12 or 6

Hi there, I am a total beginner. I can play 6 chords and Dueling Banjos pretty well, which I learned on my father's acoustic while I was visiting him. At home I have a classical guitar but it is a shocker. The neck is slightly warped and the tunning machines are faulty so I can never tune it properly. Its a real shame because I really want to get on and learn.

Anyway, I have decided I need a new guitar to learn with. I know that most people will recommend a classical to learn on, but I feel more comfortable with a thinner neck and steel strings. I am curious to ask though, is it a bad idea to learn on a 12 string acoustic.......are ther different techniques involved compared to 6 string technique? Should you always start with a 6 string? Has anybody here got 12 string experience?

12 or 6?

Thanks,
G

Before I had the money to buy my own guitar, I borrowed from friends. One of them had a 12-string that she let me play. I love the sound, and I will always have at least one in my collection. That said, you should probably get a 12-string after you've had a 6-string for a while. A 12 has a wonderful sound to it, and it isn't that much harder to play, but it is just different enough that switching back and forth can hold you back a bit in your progress. Another thing is that while a 12-string adds good spice to music, it soon loses it's appeal if it's all you have. A lot of songs just don't work very well on a 12, and that limitation can be frustrating.

I suggest getting a good 6-string first, and then adding a 12-string later. I think you will find that you really enjoy having a 12 available for special songs, but if you had to get by with just one guitar, it would be a 6-string.

This should just be common sense, but 6 string is better to learn on. Think about it, you have 6 less strings to learn with.

Originally Posted by: hunter1801This should just be common sense, but 6 string is better to learn on. Think about it, you have 6 less strings to learn with.

I'm not sure if that was a joke or not.....
Playing a 12 string mostly the same as playing a 6 string, as the strings are set out in pairs, in which you play both with one finger.

But yeah, get a 6 string.

Thanks Lord and Julian. I get what your saying about the 12 string, a little rich to use all the time and more of a specialist bit of kit for select pieces. Just the info I was looking for, I will opt for a 6 string. Becoming proficiant with a six and then progressing sounds good to me. Thanks again.

Hunter. I have played a 12 string for about 5mins (the time I heard it) which is long enough to know that picking out the pairs isnt much of an issue. Sorry, but I dont see how it is common sense. The reason that I asked the question in the first place was because I didnt find the 12 string any more difficult to play (my very limited playing) than a 6 string and since I thought it sounded great I thought why not learn on one. Regardless, thank you still for your comment.

I'm just saying its common sense because like I said, you have 6 less strings to worry about. Even if its not really a huge difference since they are in pairs, there are still 6 more strings. If there were no real difference (even a tiny one) people would say it doesnt matter. Learning would be more difficult (especially on your picking hand) when you start attempting to pick fast, or skip strings, ect. It all depends on the kind of music you play though. If all your playing is chords, then yes, a 21 string really makes no difference compared to a 6 string because your not really doing anything with individual strings.

Bottom line is, even if there is no big difference between them, noone can deny that there IS a difference, and LEARNING with a 6 stringer is always going to be easier just because of the fact that it has 6 individual strings instead of 12 (even if they are close together).