Top 10 7-string guitar players: who plays 7-string and what strings they use
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
The 10 most documented 7-string players: John Petrucci (Dream Theater, Music Man), Mark Holcomb (Periphery, PRS SVN), Misha Mansoor (Periphery, Jackson Juggernaut), Jason Richardson (ex-Born of Osiris), Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy, Schecter), Keith Merrow (solo, Schecter KM-7), Wes Hauch (Alluvial), James 'Munky' Shaffer (Korn), Chris Broderick (ex-Megadeth), Tony MacAlpine (solo). Gauges cluster at .010–.059 or .010–.062 in Drop A / Drop G tunings on 25.5-inch scale.
The 7-string canon
7-string guitar adds a low B below the standard E on a 6-string, extending rhythmic range a perfect fourth down. That extra string opened up heavy rhythm voicings for metal that 6-string in Drop D or Drop C couldn't match without further de-tuning. From Steve Vai's Ibanez Universe in 1990 through Korn's A-standard nu-metal in the mid-1990s, through Dream Theater's prog-metal adoption, and into the 2008–2016 djent wave, 7-string has been the preferred instrument whenever the composition needs a low note that still reads as a guitar rather than a bass.
This page is the ranked roster of the players who most shaped that history, ten guitarists whose 7-string work either defined a subgenre or whose rig choices now set the reference for what "7-string metal" sounds like.
Ranked, top 10 7-string players
Detailed profiles
1. John Petrucci, Dream Theater
The most influential 7-string player in prog-metal. Petrucci adopted 7-string on Falling Into Infinity (1997) and has been on 7-string since. His Music Man Majesty and JP signature lines include 7-string models; his string gauge has shifted over the decades but sits in the custom Ernie Ball .009–.054 or .010–.059 range for 7-string. His 7-string work is the gold standard for clean technical execution, arpeggios, sweep picking, and riff-melody interplay across the bottom three strings.
See the full Petrucci rig page for gauges by album.
2. Mark Holcomb, Periphery
Periphery is the band modern djent references the most; Holcomb's 7-string work is at the center. Documented Ernie Ball Cobalt .010–.062 (SKU 2730) on his PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN signature. Periphery's current tuning is 7-string Drop G#, the .062 low string holds that tuning on a 25.5-inch scale without baritone compromise. Seymour Duncan Alpha / Omega signature pickups. Fractal Axe-Fx III and Mesa Mark V amp rig.
See the full Holcomb rig page.
3. Misha Mansoor, Periphery
Periphery's founding member, primary songwriter, and the other half of Periphery's 7-string guitar pair. Mansoor's Jackson Juggernaut signature is the reference modern metal superstrat. His string gauge runs in similar territory to Holcomb's (.010–.059 or .010–.062 on 7-string) but is less publicly documented brand-by-brand. Mansoor is also the principal at GetGood Drums (with Nolly) and runs Horizon Devices, his signal-processing company.
4. Jason Richardson, ex-Born of Osiris / solo
Richardson's solo catalog (Jason Richardson, II) and his earlier work with Born of Osiris, Chelsea Grin, and All That Remains put him on 7-string extensively. Music Man Cutlass 7 signature is his primary guitar; Ernie Ball Cobalt 7-string .010–.059 is his documented gauge. Known for high-difficulty lead passages layered over djent-adjacent rhythm beds.
See the full Richardson rig page.
5. Jeff Loomis, Arch Enemy / ex-Nevermore
Loomis's Nevermore catalog and his current Arch Enemy work (since 2014) put him in the technical-death-metal-adjacent 7-string lane. Schecter Jeff Loomis 7 signature guitar. His solo work (Zero Order Phase, Plains of Oblivion) documents his lead vocabulary. Loomis favors heavier 7-string gauges than most djent peers, the low B sits in a firm-bordering-on-stiff feel that supports his shred-adjacent technical vocabulary.
