8-string guitar string gauge guide: F# standard, Drop E, and the lowest playable extended-range tunings
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
For an 8-string in F# standard (F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E) on a 27-inch scale, .009–.074 is the reference floor, Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt 8-string or D'Addario NYXL 9–80. Drop E (E-B-E-A-D-G-B-E) wants .009–.080 or .010–.084. On the longer 28.625-inch Ibanez Iron Label scale, you can step one gauge lighter. 25.5-inch 8-string scales (rare) require stepping heavier, minimum .010–.084 for F# standard.
What 8-string is for
8-string electric guitar adds a low F# below the standard 7-string low B, putting the lowest string of the instrument a perfect fourth below the lowest string of a typical 6-string in Drop D. That note range opens up rhythm voicings for prog-metal, djent, and extended-range composition that 7-string and 6-string can't replicate without de-tuning to the point of structural compromise.
8-string is not 7-string with a bonus string. The composing logic is different. Tosin Abasi has talked about his 8-string parts being designed around the bottom three strings as a separate harmonic register, bass-line territory played in counterpoint against the upper-string melody and chord work. Stephen Carpenter (Deftones) treats the 8-string differently, using the 8th string as a low pedal in heavily detuned riffs.
The tension targets, 8-string low F#
The lowest string is everything in 8-string land. Get the gauge wrong and the low F# either flaps under medium picking or feels like a piano string under your fingers. The target is 14–18 pounds of tension on the low F# at F# standard pitch.
For Drop E on 27-inch scale, replace the low F# with a low E at .080 (~16 lbs) or .084 (~18 lbs). For E standard tuning of an 8-string (rare, most players use 7-string for that) you'd run a low E at .064 to .068.
The sets that actually ship
Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt 8-string (EB 2732)
.010–.074. The 8-string Cobalt reference. Wes Hauch runs this gauge with a custom heavier 8th string (.072 or .074) for his 8-string work. The Cobalt wrap keeps the low F# articulate against the dense low-end frequencies most 8-string compositions live in.
Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 8-string (EB 2625)
.009–.065. Lighter than the Cobalt set; designed for 28.625-inch Ibanez Iron Label scale where the longer scale handles the gauge math. On 27-inch scale, this set's low F# is borderline floppy under hard picking.
D'Addario NYXL 8-string (NYXL0974, NYXL0980)
High-carbon-core. Same .010–.074 gauge as Cobalt 8 with the NYXL voicing, slightly tighter feel, brighter without the Cobalt output bump. Tosin Abasi's documented gauge for some Animals as Leaders material.
Stringjoy custom 8-string
Stringjoy's online builder lets you spec exact gauges for your scale length and tuning. Almost every signature-rig 8-string player ends up on a Stringjoy custom set eventually, the off-the-shelf 8-string gauge options are limited to two or three SKUs across all major brands.
Elixir Nanoweb 8-string (.009–.074)
Coated nickel. The longest-life 8-string set. For touring players who can't change strings every week, this is the only stock 8-string set that lasts more than 2–3 weeks.
Pick by tuning
- F# standard (F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E) on 27": .009–.074 default; .010–.080 if heavy-handed.
- Drop E (E-B-E-A-D-G-B-E) on 27": .009–.080 minimum; .010–.084 firmer.
- Drop D# (Eb-Bb-Eb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb) on 27": .010–.084.
- F# standard on 28.625": .009–.068 default; .010–.072 firmer.
- 8-string E standard (rare): .010–.064. Most players who want this tuning move to 7-string.
Pick by scale length
The 28.625-inch Ibanez RG2228 / Iron Label scale is the engineering benchmark, the longest standard production 8-string scale. It lets you run lighter gauges across the board than a 27-inch and lets the low F# sit at meaningful tension without being a finger-fatigue gauge.
Multi-scale 8-strings (Strandberg, Kiesel Vader, Mayones Duvell) run typically 25.5"-27" or 26.5"-28". The longer bass-side scale gives the low F# the same tension benefit as a single-scale 27"+ guitar; the shorter treble-side scale keeps high-string bends comfortable.
25.5-inch single-scale 8-strings exist (early Schecter Hellraiser C-8, some custom builds) but are structurally borderline, the low F# at this scale needs a string heavy enough that articulation suffers and the bridge saddle sees more force than typical hardware was designed for.
Slinky Cobalt 8-string (.010–.074)
Why this one: The 8-string Cobalt reference. Low .074 holds F# standard cleanly on 27-inch scale; Cobalt wrap helps the low string read as a note rather than a rumble through passive 8-string pickups.
