I have a 12 strings stick and I was wondering if someone can explain me the differences/advantages or disadvantages for each one...thanks...

I'm a relative newbie, and have only ever held a 12-string Grand - so keep that in mind when deciding how seriously to take my thoughts on anything.

On the melody side, I don't find myself using the bottom string a lot. If that were my only concern, I'd say a 10-string would be plenty.

On the bass side, I feel like I'd lose a *lot* of flexibility. The common voicing of 7th chords (major, minor, and dominant) spans 4 strings, and if I couldn't hit the root on the 3rd-lowest string, I feel like I'd have to make some bigger jumps and reaches for them.

Hi Brad,

There are fingerings for all three of these that use the 3rd bass string and only span 3 strings. They tie into the same high string for voice-leading purposes as the 7th chords that we use for chords rooted on the 1st and 2nd bass strings. The shapes are different, but they sound good.

If you have The Stick Book check out page 3-2, and also try these:



So even though you can use the same shapes on a 12-string for the 3rd bass string, it's good to think about how the chord's sound fits in with the other chords you are using, as a general element of orchestration and arrangement.

I love the 10-string, for the way it feels in my hands and the focus it provides...but these days I mostly play 12-string.

There's an argument to be made for learning the basic technique on a simpler surface, with fewer visual and tactile cues. You also have to come up with some more creative ways to get to certain notes, which can expand you understanding of the relationship between the two sides of the board.

Thanks (as always) for dropping the science, Greg.

I thought long and hard choosing between 10 and 12 strings before deciding on 12. The advantages of 10 is that the instrument is lighter and the string spacing greater which seems to me to make it easier to play, at least when starting out.
I bought the 12 string because I thought it would be advantageous to be able to play all 3 or 4 chords of a song in one position, vertically across the strings. But, the real advantage has turned out to be the ability to create very wide voicing with my left hand. The ability to have low bass notes and high notes that are voiced at the same pitches as the right hand makes for some great sounding music. These voicings would be limited, or impossible, on the 10-string. The narrower string spacing of the 12-string was a challenge starting out, but has proved to be no problem after a few weeks with the instrument.

Marty

Hi Marty,

The clustering of voicings is one of the things I love about the Baritone Melody 10-string tuning. There is lots of overlap betwen the two string sets. There's more to 10 strings than analysis alone can reveal...

I think 10-stringed STicks look better but I'm so happy I decided to go with twelve when ordering my first Stick three years ago. I can't say how much I appreciate the option to play a note at several alternate positions because I like to improvise a lot and when in the heat of the battle I may want to go for a certain note and then it is more probable that this note is more easily reachable from wherever my hands happen to be at that moment. Another cool thing with more strings is how easy you can work out interesting chords and melodies as several sought after notes may be reached by using one hand reaching over both fretboards. On a ten-stringed the needed note may only be found on an already used string but several frets up or down the neck (translates as "unreachable").

Greg also made interesting use of the 12th string on his recording/video of "Carol of the Bells" last month. The 12th string was tuned up a 4th from the 11th string, not a 5th, so he was ale to do some interesting octave and 4th voicings with it. It's definitely worth a watch.

Thank you all for your opinions. I really like my 12 strings but I'd also like to try a 10 stings one day. Just to check the feeling when you play it.