12-string Manifesto, part 5

When I added 12-string instruments back into my palette last year, it introduced some welcome, yet unforeseen, turns of events.  

Though they are limited in range compared to the Contraguitars and multi-course instruments that I utilize on a daily basis, 12s are after all double-course instruments, and provide additional double-course tunings and registers in addition to the Contraguitars and other multi-course instruments.  Adding 12-string instruments back into my instrumental palette has indeed extended and widened that palette.

The 12-string limitation of range also means that the 12s are physically smaller than the Contraguitars and other multi-course instruments.  The shorter scale lengths and narrower nut widths have enabled me to find new techniques, and methods and avenues of expression that were not available on the Contraguitars and other multi-course instruments.  This includes both two-handed and single-handed approaches and techniques.

The surprise that has revealed itself of late is that finding, learning, and developing new things on 12-string instruments has come full circle such that techniques discovered on 12 have subconsciously found their way into the Contraguitars and other multi-course instruments.  

Hence, not only has adding 12-string instruments broadened my tonal and registral reach, it has also enhanced and widened the technique and approaches to the Contraguitars and other multi-course instruments in many unforeseen ways.

I'm pretty excited about that.  The exploration continues.

-kk