]{{Citation needed|date=December 2015}}.
The first style is often employed with three pairs of [[course (music)|coursed strings]] similar to a [[twelve-string guitar]]. Often the three wound strings are single and the three thin strings are doubled to six strings. This allows dry power chords on the lower three and a more atmospheric [[choir|chorus]] sound when all strings are played. Some examples of this type of nine-string guitar are the [[Vox Mark III|Vox Mark IX]] and the [[Vox Phantom|Vox Phantom IX]]{{Citation needed|date=December 2015}}.


A different and rarer version of coursing uses doubled courses on the three bass strings, and leaves the high strings single. This facilitates free bending during solos, and slide playing{{Citation needed|date=December 2015}}. [[Mick Abrahams]] of the band [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]] used this configuration (in open tuning) on the ''[[This Was]]'' album, though he achieved it by removing three of the top strings from an EKO 12-string acoustic-electric guitar, since stock nine-string guitars didn't exist at the time (1969).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mickabrahams.weebly.com/micks-gear.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-02-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227222403/http://mickabrahams.weebly.com/micks-gear.html |archive-date=2015-02-27 }}</ref> Some twenty years later, former [[Rollins Band]] guitarist [[Chris Haskett]] had a custom [[Paul Reed Smith]] nine-string guitar made in this configuration. The inspiration for the design was supposedly the desire to capture the prominent tonalities of a 6/12 [[doubleneck]] on a single-neck guitar.{{Citation needed|date=January 2015}}
A different and rarer version of coursing uses doubled courses on the three bass strings, and leaves the high strings single. This facilitates free bending during solos, and slide playing{{Citation needed|date=December 2015}}. [[Mick Abrahams]] of the band [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]] used this configuration (in open tuning) on the ''[[This Was]]'' album, though he achieved it by removing three of the top strings from an EKO 12-string acoustic-electric guitar, since stock nine-string guitars didn't exist at the time (1969). Some twenty years later, former [[Rollins Band]] guitarist [[Chris Haskett]] had a custom [[Paul Reed Smith]] nine-string guitar made in this configuration. The inspiration for the design was supposedly the desire to capture the prominent tonalities of a 6/12 [[doubleneck]] on a single-neck guitar.{{Citation needed|date=January 2015}}


===Extended range===
===Extended range===
The second style expands on the seven- and eight-string guitar concept by adding either an additional lower- or higher-tuned string. When a lower string is added, the standard tuning becomes C#, F#, B, E, A, D, G, B, E. The scale is often lengthened, e.g., on the Ibanez RG9 (712 mm/28" instead of the common 25.5").<ref>Musicradar (2014-09-01): ''[https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/guitars/ibanez-rg9-606122 Ibanez RG9 Review].''</ref> Tuning the highest string to an A4 or higher can be accomplished with a shorter scale length and/or a thinner string such as a .008 or .007{{Citation needed|date=December 2015}}.
The second style expands on the seven- and eight-string guitar concept by adding either an additional lower- or higher-tuned string. When a lower string is added, the standard tuning becomes C#, F#, B, E, A, D, G, B, E. The scale is often lengthened, e.g., on the Ibanez RG9 (712&nbsp;mm/28" instead of the common 25.5").<ref>Musicradar (2014-09-01): ''[https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/guitars/ibanez-rg9-606122 Ibanez RG9 Review].''</ref> Tuning the highest string to an A4 or higher can be accomplished with a shorter scale length and/or a thinner string such as a .008 or .007{{Citation needed|date=December 2015}}.


