12-String Acoustic Guitar Approaches and Medium

Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2004 14:11:47 EDT

Hi Mickey,

Greetings Mark,

Just starting to play 12 string acoustic guitar after playing flamenco (intermediate/beginner level) for a few years.

You'll find that flamenco technique can also be adapted to the 12-String Guitar....only, it will be nontraditional. You may be taking up the 12-string for other reasons, just the same, I believe you will find it easier than most beginners because of your flamenco background.

Will be playing a Taylor 855. Where do I begin, when purchasing a flatpick and fingerpicks?

For flatpicking, on a 12-string, you'll want to consider a medium gauge pick...a heavy gauge pick will probably be unwieldy and not give you a clear crisp tone...while a light gauge will just slap around on the strings making too many transient sounds...and, it will also sound thinner. A medium gauge would be the perfect starting point.

Now the size of a flatpick can also make a difference...with ease of play. My suggestion would be to look at the larger triangular flatpicks...this will give you more to hold on to and more pick surface to strike the string...of which can be critical when you're striking two strings simultaneously as you would be doing on a 12-string.

For fingerpicking, my suggestion would be to experiment with both fingernails and fingerpicks. You will not have the attack, nor the dynamics with fingernails...however, you'll still have a softer attack with less metallic overtones with fingernails. Fingerpicks also have their place...only most beginners have a very difficult time adapting to using fingerpicks. You'll have to play with them on for many months before they'll feel like a part of you.

Type of Fingerpicks: Try finding yourself some Dunlop .018 gauge metal fingerpicks. These are slightly thinner than average offering more malleability. You'll be bending the collars of the fingerpicks to fit your fingers comfortably....for a thumbpick, look for the plastic Dunlop medium or small white ones...these seem to fit well and offer a solid feel.

Hope this helps, Mickey

I'm 5' 4" and have small hands (size 7-71/2 glove size) Any tips, recommendations, and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Mark