How Much Harder is a 12 String to play

[joyride6.17.04]

and how much do the cost?

[Nitro1515]

they are easy to play, you just need to stretch your hand out a little bit more. As far as the cost it all depends and what your looking for, mine was 600 but thats because it has a pickup/tuner on it.

[Coldchillin]

They hurt your hand a bit more.

[natedawg]

they are easy to play, you just need to stretch your hand out a little bit more. As far as the cost it all depends and what your looking for, mine was 600 but thats because it has a pickup/tuner on it.

Are you saying this because the neck is wider to fit all of the strings? If it is of any interest, I play a twelve string fender with only 6 strings on it. It was my dads before he got his taylor. I have fat fingers, so they alwasy mute neighboring strings on a regular guitar. I took off 6 of the tuning machines too because they would rattle.

Now I don't want to hijack this thread, but I had two twelve string questions, better to ask here I think than start a new thread.

1. What strings would everyone recommend, I use daddario exp 80/20 strings when I do string it as a twelve. Though I hear more mention of the elixers.

2. When tuning your twelve string, how far off do you guys usually tune the adjacent string? I usually tune mine a quarter step, is that too much you think? Thanks.

[SillyPutty]

they are easy to play, you just need to stretch your hand out a little bit more. As far as the cost it all depends and what your looking for, mine was 600 but thats because it has a pickup/tuner on it.

Are you saying this because the neck is wider to fit all of the strings? If it is of any interest, I play a twelve string fender with only 6 strings on it. It was my dads before he got his taylor. I have fat fingers, so they alwasy mute neighboring strings on a regular guitar. I took off 6 of the tuning machines too because they would rattle.

Now I don't want to hijack this thread, but I had two twelve string questions, better to ask here I think than start a new thread.

1. What strings would everyone recommend, I use daddario exp 80/20 strings when I do string it as a twelve. Though I hear more mention of the elixers.

2. When tuning your twelve string, how far off do you guys usually tune the adjacent string? I usually tune mine a quarter step, is that too much you think? Thanks.

I put elixers on my 12 about a month ago and the difference is definitely noticible. They sound crisp and clean even now, whereas other strings that I've used have started to degrade significantly by this point. As for tuning, I've always tuned the strings to the same note - isn't that the idea?

[c_tietze]

Depends on how strong your fingers are and especially how "tough" your fingertips are are.

Not all songs sound "right" on a 12 string and I would highly advise playing one before buying one if that's your intention.

I personally love the jingle jangly sound, it's almost like playing two guitar at once.

The strings are the same notes, just an octave apart. Tuning can be a bitch, but it's worth it for the sound you get.


http://www.guitartips.addr.com/tip28.html

[6_strings_for_life]

whoa, i never knew that 12 strings were tuned like that. I always thought that they were tuned like a regular 6 strings, with both the low e-strings tuned to E, and etc. Who all tunes normal and who does it that funky way like in that link above? how does dave tune his?

[Nitro1515]

whoa, i never knew that 12 strings were tuned like that. I always thought that they were tuned like a regular 6 strings, with both the low e-strings tuned to E, and etc. Who all tunes normal and who does it that funky way like in that link above? how does dave tune his?

thats how your supposed to tune it, the octave differences are what give it that distinct sound

[natedawg]

Two things, first off, you know the strings should be tuned an octave apart because the gauges on the lower four strings do not even match their adjacent counter-part. For example, if you buy a 12 string set, there will be a heavy low E that looks like one of a 6 string, maybe a little thinner, and then the E that is supposed to go with it that is definatelly a thinner gauge meaning it should be tuned up an octave.

Secondly, and I think more importantly. Here is the reasoning and theory behind why I do not think they should both be tuned to a pure tone such as E. If you remember wave theory, two strings in perfect tune will make a bland sound, but if you slightly off tune one of them, the wave frequency will oscilate in and out of sync. I forget the name of it, I think its destructive wave interference or something. This is what gives a twelve string its unique sound. From what many guitarists have told me, you want to tune the strings to the exact pitch, lets say E for the lowest string. Then you slightly tune one of the strings a little off pitch. The guitar then cuts through most other sounds because people can hear the pitch oscilation.

EDIT: I just read the info on the link and wanted to add something. He said you should tune the guitar down possibly a step if you can. My experience in this is that when you consider the G string, this is the last string that has an octave string as its counter part. So you have a G on a regular six string, then a G tuned an octave above that. Then two B's at the regular guitar tuning and two E's at the regular guitar tuning. So that octave G is the highest not on the guitar and with 11 other strings pulling on it, the tension tends to make it break easily in standard tuning.

[GuitarGuy305]

As far as ease of play, I don't find them any more difficult or easy than a 6 string. If you just sit down and play it as you would a 6, you shouldn't have a problem. I have a friend that will not touch a 12er when we go to a music store, because he thinks he'll sound stupid on it. He's a better guitar player than I am. But I will sit down with a 12er and play the stone or something and it sounds great.

[mangold]

i think they're just different, not harder or easier.

[MWR]

A 12 becomes harder to play when you're fingerpicking. Well, not really harder but it takes time to get used to. It's mainly with the G string(s). Because the octave string is actually higher in pitch than the 6th and 5th strings it can change the sound quite a bit depending on if you pick it with your thumb or index etc. These are small differences but worth mentioning.

Also, I would never tune a 12 to concert pitch. Tune it a half or whole step down and use a capo if you have to.

[natedawg]

A capo, thats a great idea. I don't know why I never thought of that. When my friends come over I tell them to tune down at least a half step. Some times my friend comes over with his cello and he hates my requests to constatly change the tuning. I should give the capo idea a try. It should save a lot of time.

[MWR]

I'd stay away from the "quick change" capos btw. Get one that has adjustable tension. A 12 already has intonation issues as it is.

[c_tietze]

I'd stay away from the "quick change" capos btw. Get one that has adjustable tension. A 12 already has intonation issues as it is.

Very good point.