Extended range nine-string guitars also sometimes have a [[multi-scale fingerboard]] design where the bass strings will be longer than the treble strings, which helps with proper [[Intonation (music)#Fretted instrument intonation|intonation]] of the lower strings, improves string tension balance across the strings, improves [[Guitar harmonic#Overtones|harmonic overtones]], [[overtone series]], and [[inharmonicity]]{{Citation needed|date=December 2015}}.
Extended range nine-string guitars also sometimes have a [[multi-scale fingerboard]] design where the bass strings will be longer than the treble strings, which helps with proper [[Intonation (music)#Fretted instrument intonation|intonation]] of the lower strings, improves string tension balance across the strings, improves [[Guitar harmonic#Overtones|harmonic overtones]], [[overtone series]], and [[inharmonicity]]{{Citation needed|date=December 2015}}.
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Notable guitar players of double-stringed nine-string guitars:
Notable guitar players of double-stringed nine-string guitars:
* Mississippi blues singer and guitarist [[Big Joe Williams]] spent most of his career playing nine-string guitars he had adapted himself from six-string instruments, with the first and second strings doubled in unison and the fourth doubled in octaves.<ref>James, Steve (2001). [https://books.google.com/books?id=n_X1v0AtMroC ''Inside Blues Guitar'']. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation, pp. 33-34</ref> His grave marker reads "King of the Nine-String guitar".<ref>Cheseborough, Steve (2009). [https://books.google.com/books?id=LBWRY90sphQC ''Blues Traveling: The Holy Sites of Delta Blues'']. Jackson: Univ. Press of Mississippi, p. 217</ref>
* Mississippi blues singer and guitarist [[Big Joe Williams]] spent most of his career playing nine-string guitars he had adapted himself from six-string instruments, with the first and second strings doubled in unison and the fourth doubled in octaves.<ref>James, Steve (2001). [https://books.google.com/books?id=n_X1v0AtMroC ''Inside Blues Guitar'']. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation, pp. 33-34</ref> His grave marker reads "King of the Nine-String guitar".<ref>Cheseborough, Steve (2009). [https://books.google.com/books?id=LBWRY90sphQC ''Blues Traveling: The Holy Sites of Delta Blues'']. Jackson: Univ. Press of Mississippi, p. 217</ref>
⚫
* Guitarist [[Matt Pike]] of [[Sleep (band)|Sleep]] and [[High on Fire]] also plays several [[First Act]] nine-string guitars. Nick Sadler, of the band [[Daughters (band)|Daughters]], also played First Act nine-string guitars.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}
* Fats Johnson, lead singer of the [[New Christy Minstrels]] in the 1960s, played a [[Martin Guitar|Martin]] 9-string. {{fact|date=July 2018}}
⚫
* Guitarist [[Matt Pike]] of [[Sleep (band)|Sleep]] and [[High on Fire]] also plays several [[First Act]] nine-string guitars. Nick Sadler, of the band [[Daughters (band)|Daughters]], also played First Act nine-string guitars.{{fact|date=July 2018}}
* [[Julian Cope]] played nine-string rhythm guitar during the 1980s, employing a standard twelve-string electric guitar but removing the doubled string on the bottom three courses.
* [[Julian Cope]] played nine-string rhythm guitar during the 1980s, employing a standard twelve-string electric guitar but removing the doubled string on the bottom three courses.


Notable guitar players of extended-range nine-string guitars:
Notable guitar players of extended-range nine-string guitars:
* [[Mick Gordon (composer)|Mick Gordon]] used a [[Schecter Guitar Research|Schecter]] nine-string for the ''[[Doom (2016 video game)|Doom]]'' soundtrack.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/MickGordonMusic/photos/pb.140534901317.-2207520000.1452609627./10153333785851318/?type=3&theater|title=Facebook|website=Facebook.com|access-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>
* [[Mick Gordon (composer)|Mick Gordon]] used a [[Schecter Guitar Research|Schecter]] nine-string for the ''[[Doom (2016 video game)|Doom]]'' soundtrack; he would eventually admit that using a nine-string was "kinda stupid" in its excess, and that while he eventually sold the guitar to [[Fredrik Thordendal]] from [[Meshuggah]], "even he can't find a use for it".<ref name="GDCMusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4FNBMZsqrY |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/U4FNBMZsqrY |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=DOOM: Behind the Music|last=GDC|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* [[Tosin Abasi]] of [[Animals as Leaders]] uses a 9-string guitar in standard tuning for the song "Private Visions of the World".<ref>Premier Guitar (2017-01-16): ''[https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25053-animals-as-leaders-16-strings-vs-the-world Animals as Leaders: 16 Strings vs. the World].''</ref>
* [[Tosin Abasi]] of [[Animals as Leaders]] uses a 9-string guitar in standard tuning for the song "Private Visions of the World".<ref>Premier Guitar (2017-01-16): ''[https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/25053-animals-as-leaders-16-strings-vs-the-world Animals as Leaders: 16 Strings vs. the World].''</ref>
* [[Stephen Carpenter]] of [[Deftones]] began using an [[ESP Guitars|ESP]] 9-string on their 2020 album ''[[Ohms (album)|Ohms]]''.<ref>GuitarWorld.com (21 August 2020): ''[https://www.guitarworld.com/news/stephen-carpenter-debuts-esp-9-string-in-video-for-new-deftones-single-ohms Stephen Carpenter debuts ESP 9-string in video for new Deftones single Ohms].''</ref>
* Justin Lowe of [[After the Burial]] used to play an [[Ibanez]] RG9BKP 9-string guitar.{{cn|date=June 2021}}
⚫
* [[Rob Scallon]] plays a [[Schecter Guitar Research|Schecter]] C-9 guitar on his songs "Envy"<ref>{{Cite web|last=Neilstein|first=Vince|date=2014-12-09|title=This 9-String Metal Song Actually Uses all 9 Strings|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2014/12/09/this-9-string-metal-song-actually-uses-all-9-strings/amp/}}</ref> and "Royale".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Neilstein|first=Vince|date=2015-01-20|title=You've Never Seen a 9-String Guitar Played This Way Before|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2015/01/20/youve-never-seen-a-9-string-guitar-played-this-way-before/amp/}}</ref>
* Lucas Mann of the band [[Rings of Saturn (band)|Rings of Saturn]] uses a 9-string guitar.{{cn|date=June 2021}}
Joshua Travis plays a Legator 9-String Guitar in "I Dug A Grave"<ref> Glass Cloud - I Dug A Grave (Legator Guitars Edition)
* [[Stephen Carpenter]] of [[Deftones]] began using an [[ESP Guitars|ESP]] 9-string on their 2020 album ''[[Ohms (album)|Ohms]]''.{{cn|date=June 2021}}
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YikOL4Ar-Eo</ref>
* Joshua Travis of [[Emmure]], (ex) [[Glass Cloud]] and (ex) [[The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza]] is known for his use of 9 string guitars.{{cn|date=June 2021}}
⚫
* [[YouTuber]] [[Rob Scallon]] plays a [[Schecter Guitar Research|Schecter]] C-9 guitar on his songs “Envy”<ref>{{Cite web|last=Neilstein|first=Vince|date=2014-12-09|title=This 9-String Metal Song Actually Uses all 9 Strings|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2014/12/09/this-9-string-metal-song-actually-uses-all-9-strings/amp/}}</ref> and “Royale”<ref>{{Cite web|last=Neilstein|first=Vince|date=2015-01-20|title=You’ve Never Seen a 9-String Guitar Played This Way Before|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2015/01/20/youve-never-seen-a-9-string-guitar-played-this-way-before/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 06:50, 6 December 2024

