How do you tune a 12-String?

[yukonkornelius]

I've never done it before

Are the strings named differently?

6 string =EADGBE so what's a 12'er?

If I tune it with my regular Korg tuner, what will it register the second set of strings as?

[jalbert]

Strings 1 and 2 are in unison. Strings 3 through 6 are all one octave higher. So from low to high, it'd look like this in standard tuning:

E2-E3, A2-A3, D3-D4, G3-G4, B4-B4, E4-E4

What's kind of interesting is that the octave G string ends up the highest pitched open string.

For those in the know, can you tell I just got a Peterson VS-II? I'd go nuts trying to tune my 12ver without one.

[AcapulcoBob]

The proper way to tune a 12-string is to locate the one string that is out of tune, and then tune the other eleven to that one.

AB
www.bobmccann.com

[BR-183Bob]

Tuning a 12 string....
oxymoron! It can't be done.

Bob
Spearfish, SD

[architectx]

Yep, had one several years ago.

Sold it for some reason.

Bought a sweet 455, it was great.

Tried to put strings on it.

Sold it a week later.

I have enough trouble with 6 of them.

[Freeman]

my wife says I spend half my time tuning my 12 string and half my time playing out of tune.

btw - also consider tuning it 2 half steps below concert to lessen the stress on the top and neck. Lots of pros and cons on this forum for doing this. That would be

Dd Gg Cc Ff AA dd

where the lower case letter is an octave higher that the upper.

[Randal_S]

To add a pictorial to what jalbert posted above...

http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~d...o/tuning12.htm

http://www.guitartips.addr.com/12_st...tar_tuner.html

Like jalbert, I find that the Peterson tuner is extremely useful for tuning a 12er. Other things to look out for are:

1. Properly stretch the strings as you install them. It'll make the whole process alot less frustrating.

2. Go in increments. I usually have to run through all 12 strings about 3 times before the neck tension is sufficient to keep all 12 in tune.

[Freeman]

oops, I was backwards with the skinny and phat strings. Should have been

dD gG cC fF AA dd

[taygull]

With a tuner! Of course unless you have a really good ear!

[JohnZ]

Wanna have fun? Tune the pairs in 5th's, that'll give you 12 voices and beats a piano. You'll have to augment your V chords to make it work.

[taygull]

Originally Posted by JohnZ

Wanna have fun? Tune the pairs in 5th's, that'll give you 12 voices and beats a piano. You'll have to augment your V chords to make it work.

If at first you are trying to learn to tune a guitar I would bet this would be....well a little over the top!

[sully]

I've played 12's for a long time, and I highly recommend it. I don't understand why it's hard to tune them or change the strings. It's really not a big deal. There's nothing like the sound of a 12. Great for blues, rock, folk, etc.

[Heliman]

I currently have a Tacoma D-1812 and am very fortunate that it stays in tune quite well. I use Elixir strings.

12 strings that stay in tune are about as rare as hen's teeth. In fact, mine stays in tune so well that I have gone so far as to experiment with "modified" tuning. What I do is tune one of the pair about 2 cents lower than the other pair. This dramatically improves the fullness of the guitar. I highly recommend this technique, if your guitar can stand the challange.

As much as I would like to have a Peterson tuner, I will have to make do with my Boss TU-6 for awhile longer.

Respectfully yours,

Heliman

[hgordon]

Actually, I saw/heard a very cool tuning last week by Michael Gulezian -

dD gG dD f#F# ag ed (though the upper 2 might have been ga de)

He uses it on his album - Keeper of the Flame

12-strings are cool - if nothing else, they make 6-strings seem a lot easier to play

[D. Ramsey]

by Heliman "12 strings that stay in tune are about as rare as hen's teeth."


I've had 3 different Taylor 12 sting guitars (450, 355, 455ce rosewood) and every one of them stayed in tune very well. I use a korg tuner and never have any problems. Those of you with problems.. are they Taylors?

Dennis