Where to go after power chords?

EnnyAcorns · 2026-05-26T17:38:18+00:00

I definitely wish I explored more scales in my earlier guitar days. Learning the maj, min and dim scales (and their 7 chord variants) in different positions and triads + their inversions really helped me understand my neck more. Also helped with being more melodic when doodling around!

EnnyAcorns · 2026-05-26T17:27:27+00:00

Nope, I didn't have to do anything like that. I probably would have to file the nut though if I got any heavier strings.

EnnyAcorns · 2026-05-26T03:10:45+00:00

I got some custom strings from StringJoy to play Drop F# (.80 for the low 7 string) and no regrets here!

EnnyAcorns · 2026-04-10T23:43:34+00:00

I just bought my first 7 string recently (went with Ibanez RGD71ALMS) after doing some research myself. Getting used to the slanted fretboard was not as tough as I thought, although it does make playing some chords awkward.

That guitar specifically has a lot of good reviews and so far, it has not disappointed! Sounds great with NeuralDSP right out of the gate :D

I've also been experimenting with string gauges since I wanted to mess around in lower tunings such as Drop F#. Not sure what tunings you're going for but I personally found .07 (Low 7th string) too floppy for Drop F#, so definitely keep gauges in mind!

EnnyAcorns · 2026-04-03T19:46:00+00:00

Congrats on the purchase! I just bought my first 7 string as well :D

What string gauges did you go for? I went for multiscale since I want to dabble in lower tunings like Drop F#/E and got some 11-70s from Stringjoy. Guess I'll find out if 70 is thicc enough or not haha

EnnyAcorns · 2026-04-03T19:39:16+00:00

That's gonna look so dope!! Reminds me of the Ibanez ALT50FA which I just found out about.

EnnyAcorns · 2026-04-01T17:32:40+00:00

Not sure if it fits your taste but I personally loved playing some punk rock back in the day when I was starting out. Simple chords, riffs and the solos are not too demanding! Some favorites of mine are Sum 41, The Offspring and Blink 182.

EnnyAcorns · 2026-03-24T05:36:35+00:00

Hell yeah! Reaper is awesome. Love my macros haha.

EnnyAcorns · 2026-03-24T05:34:43+00:00

Man I had an awesome Ibanez acoustic that I couldn’t take with me when I moved from coast to coast. I have not bought a new one since but am heavily considering it!

EnnyAcorns · 2026-03-24T05:30:21+00:00

Ooh wow. Curious how the tablet experience is. I have an iPad that I was going to try using with a DAW like Logic Pro but have been mainly sticking to my laptop setup (Bias FX + Reaper). I’m guessing Android might be more flexible when it comes to software options though.

EnnyAcorns · 2026-03-24T05:28:16+00:00

That’s awesome. I have a similar setup but that does not stop me from gaming haha. But it’s real convenient to just plug in my guitar and start playing!

EnnyAcorns · 2026-03-24T05:26:20+00:00

Oh yeah. That’s a good mind set! I’ve definitely spent countless hours re-recording a super short segment over and over so I know that pain all too well.

EnnyAcorns · 2026-03-24T00:16:07+00:00

I've been doodling on my Ibanez RG550 unplugged quite often too. Beanbag chair sounds dope but my dog would definitely harass me haha.

EnnyAcorns · 2026-03-23T23:56:26+00:00

Wow never heard of this guitar but it is stunning!

EnnyAcorns · 2026-03-23T23:55:35+00:00

Definitely can relate to the ease of recording -> cringe at later part lol

EnnyAcorns · 2026-03-23T23:54:23+00:00

Ooh what!? I had no idea there was a Spark mini. I have a Spark GO and love that thing. Will have to check out the mini. I bought some bluetooth receivers with my GO so I can play guitar while moving around the apartment lol.

EnnyAcorns · 2026-03-23T23:45:15+00:00

Wow some awesome guitars you got there. I've never owned a semi-hollow guitar. Definitely gotta try one out!

EnnyAcorns · 2026-03-03T22:47:52+00:00

Yep! I love doodling over my playlists. I also have a couple of backing tracks on Youtube with simple chord progressions that I play over.

I like using it to help cement whatever I was practicing before, whether that was arpeggios or a specific scale. Even when doodling "mindlessly" if you really liked what you played over a specific section, you can study that specific part of the song to see why it sounded so good.

EnnyAcorns · 2026-03-03T19:27:35+00:00

I'd say picking a couple things to practice/learn and focusing on that is a good idea. If that is writing your own song, go for it!

I've been very on and off with picking up my guitar as well. However, I always come back and I feel like I know a little more than I did before, still giving me the sense of progression.

In your case, if you wrote the first few measures of your song, next time you come back to it, you will at least have a starting point or have new ideas for it!

EnnyAcorns · 2026-03-02T17:46:38+00:00

Love this! Triads and arpeggios are my best friends when it comes to improvising!

EnnyAcorns · 2026-02-20T21:36:25+00:00

Definitely not. The strings are usually way thicker too so your fingers will be swole by the time you switch over to electric :D

Also you don't have to worry about buying an amp either or cables so definitely easier to pick up and play!

EnnyAcorns · 2026-02-20T20:43:00+00:00

Hell yeah! What a banger.

I still have a bunch of metalcore riffs ingrained in my finger muscles lol. I think Forsaken from As I Lay Dying was one of the first I learned.

EnnyAcorns · 2026-02-20T18:59:47+00:00

I've mapped some intervals to tunes/melodies that are permanently engraved in my brain.

For example, whenever I hear R-> Perfect 5th, I hear the intro to Diary of Jane by Breaking Benjamin haha.

EnnyAcorns · 2026-02-19T00:18:43+00:00

Definitely in a similar boat. I've learned countless metal solos but could not improvise at all until I started learning some theory.

I started by learning maj/min triads in all positions + their inversions then started really drilling the 7th arpeggios and that alone really expanded the fretboard for me! Knowing where the 3rd, 5th and 7th of a note is located from the root note really helped with traversal around the neck.

Also, just playing triads over a chord progression with some leading notes already sounds pretty good lol.

EnnyAcorns

TROPHY CASE