Install notes specific to 8-string
- Nut slots. The 8th-string slot on most factory 8-strings is cut for the factory string. Heavier 8th strings often need slot widening; lighter ones don't, but the slot can be too wide and cause buzzing.
- Bridge. 8-string Tune-o-Matic and Hipshot bridges have specific 8-string saddle slots. Don't try to retrofit a 7-string bridge for 8-string use.
- Truss rod. Most 8-string necks have dual-action truss rods sized for the heavier load. Truss-rod adjustments behave the same as 6/7-string but the necks have less margin, over-adjustment is more consequential.
- Pickup height. 8-string pickups need careful height adjustment to balance the low F#'s strong magnetic pull against the thinner top strings. Keep the bass side lower than the treble side.
- Intonation. Re-intonate every 3–4 weeks of heavy playing. 8-string intonation drifts faster than 6-string.
Next steps
- 7-string, not 8-string? See the 7-string gauge guide.
- Who's on 8-string? Top 10 8-string players, and individual rigs of Tosin Abasi, Stephen Carpenter, Fredrik Thordendal.
- Tunings: F# standard, Drop E.
- Guitar picks: Top 10 8-string guitars for extended-range players.
- The cross-wire pillar: String gauge and scale length reference.
Frequently asked questions
What's the standard tuning for an 8-string guitar?
F# standard: F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E (low to high). The 8th string is a low F#, a perfect fourth below the low B of a 7-string. Most 8-string production guitars (Ibanez RG8, Schecter Damien-8, Jackson DK8) ship factory-tuned to F# standard. Drop E (E-B-E-A-D-G-B-E) is the next-most-common tuning, dropping the low F# to E for chord-shape parity with 6-string Drop D.
Why are 8-string scales so long?
Tension. A low F# on a 25.5-inch scale needs a string thick enough that it loses too much articulation under gain, the wrap-wire becomes a wobbly pendulum more than a vibrating string. 27-inch scale lets a .074 hold F# at ~16 lbs of tension; 28.625-inch lets a .068 do the same. Multi-scale 8-strings (25.5" treble side fanning out to 28" or 28.625" bass side) split the difference.
What gauge for Drop E on 8-string?
On 27-inch scale, .009–.080 is the minimum; .010–.084 is the firmer answer. Drop E on a 28.625-inch Ibanez RG2228 / Iron Label can run .009–.074 if your touch is medium and the pickups are voiced for it. Drop E pushes the low string into baritone-bass territory, .080 is structurally similar to a bass G string at concert pitch.
Can I play 8-string sets on a 7-string guitar?
No. 8-string sets have eight strings with a specific low-F# gauge sized for the 8th-string slot on the bridge and nut. A 7-string guitar can't physically accept the 8th string. If you want to push a 7-string into 8-string territory tuning-wise, you need a custom heavy 7-string set (.012–.072 or thereabouts), which is what some Drop F# 7-string players run.
Who plays 8-string at the highest level?
Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders) and Javier Reyes are the canonical 8-string composers. Stephen Carpenter (Deftones) and Fredrik Thordendal / Mårten Hagström (Meshuggah) are the longest-tenured 8-string rhythm players in metal. Wes Hauch, Jason Richardson, and Keith Merrow run 8-string on parts of their solo material. See the top 10 list for the full roster and their individual gauges.
Are 8-string strings expensive?
Yes. An 8-string Ernie Ball Cobalt set runs $13–17 vs $5–6 for a 6-string equivalent. D'Addario NYXL 8-string is in the same range. The 8th string itself accounts for most of the cost, manufacturing a consistent .074 or .080 wound string with good intonation behavior is genuinely harder than a .046 low E, and the volume produced is much smaller.
Do I need a multi-scale 8-string?
Not strictly, but multi-scale (fanned-fret) 8-strings make extended-range guitars feel more comfortable. The shorter treble-side scale keeps high-string bends comfortable while the longer bass-side scale gives the low F# proper tension. Strandberg, Kiesel, Mayones, and Schecter all ship multi-scale 8-strings. Single-scale 27" 8-strings (Ibanez RG8) are simpler to set up; multi-scale is harder to find replacement parts for.
What pickups work best with 8-string in F# standard?
8-string-specific pickups, not 7-string-extended ones. Fishman Fluence Modern 8, Bare Knuckle Aftermath 8, Lundgren M8, and Seymour Duncan Nazgul 8 are the canonical picks. The 8-string pole-piece spacing matches 8-string fingerboard widths; 7-string pickups crammed into an 8-string body have weak readout on the outer strings.