Dude! I'm a 72 yo picker/strummer raised on the folk stuff of the late 50's and early 60's. You've opened up a whole new horizon for me here with this wonderful little musical history lesson. Thank you, sir!
I love the fact you included AIC into the list. They are rarely mentioned in similar categories and are indeed a great example of talent and musicianship. Great video all in all!
He's such an underrated guitar player. His songs with a 12 string are just masterpieces. Even In The Quietest Moments, The Meaning and Sister Moonshine are fantastic and underrated 12 string guitar songs
Anything by the Byrds is classic 12 string guitar music: Mr. Tamborine Man, I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better, Bells of Rhymney, Turn, Turn, Turn, Chimes of Freedom, Eight Miles High, My Back Pages, etc.
Had a lot of great suggestions for 12 string songs I left out, so I'm sure I'll do a Part 2 on the 12 string at some point. Thanks for watching....and greetings from Canada!!
Hello Dan 🎸 Thanks for such great Memories! 👏 ...and now waiting for "PART TWO" of Your "BEST OF 12-Strings!"🤘 Greetings from our frosted Germany☃️ My best Wishes! 🙏🎄🕯Gerd 🎅
@@davidcantwell2489 It was rearranged by Eric Darling. He was leader of The Rooftop singers and gave it the 1-6-2-5 chord progression and iconic single note/rhythm combo. When asked what he thought of the remake Gus Cannon stated, "I don't care what they do with it as long as they keep sending them checks." From Wikipedia: The success of the song was a boon to Cannon, who was in his late 70s and had been forced to pawn his banjo the previous winter to pay his heating bill; he received royalties as a songwriter and saw renewed interest in his music, which led to a recording contract of his own.[3]
"You fill up my senses, like a night in a forest". I could never imagine hearing John Denver's "Annie's Song" played on a six string. Another unique sound is that from Roger Hodgson (SuperTramp) "Give a little bit". George Harrison (Beatles) "Hard days night". And of course Rod Stewart "Maggie May". This of course in addition to all the songs by Rush, Led Zeppelin, Eagles, The Byrds, Pink Floyd, Boston, Jon Bon Jovi, and all those long-haired friends of jesus from the Summer of Love and Woodstock era.
Absolutely... the 12 string was the perfect choice for Annie's Song. It just fits the atmosphere and vibe of the song so well. I'd forgotten about that one when making this list...but would be a great choice for a future video. It was so hard to narrow the list down to 12 songs. So many classics were played on a 12 string
@@davewill0819 I think when Rod Stewart plays the song these days, he has a 12 string and a mandolin player playing together. But mandolin line in rock songs would be a good idea for another video
My Sisters wedding song in the 70's, they are still together today. I love a lot of different music. I like to say from John Denver to ZZ top, but music feeds my soul.
"Stuck in the Middle with You" by Stealers Wheel. Not the most groundbreaking, influential or complicated song, but when it comes on in a bar, everybody smiles and starts bopping their heads. (Back in the before-times, when we used to be able to go to bars.)
played on a bastardised EKO 12 ranger,they had a rubbish sound but amazing necks i had one, i have a j 45 gibson 12 now and it has a very similar neck feel but has the all round tones
Great list! Tons of 12 string tunes to choose from. Some of my faves that I didn't see mentioned in the comments are Hole Hearted by Extreme, and Shelter Song by Temples.
Thanks for checking it out....Love Hole Hearted but had never heard Temples before. Just checked them out..they're awesome. Totally 60s throwback vibe in Shelter Song
Thanks...and you're absolutely right...So many classic Lightfoot songs were done on 12 string. But keeping the list to 12 songs was a challenge. Maybe a little Lightfoot if I do a Part #2 video??
The thing about Gordon Lightfoot is that the memorable guitar parts were played by that guy in his band, Red Shea. He played a six-string. Gordon's parts are nice, but they're not that interesting, relatively. Imo.
That's a really good list. a few of the songs I was not familiar with and I see in the comments a few that I also would agree belong in a top ten or twenty songs.
I appreciate lists like this. I wouldn't say "you should include..." because this is one person's vision, not mine. What I will say is "I expected..." Which includes Hotel California and maybe Stairway to Heaven. You did pick a lot of my favorites. Everything on your list is right in my wheelhouse of music I love and have played a lot.
