Instead of six single strings, a 12-string guitar has six pairs of strings (courses). You always fret and strum both strings of a pair together, as if they were one. That makes every chord sound fuller and shimmering – almost like two guitars at once.
The string pairs
- E, A, D, G (the four low ones): next to the normal string there’s a thin octave string that sounds an octave higher.
- B and E (the two high ones): two identical strings in unison, tuned to exactly the same note.
The chord shapes are the same as on a normal guitar: G, C, D and all the others. You do need a bit more finger strength, because you always press down two strings. That’s why a 6-string guitar is usually the better choice for a very first instrument.
Tuning
- First tune the thick string of each pair as usual (E A D G B E).
- Then its partner: an octave higher for E, A, D and G, exactly the same for B and E.
- Pluck both together. If it sounds “wobbly”, the partner isn’t quite there yet – turn just a tiny bit until the wobble disappears.
Setting it up in the app
In the tuner, tap “My guitar …” at the bottom and switch on “12-string guitar”. The tuner then also recognises the octave strings and tells you which string you’re tuning. The string buttons play each pair the way it should sound.
To the tuner