12 Strings

teleman53 · May 5th, 2006, 09:03 PM

I'm gonna buy a 12 string guitar in a few days (Takamine EF381C, actually) and was wondering, what are some good artists/bands/songs that have alot of 12 string stuff in them?

dieselten · May 6th, 2006, 03:42 AM

It's hard to go past Leo Kottke for 12-string playing in a variety of tunings, notably Dropped D, Open G, Open C as well as standard. His earlier works are good to start on. There are quite a few Kottke CDs out there which will help. Stropes editions website also has notes about the tunes and tunings he plays in.

studio1087 · May 14th, 2006, 12:37 PM

On the 12 string, Leo Kottke is God.
My wife and I saw him at a small college leat year, it was just amazing.

Others.....

Tom Petty

CSNY

Indigo Girls

Eagles

Byrds

John Mellencamp

Keller Williams - You should check out Keller's live album if you want to hear some amazing, contemporay (fairly freaky) 12 string stuff. Keller is a machine.

Traveling Wilbury's

Neil Young

You can take any favorite music book and play the songs on a 12 string and it will all sound new again, great fun.

I have a Martin D12X1, paid about $500 new. I just love it. Before that I had an Epiphone DR200 that I bought on a MF.com blow out for $200. It was loads of fun for what I paid. I could play fingerstyle on eother with ease. The stratabond neck on the Martin X guitars is fantasic or the tension of a 12 string. Stratabond is nearly bulletproof.

Have Fun,

John

aunchaki · May 16th, 2006, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teleman53

what are some good artists/bands/songs that have alot of 12 string stuff in them?

One word: Zepplin

I just got a Takamine 12-string (a used F-389) and love it!

telel6s · May 17th, 2006, 07:17 PM

The opening chords are so 12-string....
A..D..... A..D..... G..A..... G..A.....

Of course, as soon as you play them most people in the room will cringe and run for cover from the remaining onslaught of sweet pop.

Rob DiStefano · May 19th, 2006, 08:40 AM

Pink Floyd - "Wish You Were Here".

teleman53 · May 22nd, 2006, 01:31 PM

wow, quite a few more posts since the last time i checked the thread, first off i'd like to thank everybody for their response and I will be ordering a Leo Kottke CD hopefully on payday which is a week from today i can't seem to find any in a store.

JamonHamon · June 7th, 2006, 03:38 AM

I have a friend who has a Taylor Leo Kottke 12 string Ive played very nice guitar. My friend and I were at Carvin guitars in covina ca played there 12 string and it blew the Taylor away. Ive played many of the carvin 12 string all are excellent

Rada · June 12th, 2006, 03:30 PM

Jimi Hendrix - Hear My Train A Comin'
SRV- Pride and Joy, Rude Mood, Testify

John Denver....

Scott S · June 13th, 2006, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rada

Jimi Hendrix - Hear My Train A Comin'
SRV- Pride and Joy, Rude Mood, Testify

John Denver....

Don't forget Hendrix's slide interlude in "Watchtower"! :)

Tim Bowen · June 13th, 2006, 04:07 AM

No experience with acoustic 12 strings.

If you want a twelve for gigging, or for banging around at the house, only a true twelve will do. However, if you just want to record the sound, consider doing what I do, which is to use acoustic or electric "high-strung" guitar (often referred to as "Nashville-tuned"; upper six string set of a twelve string pack), as doubled with a "standard" acoustic or electric guitar. This not only allows more options as to stereo field, panning, EQ, and whatnot - this approach makes "unplayable" 12 string parts "playable".

I have a RIC 360 12 that I'll never part with. Nothing on God's green earth sounds quite like it, but it's unfortunately quite the beast to contend with, in terms of playability. If you're into electric 12's, keep an eye out for a sweet deal on a discontinued Danelectro 12. Very cool sound in its own right, and infinitely easier to maneuver around than a Rickenbacker.

lobotomyactivist · June 23rd, 2006, 01:29 AM

Kottke is a 12-string god, but if you're expecting to learn to play any of it...quit now.

simplygoodmusic · June 25th, 2006, 09:44 AM

john butler does some amazing things with a 12.

