What is a 12 String Guitar?

The guitar is perhaps the world's most popular instrument. You can find it in nearly any country in one way or another. And while the six string guitar is the most common, there's another major guitar that is often over-looked: the 12 string guitar. The 12 string guitar, as you might expect, has 12 strings. But the 12 string guitar is not just a guitar with some extra strings. It's a different guitar with different tonal properties.

As long as there have been guitars, there's been variations on the number of strings and, therefore, no one is quite sure when the first 12 string guitar was first played. The 12 string guitar has its 12 strings paired up in what are called "courses". This means that, rarely, one string in a course is played without the other. In other words, whereas on a traditional 6 string guitar one string usually means one sound, in a 12 string guitar, since the two strings in one course are so close together, they play together and it creates a chorus effect.

For the most part, being able to play a 6 string allows a performer to play a 12 string guitar. In terms of functionality and usage, the two are virtually the same. The difference is that the 12 string guitar, with the coursing and chorus effect can produce a brighter sound. One disadvantage to the 12 string guitar is that it is not generally well-suited for solo or lead roles. This is because the plucking of individual strings is very difficult. However, the 12 string guitar is an excellent choice for rich and full rhythm or accompaniment roles.
There is no genre of music that doesn't utilize the 12 string guitar at one point or another. From Jimi Hendrix to Billy Corgan, Arlo Guthrie to George Harrison, Melissa Etheridge to David Bowie, any number of guitarists have at times used a 12 string guitar to achieve a slightly different sound. Whether it's blues, folk, jazz, or stadium rock, a 12 string guitar can fit in any band.

The only other consideration that needs to be paid when dealing with 12 string guitars is the neck. With twice the strings of a normal guitar, a 12 string guitar placed additional stress on the neck. This can sometimes lead to warping in even a few short years. Some 12 string guitars have unsightly and additional support systems for the neck, but the majority or 12 string guitar players will simply tune down to reduce the tension on the neck.

Whether you're looking for a richer sound, a different look, or just a new experience, a 12 string guitar can help bring about a different musical quality to your guitar play.

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