How can I play past the 12th fret of my acoustic guitar?

Question

I just started playing the guitar about a month ago and I'm having a little trouble in fretting above the 12th frets, where the body begins to attach to the guitar. This poses as problem when I'm playing songs like Holiday by Green Day or Yesterday by the Beatles, which have high tones.

Is there any special way to get around the guitar's body?

Answer 1

There is a way to play the higher frets on the acoustic guitar, but it's difficult for beginners. That method is called Harmonics.

Form a G chord in the third fret (XX5433) and hold it as you lightly touch the fourth string on the 17th fret with the tip of your forefinger while plucking behind it with your thumb.

Repeat the process on the third string, 16th fret, and the second and first string in the 15th fret.

The same method can be applied with any chord held 12 frets below where you lightly touch with forefinger and pluck behind it with your thumb.

It takes much practice to work this method smoothly.

Answer 2

Not entirely. The basic chords are all the same on the three different types of guitars. But say for instance, you're a fingerstyle guitarist and you wanted to play solos on an electric guitar, it would be hard. You would need to do things such as shredding, alternate picking and sweep picking. But again like I said, the basic chords are all the same on the three different types of guitars. I'm a good electric guitarist but I've only started learning to play acoustic. It's not as easy as it seems.

Answer 3

Acoustics generally don't play as well as electrics past the 14th fret or so, but it's still very possible. I play some Skip James that uses the 20th fret, and it still sounds pretty good. You need to adjust your hand position accordingly. Take it slow, though, as you could injure yourself changing your fretting hand.

Answer 4

Nope, sorry. Maybe you need to supplement your acoustic with an electric for the higher notes. You can pick up a Squire Strat for $130.00 new at Musiciansfriend.com and it has a cutaway for better access.

Answer 5

lose the thumb