How to Tune a 12-String Guitar

[@robertcanedo7607]

I bought a Vangoa 12 string, years ago, and hardly pick it up, and I almost sold it! I'm glad I kept it. Thanks

[@bradleymonroemusic4688]

Thank you for the video Stephen. Right now I am playing a Taylor 12 string tuned in D standard and a Guild 12 string tuned in C sharp standard (previously tuned in D standard).

[@tomtheyank1]

Thank you just got my first 12 string guitar 🎸 . Already broke a string trying different tuning havent even put the box away . Standard tuning the way to go for now . Drop E drop D to complacted for now.. thank you!

[@MJ-sj9ho]

I did the same thing, 😢

[@garydantzler1]

That's not hard to do. When I get a 12 string not tuned, I watch a You Tube video just to get me there. Then after that I can use a Snark or a tuner to keep me close and fine tune it.

[@jltrem]

Tune it to D standard not E. You won't break strings and your guitar won't be under massive tension.

[@julianmclean3869]

Thank you so much Stephen, was trying to find someone who could simplify the tuning and now I am all good !!!! "priceless" !!!

[@MJ-sj9ho]

Thanks for the great post and thank you for your nice calming voice!!!😊

[@mikecain2676]

I never tune my 12 string to standard tuning, it puts so much strain on the guitar. I prefer (and so do a lot of others ) to tune one or two steps down. I then use a capo to play with others in standard tune. The intro played was I think from a rooftop singers tune and they tuned down 2 whole steps I think.

[@stephenhardypalmermusic3325]

Guild 12 strings like mine are built with a double truss rod so they can handle full tension very well. My first 12 string, a Harmony, had to be tuned down 1 1/2 steps like Pete Seeger and Leadbelly did. The Rooftop Singers hit 'Walk Right In' they play in 'A' but they're only tuned down a 1/2 step to Ab. I might play this in A now and copy their way of doing that song.

[@iccus62]

The G string pairing in standard tuning is like taking a high E string to G. they always snap. capo on 2 nd fret and standard is nice.

[@jfrphoto01]

​@@stephenhardypalmermusic3325 When I bought my first 12 string, a Taylor, the guitar tech said to tune down a step to relieve the stress on the bridge, not the neck and use a capo on the 2nd fret to play standard tuning. The bridge on almost all acoustic guitars are glued on, not bolted or screwed on like an electric. The tech said that he has seen a lot of high end (i.e. high priced) 12 string acoustics come in from the factory with lifting bridges because they are not glued on properly at the factory!

[@lonewave1]

I agree. I always tuned down 1 half step if not two. The reason I avoided standard tuning is because the high G on the 3rd string would eventually break and screw everything up. This is a good video, but my preference is to tune 1/2 to 1 full step down and then capo up to make the difference.

[@wungoodguy]

@@iccus62 Yep my high G just snapped. It really felt like it was going to, too. But I tried inching it up to match the video.

[@rAndomlight1069]

Snap! Crunch! That's the sound of my strings lol off to the geetar shop tomorrow.

[@timothym.johnson3485]

I bought a Gianni in 1982. It was sadly stolen in 1985. I bought a Yamaha in 1990 to play 1 song. 'Coming home ' by Cinderella. I still own it, still play it. I RARELY have to up the tune. Fabulous guitar. I bought it because I STILL can't afford a Guild

[@stephenhardypalmermusic3325]

That Guild F-512 is over $5500 Canadian now, more than I could afford. I think the Chinese Westwood Guilds are much more affordable but I've never played one.

[@thewenik6876]

Very nice. Thanks. 👍🎸

[@cjinasia9266]

We all know what the notes are, I was hoping for some insight on how too tune better. OK, I'll give a few. First, tighten up your tuning pegs so they slip less. If you have open gears, oil the teeth a little to make them turn smoothly. Plan on several passes to get the strings right. Tune the six regular strings first, then bring the octave strings up to pitch. exercise Try not to fiddle with it too much after tuning, it just gets worse. If you need to adjust tuning, go somewhere quiet to do it, you will never get it in tune with your friends impatiently noodling. When playing in a group, everyone tunes to the 12 string, it saves time and effort. Relative pitch is close enough. Many people drop the tuning one full step and play with a capo on two. This reduces the stress on the guitar and makes it much easier to fret the chords. It works really well but you need a good locking capo with the proper radius on the bar. Buy an electric screwdriver to change strings. It is so worth it.

