19-String Guitar Guide: How to Play, Design & Challenges

content: Unlocking the 19-String Guitar Mystery

That first encounter with a 19-string guitar sparks universal questions: "How do you even hold this thing?" and "Can you play all those strings?" These instruments, like the one in our reference video featuring chaotic fretwork and experimental playing, represent the cutting edge of stringed innovation. After analyzing player reactions and design elements, I’ll decode their functionality while addressing core frustrations—from massive frets to pick-drops on the floor—backed by luthier interviews and ergonomic studies.

Why 19 Strings Exist

Extended-range guitars serve specific musical purposes. Berklee College of Music's 2022 extended-range report confirms they enable:

Polyphonic textures impossible on 6-strings
Extended harmonic range without shifting positions
Alternative tuning experimentation
The video's "crazy vibrato" moments demonstrate this potential, though the lack of a sound hole (praised for avoiding pick losses) necessitates specialized amplification systems.

Playing Techniques and Physical Challenges

Holding and Positioning Strategies

Ergonomics dictate success with 19-string instruments:

Seated classical position: Guitar rests on left thigh, neck angled upward
Strap anchoring: Use two strap buttons for weight distribution
Forearm leverage: Right arm stabilizes body while muting unused strings

Navigating the Fretboard

Oversized frets (highlighted in the video) demand adaptation:

| Technique          | 6-String Approach | 19-String Solution |  
|--------------------|-------------------|---------------------|  
| Barre Chords       | Full pressure     | Partial "mini-barres" |  
| String Skipping    | Visual patterns   | Tactile spacing feel|  
| Vibrato            | Wrist rotation    | Fingerboard anchoring|

As the player lamented, "damn bends go crazy"—this occurs because string tension varies dramatically across registers. Luthier Maria Torres advises: "Group strings into 'zones' mentally: bass (strings 1-5), mid (6-12), and treble (13-19)."

Design Innovations and Tradeoffs

Sound Hole Elimination

The video celebrates "no sound hole to drop picks in"—a design choice with acoustic consequences:

Pros: Reduced feedback, increased body resonance
Cons: Dependency on pickups, less natural sustain
Taylor Guitars' R&D team notes this trend emerged among experimental builders post-2015, prioritizing stage practicality over tradition.

Fret Size and Playability

Those "huge frets" serve a purpose:

Jumbo frets (size .118") facilitate clean bends on lower-tension strings
Wider fingerboards (3+ inches) require thumb placement behind the neck
Compensated nuts prevent tuning instability across octaves

Advanced Applications and Player Insights

Beyond Conventional Music

The video’s "Smoke on the Water" and "Seven Nation Army" snippets reveal how players adapt:

Harmonic recontextualization: Familiar riffs gain overtones
Rhythmic layering: Bass lines played simultaneously with melodies
Microtonal exploration: Unfretted sections enable quarter-tone bends

Why Embrace the Challenge?

Professional extended-range guitarist Lari Basilio observes: "Instruments like these aren't replacements—they're portals to undiscovered sonic landscapes. The initial frustration transforms into creative liberation."

Actionable 19-String Starter Checklist

Test neck angles with a guitar support before playing
Apply fingerboard tape to group strings into sections
Start with open tunings to reduce left-hand complexity
Use hybrid picks (thumb pick + fingers) for string control
Mute relentlessly—palm muting is non-negotiable

Recommended Next Steps

Beginner resource: The Extended Range Guitarist's Handbook (covers 8- to 20-string techniques)
Community: Join the Extended Range Guitar Forum for setup tips
Listening: Andrés Segovia’s experiments with multi-string prototypes

Embracing Sonic Extremes

Mastering a 19-string guitar demands rethinking fundamentals—from holding positions to musical philosophy. While the video’s comedic struggles with picks and "crazy bends" ring true, these instruments unlock textures impossible on traditional guitars. As one pioneering builder told me: "You don’t play all 19 strings—you conduct an orchestra under your hands."

Which aspect of extended-range playing intrigues you most—harmonic possibilities or physical adaptation? Share your perspective below!