Playing on a 12 String

Danie

Hi, I got a 12 string accoustic as a gift.

Never played on one and know nothing about playing on a 12 string...

Anyone got any tips on playing and tuning it?

Do you just play like on a 6 string or is there special tricks or techniques for playing one?

Any info or links will help.

Thanks

Dirk

Hi Danie,

It plays very similar to a six string so you shouldn't have any difficulty playing.

Check out this link for tuning a 12 string

http://www.folkofthewood.com/page4790.htm

Enjoy

Bob-Dubery

Danie wrote: Hi, I got a 12 string accoustic as a gift.

Never played on one and know nothing about playing on a 12 string...

Anyone got any tips on playing and tuning it?

The strings are in pairs or, more properly, "courses" the first 2 courses the two strings get tuned to the same note. The remaining courses you tune the strings an octave apart.

I suppose that you could use any tuning you liked as long as you maintained the correct relationship between the strings in each course. That said I'd try slack key tunings, but nothing that required tuning a course UP - there must be a lot of tension on a 12-string neck.

AlanRatcliffe

I love 12s! Haven't got much time as I'm on a deadline but quickly:

Easiest way to tune it is to tune the set of six "regular" tuned strings first, then tune the octaves. Electronic tuners help take a lot of the schlepp out of it, so if you don't have one yet, I would recommend you get one ASAP. Repeat once or twice as the massive tension of a 12 tends to pull the neck and lower the pitch of the strings you have already tuned as you tune the rest. Always tune in the playing position as a "bench tuning" will likely pull sharp when the guitar is moved into playing position because of the weights and tensions involved. As with any tuning (but moreso for a 12), always tension the tuners up - bringing the note UP to pitch rather than down. This makes them hold the tuning more stably. If you go sharp, tune down past the note and back up again to pitch.

For acoustic 12, it's often advisable to tune at least a half step lower than standard - ideally a full tone, so the E strings are tuned down to D. This lowers the tension a lot, making it easier to play and will also limit the number of breakages of the G octave string. At first, if you break a lot of G octaves, you might want to try putting a normal gauge G string on and tuning it to standard pitch rather than the octave up - not quite the same, but can save you a lot on replacing G octave strings. If you are using the octave, get some replacement .009s (even if the set you use uses .010s or .012s) - you'll break a lot less, but lose a little volume on that string.

Heath

i have just finished restoring a 12 string , and tuning to d is highly recommened , as the body was bowing terribly , and even the tuners were taking strain at full e . just drop a cap on the 2nd fret for standard tuning .

chris77

I know dropped D on the low E, but tuning to D will be...Everything down two semi-tones? I always play standard tuning, so I'm not too clued up about alternates, but that sounds like it will really help me. Even 20min on my 12string absolutely murders my fingertips, and its a shame cause I love the sound.

Squonk

Use it as a 6 string ?
It's bad enough keeping 6 strings in tune, imagine 12? 8)

Heath

the following tuning

E - D
A - G
D - C
G - F
B - A
E - D

well thats what i use , and remember all strings get tuned down

Bob-Dubery

chris77 wrote: I know dropped D on the low E, but tuning to D will be...Everything down two semi-tones? I always play standard tuning, so I'm not too clued up about alternates, but that sounds like it will really help me.

It's just standard tuning a whole tone down. So if you capo at the 2nd fret and play the same chord shapes you'd play on a 6 string you'll be back in familiar territory.

chris77

Thanx Tailon, appreciated. Will give it a go tonight.

chris77

And thanx to Bob as well! Will do so tonight. Once saw a bloke play a picking style lead riff on a 12string and I've always wanted to do that instead of just strumming. Hopefully this will make it easier.

Squonk

A good 12 string guitar song to play and quite easy is off the "Woodstock" album

Arlo Guthrie - Coming into Los Angeles
A cute little lead piece as well

http://www.fretplay.com/tabs/g/guthrie_arlo/coming_into_los_angeles-crd.shtml
A very basic tab to get you started. It might not be relevant now, but I enjoyed playing this song on a 12 string ?

aja

Remember that when changing strings change one at a time so that the others are always maintaining tension on the neck.