Song recommendations for 12 String

[generalliamsayn]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

REM - Losing my religion

I played lots of REM songs on my 12 back when I had it (many of which were played on a 12-string Rickenbacker on the recordings).

"So. Central Rain" sounds great on acoustic 12, as does "Driver 8" and "Don't Go Back to Rockville".

[DukeX]

Leo Kottke does a lot of 12-strings stuff. It's all good.

[TJN]

I like Space Oddity by Bowie on a 12 string.

[reade]

"Fearless" by Pink Floyd, in open G tuning is really fun.

There's a good lesson on it on YouTube by James James: [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEQLtvv0_X8"] (though he plays it on a 6 string).

Somewhere else I've seen someone quote Roger Waters as saying it's actually played in kind of a modified open G tuning--G G D G B B (low to high)--which Syd Barrett showed him.

[reade]

Yep, Space Oddity is great--and other Bowie songs of that period, too, like Starman

[PHJim]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

Yes, or "Walk Right In" or "Mr. Tambourine Man." Those are songs written around the 12-string.

- Glenn

Actually, Gus Cannon, who wrote Walk Right In was a banjo player and the first recording was a banjo song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4mGH_3lzhw

Bob Dylan, who wrote Mr, Tamborine Man, played it on a six string guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeP4FFr88SQ


That's not to say that they don't sound great on the 12-string, but they sure weren't written with a 12-string in mind.

[Ceabeceabe]

Silver Wheels
My Beat

Both by Bruce Cockburn

[donlyn]

Song recommendations for 12 String


FoxHound4690,

As you can probably tell so far, recommendations come for pieces that are centered around songs on which 12 string play was prominent. However you can also see that many songs, even those famous for 12 string work, were not originally written or performed for 12 string guitar, or even for guitar.

So play songs you like to play already, but do it on the 12 string. You might surprise yourself, and find you like how they sound on a 12 string. You have nothing to lose, and can surprise other people too. How did that song go, "You can't please everybody, so you got to please yourself". ("Garden Party" by Ricky Nelson)

I have probably played most every guitar piece I know on the 12 string, just because I had one in hand when I wanted to play it. That's how I found that even some old rock instrumentals, like "Pipeline" and "Walk Don't Run", sound great on a solo 12 string. So does "Honey Don't". Experiment away.



Good luck and good hunting,
Don
.

[hotroad]

Did I miss seeing the name of John Denver. Nearly all his hit songs were played on a twelve string guitar. I still miss him and his awesome music.

[MickZ]

"Over the Hills and Far Away" by Led Zeppelin.

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks

Actually if you have heard the original Gus Cannon version of "Walk Right In", you probably would not have said it that way. The Rooftop Singers' version sure took over in people's minds. To hear Cannon's take sounds all wrong now. Compare Merle Travis' version of "16 tons" and you'll experience the same thing. I remember hearing an awful version of "Rhapsody in Blue" on the radio - awful that is until I learned it was Gershwin himself playing with Paul Whiteman's orchestra.

I stand corrected about "Walk Right In" and "Mr Tambourine Man" being written around the 12-string. I should have been more careful, though in my mind those songs should be played only on a 12-string.

- Glenn

[jefflaher]

Even in The Quietest Moments... Super Tramp
Angie... Stones
Still You Turn Me On... ELP

[WildBill82]

Tom Petty's catalog is filled with 12-string stuff. And in addition to Wish You Were Here, Welcome to the Machine is another Floyd gem with tasty (and easy) 12-string sounds.

[srelliott83]

I don't own a twelve string, but one of my favorites to play that was originally recorded on one is "Yer So Bad" by Tom Petty. The lyrics are fun and I enjoy the chord progression.

[Eryc74]

Dave Mason's We just disagree is a great 12 sting song. There's a few versions out there on turning and how to do it on YouTube and tab.

I'm an ear player and lack serious reading writing creds - but I play well enough to piece it together.

The Rolling Stones Angies sounds on good a 12 string too - it's a 6 string song, but I've been playing on a Martin 12-28 I picked up a few month back. Really sounds nice on a 12 string.

And I've found playing anything bluesy on a 12 string opens a whole new dynamic to my playing. Think Vodoo Chile or Hear my Train a Coming by Jimi Hendrix - much easier on 12 string that six in my opinion. Probably because the sound is so full and since you can't move the fingers as easily - there's less to work out to really get a deep bluesy sound on a 12 string.