The Song That Made the 12 String Famous

#12-string. #12string. #12stringguitar
Was there really one song that really made the 12 string guitar famous? The Song That Made the 12 String Famous? Was there really one song that really made the 12 string guitar famous?
I think so AND I perform the song in its entirely in this video! So many great artists are responsible for the popularity of the 12 string guitar: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Eagles, Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver, Leo Kottke, John Butler....and many more. But this is THE song that made the 12 string famous.

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[titichartay]

Brought back memories ! As a 12 string player since the 70's completely forgot that this song used 12 string ! Great playing !

[emperorofgaming]

Absolutely wonderful playing! I also absolutely love “The Lodging Establishment in California”

[denisboisvert]

Love that b&w TV effect...and the historical references. Just stop saying this is your best ever (even if it is!) too much excitement🙉

[RandysContext]

Wow that brought back memories. As a boy I learned this on my brother’s martin 12 string. Neither one of us remember where that one went.

[douglasfuqua]

Mark, I think your choice of "Walk Right In" is an exceptionally good choice of the song that really brought the 12 string into popular music in America and Canada.
You are right --- it had been used in mostly Hispanic culture songs, Eastern Europe songs, and to some extent, American and Canadian songs in folk songs, etc. but it was "Walk Right In" that really introduced it to our popular music culture. Well done, good choice. Doug ("Crossbow")

[noahboucard]

There's 2 reasons why I love this channel : awesome song covers and interesting history around them

[easy-to-read-name]

In my case, I found your channel after Trogly reviewed a Rickenbacker 360/12C63 about a month ago. It sounded so cool that I immediately searched "12-strings riffs" and your video was among the top results. Watched it, then a couple more, and subscribed. In the following days I watched a bunch more. I remembered thinking at the time (and was even gonna comment that at the time, but I don't think I did) that surely out of the tens thousands that watched Trogly's video hundreds or even thousands probably searched for more 12-videos and that probably would give your video and channel a bump in the almighty and mysterious algorithm.

[ffggddss]

Nice little walk through 12-string history! I was pleased that you landed on my own personal favorite, "Walk Right In, " after a brief pause on my 2nd personal favorite, "I'll Never Find Another You" (sharing that position with "For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her, " by S&G).

I think there's a hidden factor behind questions like this – a generational one. You're in a younger generation than mine; my pop-musical "roots" are more along the lines of Pete Seeger, The Byrds, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Seekers, Simon & Garfunkel, all of whom made great use of the 12-string, as well as many other groups who didn't, so much. Basically, the 1960's, and a bit in the 70's.

Your roots appear to be more in the 80's & 90's; and please do weigh in on what you consider to be the bands in your own "zone, " if you please to.

The Eagles may be on the boundary between our "home territories." Possibly also Leo Kottke.

And the generation before mine, might well call on Leadbelly or Pete Seeger for this one. BTW, I heard, back in the 60's, from a fellow amateur guitarist, that Leadbelly used a standard tuning on his 12, except with a 2-octave bass E-string pair, and I think, a unison G-string pair.

Eagerly looking forward to your video on Leo! My personal favorites of his include Louise (wr. by Paul Seibel), Vaseline Machine Gun (heavily feat. slide work), and Pamela Brown. I must confess not having got much deeper into his oeuvre than those, so I'm looking forward to getting more immersed in his recorded works.

Fred

[rrip]

Awesome video Mark. Walk right in is probably the 1st 12 string riff I ever heard .

[johnlambert]

"You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" played in "Help, " which I thought was the coolest use of the 12 string.

[darryljordan]

Thanks for mentioning Leo Kottke one of my all time fave guitarists.

[TheWolfie]

Super vid Mark you are so talented didnt know you could play left handed as well lol thanks keep them coming

[rrip]

Great job Mark. When I was a kid this song was played on the radio quite a bit & I always wondered what the new way of walking was all about. I still don't have the answer.

[michaelirby]

I am old enough to remember that song. Still sounds GREAT. Mark you are incredible to be able to do ALL the parts to this song.