You have a beautiful natural touch for the 12 string. I have been playing my Suzuki Triple S for over 30 years and I can't sound that sweet. What brand of guitar are you playing, it has a wonderful tone. Cheers from Australia 🦘
You bet...it was tough narrowing down my list....I think my might have to do a Part #2 list at some point, and you better believe Hotel and Give a little will be on there
Excellent! Your cadence is perfect, most RU-vidrs would make this a hour video. Your concise backgrounds and enough of the song so we could remember the guitar part was ideal! You could teach YT how to do it right and effectively. btw your guitar prowess is superb. Safe & wonderful travels
Thanks for checking out the video. And absolutely, Give a little Bit is an excellent addition. If i ever do a Part #2 video, you better believe it'll be there.
Excellent....great picks...number 13 Ventura highway by America, original version was 12 string, and live they used 12 strings, although in the late 90's they played it on 6...
ahhh, forgot about that one. Great choice...those little hammer on pull offs in the intro melody are awesome. If I ever update the list, that ones going on there.
" Walk Right In" That's what sparked the whole 12 string thing! For a start it was a big world-wide hit and McGuinn -being part of the folky scene -would have been very familiar with it. Also, McGuinn was a big Pete Seeger fan, and he famously played a 12 string. I guess it's case of "If you weren't there!"
Yeah thats a great tune, and probably the one that most people commented on that wasn't on my list. If I ever do a Part #2, you better believe it'll be there. Ive never checked out Pete Seeger, but Ill have to give him a listen. Any recommendations?
@@thesparkmusicacademy5100 Here's Pete with his composition "Living in the Country" that Leo Kottke covered. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KXIh8NhMNDo.html
Tambourine Man at #12 is crazy. It started a whole genre of pop music. No Beatles? Quite an oversight. Hard Day’s Night comes immediately to mind. And, McGuinn bought his Rick because of George Harrison. Hotel California out- sold every other song but not included? Ouch.That song is a great and iconic example of how to use a 12 string.
Totally agree... the list could use more Beatles... If I do a Part #2 video " You Cant Do That" or " Hard Days Night" will have to be on the list. Hotel California is tricky one. Arguably the biggest 12 string song...but the Eagles are notorious RU-vid blockers, so theres always the fear that even if you play a few seconds of their song, the whole video will be blocked. www.iheart.com/content/2020-07-22-eagles-have-60-people-policing-the-internet-for-unlawful-use-of-their-music/
Too bad about the blockers, indeed. It’s silly and selfish. A band like Eagles could enrich themselves even more (if that’s possible) by allowing the general public to hear their music unfettered. Album sales, streaming, all of it would increase and also help change their image as selfish and more than egotistical - if there is such a thing. Love their music; personalities, not so much except for Joe Walsh. He’s a different cat than Henley, et al.
@@larrypower8659 Absolutely..I'm all for artists being properly compensated for their work, and I think downloading and streaming (starting all the way back in the Napster days) has made that very difficult. However, I don't think Henley is going about it in a smart way by blocking people that are just trying to praise his work and showcase it for younger generations to discover.... and yeah, Joe Walsh is the man..if you haven't seen it yet, check out this clip of him recording a solo for a Foo Fighters track ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Y8v6FpzwqeQ.html&ab_channel=MiguelGouveia
If you haven’t seen Joe Walsh on “Live At Daryll’s House,” it’s worth watching also. Those shows are on AXS/TV and regularly On Demand. Joe’s always good and never takes himself too seriously.
@@larrypower8659 Thanks for the recommendation. I had never seen "Live from Darryl's House" Seems like a Great series. Love the shows where you get to know the artists and hear some different versions of their classics.
@@thesparkmusicacademy5100 agreed! I probably like that track so much partly because Dreams and All That Stuff was my introduction to Leo, and because shrimp boils are very popular where I grew up, I knew even back then that most species of shrimp make a whistling sound when immersed in boiling water, probably from steam escaping. Kottke’s playing had people interested in what he was doing with acoustic guitars during a time when the record-buying public were far more into either synths and “canned electronic drums” Disco music or much heavier Rock. Leo was “breaking the mold,” so to speak.
I don't disagree with any of your choices, so I'll add two of mine and make it the top 14: "Stairway To Heaven" by Led Zeppelin -- but then you already have 2 songs by Zep. That's the obvious one; the second goes way back to the days of folk music in 1962, and therefore maybe a little obscure: "Walk Right In" by the Rooftop Singers. I was 14 in '62 so I remember it well -- a 12-string classic of the day.
Haha..yeah i probably could have filled at least half the list with Zeppelin tunes....but I totally forgot about " walk right in"...an absolute classic and so catchy!!
Yes, Walk Right In should be the Grandpappy of all 12 string songs. It put the 12 string on the map, and first time I'd even heard of 12 strings. My Buddy Joe says, "C'mon man."
