12 string

[airon26]

I recently just bought my first 12 string guitar, and I just had a few questions for ya'll who have more experience than me...

First of all, it's a Takamine EG345C.

It seems like everyday when I pick it up, I have to tune it. Each string is slightly lower than it should be. Is this normal for 12 strings? Do I need new tuners? Or is this guitar just a piece of shit or what?

Also, I was looking for some recommendations on songs to learn, both dmb and non-dmb. I realize that you can play pretty much anything you normally would on a six string, but it seems like some songs sound MUCH better than others on the 12. For dmb I've already done JTR, Grey Street, and Bartender. But I just wanted some others... I was thinking maybe John Butler, but his stuff sounds too difficult for me, plus I think there are times when he doesn't have all 12 strings on.

I don't know... any ideas on any of this would be appreciated...

[theBLINDmelon]

Since there is so much extra tension as compared to a 6 string, be prepared to tune pretty much every time you play. Some models are built better than others, but I have a Seagull 12 string and I do tune it every time I play it (though I will admit I don't play it as ofter as I do my other guitars).

I'm a big Zeppelin fan so Over the Hills and Far Away and Tangerine are easy enough and sound great. Spoon is a good 12 stringer too.

[jmband]

the thing with 12 strings is you buy them use them for one month extensively and never play them again, so enjoy it while it lasts

I have a yamaha which is ok, dont have to tune it so often, I have this tuner which is great, battery lasts really long and is very accurate

http://www.musicbasic.com/t-q12e.html

[mismetti]

When did you buy it? New strings will require some tuning until they settle.

Another non-12 string song that sounds awesome on the 12 string: Last Stop.

[VanHorneDog]

new strings and shitty tuners usually are the problem in the staying in tune department.

[twostep03]

I have a Tak 12-string too and I hardly ever have to tune it. I actually play a lot of songs on it, pretty much anything Tom Petty, Grey Street, Bartender, Big Eyed Fish, Raven, JTR ect. but also other songs that Dave doesn't play on the 12-string, like Beach Ball, The Space Between, You Never Know, and Spoon being one of my favorites. Me and my friend also do Hotel California, him on electric and I play rhythm on my 12-string. I find that most songs that don't involve much picking sound really good on a 12-string

[rantingthespian]

Yeah, 12 Strings are a bitch for staying in tune for more than 24 hours. Same goes for Mandolins as well.

as for some songs:

You've Got To Hide Your Love Away - Beatles
Free Falling - Tom Petty
My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
Hotel California - Eagles
Into the Great Wide Open - Tom Petty


Some kewl DMB songs that were not written on a 12 but sound great on one:

Spoon
What Will Become Of Me/Pantala Naga Pampa
So Damn Lucky
the Dreaming Tree
the Last Stop
Pig
#41
Seek Up
Crazy/Easy
Little Thing/'An Another Thing
Leave Me Praying/Weight Of The World (not Don't Drink the Water)

[NewAgedNerd]

I wonder what gravedigger would sound like on a 12 string?