12 String Guitar, Blues Dropped D and Jazz minor tunings by Paul Brett

Excerpt from Paul Brett's "12 String Guitar & Beyond" DVD. Full length version available from www.fret-dancer.com
Deals with dropped D tuning and open minor tuning. Guitars used - Harmony Stella and Kay Professional 12 strings.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 12 string guitar
• tuning
• Leadbelly
• Kottke
• John Joyce
• Blues
• Jazz
• Folk
• Fingerstyle
• Acoustic

[WatchStation]

Hi Paul, what if I tuned it to concert pitch on 12 string guitar, what will happen?

[guitbrett]

Nothing really, you will just tune up to six string tuning in concert E. The benefits of a 12 string come in fingerpicking in a lower tuning range, where depth of tone, especially on the lower strings sound a lot fuller. With 12 fret to the body 12's, it's better and safer to tune at least an octaver lower, it puts less stress on the guitar top, especially if the strings are through a fixed bridge. The 14 fret to the body, modern 12's will easily take concert E with light gague strings.. Paul

[smokeybearsb]

What was the bit you played at the end in minor tuning? Was it anything that's tabbed out or was it improvisation?

[guitbrett]

@smokeybearsb

Hi, It's an actual piece from a new item I'l working on. There's no tab written at present.

Paul

[GroovyGuitar02]

hi , can you recommend me strings that give that fat , deep low-end i hear on that clip ?

can't get it on my 12 string seagull . and it's a hell of a good guitar ... i don't know why , i can't get that low C to ring as loud and deep as i'd want . perhaps i have to use heavier strings ... (am using 11-48 at the moment , the neck bends a little , and since you know about vintage instruments ... well i thought it was a good idea to ask an expert :) )

cheers !

[guitbrett]

The lower tension usually works best on 12 fret to the body 12 strings. The Stella I use in this clip is a 1970's model, not expensive, but it does have a unique curved fingerboard, most Stellas of that period have flat boards. I'm using La Bella Silk and Steel light gague strings on this clip. There's another clip of John Jpyce further down my list where he is playing a Stella but using La Bella Medium gague, which definately give a piano like sound.

Hope this helps,

Paul

[Johi2410]

Your drop D almost sounds like a baritone guitar. I like that!!

[RK11111111111]

That would help with the tension too.

[lucian4384]

Hi Paul, I like the drop D tuning...I have been useing the Double drop D (d-a-d-g-b-d) I believe this is an open D tuning (d-a-d-f-a-d) useing a bottle neck slide. I am having a blast with alternate tunings on a 12 string. Play on brother.

[jimbo9580]

HI PAUL, WHAT A REALLY USEFUL CLIP...THANKS FOR POSTING

[GroovyGuitar02]

hello !

thanks a lot for the advice !

btw , i swapped my 4 biggest strings of my DR rare 11-48 set with the ones from a 12-54 set . a little taste of sacrilege i know ... but , wow , what a difference ...

i'll try la bellas medium as soon as possible !(especially i love these strings on my classical guitar)

anywat , thanks for the help :)

cheers !

David