Can River Dragon be played on 6 strings?

[urinalcakemix]

I'm a drummer, having a discussion with my guitar player. He says since Loomis uses a 7 string, and he only plays 6's that River Dragon cannot be played on a 6 string. I'm not sure if he's being a little girl about it and can't play it, or if its a legitimate excuse.

So what I'm asking is, Can River Dragon be played on a 6 string, and played pretty accurately? If so, can someone please post some audio/video of themselves playing this tune (intro not necessary), to prove my guitar player wrong?

E-penis points for all that help.
Thanks

 

[reese_apoc]

from what i remember, most of the nevermore's song are in Eb tuning. and the 7's are in Bb. that's only one step down from standard for both 6 and 7 string guitars respectively. river dragon requires the use of that Bb 7th string. so, your friend kinda has a legitimate excuse.

 

[Brooks]

Sure it can. River Dragon, moreso than other NM songs, actually DOESN'T require the 7th string. It's just big meaty power chords, which you can invert and play without that lowest note.

Just play the fifths, ie. the 6th and 5th string inversions of the power chords. It wont sound QUITE as balls and chunky, but it works fine, especially if you've got a bass player with a low B string. But even without, it sounds great.

Don't have time to record it, but maybe someone else can?

 

[Will Bozarth]

YOU DONT NEED THE FUCKING SEVENTH STRING.

If he was a real guitarist, he'd sit down with it and figure out how to make it sound good on a 6-string.

Yes, it helps with the heaviness, but you don't completely need it.

 

[Resonator]

I play it on 6 string all the time (I don't have a 7 ). But I don't play the solo, so I don't know for exactly sure. I just play the chorus and bridge riff on E, A and D, and everything else where it's supposed to be.

Also, that very first note I just use the E...

from what i remember, most of the nevermore's song are in Eb tuning.

I think you're right, at least until they released DHIADW

 

[Will Bozarth]

the 7th string only adds a LOW string, so it wont effect the solo

 

[Resonator]

I've heard him do solo parts on the 7, mostly machine gun progression but still...

 

[reese_apoc]

my answer was strictly for accurately playing the song, with how it's supposed to be played. by all obviousness, everyone else here has mentioned it technically can still be played on a six-string, but it's not gonna sound the same.

 

[Will Bozarth]

or he could pretend that Nevermore never went to the shitty 7 string and play it on the 6 with pride

 

[Resonator]

Personally, I just like the sound of the B string, man...Plus I can play Dethklok and Amon Amarth and Novembers Doom when I tune down to B

But yeah, that aside I know your plight. Matter of onion, though...

 

[Will Bozarth]

not in my backyard!

 

[WhiteBeastofWotan]

ya could tune down to Bb. its been done before.

 

[Will Bozarth]

I don't have a PROBLEM with the 7th string. it was the approach to the low b on Dead Heart that bothers me. Enemies and Godless were definitely improvements.

 

[Will Bozarth]

ya could tune down to Bb. its been done before.

s0l0

 

[WhiteBeastofWotan]

solos are gay anyway.

 

[Resonator]

solos are gay anyway.

Someone should tell Jeff...Them closet doors seize over time, left untouched...

 

[Brooks]

my answer was strictly for accurately playing the song, with how it's supposed to be played. by all obviousness, everyone else here has mentioned it technically can still be played on a six-string, but it's not gonna sound the same.

Invert the power chords! instead of

e-----------------------
B-----------------------
G-----------------------
D-----------------------
A-----------------------
E--5-3-2-2--3-2-3-----
B--3-1-0-0--1-0-1-----

Play

e------------------
B------------------
G------------------
D------------------
A--5-3-2-2--3-2-3
E--5-3-2-2--3-2-3

You can play most chord based 7 string songs like this: Instead of playing the Root-Fifth, with the root (7th string) in the bottom, invert the chord, so you're playing Fifth-Root, with the root's octave in the top. Like I said, it doesn't sound 100% as ballsy, but it is the exact same chord as the one Jeff is using, just voiced differently.

Maybe if Will was a real guitarist, he'd know that

 

[Will Bozarth]

I don't even play the 2-noted powerchords anymore, anyway. i tend to throw the octave on there because it sounds better. weeeeeeeeee

 

[urinalcakemix]

Thanks guys for the input. I'm going to relay the findings to me guitar player. E-penis points for ALL!

 

[Will Bozarth]

rawk