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Posts: 199
Location: Winston-Salem, NC | For you guys who play acoustics, do you prefer 6 strings or 12? I love the sound of a 12'er, but I'm afraid the extra 6 might get in the way when I want to pick or pluck. Are 12'ers mostly for strumming, or can you pick and pluck them with practice? |
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November 2006
Posts: 62
Location: Canada | The thing I love about my Ovation 12 is that the pairings of strings are wide enough apart to allow fingerpicking with practice. You may not always catch every note but when you do it makes for a nice gentle chime.
To only use a 12 for strumming would be to deny oneself some really nice sounds. |
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Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Hmm..I tend to strum downwards,pick/pluck upwards,to induce a note here and there that is.. ;)
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Vic |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Until you get used to a 12, it seems awfully crowded on that fretboard. If you spend a little time with it, it will become second nature. And, oh, that sound.... mmmmm ;) |
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Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | I play my 12 strings finger style.
I don't catch ever string every time but, usually I'm the only one that notices. :confused: :D |
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Posts: 122
Location: Tucson, AZ | FWIW: Glen Campbell has a WHOLE vinyl LP of 12-string playing...
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February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | I have 3 Ovations-2 6's and one 12 (1115). I've always had a 12 and it's always been my main guitar. I'm the 2nd guitar on the worship team with my 12 string...I know when to play and when NOT to play, enjoying the magical sound my guitar adds to the mix.
My 6 strings are easier on my aging hands (although the neck profile on the Pacemaker makes it the easiest 12 string I've ever owned), and I enjoy them enough, but my 12 string really gets into my soul.
John <>{ |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Old Tele man:
FWIW: Glen Campbell has a WHOLE vinyl LP of 12-string playing...on an obscure named label. "The Astounding 12 String Guitar of Glen Campbell"
I loved that album. Roy Clark played Banjo on it also. |
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Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Fingerstyle 12 string is a great thing (think Leo Kottke). I keep thinking I need to get one someday. |
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July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | I play six-string guitars mostly, but I had my share of 12 strings. The 12 string guitars are definitely great for rhythm playing, thus making it a very good strumming instrument. There are others, on the other hand, who can pick and pluck 12 string guitars besides strumming. But they're exceptions, rather than the rule. I know I can't do it ... have attempted a few times in the past, but failed.
Nevertheless, I'm pretty happy with my six string instruments. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | I fingerpick on a 12 the same way I do on a 6 (shut up Cliff --- I ain't that bad). I think people build up in their minds that they can't play a 12 or that it's harder than a 6, but they're really not all that different. What's really cool is to play a classical number on a 12... a real different sound. |
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March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | Honestly, the biggest difference that takes getting used to on a 12 is the wider neck and strengthening your fingers to hold down twice the number of strings. Other than that, they work beautifully for either strumming, open chords, or fingerstyle.
I'm mostly a rhythm player, so I use my 6's the most, but I've come to love playing primarily fingerstyle on the 12-string, seconded by long, open strum chords and lastly for rhythm. It really depends on what you like. Plucking, I don't even try to hit every string...the great thing is you don't have to, and it still sounds fuller and brighter than a 6!
A 12-string Ovation is the next best thing to playing a harp or hammer dulcimer - same magical sound! |
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Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | im used to a wide neck so there's nothing new there,second i played a matrix with superhigh action for years so ive got a strong fretting hand..jason |
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Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Hmm ..now that Andrew mentions it..I actually purchased my 1618 Glen C to build strenght / calluses ,(it worked btw,with less "pain" at that )and got totally Mesmerized / Enchanted ;) by its Sound , every day I play the 1537 & 1618 Glen C..they `re my standards...the pillars of my musical foundation, and through the years have (highly ?!!)influenced my perception of music.. :)
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Vic |
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Posts: 20
Location: Rauenberg, Germany | I don't know folks, maybe I'm not much of a picker then because I have a much more difficult time finger picking my 12-string than my 6-string. Yes, the additional strings are wonderful sounding, but when picked the sound is not as clear as I find with my six string. I have had my 12 string only a few months and get frustrated with the picking and end up strumming. I guess the key is practice, practice. However I think it is important to point out that it is no simple trade-off. Playing fingerstyle on a 12-string is definitely more challenging than on a 6-string.
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Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | Straight finger style may be more challenging, but I pick with a flat pick and two fingers. Most of the picking is with the flat pick with the fingers sometimes adding a sting here and there. I think the flat pick makes it much easier to sound the individuals string sets of a 12. I found that if I go to a Fender thin rather than my mainstay Fender medium pick, it seems to make pickin out the 12 easier. Don't get me wrong it is not as easy as a 6 but with practice it becomes pretty easy.
Steve |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Yup ,I agree..less than 0.60 works well,I use Dunlop though, the one with the nudged/knurled edge,amazing how it can influence the sound ;)
:)
Vic |
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Posts: 20
Location: Rauenberg, Germany | Steve: I will have to try the flat pic + two fingers method you describe for fingerstyle on my 12-string. If you know a good online source for instruction on the method, please send my way.
-Rick |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by RokitRik:
I will have to try the flat pic + two fingers method you describe for fingerstyle on my 12-string. If you know a good online source for instruction on the method, please send my way. Rick, the flat pick and 2 fingers is very easy to master. Practice by doing the following. 1) hold the flat pick normally between your thumb and 1st finger. 2) place the end of the pick in your mouth and bite on it, but keep holding with your thumb and 1st finger. 3) Take your other 2 fingers, middle and ring finger, and place them in your nostrals. 4) alternate picking out the contents of your left and right nostrals, respectively. You'll be a master in no time.
Dave |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | and don't purse but, relax your top lip... |
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Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | Rick, I am not sure that there is instruction for this method, given I think it is not really a classical style. I learn by first doing regular finger picking with a thumb pick. Later I just used a flat pick for a while. It is not that hard to then add the middle and ring finger to your flat picking, in a style that is similar to the staight finger picking.
Steve |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | I have witnessed Dave practice the method he describes and he is truly a master. I don't remember seeing the flat pick, though. Dave is also a master BSer.
If you want to see an expert use the combination method, check out any of Glen Campbell's UTube stuff. |
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Posts: 4413
| Either flat pick or finger pick. That cross breed stuff don't sit well with the men in sheets. |
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Acoustics - 6 or 12?