I also really enjoyed this guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9nce...rch=12%20slide

dieselten · June 26th, 2006, 09:23 AM

Quite a lot of Leo Kottke's stuff is quite playable, provided you are in the correct tuning. Also, keep in mind Kottke can tune as much as five semi-tones low for certain pieces.

Start with something simple, such as "Crow River Waltz" in Open G. Anyone who starts trying to play "Morning Is The Long Way Home" for their first attempt at Kottke needs psychiatric help!

"Easter" is also in Open G and is pretty straightforward. Sounds good on 6-string as well. (Leo does a 6-string version).

guitar_ed · June 28th, 2006, 12:29 AM

Try Huddy Ledbetter, aka LeadBelly.

Guitar Ed

TimTheEnchanter · July 13th, 2006, 06:24 PM

Going into the fun filled 80's for everyone...

A lot of the rhythm guitar tracks from songs by the Smiths were done on a 12 String such as "Well I Wonder", "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore", or "What Difference Does It Make?". At least for the studio versions that is.

There's also "All in My Mind" and "American Dream" by Love & Rockets also are twelve string oriented.

For you metalheads out there, there's the intro to "Wait" by White Lion, the intro for "Back For More" by Ratt or Bon Jovi's "Wanted: Dead or Alive"

sharkydude50 · July 13th, 2006, 07:00 PM

"Lucky Man" by ELP sounds great on a 12
so does "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" (Pete Seeger) and "Sloop John B" (Beach Boys)

May 5th, 2006, 09:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
teleman53 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 321	12 Strings I'm gonna buy a 12 string guitar in a few days (Takamine EF381C, actually) and was wondering, what are some good artists/bands/songs that have alot of 12 string stuff in them?

May 6th, 2006, 03:42 AM	#2 (permalink)
dieselten TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wollongong. Australia Posts: 37	It's hard to go past Leo Kottke for 12-string playing in a variety of tunings, notably Dropped D, Open G, Open C as well as standard. His earlier works are good to start on. There are quite a few Kottke CDs out there which will help. Stropes editions website also has notes about the tunes and tunings he plays in. __________________ Cheaper, lighter, faster - pick any two!

May 14th, 2006, 12:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
studio1087 Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Near Milwaukee Age: 44 Posts: 4,230 36 Photos	On the 12 string, Leo Kottke is God. My wife and I saw him at a small college leat year, it was just amazing. Others..... Tom Petty CSNY Indigo Girls Eagles Byrds John Mellencamp Keller Williams - You should check out Keller's live album if you want to hear some amazing, contemporay (fairly freaky) 12 string stuff. Keller is a machine. Traveling Wilbury's Neil Young You can take any favorite music book and play the songs on a 12 string and it will all sound new again, great fun. I have a Martin D12X1, paid about $500 new. I just love it. Before that I had an Epiphone DR200 that I bought on a MF.com blow out for $200. It was loads of fun for what I paid. I could play fingerstyle on eother with ease. The stratabond neck on the Martin X guitars is fantasic or the tension of a 12 string. Stratabond is nearly bulletproof. Have Fun, John __________________ JLG Carry On

May 17th, 2006, 07:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
telel6s Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,181 80 Photos	Supertramp: Give a Little Bit The opening chords are so 12-string.... A..D..... A..D..... G..A..... G..A..... Of course, as soon as you play them most people in the room will cringe and run for cover from the remaining onslaught of sweet pop. __________________ Mama always said, "A little tone is good for the soul."

June 7th, 2006, 03:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
JamonHamon Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,412	Carvin 12 string I have a friend who has a Taylor Leo Kottke 12 string Ive played very nice guitar. My friend and I were at Carvin guitars in covina ca played there 12 string and it blew the Taylor away. Ive played many of the carvin 12 string all are excellent

May 19th, 2006, 08:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 63 Posts: 4,919	Pink Floyd - "Wish You Were Here".

