Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - WHat is the difference between sound of 6-string and 12-string?

ambrose · 01-08-2003, 09:52 PM

as a musician, i have and play both 6 and 12 string Guilds. ( for the techies, a '73 D25 Arch back and a '75 F312 )

i think it depends on the mood you wish to portray. certain lyrics lend themselves to a 12 string and likewise the 6 string.

dreamy, airy lyrics, at least to me, are prime candidates for the 12. In Gordon's 'Songs The Minstral Sang' or 'Song For A Winters Night', the singular tone of the finger picked 6 string create a shroud of mystery surrounding the melody. in Winters Night, notice how the two 6's play off each other, . that most beautiful sound would not have happened with a 12 and a 6.

you can drive lyrics using either style guitar. check out Cherokee Bend (6) vs CRT (12). in Cherokee, the 6 literally keeps the rythym and moves the lyric from point A to point B. While in CRT the 12 is so emmersed 'in' the lyric, the harmonics of the 12 and the lyrics become one, creating an ethereal world of near fantasy. The cystal clear ringing of Gord's 12 in the background not only keeps the heartbeart, as well, it lets the 6 string build an alternative life of its own within the melody.

headphones and CRT rock the world.

ambrose

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Plant Trees & Play Music

01-08-2003, 09:52 PM	#8
ambrose Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: crab orchard, ky usa Posts: 42	as a musician, i have and play both 6 and 12 string Guilds. ( for the techies, a '73 D25 Arch back and a '75 F312 ) i think it depends on the mood you wish to portray. certain lyrics lend themselves to a 12 string and likewise the 6 string. dreamy, airy lyrics, at least to me, are prime candidates for the 12. In Gordon's 'Songs The Minstral Sang' or 'Song For A Winters Night', the singular tone of the finger picked 6 string create a shroud of mystery surrounding the melody. in Winters Night, notice how the two 6's play off each other, . that most beautiful sound would not have happened with a 12 and a 6. you can drive lyrics using either style guitar. check out Cherokee Bend (6) vs CRT (12). in Cherokee, the 6 literally keeps the rythym and moves the lyric from point A to point B. While in CRT the 12 is so emmersed 'in' the lyric, the harmonics of the 12 and the lyrics become one, creating an ethereal world of near fantasy. The cystal clear ringing of Gord's 12 in the background not only keeps the heartbeart, as well, it lets the 6 string build an alternative life of its own within the melody. headphones and CRT rock the world. ambrose ------------------ Plant Trees & Play Music