For anyone who doubts the usefulness or musicality of an 8-string:

Bucket

Was shown this video a couple of days ago.



Tosin is unbelievable.

I think a lot of people see 7 and 8-strings as moronic because they associate them solely with downtuned modern metal etc, but the things you can do with those extra notes are unbelievably cool if you put your mind to it - here he is, playing fingerstyle with a clean tone, and it's an absolutely beautiful sound. The bit starting at 1:35 where he explains how fingerstyle benefits 8-string playing, then plucks out a chord followed by his lowest string... oooft.

And his playing is just ridiculous - he's out of this world in his technical ability. Double thumb slap-bass technique ON GUITAR?!?

Makes me want an 8-string, just to see if I could ever get to that level.

stickyfiddle

So it's guitar musak combined with slap bass soloing? I'm out!   

Bt srsly, I like that it exists and I admire the guy's ability, but I also would never choose to listen to it.

ToneControl

I bought a Schecter 8 string with EMGs after watching this:



In the end I decided that a 30 inch baritone was a better option for me, also with EMGs

LaCathedrale_UK

Tosin Abasi is a mutant though - it's like using  Yngwie as justification why you should only play vintage strats and not use hammer-ons or pull-offs.

I'm also just very envious. Certainly he's pushing the genre - I don't personally enjoy it much (same as Sarah Longfield), but I can appreciate it's not the same old guff.

flying_pie

stickyfiddle said:

So it's guitar musak combined with slap bass soloing? I'm out!   

Bt srsly, I like that it exists and I admire the guy's ability, but I also would never choose to listen to it.

Same here. Incredible guitar player and kudos for trying something different but having listened to a few numbers it's just not for me. 

west

or even more ... goes up to 11 ...

prlgmnr

LaCathedrale_UK said:

Tosin Abasi is a mutant though - it's like using  Yngwie as justification why you should only play vintage strats and not use hammer-ons or pull-offs. 

I don't think Yngwie would get very far without hammer-ons and pull-offs.

bacchanalian

Charlie Hunter does something that is easier to relate to but still very far outside my understanding or abilities 

Jack_

He's on another planet. Doing that double thump thing, on a guitar with narrower string spacing than a bass, that cleanly, with that precision, while playing a melody underneath with his other things, fretting ridiculous chords with his left hand and in some weird polyrhythmic timing. It's mind blowing really, how you can get all those things so precise at the same time.

I love the double thump, it's so groovy, I might have to dedicate some time to giving it a go.

soma1975

Most of that sounded like  music from Seinfeld. 

Funkfingers

Which was a sequencer triggering a sampler.


This means Warr.

Jack_

Funkfingers said:

Which was a sequencer triggering a sampler.


This means Warr.

I didn't know Noodles from Offspring was so proficient.

Funkfingers

Jack_ said:

I didn't know Noodles from Offspring was so proficient.

I am too old to have the faintest idea (or interest) in who Noodles from Offspring is.

octatonic

IMHO there are very few people who can use these techniques to make music that I enjoy listening to for the pleasure of listening to music.
I like to be amazed by technique from time to time, although increasingly less so as I get older.

I'd like to like Tosin a lot more than I actually do.
I have a lot of time for Charlie Hunter though.

This stuff has been around for quite a while- Tony Levin was doing chapman stick stuff in the 80's with King Crimson.
Trey Gunn is mightily impressive as well.

ICBM

thegummy

Funkfingers said:

Jack_ said:

I didn't know Noodles from Offspring was so proficient.

I am too old to have the faintest idea (or interest) in who Noodles from Offspring is.

The guitar player from a band from 34 years ago :P 

Strangefan

Phenomenal player. 

Bucket

This is another cool use of an 8-string, in far more of a metal context. Still lots of very nice clean parts though.

The distorted sound is absolutely fucking brutal - and I love that he's picking so hard (on what must be a light guitar) that the whole thing shakes violently as he plays

Funkfingers

thegummy said:

Funkfingers said:
I am too old to have the faintest idea (or interest) in who Noodles from Offspring is. 

The guitar player from a band from 34 years ago :P 

Which bit of "no interest" has failed to register?

earwighoney

Bucket

earwighoney said:

That is breathtaking.