Should I buy a twelve string guitar?

Maybe you are considering buying a twelve string, or curious as to what it would add to your playing style. There are allot of things to consider, and then we have the problem of deciding deciding which to buy.

I think the two most important things to consider are;
1) What is my musical style
2) What do i want my musical style to be?

There is never any hard and fast rules in music, so maybe you will prove me wrong. In fact i hope you do. Music is about experimentation.

Here are some general types of music that a twelve string has been used for; Folk music, especially the bob Dylan or Donovan style open chord strumming translates well. Anything that is just a guitar on it's own- i love mason Williams Classical gas on a 12 string. Finger picking, complex Jim Croce backings, or the fast poppy death cab for cuties follow you into the dark sound brilliant. Allot of melodic rock sounds good, Kansas or even some ELO. A good rule of thumb is if it translates well to an acoustic it translates well to a 12 string.

As well as any rhythm guitar. I think the 12 string can lend almost orchestral depth to a band with a skilled guitarist behind it. I once heard the 12 string as the perfect instrument for a solo acoustic artist. The list goes on and on.

So it's a more versatile instrument than some people think.

So, what doesn't it work for? This is also subjective. Probably the combination of higher and lower octaves are not suitable for bands with extreme levels of distortion. It is really hard to bend the two strings in unison and some feel that that combined with the added difficulty in picking make certain types of lead solos impossible.

It takes a little time to get used to 12 string playing nut it's not as difficult as you might think.

There is only one way to know for sure, go to a guitar store that you like and try one out!
Follow your heart- #1 rule in life and music.

Let me know what you think! Leave a comment!