[jimkelehan]

Over the years, as you’ve stated, the 12 string has been in many, many songs. The general audience didn’t realize it. I got my 1st 12 string in 1968. It was used, and the neck warp was so bad, it would never stay in tune. I played it at the children’s mass at church (along with 2 6 strings). I’d say it was more like nails scratching on a chalk board. Lol The songs you’ve played have inspired me and today’s 12 string is much better than my 1st. People actually like when I play it. Can’t wait for those oldies! Keep on trucking Mark.

[nigelwilson]

That was historically interesting, and musically inspiring. I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation, and your playing is superb. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Thank you.

[GGBSystems]

Fun episode, Mark. Loved the harmony. Count me in for the next one.

[vasanthselvamcs]

i was watching when this premiered! :D

[orvillegibson]

Excellent Mark. Great to hear the Mexicans getting a well deserved rap. The guitar was in Mexico for a century before it sneaked across the Rio Grande. The bajo sexto (12), and its smaller brother, the bajo quinto (10), were traditional instruments in Mexico long before the six string became popular in America, around the time of the land rushes. Wagoneers were attracted to the six for compactness, lightness, low price and portability. It initially boomed in popularity as a worship instrument, pianos and organs not being very portable.

Interesting choices in your 12 string influences, Kottke and Butler. They are at opposite ends regarding their tunings. Kottke uses a lot of D, particulary Drop D and Open D, and is handy with the slide ('Vaseline Machine Gun' is his jaw-dropping Magnum Opus, and 'Jack Fig' is a personal favorite), and Butler favors Celtic tunings, with Drop CG and Orkney Tuning appearing in his works, with a capo well up the neck. I haven't worked out 'Ocean' yet but it's also heavily influenced by Celtic. He also omits the bass G from the 3rd course and plays an 11 string, which seems to work well with his tuning choices. You're right about "famous". Their were other names that spring to mind in 12 string history, chief among them 'Blind' Willie McTell, and Leadbelly. McTell had a profound influence on Dylan, and Dylan's nasally vocal treatment is a direct reference to McTell's voice. I've heard a lot of Dylan (who hasn't), and the only song I can recall where he sang in his 'own' voice was 'Lay Lady Lay'. McTell used an oddball tuning on many songs, sometimes tuning strings individally instead of the usual octave aprt. Leadbelly's 'Hangman' was a big hit for Led Zeppelin. Leadbelly also used a strange tuning but I don't remember it offhand. (Open E variant??)

Can't mention Leadbelly without giving Lonnie Donergan a well deserved kick in the gonads. Donergan's two biggest hits 'Goodnight Irene' and 'Rock Island Line' were stolen from Leadbelly and used without credit, he claiming to have written both. Objections were raised, but Leadbelly was an impoverished black man and lacked the resources to legally challenge Donergan, an international star. Long after both men had died, the Leadbelly Foundation took the matter up, and retrospectively sued Donergan's Estate. They produced published manuscripts that pre-dated Donergans own stolen works. The Court proceedings lasted several years, but Leadbelly's Foundation won. Compensation for Royalties not paid, reputational damages, damages for outright plagiarism, and legal fees, bankrupted Donergan's Estate. They appealed but the case was thrown out.

Bruce Woodley, The Seekers guitarist, revealed in an interview that he was heavily influenced by the 'Great Folk Scare' of the early 60's and began using the 12 as a result. He, in partnership, wrote the song that I and many others hope will become our National Anthem, 'I Am Australian'. Our current Anthem is a witless dirge that expresses a lot about Australia's natural beauty, but says not a word about the people. Woodley's song is enormously popular, and features a verse in one of the many aboriginal tongues.


My latest trip to the vortex, has yielded me a 12 string 'jo. Like I really needed a 'jo! But I can use guitar chords, so it's not back to square one. I've been watching for you to bob up nursing the Pelham Blue 339. You still have it?

[stankruger]

Mark, this seriously may be your best. Has it all: great riffs, great song performance, and amazing editing. I really enjoyed it! Thanks!