“Eulogy” to the Twelve String

      In the 1960s and 1970s, the twelve-string guitar worked itself into the songs of some of the most influential bands – Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Byrds… Since then, sightings of twelve-strings have been rare. They occur, but similar to seeing an animal that is an “endangered species,” unless you are satisfied with viewing one in captivity, you must be willing to seek out a twelve-string and be prepared for only a glimpse. So, our title “Eulogy” is flawed. A more accurate title would be “Tribute to the Twelve String.”

     A good description of the twelve-string guitar is found in Wikipedia:

   "The strings are placed in courses of two strings each that are usually played together. The two strings in each bass course are normally tuned an octave apart, while each pair of strings in the treble courses are tuned in unison. The tuning of the second string in the third course (G) varies: some players use a unison string while others prefer the distinctive high-pitched, bell-like quality an octave string makes in this position."

      To start this tribute, here is a Soundcloud playlist that is almost exclusively song intros with the twelve string. To qualify for the playlist, the twelve-string must enter before the first voice. Therefore, "Stairway to Heaven" does not qualify despite the importance of the twelve-string guitar to the Led Zeppelin

      The Eagles often played “Hotel California” using two twelve-string guitars.

      The Spotify playlist includes full songs:

          Here is a recording of a 2018 Metallica concert in San Francisco with Kirk Hammett on the 12-string for many of the songs. 

     Saving perhaps the best for last, here is Tash Saltana playing her song “Blackbird” (starting at 17:54). 

      Rick Beato describes the use of 12-string guitars in “Boston’s “More Than a Feeling.”