#1
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Above the 12th Fret Question
What do you play above the twelfth fret on acoustic guitar. Do you really need to play up there? How many tunes do you play where you utilize the 13th and 14th frets? I understand some specialized playing using the upper frets but I don't take it that that many people play specialized music. Explain to me my error in thinking.
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Waterloo WL-S, K & K mini Waterloo WL-S Deluxe, K & K mini Iris OG, 12 fret, slot head, K & K mini Follow The Yellow Brick Road |
#2
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I'll sometimes go to the 14th or 15th when I'm playing blues in E, but never high enough to require a cutaway.
I do wish for a cutaway sometimes for slide, but I really dislike the looks of an acoustic cutaway.
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Jim _____________________ -1962 Martin D-21 -1950 Gibson LG1 -1958 Goya M-26 -Various banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, ukuleles, Autoharps, mouth harps. . . |
#3
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When I'm noodling around on the guitar I will go to the 13th and 14th fret and sometimes beyond on the treble strings, but not too often when actually playing a piece of music. I think that is and has been the case for many players. Some of the old romantic guitars shortened the length of the frets over the body until only the two high strings had the last fret under them. To me that indicates the majority of the players didn't (couldn't) fret the bass strings over the body.
But still better to have and not need, than need and not have. |
#4
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Up to the 15th occasionally for blues noodling but that's it. IMO, anything beyond sounds fine on an electric, not so on acoustic.
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#5
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Maybe that's one of the reasons I like acoustic cutaways - the easy access to upper frets. I don't need to go above the 12th fret very often but I do it enough so that it's important to me.
For example, I play some instrumentals with a capo on the 2nd fret and when I do, it's nice to have the 14th fret easily available for harmonics. Another time I reach above the 12th fret is when I'm jamming with friends, especially when playing a lead in bluegrass jams. When playing solos, I am up and down the entire neck. Just gives me more options.
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Barry 1969 Martin D-35 (Brazilian Rosewood/Sitka Spruce) 2002 Taylor 355 12-string (Sapele/Sitka Spruce) 2014 Taylor 914ce (Indian Rosewood/Sitka Spruce) 2016 Breedlove Oregon Concert (Myrtlewood) 2018 Taylor GS Mini (Walnut/Spruce) 2021 Taylor 326ce (Urban Ash/Mahogany) 2021 Kevin Ryan Paradiso (The Tree/Sinker Redwood) 2022 KaAloha KTM-10RP Ukulele (Koa) |
#6
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I never, ever play at the dusty end on my acoustics. That’s what my Strat’s for.
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John Brook ‘Lamorna’ OM (European Spruce/EIR) (2019) Lowden F-23 (Red Cedar/Claro Walnut) (2017) Martin D-18 (2012) Martin HD-28V (2010) Fender Standard Strat (2017-MIM) |
#7
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I play several fingerstyle tunes where I will use 12-15 and on a 12 fret instrument, a cutaway is very useful. OTOH I also play classical (a 12-fret guitar) and there is no cutaway and that doesn't bother me. But string tension on a classical is much lower than on steel string.
hans
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1971 Papazian (swiss spruce/braz RW) 1987 Lowden L32p (sitka/ind RW) 1992 Froggy Bottom F (19th cent. german spruce/koa) 2000 Froggy Bottom H12c (adir/ind RW) 2016 Froggy Bottom K mod (adir/madrose; my son's) 2010 Voyage-Air VAOM-2C http://www.soundclick.com/hanstunes (recorded on Froggy H12c) |
#8
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There are many songs that have signature riffs that go above 12th fret. Some that I like to play on 12 string are Last Dance with MaryJane, Lovers in a Dangerous Time, or the mandolin solo from Maggie Mae. Surprisingly I can also do them on my 12 fetter.
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#9
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Up there often enough in various pieces, for example my piece "Montezuma" (tab: http://www.dcoombsguitar.com/Guitar%.../Montezuma.pdf )
Given that up there fuller barres are impractical on an acoustic and the lower strings get pretty thuddy sounding the high notes can still be a main feature or used as a contrasting variation.
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above |
#10
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I play Hawaiian slack-key in Open G and other tunings, and routinely go above the twelfth fret - up to the 15-17th frets for some turnarounds and endings. It is not mandatory but adds spice. My latest custom guitar is currently being built with only 20 frets (that builder's default is 24 frets) but I cannot recall ever using anything above #19.
In standard tuning I get to but not much above the 12th fret. For slide work, I prefer a guitar with 14 frets to the body, so I can get the slide up to the 12th fret for octaves, especially in alternate tunings. For these reasons I also like cutaways. |
#11
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Depends on the song, but I'm definitely up there at times. I've got one original that starts and finishes up with me starting at 14th position, but earlier in the song I'm also playing all the way up to 18th position on just the D and G strings and there's nowhere else to play those parts without losing something imparted by those particular fingerings.
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Journey OF660, Adamas 1581, 1587, 1881, SMT - PRS Cu22, Ibanez JEM-FP, S540, RG550, Fender Stratocaster Heil PR-35 : Audio Technica AE-6100, ATM5R : Beyer TG-V90r : Sennheiser 441, 609, 845, 906 : ElectroVoice ND767 HK 608i Friedman WW Smallbox, Marshall 4212 |
#12
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I've written several songs with parts that to up to the 12-15th frets. I also do "Never Going Back" (Fleetwood Mac) which goes up the the 14th fret if you play it like the original with the capo at the 4th fret.
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#13
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I moved it around so that I start off at 3rd and top out on 10th. Such a cool ending for that one.
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Journey OF660, Adamas 1581, 1587, 1881, SMT - PRS Cu22, Ibanez JEM-FP, S540, RG550, Fender Stratocaster Heil PR-35 : Audio Technica AE-6100, ATM5R : Beyer TG-V90r : Sennheiser 441, 609, 845, 906 : ElectroVoice ND767 HK 608i Friedman WW Smallbox, Marshall 4212 |
#14
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Often play above 12th but rarely above 15th.
Ll.
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Martin OM-28 1931 Authentic | Martin CEO-7 Taylor GS Mini Mahogany | Logan Custom Telecaster |
#15
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Good question to explore what different players do.
How many frets do you need? Do you need a cutaway? The answer is up to you, different players have different preferences. I use all 24 frets on the guitars that I have that have 24 frets. I use frets 12-24 a lot when accompanying my wife, while she covers the territory below the 12th fret. |