Why a 12 string

[Denandannie]

Help me understand the 12 string attraction. Where does it excel? Finger style? Strumming? Why should I consider one to add to my harem?
I’m not being negative or critical. What’s the attraction?

[Harlowv]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5tOpyipNJs

[Coler]

They sound great.

[CharlieBman]

Find a decent 12 string and strum an nice open G chord. If you don't hear the attraction...then there's nothing I can say to explain why.

Not everyone likes them. That's fine. But when I play one I hear all the explanation I need.

[catt]

When I was 11 or 12, it was the sound of Ron Wood and company pounding out riffs on slide guitar and 12 strings on Every Picture Tells a Story - the first rock 'n roll album i bought. And George's guitar army on All Things Must Pass (I love Frampton's: "Peter, this is George. Phil said we need more guitars.."). Then Page and LZ.

Later Leo Kottke, Ralph Towner, Egberto Gismonti...

I enjoy the many colors, textures and voicings

[donlyn]

Why a 12 string

A 12 string opens a door to another dimension of aural beauty.

Once you really listen to it you can recognize it and never un-hear it.

It can be loud or soft, fast or slow, smooth or jangly, but never boring and always inviting.

If you don't get it, that's OK, but come back tomorrow and give it another listen. Or play.

I fingerpick all my guitars using my nails as picks.

I tune all my 12 strings down a semi-tone to 'D#'.

One is tuned from there to DADGAD, or Keltic, intervals, starting with 'C#', as would befit a normal DADGAD tuning, down two semi-tones for the usual three courses (pairs of strings). Provides very exotic results.

It gets into your blood.
Been playing 12 strings since the 60s.
I play all my repertoire on either 6 or 12 string guitar, whichever I have in hand.
Sometimes I go on 12 string binges for days or weeks or even longer.

Be well and play well,

Don

(_o)===###

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[tommieboy]

Originally Posted by Denandannie

Help me understand the 12 string attraction. Where does it excel? Finger style? Strumming? Why should I consider one to add to my harem?
I’m not being negative or critical. What’s the attraction?

The attraction? The sound! I have always preferred the sound of a Jumbo 12-string over a 6-string.

Tommy

[Suilven]

For me, this:

[catt]

Originally Posted by donlyn

...DADGAD ...

I've always kept a 12 laying around in dadgad - I love to bang out Ragamuffin, Black Mountain Side, Kashmir, or Irish trad and harp tunes... 12-strings prbly cultivated my ears for harps, bouzoukis, and other droning instruments..

[Suilven]

For me, this:

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by Denandannie

Help me understand the 12 string attraction. Where does it excel? Finger style? Strumming? Why should I consider one to add to my harem?
I’m not being negative or critical. What’s the attraction?

Hi, I was asked a similar question on my YouTube channel recently, so this was my response :

[rstaight]

Why a 12 string? Why not?

I had wanted a 12 string for years because of the added dynamic they offered. Plus in my high school days it seemed that all of the young ladies that played guitar all played 12 strings.

About 6 years ago I finally got a 12 string, a Takamine GJ72CE and I love it. I have not been disappointed with it.

When I take it to a gig or jam I find myself playing a lot more arpeggio's just to show how special these guitars are.

[Lillis]

And they’re just plain fun to play!

[hubcapsc]

12 string...

I love this guy's guitar playing...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrjPv4tvWwc

-Mike

[TheGITM]

I don't know. Maybe listen to some of these and see if that helps answer your question?