A 12-string guitar has six courses of two strings. The four low courses pair a regular string with a thin one an octave higher: E2+E3, A2+A3, D3+D4, G3+G4. The B and high E courses are unison pairs. Together they make the shimmering, chorus-like sound of folk, jangle pop and classic rock ballads.
This 12-string guitar tuner is our guitar tuner in 12-string mode: it shows both target notes for each course and recognizes which string you played, so you can stop that wobble between paired strings.
How to use it
- Tap Turn on microphone. Pluck the thick string of the 6th course (E2) on its own and tune it.
- Pluck its thin octave partner (E3) on its own and tune it. Repeat for the 5th, 4th and 3rd courses.
- Tune both strings of the B and E courses to the same note.
- Strum the whole guitar and do a second pass: twelve strings pull hard on the neck, and tuning one shifts the others.
Tension, the high G and tuning lower
The octave G string (G4) is the thinnest string on the guitar and the one that breaks most often: bring it up slowly and never past the note. Twelve strings put much more tension on the neck than six, so many players keep their 12-string a half step or a whole step down. For that, use the chromatic tuner string by string and keep each pair an octave or a unison apart.
Tips
- Pluck one string at a time with a fingertip; a pick hits both strings of the pair.
- Fresh octave strings stretch quickly: retune several times on the first day.
- A wobbling, chorus-like sound in one course means its two strings are not together yet.
Frequently asked questions
How is a 12-string guitar tuned?
Like a 6-string, E A D G B E, but every string is doubled. The four low pairs are in octaves and the B and E pairs in unison.
Which string of each pair do I tune first?
The thicker main string, then its partner. That keeps the whole guitar anchored to the familiar notes.
Why won't my octave G string stay in tune?
It is very thin and under high tension. Stretch it gently after fitting and tune up to the note slowly.
Can I tune a 12-string half a step down?
Yes, many players do to reduce neck tension. Lower every string a semitone and keep the pairs an octave or a unison apart.