So my birthday's saturday, and my dad revealed that he's getting me a 12 string accoustic, I think the one he's getting is a yamaha, so it's not the best, and it's in a pawn shop, but still. I fell in love with them this summer when a friend of mine let me play his. so my guitar family has like trippled in the last 3 months or so,
I'll post pics as soon as I get some,

Anyone have any 12-string advice for me?

Thanks!!
Tessa♥♥♥

_________________
"He who hates me hates my Father as well."
John 15:23

Talman Ibanez Inner City-Suizy Q
2002 American-Made Fender Telecaster-Vengence
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III

use a set of 10's and if it is older then say 25 years turn it down a whole step.

_________________
Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore, trust the physician and drink his remedy in silence and tranquility.-Khalil Gibran

Yup... I have a Yamaha 12 string acoustic. Use 10's or you'll be sorry! That high "G" octave string will snap like a mo fo... Been there, done that...

Keep a 12 string tuned down a whole step and it will sound awesome, but that's depending on age. I have tuned mine all the way down 2 full steps and played the Paul Stookey (Peter, Paul, & Mary) song called "Wedding Song" note for note. With the slackened strings, you can easily finger pick the 12 string and keep your pinky on the B string 3rd fret for pretty much the whole song without it hurting or making a double groove in the flesh of your pinky finger tip!

so one more stupid question showing my ignorance, when you say half a step, do you mean like instead of tuning to A, tune to B? or what?
also, is it possible to tune this guitar with a SNARK tuner? or am I going to have to put on my "big girl panties" and learn by ear ( I need to anyways, so,)

also, it's a Suzuki, not a Yamaha but still,
It's not the best, but it's a 12-string start, I love them,

Thanks!
♥

also, do they make 12-string tuners?

_________________
"He who hates me hates my Father as well."
John 15:23

Talman Ibanez Inner City-Suizy Q
2002 American-Made Fender Telecaster-Vengence
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe III

Yes, they make 12 string tuners...they're called "Guitar Tuners".
A standard chromatic tuner will work just fine.

To tune a whole step down, you would tune thus (fat string to skinny string):
E tuned down to D
A -> G
D -> C
G -> F
B -> A
E -> D

I often do this with one of my acoustic guitars, and it sounds HUGE and rich...

Half a step down is similar, but it would be E -> Eb (E flat), etc.

Try it--you'll like it!

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!



Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals