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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | WHAT THE COCK!??!??!
The 1758 arrived today, lovely condition etc etc but how the hell does anyone play fingerstyle (without picks) on a 12 string!?!?!?!?
It would be AWESOME for strumming sure but that's not what I play.
I'm not too sure I'm ever going to get used to that! |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | ain't easy. |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | My college roomate (way back...way way back) had an ovation 12, I am not sure what model but he played everything with it. It was and still is his only acoustic guitar I believe. He picked, strummed, riffed, everything. I guess if it is your only choice you can figure it out with time. As Jeff said it won't be easy :) |
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Posts: 4221
Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | It takes a little more finger strength than your muscle-memory is used to Dweez. Give it a little time and your notes will be as clean as ever and your fingertips no more grumpy than usual.
Since you're not gonna strum, go as shimless as possible without buzzing. I have my C. Balladeer set lower than some of my six-strings. Keep it tuned to pitch so you don't get a buzz from the lower action.
Finally, find that song that just sounds SO amazing when you do it on a 12'er. (Admittedly, this is personal taste.) You'll know it when you hear it and suddenly have more motivation to make it work than you thought possible. There are some pieces that just don't sound right to me on anything but a 12-string.  |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | As Rich said, you figure it out. Fogelberg, Hodgson and Kottke certainly did...
And an Ovation 12 string is the best one to learn on. I remember the first time I played an 1866, I had to look twice to make sure it wasn't missing half the strings, it felt so much like a 6 string. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I don't find it's a matter of hand strength... it's getting the right hand cleanly on desired course...
The O 12's are smoooooove as buttah... |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Didn't Ledbelly play a 12 string fingerstyle? |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | yes.... a "Stella" as a matter of fact... |
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January 2009
Posts: 379
Location: Alagoas, Brazil | You need long nails and practice, but it's feasible. And it´s not exactly that you are going to play strongly or harder. Your finger has to go a longer way to pick both strings, its more a matter of keeping the movement after picking the first string. Oh, well, its hard to explain, but that´s it. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Kottke plays his 12 string with heavy strings in open G tuning (and other open tunings also) with the strings tuned way down two whole steps. I've tried it on my 1755 Balladder and it sounds very nice. There are tab books of Kottke songs. Once you get used to the open tuning some of the songs are not as difficult as they sound. "Crow River Waltz" is a good song to start with. |
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Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | I'm *VERY* used to open tunings, it's more the lack of room for left and right fingers! |
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March 2005
Posts: 12750
Location: Boise, Idaho | That's why I don't use my 12 much. I know it can be done. I walked into the Guitar Center once and heard this kid doing a beautiful fingerstyle song on a 12. It's hard for me to be that precise. Any variation in the length of my fingernails causes real problems. |
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December 2008
Posts: 1453
Location: Texas | I have had my ME II for a couple of months, and I have a long way to go before I'll be able to finger-pick 12 strings cleanly, although I WILL get there. In retrospect, it would probably be easier with a wider neck, I find that the gap between the pairs of strings is pretty tight for my fat ole fingers to get between on the 1598…
…but no, I am NOT selling it ;) |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | dweez,
Get in touch with this GENT. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | There's a learning curve to it, but if you stay with it, in a couple of weeks you'll feel just fine.
Or do what I do. Instead of finger with or w/o picks, use a flat pick and fingers..... |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I had a 12 string come in on consignment once that only had the treble strings doubled. The E A and D had only the "bass" strings. It was a joy to fingerpick, and believe it or not, it still sounded like a 12 string. As a matter of fact, one of my regulars who plays a twelver liked it so much he went home and took three strings off of his. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Yep, it's hard work. I'm pretty manly when it comes to fingerstyle, and I can produce a big sound from a regular 6-string with bare fingers. I don't even try playing serious fingerstyle with a 12, my nails are too important and I hate fingerpicks. Try increasing the string gauge to the 12-string equivalent of a medium set (0.013) and tune down to at least C or lower. That's how Kottke did it. Those 20's/30's Stellas that the old Blues guys played were pretty lightly built for 12 string guitars so the likes of Barbecue Bob and Blind Willie McTell were down as low as A with big strings |
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March 2004
Posts: 241
Location: Le Havre (France) | A great french musician has developped a superb 12 string style. His name : Michel GENTILS . Check the song called "Flamenco indien" (2nd video).
One little story.
We were at a guitar week end in Alsace (east of France), organised by Tom. Jerome was there with its new Adamas 1 12 strings.
Michel Gentils tried this guitar and played with it for a long long time ! He really enjoyed the sound and the sweetness of this guitar. Coming from one of the best 12 string player, I let you imagine how we, and specially Jerome ;) , were happy to hear that !
In french, "gentil" means "kind". To have had the chance to meet him during this week end, it is a true kind man. Very sympathic.
I keep this moment in my memory, it was magic ! |
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April 2008
Posts: 2336
Location: Brighty in Blighty | Strings off
Laxative on the neck and bridge
Bloody good clean
Adamas 12s on
Tune to open G
Listen to Kottle and Basho
I'm warming to it ;)
Pics tomorrow. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Make sure you tune it down. 12's are too heavy for standard open G tuning. The lower tension on the strings makes it much easier to play. It actually sounds better than way too. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by Mitchrx:
Make sure you tune it down. 12's are too heavy for standard open G tuning. Errrm, no they're not. "Standard" or Low-bass Open-G is DGDGBD where strings 6, 5 & 1 are a tone down from normal E tuning. High-bass G or dobro tuning (GBDGBD) is a whole other thing. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by dweezil:
I'm warming to it ;) Glad to hear that. Now awaiting pics and especially some tunes! |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by dweezil:
Listen to Kottle and Basho
Robbie Basho? You're kidding, right? |
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April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | I have more problems with some of the chords than I do with the actual finger-picking. Because my hands are so small, the C, F, and major barre chords are a lot of work for me.
Right now, my guitar student has "The Big Girl," his name for the 1758, and is doing really well with her. When I get her back, though, I intend to just practice finger-picking until it's clean. She does sound wonderful, though....
--Karen |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Temp is right about standard open G being OK for the guitar. Tuning it down two steps just mades it easier to play with the heavier strings. |
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Fingerstyle on a 12 string?!?!?!