Back in the 1960’s I found a copy of Walk Right In by the Cannon Jug Stompers in my parents 78 record collection. My mother was a Gennett (Gennett Records who recorded Gus Cannon on other recordings). The melody was pretty much the same as the’63 version without the beautiful 12 string runs. I am very familiar with all the 12 string renditions following the very early 60’s and feel they are great in themselves. I have had 4 12 string guitars (one made by Spider John Koerner, my neighbor in Rochester NY) but slowly and reluctantly abandoned them because of laziness in changing strings and tuning.
Cool..i had no idea Walk Right In was a cover....Just listened to the Cannon Jug Stompers version (looks like someone uploaded it to youtube)....pretty neat (although I do miss the catchy guitar runs). And I feel ya, restringing and keeping the 12 string in tune is definitely a process!
Hey man that was pretty cool. I'm a guitarist and I just changed the strings on my 12 string and was actually fishing for stuff to play on It. Tuning them sucks though.😂 Of all the nice equipment I have my 12 string is about the cheapest instrument I have. So I need to buy a better one, so I'll stay in tune😊
Wow, left out just a few. Mama I'm Coming Home, Suite: Madam Blue, Crystal Ball, Hotel California, Give A Little Bit, Long Cool Woman, etc... Cool though, nice to see the 12 getting more love these days.
Yeah, keeping the list at 12 was no easy task. Almost had mama i'm coming home in there...but had to narrow the list down. Some great suggestions though if I get around to making a Part #2 video. Thanks for watching
Great song...it was so hard to pick just one Byrds song for the list...also, did you ever notice how similar the intro to Feel a Whole Lot Better is to the Searchers "needles and pins"? 12 string and all.
Te falto: hotel California, Amanda-boston, heartbreak station-cinderella, coming home-cinderella, I saw red-warrant, wanted dead -bon Jovi, still you turn me on-emerson lake.... Lima Perú
Haha...of course...but thats why the comment section is here...obviously it was hard to narrow down the list to 12, but I love hearing what everyones favourite 12 string songs.....good choice with My Sweet Lord. Such interesting chords in that song, and he just makes it work so well with the slide guitar on top.
Why not include the Roof Top Singers “Walk Right IN”? Very different for the time but very reminiscent of earlier playing of Leadbelly and pre-dating all of what you have shown.
Good choice...that one completely slipped my mind when I was putting the list together...but it would definitely be a great option if I make a Part #2 video.
A great compilation here, I'm looking for 12 string songs having recently bought the Digitech Mosaic (Yes! I know it's cheating...but it's fun). Why are some people so rude with their comments, you handled the feedback very well..cheers
Great video and really great playing. Great choices as well. I know most people may not find this the greatest 12 string song, but I think Zep influenced "Who's Behind the Door" by Zebra makes great use of the instrument.
I live in Thibodaux, LA. I've seen Zebra locally countless times. Randy Jackson would also do a solo concert too. I love that band. They were based in New Orleans but moved to New York City.
Missing two great guitarists Steve Howe from Yes - And You and I Steve Hackett when he was with Genesis Even Mike Rutherford from Genesis played the double neck bass/12 string guitar combo
so many good 12 string licks in the old folk music period Lightfoot especially. For me it was the 12 string sound on the 1964 song "It's Gonna Be Alright" by Gerry and the Pacemakers..
Enjoyed the video. Got a chuckle when you mentioned that SRV recorded Life by the Drop "before his death." Certainly would've been an even bigger hit if he'd recorded it afterward.
The opening notes played on Roy Orbison's Pretty Woman is played on acoustic 12-string before the bass & electric guitar come in and double that classic's opening riff! Check it out! 😎
Just watched John Denver play Leaving on a Jet Plane on his big 12 string acoustic with Mama Cass …..you ever were lucky enough to see him live on stage that’s all he ever needed…..his 6 string and that big 12.
Stairway; Hotel California; Norwegian Wood; Wild Horses; Maggie May; We Just Disagree; Eve of Destruction; More than a Feeling; Give a Little Bit; Turn! Turn! Turn!; Ticket to Ride; As Tears Go By. In no particular order. Got to agree with Free Fallin' and Wish You Were Here.
Where's "Back For More" by Ratt?! The original version of that song, had not only a 12 string acoustic intro, but the bridge used the 12 string extensively!!
@@turbinexman Haha, I guess I have my Ratt history all mixed up. I always though Robbin Crowsby was their rhythm guitarist and Pearcy played lead. I forgot all about Warren De Martini.
I'd include Magic Power & World of Fantasy by Triumph, Still You Turn Me On by ELP, Question by Moody Blues, I Will Remember by Queensryche & I'll Remember You by Skid Row