6. Keith Merrow, Conquering Dystopia / solo
Merrow's Schecter KM-7 MKIII signature is a reference instrument for Drop G / Drop F# 7-string work. Ernie Ball Cobalt 7-string gauge documented across his rig rundowns. His YouTube content is a significant education source for modern djent rhythm technique. Conquering Dystopia (with Jeff Loomis, Alex Webster, Alex Rüdinger) is his highest-profile band context.
7. Wes Hauch, Alluvial / ex-Thy Art Is Murder
Hauch is the 7- and 8-string technical-death-metal player whose work sits at the intersection of djent rhythm technique and tech-death composition. Ernie Ball Cobalt sets across 6, 7, and 8 string guitars. His 8-string work uses a custom heavier .072 or .074 low string.
See the full Hauch rig page.
8. James "Munky" Shaffer, Korn
Shaffer (with Brian "Head" Welch) brought 7-string into nu-metal on Korn's 1994 self-titled debut, tuned a whole step below B standard to A standard. Ibanez APEX and earlier K7 signature guitars. Shaffer's 7-string work is rhythm-forward, riff-based, and defined the low-tuning wall-of-sound that characterizes Korn's catalog. Gauge specifics for current Korn output are uncited as of this page's review, no fresh primary-source rig rundown on file.
9. Chris Broderick, Act of Defiance / ex-Megadeth
Broderick's Megadeth tenure (2008–2014) included 7-string material; his Act of Defiance work continues the 7-string thread. Jackson signature guitars including 7-string configurations. Known for technical precision across both 6- and 7-string contexts. Gauge sits in the .010+ range on 7-string.
10. Tony MacAlpine, solo / Planet X
MacAlpine has played 7-string on solo material and with Planet X (the Derek Sherinian / Virgil Donati supergroup). Ernie Ball Cobalt 7-string custom .009–.052, a lighter gauge than most djent peers, reflecting his tuning preference (often B standard or even E standard on 7-string rather than Drop A). MacAlpine's technical vocabulary is neoclassical-shred-adjacent; his gauge choice supports the legato and sweep-picking vocabulary he's known for.
What all ten have in common
Looking across the ten: nearly all use .010 on the high E string. Low string gauges cluster at .059 to .062 for Drop A / Drop G territory. Scale length is overwhelmingly 25.5 inches; the few exceptions (Loomis's Schecter, Holcomb's PRS) stay within the 25.5 to 26.5 window. Brand affiliation splits across Ernie Ball (Holcomb, Richardson, Merrow, MacAlpine) and Schecter-factory / Jackson-factory / Ibanez-factory for the rest. Tuning is dominated by Drop A / Drop G#, B standard is now the minority even in prog-metal.
The consistent engineering lesson: for 7-string metal, get the low string gauge right for the tuning (14–16 lbs tension target), keep scale length at 25.5 inches unless you specifically need the longer-scale feel, and let the higher-string gauge match your picking and bending preference.
Strings that fit this lane
Slinky Cobalt 7-String (.010–.062)
Why this one: The reference 7-string Cobalt set, Mark Holcomb's documented gauge, Keith Merrow's documented gauge, Jason Richardson's documented gauge. One string set, three of the top 10 players on this list.
Next steps
- Full gauge guide: 7-string guitar string gauge guide.
- 8-string sibling page: Top 10 8-string players.
- Tunings: Drop A, B standard.
- Individual rigs: John Petrucci, Mark Holcomb, Jason Richardson, Keith Merrow, Wes Hauch.
- Related producer pages: Adam "Nolly" Getgood (Periphery context), Ermin Hamidovic (prog-metal mix lane).
Frequently asked questions
Who played 7-string first in popular metal?
