An eight string guitar is a guitar with eight strings. There are several variants of this instrument, the most notable and recent being one designed by Luthier Ralph Novak. This is the most techically advanced and drastic, featuring a fanned fretboard, supporting an even scale length for all strings. This is a necessary feature in order to keep the tuning accurate. There are other versions of the guitar, one probably originating from Russia along with the seven string guitar variant in the 19th century, the eight string guitar has recently begun to gain popularity, notably among jazz artists such as Charlie Hunter, The Special Purpose, Terje Rypdal and Richard Scott, and metal artists such as Meshuggah. There are steadily increasing numbers of manufacturers offering eight string guitars and a production eight string seems likely. Some of the main manufacturing companies of 8 and even 9 string guitars is Novax Guitars established by Ralph Novak and Conklin Guitars

8 string variations are also found in classical nylon strung instruments. They are generally tuned with two extra basses ([BD]EADGBE) that vary in pitch depending on the piece being played. Another common variation is to add an extra bass and treble string. The extra treble is almost always tuned to A, while the added bass string usually falls on A,B, or C.

The Classical guitarists Paul Galbraith and Alexander Vynograd are two of the most notable 8 string players who use the extra high and low string tuning. Galbraith generally tunes (B)EADGBEA which puts standard 6 string guitar chord voicings and scale shapes within the neck and allows him to read directly off of lute tablature (a whole step higher). Vynograd chooses to tune AEADGCEA (notice the b string is tuned up a half step) which allows him to play the top 6 strings like a guitar a 4th higher. Vynograd writes his music on a grand staff in a different key and plays as if the guitar was tuned EBEADGBE. This is a less confusing approach than Galbraith for a 6 string transitioning to 8 because the fingerings and sheet music are more familiar.

Originally published on Wikipedia