How to play the 12 string guitar?
i was wondering of learning it. i already play the average 6 string guitar, and now i wanna know how to play the 12 stringed one..
what sort of chords can you play on it? or is it more for solos??
if you know any websites that have tabs and lessons for 12 stringed guitars, please answer as well.. =D
They’re played the same way. The extra six strings are just small strings placed directly below the main 6, and are tuned to the same pitch.
You fret both strings at once. It’s a little harder to play well, but it isn’t bad. A lot of people use it for strumming material mainly. You don’t need tabs for it….it will play the same material, just with more harmonic content.
They’re played the same way. The extra six strings are just small strings placed directly below the main 6, and are tuned to the same pitch.
You fret both strings at once. It’s a little harder to play well, but it isn’t bad. A lot of people use it for strumming material mainly. You don’t need tabs for it….it will play the same material, just with more harmonic content.
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12 string guitars are played just like any 6 string guitar.. and the similarity ends there. If all you can do is play chords, you are throwing away some of the reasons for playing a 12 string in the first place.
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The 12 string guitar is tuned in the same intervals as a 6 string so playing it is for the most part identical. Many 12’s can be tuned up to standard 6 string pitch (E B G D A E) although it’s common to tune them a full tone lower. Taylor’s LKSM is tuned C# to C#.
The problem with soloing on a 12 is that the highest pitch string is the octave G string on the third pair. So runs that start below the 3rd pair and continue up to the 1st or 2nd pair sound slightly odd. For that reason, the 12 is frequently used as a fill instrument playing chords. That is not to say that you can’t play lead runs but they must be planned out carefully.
FYI, Taylor and Breedlove make the best 12 string guitars.
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Long time professional guitarist. I used to own a Guild F-412.
Absolutely no difference in technique, playing or whatever. It just has 6 more strings and tuned like any other guitar.
The positive attribute….. it sounds full especially for chording purposes. But if you want to solo, it takes a little more skill in the sense that you need to pick slightly harder to sound the double strings. Other than that, its all good.
I can solo on it but not at the speed of what I can do on acoustic. Far from it actually
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Berklee Teacher / Luthier & Studio Guitarist
Martin also makes great 12-strings
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the same way you would play a 6 string.
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