Steve Vai is the pop-culture starting point, his signature Ibanez Universe (UV7) appeared in 1990 and was the first mass-production 7-string electric. Korn's James 'Munky' Shaffer and Brian 'Head' Welch then brought the 7-string into nu-metal on their 1994 self-titled record, turning the 7-string from a prog-rock curiosity into a mainstream metal tool. Dream Theater's John Petrucci adopted 7-string around Falling Into Infinity (1997) and has been on 7-string ever since.
What's the most common 7-string tuning in metal?
B standard (B-E-A-D-G-B-E) and Drop A (A-E-A-D-G-B-E) are the two dominant tunings. Drop A takes the low B down a whole step to A, giving chord-shape parity with 6-string Drop D. Dream Theater uses B standard on most 7-string material; Periphery and most modern djent is Drop A or Drop G#. Korn originally tuned to A standard (A-D-G-C-F-A-D, a whole step below B standard) on their debut.
What gauge does Mark Holcomb play?
Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt 7-string (.010–.062), SKU 2730. Cobalt-iron wrap over tin-plated hex core. Periphery plays in 7-string Drop G# (G#-D#-G#-C#-F#-A#-D#) on most current material. Holcomb is a documented Ernie Ball endorser, the 2730 set ships factory-strung on his PRS Mark Holcomb SVN signature guitar.
Does John Petrucci play 7-string on every Dream Theater record?
Since Falling Into Infinity (1997), most Dream Theater records have included 7-string material. His Music Man Majesty and JP signature guitars ship in 6- and 7-string configurations. His gauge preference on 7-string is a custom Ernie Ball set closer to .009–.054 or .010–.059 depending on the touring cycle. Earlier work on the 7-string was tuned to B standard; some later material sits in Drop A.
What scale length do most 7-string guitars use?
25.5 inches is the default, same as a Strat / Tele. Some players prefer 26.5 inches (baritone-adjacent) for firmer low-string tension in Drop A, or multi-scale 7-strings (fanned-fret) that taper from 25.5 on the treble side to 26.5 or 27 on the bass side. Ibanez RG, Jackson SL, Schecter KM-7, and PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN all use 25.5-inch scale.
Are 7-string players all in metal?
No, but the overwhelming majority are. John Petrucci's prog-metal work is the most well-known non-djent 7-string catalog. Steve Vai uses 7-string in instrumental rock contexts. Charlie Hunter plays a custom 8-string (7 guitar + 1 bass) in jazz. The 7-string is genre-heavy-metal-coded in 2026 because that's where the rhythmic demand for extended low range is highest.
Is James 'Munky' Shaffer of Korn an Ernie Ball artist?
Shaffer is an Ibanez signature artist (K7 / APEX series) and his public string-brand affiliation has shifted over Korn's career. Korn's early 7-string work used heavier gauges than typical B-standard 7-strings because the band tuned down to A standard, a whole step below B standard. Current gauge specifics for both Korn guitarists are outside the primary-source evidence bar for this page without a fresh rig rundown.
Sourcing note: Korn gauge specifics uncited as of 2026-04-20, no current primary-source quote on file.
What's the difference between Jeff Loomis's 7-string work and Jason Richardson's?
Loomis is a Schecter signature artist (Schecter Jeff Loomis 7) with a long-running reputation for technical solo work in the neoclassical-meets-death-metal lane, Nevermore and Arch Enemy. Richardson is a Music Man signature artist (Cutlass 7) whose catalog is more djent-and-prog-pop: Born of Osiris, Chelsea Grin, solo. Loomis favors heavier sets (.010–.060 range); Richardson documented at .010–.059 Ernie Ball Cobalt.
Who plays 7-string in prog-rock that isn't Dream Theater?
Haken, The Contortionist, Between the Buried and Me, Intervals, Scale the Summit, Plini, and Polyphia all feature 7-string work. Polyphia's Tim Henson is a 6-string player but collaborator Scott LePage plays 7-string on some material. The prog-rock 7-string lane sits adjacent to djent but often runs lighter gauges because tunings rarely go below Drop A.