If you’ve ever seen one of those centipede-looking guitars that have the 12 extra strings, you, in fact, caught sight of a 12-string guitar.
You may be wondering what exactly is the deal with these weird-looking guitars and what is the purpose of them.
So what exactly is a 12-string guitar? The main contrast between a normal guitar and a 12-string guitar is that there are 6 extra strings, with four of the extras being tuned an octave higher.
The first four low strings (E, A, D, G) have the extra doubled string tuned an octave higher. The high B and E strings are partnered with strings that are tuned in unison with those same strings. (B, B, E, E)
A simple way to understand how a 12-string is formatted is to just think of it as a guitar with 6 pairs of strings. This will be easier on your brain.
In this article, we go over what a 12-string guitar is used for and what exactly the purpose of having one is.
You might also be wondering if they are harder to play than a regular 6-string guitar, and is it something that a beginner can play?
Table of Contents
What Is the Purpose of a 12-String Guitar?
The main purpose of a 12-string guitar is to give your music more tone, warmth, and overall breadth. A 12-string guitar is often considered the “grand piano” of guitars.
Playing a 12-string guitar can also resemble the sound that would come from playing two guitars at once. This would create fuller, nicer-sounding notes.
Also, when you play one of these types of guitars, it’s nearly impossible to only play one string at a time, which means that there is a noticeable chorus effect that comes with each strum.
There are also many songs that were produced and written with a 12-string guitar in mind, and playing the song how it was supposed to be played will help it sound really close to the original.
Is a 12-String Guitar Harder To Play?
Because you are essentially fretting two strings at a time using each finger, it can be a little harder for some people to get accustomed to playing a 12-string guitar.
Beginners, in particular, should not even attempt to play a 12-string until they are comfortable enough with a regular 6-string guitar.
Another reason that a 12-string is harder to play is that its neck and fretboard are much larger. This is due to the extra thickness added to hold the extra string tension.
Just like with everything else in this world, it just takes a little more practice to be able to play a 12-string guitar, but the resulting sounds you can achieve are a pretty good reward for learning to play it.
Do You Need a 12-String Guitar?
No, you absolutely do not need to buy a 12-string guitar, but it does make the songs that were originally written with a 12-string in mind, more original sounding.
For example, if you wanted to play Bon Jovi’s “Dead or Alive” with a 6-string guitar, it would sound just fine.
But the song itself was written with a 12-string guitar in mind, so using a 12-string to play it instead would make the song sound even more amazing.
So, do you need one? Not exactly. But it’s a nice tool to have if you are out on a gig and you’re trying to sound as close to an original 12-string song as possible.
Is a 12-String Guitar Good for Beginners?
A 12-string guitar has the tendency to be quite confusing at first, so it’s not recommended that a beginning guitarist start out learning on a 12-string guitar.
However, that does not necessarily mean that it’s not doable for someone who may not be as advanced in their skills yet.
As long as you can fret a regular guitar and play basic chords on one, then if you are die-hard on trying out a 12-string guitar, by all means, have at it.
You should also have fully developed finger calluses since there is an extra string to press on for every finger on your fretting hand.
At the very least, you should have some basic guitar playing skills and know your way around a guitar tuner since 4 of the extra strings are tuned a bit differently than a regular 6-string guitar.
Should You Tune Down a 12-String?
There are definitely a few benefits to tuning down your 12-string guitar, but it is ultimately a matter of personal preference.
Tuning down this type of guitar will reduce string tension and can make it so the strings are easier to push down, considering the fact that you are pressing two strings with each finger.
Some guitarists prefer the sound that a tuned down 12-string gives them, because it’s a lot more unique, but still sounds amazing.
An important thing to note is that because 12 strings put more tension on the headstock and the bridge of your guitar, it can be more susceptible to bulging and warp. This is especially true for older 12-string models.
However, nowadays 12-string guitars are manufactured with this in mind, and as such, are made to withstand the extra tension.
Some guitarists are still wary of this fact, and so they prefer to tune down their 12-string guitars just to be on the safe side.
