Twelve-string guitar

A twelve-string guitar is a special kind of guitar that has 12 strings grouped into six courses. This means each group has two strings close together, which gives the guitar a thicker, richer sound compared to a regular six-string guitar. The lower four groups of strings are usually tuned to sound like two notes together an octave apart, while the higher two groups are tuned the same note together. This makes the music sound fuller and more resonant.

Because of the extra strings, the neck of a twelve-string guitar is wider, similar to a classical guitar neck. Playing it is much like playing a six-string guitar, using the same notes and chords, but some techniques can be more challenging because you have to play two strings at once.

Twelve-string guitars come in both acoustic and electric styles, though acoustic ones are more common. Older models, especially those made before 1970, have some special features to handle the extra strings, like a longer headstock, a stronger neck, and a reinforced body to support the higher tension. The fret scale is also shorter to help reduce tension on the strings.

"Chorus" effect

The twelve-string guitar makes a special shimmering sound because its pairs of strings can’t vibrate perfectly together. This creates a pleasant effect, like slightly detuned strings. Some people say it sounds like ringing bells. This shimmering is called a beat, which makes the music sound rich and interesting.

Origin and history

The modern 12-string guitar started in the 1800s. An older version from the late 1700s had six pairs of strings. In the 1920s and 1930s, musicians like Lead Belly and Blind Willie McTell began using these guitars for their deep, rich sound. Since then, 12-string guitars have been used in many kinds of music, including folk, rock, jazz, and pop.

Electric 12-string guitars

Electric 12-string guitars became popular in the 1960s. Early users included studio musicians, and famous songs featured these guitars. The Rickenbacker 360, used by George Harrison of the Beatles, helped make them well-known. Many guitar makers began producing their own versions.

The Rickenbacker 360 was used by Roger McGuinn of the Byrds, who helped popularize the sound in folk rock. By the mid-1960s, companies like Fender and Vox also made electric 12-string guitars.

In the late 1960s, some guitarists in rock and jazz bands used special double-neck guitars with both 6-string and 12-string necks. In the 1980s, bands like R.E.M. and the Smiths used 12-string guitars again for many of their songs.

Design

A twelve-string guitar has six pairs of strings, called courses, that are played together. In the lower four pairs, the strings are tuned an octave apart, while the top two pairs are tuned the same note in unison. Usually, the higher string in each pair is plucked first when strumming down, but some guitars, like those from Rickenbacker, do the opposite.

Players sometimes change how they tune these guitars for special sounds. For example, some prefer the high, bell-like sound of an octave-tuned string on the third course. Others might remove some of the extra strings to make playing easier. Some makers have even created nine-string guitars by removing strings from either the lower or upper courses. Famous players, like Big Joe Williams, sometimes used unusual ways to string their guitars.

Because of the extra strings, these guitars put more pressure on the neck and body. In the past, this often caused the guitar to change shape over time. But newer guitars made after 1970 use better materials and designs, so they stay in shape better. Older guitars were sometimes tuned lower to reduce this pressure, and they often had shorter necks to make playing easier. Today, twelve-string guitars are usually made the same size as six-string guitars, though they are often a bit thicker and stronger.

Tuning

The most common way to tune a twelve-string guitar today is similar to a regular six-string guitar. The strings are grouped into six pairs, called courses. The lower four courses are tuned an octave apart, while the top two courses are tuned the same note. Some players, like Lead Belly, have tuned the lowest course two octaves higher instead of one.

Some guitarists use special tunings called open tunings or other non-standard tunings on twelve-string guitars. Some jazz players have tried tuning the strings in intervals other than octaves or unisons to create unique sounds. The extra strings give musicians many different tuning options.

Nashville tuning

Nashville tuning is a way to make a twelve-string guitar sound using two six-string guitars. One guitar is tuned an octave higher on its lower strings to mimic the sound of a twelve-string guitar. This is often used in recording studios to get a clearer twelve-string effect.

Mexican 12-string tuning

Mexican twelve-string guitars are special twelve-string guitars used for regional Mexican music styles like norteño, Tejano, and conjunto. Instead of the usual tuning, all strings are tuned the same note, which gives a sound similar to a bajo sexto or bajo quinto. This tuning puts more pressure on the guitar's neck and bridge, so it often needs special adjustments.

Playing

The 12-string guitar has more strings and more tension, which makes it a bit harder to play. Pressing the strings to make chords needs more strength, and the neck is wider, making it trickier to play solo pieces or bend strings. The spaces between the pairs of strings are closer together, so you need to be more careful when picking or using your fingers.

Some players have found ways to use the 12-string guitar for solo performances. Electric guitar players often use a flat-picking style for solos, while some acoustic players, like Leo Kottke, have used fingerstyle methods. Ralph Towner even used classical techniques. Roger McGuinn created his own way to play the 12-string guitar. The neck of a Rickenbacker 360/12 is as wide as a regular 6-string guitar, making solos easier. He used banjo methods to play chords. The Rickenbacker also orders the string pairs differently, which gives it a special sound. Lead Belly used both simple strumming and finger-style methods, and Blind Willie McTell also played finger-style on the 12-string.