# Instruments in Wanted Dead Or Alive?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instruments-in-wanted-dead-or-alive/691080>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 18, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instruments-in-wanted-dead-or-alive/691080 "2014-06-18T17:11:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![67java89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/aeb1de/32.png) [@67java89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/67java89)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instruments-in-wanted-dead-or-alive/691080/1 "2014-06-18T17:11:53Z")

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I was wondering what instruments are used in that song, particularly in the instrumental parts. There’s something that sounds kind of high that might a dulcimer, but I’m not sure.

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**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instruments-in-wanted-dead-or-alive/691080/2 "2014-06-18T17:22:05Z")

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Are you talking about the Bon Jovi song? Is it not a 12-string?

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**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instruments-in-wanted-dead-or-alive/691080/3 "2014-06-18T18:07:50Z")

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I was thinking there was a mandolin but I’m not sure.

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**Author:** ![67java89](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/aeb1de/32.png) [@67java89](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/67java89)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instruments-in-wanted-dead-or-alive/691080/4 "2014-06-18T18:44:21Z")

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Yes, the Bon Jovi song. It could be a mandolin. It sounds higher than the guitar. Just wondered if anyone had the CD and knew for sure

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instruments-in-wanted-dead-or-alive/691080/5 "2014-06-18T20:16:43Z")

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> [@pulykamell](#):
>
> Are you talking about the Bon Jovi song? Is it not a 12-string?

Yeah, I have always heard a 12-string guitar. On the infamous MTV Awards show where Jon and Richie Sambora played it unplugged and apparently inspired the creation of the show Unplugged, IIRC he was playing a twin necked Ovation with 6 and 12 strings…

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**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2014, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instruments-in-wanted-dead-or-alive/691080/6 "2014-06-19T03:53:43Z")

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12-string guitar. That part you’re thinking of starts at around the 12th fret, so is relatively high-pitched. I imagine this is what gives some the impression of sounding like a mandolin.