Song recommendations for 12 String

[Ray175]

Lots of Gordon Lightfoot songs lend themselves to 12-string accompaniment; ditto for Crosby Stills and Nash..... look at Joni Mitchell numbers too (Big Yellow Taxi in open G for instance)

[boombox]

How can no-one have mentioned Tim Buckley? The guy was a master of the 12 string - Buzzin' Fly is only one excellent example. Also check out almost anything from the catalogue of Roy Harper.

[L20A]

I have 2 Gordon Lightfoot song books that are full of great 12 string songs.
Gordon uses chords that really ring out on a 12 string.

[boppy99]

I play electric 12-string, and over time I came up with a list of songs that I could possibly include in set-lists...

Animals - It's My Life
Beatles - Ticket to Ride
Beatles - I Should Have Known Better
Beatles - Norwegian Wood
Beatles - You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
Beatles - Rain
Beatles - Nowhere Man
Beatles - Across the Universe
Boston - More Than a Feeling
Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn!
Byrds - Eight Miles High
Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man
Byrds - My Back Pages
Eagles - Hotel California
Genesis - Supper's Ready
Genesis - Can Utility and the Coast-Liners
Genesis - Cinema Show
Genesis - Your Own Special Way
Harry Chapin - Cat's in the Cradle
Jimi Hendrix - Hear My Train a Comin'
Led Zeppelin - Gallow's Pole
Led Zeppelin - That's the Way
Led Zeppelin - Thank You
Led Zeppelin - Tangerine
Led Zeppelin - Over the Hills and Far Away
Led Zeppelin - The Rain Song
Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same
Neil Young - Sugar Mountain (live version)
Neil Young - I Am a Child (live version)
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Pink Foyd - Welcome to the Machine
Rod Stewart - Maggie May
Rolling Stones - Wild Horses
Rolling Stones - As Tears Go By
Rush - Xanadu
Rush - Closer to the Heart
Rush - In the End
Simon and Garfunkel - For Emily Whenever I May Find Her
Supertramp - Give a Little Bit
Tom Petty - Free Fallin'
Tom Petty - Into the Great Wide Open
Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die
Who - Can't Explain
Who - Sparks
Who - Substitute
Yes - And You and I
Yes - Starship Trooper

Too much, right?

[Teherie]

Darcy Farrow, Follow Me John Denver

Early mornin rain, carefree highway, Canadian Railroad Trilogy, The Ballad of Yarmouth Castle by Gordon Lightfoot

Carolina In The Pines by Michael Martin Murphy

Pamela Brown, Louise by Leo Kottke

[Tico]

John Denver's Lady (in D) and Country Roads (in A) sound great on a 12-string and a voice or two - no other instruments needed.

[guitarxan]

Anything by the Byrd’s
Learning to Fly: Tom Petty
Give a Little Bit: Super tramp or Goo Goo Dolls depending on your vocal range
Sundown: Gordon Lightfoot
My Sweet Lord:George Harrison
Rocky Mountain High: John Denver
Hole Hearted: Extreme-This one takes a bit o’ practice but once you get it it’s a blast to play
Wish You Were Here: Pink Floyd
Sister Golden Hair: America
Nights Are Forever: England Dan and John Ford Coley - Not a 12 string song per se but the open chords sound luscious on a 12.

Just my .02. Lots of great songs already mentioned. These are the ones I have the most fun with.

[Hobo_King]

Many mid-60's Beatles. Hard Days Night, I Should Have Known Better, If I Needed Someone Look What You're Doing, You Can't Do That, I'm Just Happy to Dance With You.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by boombox

How can no-one have mentioned Tim Buckley? The guy was a master of the 12 string - Buzzin' Fly is only one excellent example. Also check out almost anything from the catalogue of Roy Harper.

How about this one :

[Silly Moustache]

Some 12 string stuff from the torn yellowed pages of my song books:

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by Teherie

Darcy Farrow, Follow Me John Denver

Early mornin rain, carefree highway, Canadian Railroad Trilogy, The Ballad of Yarmouth Castle by Gordon Lightfoot

Carolina In The Pines by Michael Martin Murphy

Pamela Brown, Louise by Leo Kottke

Darcy Farrow?

[yaharadelta]

I've always liked The Reverend Gary Davis' "Death Don't Have No Mercy", a real dynamic blues in E minor. There are a lot of really powerful runs ending in a minor chord that really bring out the the power of a 12 string. Here's a link to a performance and lesson by Daddystovepipe. (even retired Belgian shopkeepers got da blues)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STINPqnFS1w