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The twelve-string guitar was first played in America around the late 1800’s. It soon became very popular, and some reckon that music today would not be the same without this well-known instrument. People are not sure where the idea to put a double row of six strings on a normal acoustic guitar originated. The guitar then evolved from there.
What one must remember is that the name “steel guitar” does not come from the materials used to make the guitar, but rather from the tool used to play it. This guitar cannot be played as you would an acoustic guitar, using your fingers to strum the strings.
What one must remember when beginning to play any instrument is that you will not become a professional overnight. It does take some practice to get the basics down. Especially since this guitar has two necks, and you will need to learn the skills to move between the two necks, this takes a lot of time and patience.
The very first thing to ask yourself is “Do I really want to learn to play this instrument?” The reason being, this guitar is quite a complex instrument and will take a while to master. The guitar itself is a very expensive thing. You do not want to try it out for a few weeks and then decide you do not want it anymore. Then you have a very expensive instrument lying in your garage. If you decide that you really want to learn this type of guitar, then go for it.
The second thing to do is invest in a good guitar. It can be daunting to walk into a shop and see the different guitars that are available. Therefore, if you can, take someone with you that knows about guitars.
The third thing to do is invest in a good steel to use during play. There are two very popular steels on the market. One is nickel-plated brass and the other is steel. Just choose the one that feels right for you.
The first thing to do when learning this guitar is to get to know the feel of it. Hold the guitar in your hands and feel the weight of it. Shift your guitar back and forth to feel how the weight shifts. Then move your hand up and down the two necks. Get used to moving your hand from one neck to the other. Then when you feel ready, start strumming your guitar. Listen to the notes as your hand goes over the different strings. The best thing to do is take it slowly. Do not try to rush this process. Many people have given up because they tried to rush the process.
Once you have learnt the feel of the guitar, start playing different chords. Move your hands up and down the neck while strumming the same strings to see how the pitch changes. Once you have mastered the different chords, try to play simple songs, and then go from there.
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