May 22nd, 2006, 01:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
teleman53 Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 321	wow, quite a few more posts since the last time i checked the thread, first off i'd like to thank everybody for their response and I will be ordering a Leo Kottke CD hopefully on payday which is a week from today i can't seem to find any in a store.

June 12th, 2006, 03:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
Rada NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 6	Jimi Hendrix - Hear My Train A Comin' SRV- Pride and Joy, Rude Mood, Testify John Denver....

June 13th, 2006, 04:07 AM	#11 (permalink)
Tim Bowen Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Age: 48 Posts: 3,392	No experience with acoustic 12 strings. If you want a twelve for gigging, or for banging around at the house, only a true twelve will do. However, if you just want to record the sound, consider doing what I do, which is to use acoustic or electric "high-strung" guitar (often referred to as "Nashville-tuned"; upper six string set of a twelve string pack), as doubled with a "standard" acoustic or electric guitar. This not only allows more options as to stereo field, panning, EQ, and whatnot - this approach makes "unplayable" 12 string parts "playable". I have a RIC 360 12 that I'll never part with. Nothing on God's green earth sounds quite like it, but it's unfortunately quite the beast to contend with, in terms of playability. If you're into electric 12's, keep an eye out for a sweet deal on a discontinued Danelectro 12. Very cool sound in its own right, and infinitely easier to maneuver around than a Rickenbacker. __________________ "Everyone is different in how they learn, but for me, it's turning the pegs and just playing." - BB

June 23rd, 2006, 01:29 AM	#12 (permalink)
lobotomyactivist Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Doylestown, PA Posts: 1,330 1 Photos	Kottke is a 12-string god, but if you're expecting to learn to play any of it...quit now. __________________ Back again!

June 25th, 2006, 09:44 AM	#13 (permalink)
simplygoodmusic TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rome Posts: 86	john butler does some amazing things with a 12. I also really enjoyed this guy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9nce...rch=12%20slide

June 26th, 2006, 09:23 AM	#14 (permalink)
dieselten TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wollongong. Australia Posts: 37	Quite a lot of Leo Kottke's stuff is quite playable, provided you are in the correct tuning. Also, keep in mind Kottke can tune as much as five semi-tones low for certain pieces. Start with something simple, such as "Crow River Waltz" in Open G. Anyone who starts trying to play "Morning Is The Long Way Home" for their first attempt at Kottke needs psychiatric help! "Easter" is also in Open G and is pretty straightforward. Sounds good on 6-string as well. (Leo does a 6-string version). __________________ Cheaper, lighter, faster - pick any two! Last edited by dieselten; June 27th, 2006 at 07:50 AM.

June 28th, 2006, 12:29 AM	#15 (permalink)
guitar_ed Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bankrupt State of California Age: 47 Posts: 711 16 Photos	More 12 string ideas... Try Huddy Ledbetter, aka LeadBelly. Guitar Ed __________________ Piss off a politician, register to vote. When you complain about the government, remember that you ARE the government. Voting is the ultimate act of civil dis-obediance. AIM - guitar_edg Skype - guitar_edg (had to change on 5/16/06)

July 13th, 2006, 06:24 PM	#16 (permalink)
TimTheEnchanter TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston, TX Age: 39 Posts: 45	Going into the fun filled 80's for everyone... A lot of the rhythm guitar tracks from songs by the Smiths were done on a 12 String such as "Well I Wonder", "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore", or "What Difference Does It Make?". At least for the studio versions that is. There's also "All in My Mind" and "American Dream" by Love & Rockets also are twelve string oriented. For you metalheads out there, there's the intro to "Wait" by White Lion, the intro for "Back For More" by Ratt or Bon Jovi's "Wanted: Dead or Alive"

July 13th, 2006, 07:00 PM	#17 (permalink)
sharkydude50 Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2006 Location: South Florida Posts: 170 9 Photos	"Lucky Man" by ELP sounds great on a 12 so does "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" (Pete Seeger) and "Sloop John B" (Beach Boys) __________________ Sharkymon- Acoustics Baby Yeah!