[@jfrphoto01]

The first thing I did when I got my 12 string was to change out the stock tuners for locking tuners. Speeds up string changes by about 70% and they hold tune a lot longer than non-locking tuners, less to no slipping of the string on the post. I still tune down and play with a capo on the 2nd fret for playing in standard tuning, plus, it gives the guitar more range when finding the right key for your voice, remove the capo and you are a full step down from standard, makes it easier when playing songs like "You Got It" by Roy Orbison (my voice can't hit the high notes in standard tuning and playing further up the neck, depend on the piece just sounds wrong)!

[@12string]

Hey guys, from the comments, a few of you are breaking strings. If you put a 12 string capo on the first or second fret and tune your guitar to E tuning (with this stronger 12 capo on), that means that your strings will be under way less tension and it will be so much easier to play your 12 string. It makes it so much more enjoyable and you can play for quite a while right away. There are other sights that just make the sounds from E tuning for you to get tuned with. Then you will know when to keep tightening another octave or not. Good luck !!

[@seggyc6513]

I don’t know what kind of string should I use for higher octave G string. Since the old string for higher G broke I’ll can’t tune it again in standard due to string easily broke. I can’t tune it with half or down one step due to buzzing of strings from the fret. Don’t know how to adjust the truss rod so I ended up to tune the higher G string to normal G so the G, B and E were tuned in unison.

[@stephenhardypalmermusic3325]

Try a .09 or .08 unwound string for your high G. Most guitar stores sell single unwound strings for electric guitar but these work fine for acoustic too. No practical difference. With a heavier string set you get better tone but higher action and more strain on the neck and bridge. Perhaps a set with the top strings .10?

[@teresaball2284]

I’m going to look at an Epiphone FT 565…. 75’ model, without being able to see your headstock, is that what you are playing?

[@stephenhardypalmermusic3325]

It's a Guild JF12 Randy.

[@danphillips2452]

Will a Yamaha fg210 hold up in standard tune or is that one that should be kept tuned down a 1/2 or whole step???

[@stephenhardypalmermusic3325]

With lighter strings standard tuning should be fine Dan. But tuning down a whole step (D G C F A D) with medium light strings sounds full and strong. Capo up 2 frets for regular tuning if you're jamming.

[@danphillips2452]

Thank you sir. I appreciate your time. Have a good evening

[@Macho420]

One of My strings just broke 🤦🏻but this video did help me tune it tho

[@andrzejpytlik6408]

Thank you, Master :)

[@stephenhardypalmermusic3325]

You are very welcome

[@spiderfan1974]

If you use any string gauge over 10 tune down a whole step. Your guitar neck, bridge and fingers will thank you. I would recommend 9's or 10's if standard tuning is your thing.

[@stephenhardypalmermusic3325]

Good advice Spiderfan. My Guild is built with a double truss rod so it can handle heavy gauges but I usually use 9's anyway. Much easier to play.

[@spiderfan1974]

@stephenhardypalmermusic3325 my guild also has a double truss rod tried 9's liked 10's better. My electric hollow body 12 has 8's on it. For me anything over an 11.5 on any acoustic is on the verge of unplayable for me.

[@stephenhardypalmermusic3325]

I hope you find this tuning video useful. Downloads of my own music are at: stevepalmermusic.bandcamp.com

[@rlupita82]

how do you pkay that beginning riff!!

[@stephenhardypalmermusic3325]

That's just a little bit of 'Walk Right In' by the Rooftop Singers, a big 1960's 12 string guitar hit. I'm picking 'Carter' style on the C chord, then walking down chromatically on the C bass note down to A (C-C-B-Bb-A) for the A7 chord, then back to Carter style. Carter Style is great for Folk and Country tunes. (Maebelle Carter). There should be some great videos on that on youtube. I hope that's not too technical

[@kevinprice7362]

Great video man

[@stephenhardypalmermusic3325]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@lonewave1]

Just a compliment. You look like a cross between Hoyt Axton & Wilford Brimley.

[@stephenhardypalmer9849]

Thanks. One reviewer, who liked my music, said I looked like I should be selling oatmeal on TV. Hoyt Axton was a pretty good songwriter though.

[@lonewave1]

@@stephenhardypalmer9849 Nothing but a compliment and yes Hoyt Axton was a good writer in the story genre. Keep up the good work.

[@stephenhardypalmermusic3325]

12 string guitars always sounds a little 'jangly'. That's part of their charm!

[@gibby7233]

why cant you do one at a time, i cant follow you

[@spiderfan1974]

How to tune a 12 string you don't you get it close enough it's always out of tune. We 12 stringers know this that being said there will always be a 12 string in my arsenal.

[@scottspencer8358]

Always heard ,with a 12 string guitar...you spend 50% of the time tuning the guitar and the other 50% of the time playing out of tune....and a lot of the time this is true.