A nine-string guitar is a guitar with nine strings instead of the commonly used six strings. Such guitars are not as common as the six-string variety, but are used by guitarists to modify the sound or expand the range of their instrument.

Variants

[edit]

There are two common variations of the nine string guitar:

Coursed strings

[edit]

The first style is often employed with three pairs of coursed strings similar to a twelve-string guitar. Often the three wound strings are single and the three thin strings are doubled to six strings. This allows dry power chords on the lower three and a more atmospheric chorus sound when all strings are played. Some examples of this type of nine-string guitar are the Vox Mark IX and the Vox Phantom IX[citation needed].

A different and rarer version of coursing uses doubled courses on the three bass strings, and leaves the high strings single. This facilitates free bending during solos, and slide playing[citation needed]. Mick Abrahams of the band Jethro Tull used this configuration (in open tuning) on the This Was album, though he achieved it by removing three of the top strings from an EKO 12-string acoustic-electric guitar, since stock nine-string guitars didn't exist at the time (1969). Some twenty years later, former Rollins Band guitarist Chris Haskett had a custom Paul Reed Smith nine-string guitar made in this configuration. The inspiration for the design was supposedly the desire to capture the prominent tonalities of a 6/12 doubleneck on a single-neck guitar.[citation needed]

Extended range

[edit]

The second style expands on the seven- and eight-string guitar concept by adding either an additional lower- or higher-tuned string. When a lower string is added, the standard tuning becomes C#, F#, B, E, A, D, G, B, E. The scale is often lengthened, e.g., on the Ibanez RG9 (712 mm/28" instead of the common 25.5").[1] Tuning the highest string to an A4 or higher can be accomplished with a shorter scale length and/or a thinner string such as a .008 or .007[citation needed].

Extended range nine-string guitars also sometimes have a multi-scale fingerboard design where the bass strings will be longer than the treble strings, which helps with proper intonation of the lower strings, improves string tension balance across the strings, improves harmonic overtones, overtone series, and inharmonicity[citation needed].

Notable nine-string guitarists

[edit]

Notable guitar players of double-stringed nine-string guitars:

  • Mississippi blues singer and guitarist Big Joe Williams spent most of his career playing nine-string guitars he had adapted himself from six-string instruments, with the first and second strings doubled in unison and the fourth doubled in octaves.[2] His grave marker reads "King of the Nine-String guitar".[3]
  • Guitarist Matt Pike of Sleep and High on Fire also plays several First Act nine-string guitars. Nick Sadler, of the band Daughters, also played First Act nine-string guitars.[citation needed]
  • Julian Cope played nine-string rhythm guitar during the 1980s, employing a standard twelve-string electric guitar but removing the doubled string on the bottom three courses.

Notable guitar players of extended-range nine-string guitars:

Joshua Travis plays a Legator 9-String Guitar in "I Dug A Grave"[9]

See also

[edit]

Notes and references

[edit]
  1. ^ Musicradar (2014-09-01): Ibanez RG9 Review.
  2. ^ James, Steve (2001). Inside Blues Guitar. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard Corporation, pp. 33-34
  3. ^ Cheseborough, Steve (2009). Blues Traveling: The Holy Sites of Delta Blues. Jackson: Univ. Press of Mississippi, p. 217
  4. ^ GDC. "DOOM: Behind the Music". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ Premier Guitar (2017-01-16): Animals as Leaders: 16 Strings vs. the World.
  6. ^ GuitarWorld.com (21 August 2020): Stephen Carpenter debuts ESP 9-string in video for new Deftones single Ohms.
  7. ^ Neilstein, Vince (2014-12-09). "This 9-String Metal Song Actually Uses all 9 Strings".
  8. ^ Neilstein, Vince (2015-01-20). "You've Never Seen a 9-String Guitar Played This Way Before".
  9. ^ Glass Cloud - I Dug A Grave (Legator Guitars Edition) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YikOL4Ar-Eo
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