12-String Guitar Guide: How It Works, How It's Tuned, and Whether You Should Get One

What a 12-String Guitar Is

A 12-string guitar has six pairs of strings instead of six single strings. Each pair is called a course, and you fret and strum both strings of a course together as if they were one. The chord shapes are the same ones you play on a six-string, so there is no new fingering system to learn.

The sound is what people buy it for. Because each course contains two strings that are either an octave apart or tuned in unison, every chord gets a natural chorus, a shimmer that a six-string cannot produce on its own. It is the sound of a lot of classic folk rock and many famous recorded intros.

How the Pairs Are Tuned

In standard tuning the six courses still follow E, A, D, G, B, E from low to high. What changes is the second string in each course.

On the four lower courses, E, A, D and G, the extra string is tuned an octave higher than its partner. It is a thinner string placed next to the main one. On the two highest courses, B and high E, the two strings are tuned to the same note, in unison. If they were an octave higher, the high E string would have to be impossibly thin and tight.

On most 12-strings the thinner octave string of each pair sits on the side hit first when you strum downward. That is why a downstroke brings out the sparkle so clearly.

• Low E course: E plus a higher octave E
• A course: A plus a higher octave A
• D course: D plus a higher octave D
• G course: G plus a higher octave G, the thinnest and most fragile string on the guitar
• B course: two B strings in unison
• High E course: two E strings in unison

Tension, Tuning Down and Neck Care

Twelve strings put noticeably more total tension on the neck and top than six. Manufacturers build 12-strings with that in mind, but it is still the reason you will hear about players tuning down.

Some players keep their 12-string tuned a half step or a whole step below standard and use a capo when they need standard pitch. It reduces the load on the guitar and makes the neck easier to play. Whether you need to do this depends on the guitar, the string gauge and the climate, so check the manufacturer's advice for your instrument. If you tune down, our capo guide explains how to get back to the right key.

The high octave G string is the one that breaks most often. It is tuned very high for its size, so bring it up to pitch slowly and keep a spare.

What Playing One Feels Like

The neck is wider than a six-string to fit twelve strings, and you are pressing two strings per course. Barre chords in particular take more strength, and the thin octave strings sit close to their partners, so clean fretting takes some adjustment.

Strumming open chords is where a 12-string feels rewarding right away. Fast single-note lead lines are harder, because you have to pick both strings of a course cleanly. Many players use the 12-string mainly for rhythm and arpeggiated parts and switch to a six-string for leads.

Setup matters more than usual. A 12-string with high action is genuinely unpleasant to play, while a well set up one feels far more manageable. Our action adjustment guide covers what good action looks like.

Tuning a 12-String Without Losing Patience

Tuning takes twice as long, and the pairs have to agree with each other precisely or the chorus turns into an out-of-tune wobble. Tune the main string of each course first with a tuner, then tune its partner.

For the octave strings, a tuner reads the note name correctly. For the unison pairs, play both strings together and listen for a slow beating or wavering sound. Adjust the second string until the beating slows and disappears. That audible beating is the most accurate guide you have. Our guitar tuner handles each string individually.

Should You Get One

A 12-string is a great second guitar. It adds a sound that nothing else in a small collection provides, and it makes simple chord progressions sound full, which is valuable for singer-songwriters and for recording.

It is usually not the best first guitar. The extra tension, wider neck and longer tuning time can make the early learning stage harder than it needs to be. If you are just starting out, a good six-string will teach you faster, and our guide on what to look for in an acoustic guitar is a better starting point.

If you already play and love strummed open chords, try one in a shop. Most players know within a few chords whether the sound is worth the extra effort to them.