How to You Tune a 12 String Guitar?

12 string guitars put out a brilliant full sound as if you’re playing 2 guitars at once. But tuning a 12-string can be a tedious process; there are twice as many strings, so it takes twice as much time, right? Guitar tuners make it easier but you don’t have to rely on a tuner to get your guitar ready to play. This article will show you a few techniques and tricks how to tune your 12-string guitar by ear.

12-string guitars are tuned to the same notes as a 6-string guitar. Those notes, from lowest to highest are E-A-D-G-B-E. The 12-string has a second set of strings tuned to the same notes. The top 4 set of strings, E-A-D-G, will be different gauges, or thicknesses and are tuned an octave apart. The other two sets, B and E and the same gauge and are the same tone. You will tune a set of strings together before moving on to the next set. Let’s go through each set step by step.

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Start with the low E string. For this article we will assume you have no other instrument or tuning devise to get your starting E note and we’ll assume that the string is close enough to and E note. The first step is to tune the higher gauge string, the thin one, to the lower gauge string, the thick one. A great technique you can use to get the strings perfectly tuned to each other is to listen to the oscillation of the sound waves. Two different tones will produce and audible “wah-wah” sound. The shorter the interval between the “wah’s” the farther out of tune your strings are. Turn the tuning key slowly while listening to the wah-wahs. If the wave gets slower, your going the right way. Turn the key until you can no longer hear the oscillation. When you pluck the two strings together and don’t hear the wave, your strings are perfectly tuned to each other.

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Now, move to the next set of strings, which will be tuned to an A note. To get the correct note pluck the sixth string on the 5th fret. Only play the low string to get the note for the low A string. Use the wave technique to make sure these two notes are matched. Once you have the 5th string matched to the 6th string move on to the 5th strings partner. Turn the tuning key until these two strings are perfectly matched.

Tip:  If a string’s tone is too high, always turn the key until the tone is lower than the desired note and then gradually bring the pitch up. This will give you a more accurate tuning.

So far, you should have the top two sets of strings in perfect tune. Continue with this technique for the next set of strings, the D strings until they are tuned to match each other. Repeat the same process with the G strings.

To get the proper note for the B string, instead of placing your finger on the 5th fret, place it on the 4th fret. Tune the top string of this set to the prior strings.  When tuning the B note you’ll notice that the two strings are the same gauge. This is good because it makes it easier to hear the tonal differences. When tuned together you can pluck both strings and they will sound like one string, with no wah-wah sounds.

Repeat the same process for the highest set of strings, the high E, but this time be sure to move back up to the 5th fret, on the second string to get the correct E note. Adjust your tuning keys until both nigh E strings match each other and you’re all set.

There are a couple of things you can do to make sure all the strings are perfectly tuned to each other. Pluck the high gauge 6th string and it should be the exact same tone as the first strings, the high E strings. Another check is to pluck the low gauge 6th string (the thick one) on the 3rd fret and make sure it matches the low gauge open G string. Play a few chords to make sure your guitar sounds in tune. Now, you are ready to play and entertain your friends.

Be a Better Guitar Player

To become a better guitar player and to push your playing up a level or two there are some habits you need to get into. Here are 5 things you can do to become a better guitar player.

Guitar Lessons

If you are happy with what you play, or if you are a natural guitarist who finds learning easy, you may manage without guitar lessons for a while provided you play enough different music and learn from other players. However, lessons are almost essential if you want to play properly and really, really well. A good teacher will help you progress far more quickly than you could on your own. Online guitar lessons are a good start and there are plenty of really good lessons to choose from. If you want to take private lessons, choose a teacher who is an expert in the style of music you would like to play. Your local music store or guitar shop should be able to recommend someone and give you a good idea of the cost of lessons.

Practice

Continue to follow a practice plan and practice every day. Each week try to learn something new or really polish up something you are still learning. Work on technique and playing a song right, not just playing it fast. Set aside a few minutes every time you play to go over anything that you find difficult.

Polish Your Playing

Always try to make your music flow. Pick the strings smoothly so each note sounds loudly and clearly. Practice right-handed techniques until you can play evenly, smoothly and naturally, without thinking about what you are going. After playing each note, keep your left-hand finger in place on a string until you are ready to play the next note. ‘Walk’ your left-hand fingers from one note to the next, so there are no gaps between notes. Try playing with your eyes closed and let your ears tell you whether your fingers are in the right places. This will help you to feel more confident and natural with your guitar and make it easier for you to read music without looking at your fingers all the time.

Read Music

The more you read music the easier it becomes, so practice reading music whenever you can. Look for new music to read. It doesn’t have to be guitar music, anything with a melody on the treble clef will do. Every new tune will help you learn to read more quickly and play better. Choose simple music at first and tunes that are not too long, without too many sharps or flats in the key signature. Look up any notes you may have forgotten.

Learn from Other Guitarists

Listen to guitar music often and listen closely to all types of music and different styles of playing and try to imagine how you would play those songs. Watch videos of other people playing. Many guitarists will post video tutorials on how to play certain songs or a particular guitar solo. You can learn a lot by watching other people play, but be careful not to pick up on someones bad habits. Make sure you always play with proper technique that you’ve learned from earlier lessons.

Follow those steps and always remember to play every day and you’ll become a better an more talented guitar player.

Tune a Guitar by Ear

Each string is tuned by gently turning its tuning peg a little at a time. Turning it one way tightens the string and makes it sound higher, turning the other way slackens the string and makes it sound lower.

1. Tuning the first string. Using a pitch pipe, piano, or E tuning fork, play the high E note. While the note sounds, pluck the first string. If you are not sure whether it is higher or lower, leave it as it is and listen again. First play the note and then the string. If you are still not sure, slacken the string a little. If the string sounds more out of tuned you are going the wrong way and should tighten it instead.
   Continue to adjust your first string a little at a time, until it sounds neither higher or lower than the E note on your tuning device. When that happens, your first string should be in tune.
2. Tuning the second string. Press the 2nd string just behind the 5th fret. Play the 1st string twice, wait a moment and then play the 2nd string. If the 2nd string sounds higher, turn its tuning peg a little to slacken it. If it sounds lower, tighten it a little and compare the strings again. Continue tuning the 2nd string until it sounds the same as the 1st string open.
3. Press the 3rd string behind the fourth fret. Play the 2nd string twice, then play the 3rd string. Keep fingering the 3rd string at the 4th fret, and tune it a little at a time, until it sounds the same as the 2nd string open.
4. Press the 4th string behind the Fifth fret and gently tune it until it sounds the same as the 3rd string open.
5. Press the 5th string behind the fifth fret, and gently tune it until is sounds like the same as the 4th string open.
6. Press the 6th string behind the 5th fret, and gently tune it until is sounds the same as the 5th string open.

After all those steps are complete, your guitar should be in tune. Tuning your guitar by ear does take some practice, but the more you do it, the more you will be able to recognize the correct tuning.

Tuning a Guitar

Tuning is one of the most important things you need to learn. Even simple music sounds good when your guitar is in tune, but if the guitar is out of tune, everything played on it will sound a little off, or pleasant. Be patient when you first learn to tune your guitar, it will become easier after a while.

The easiest way to tune your guitar is by using a digital guitar tuner. These battery operated tuners take out the guess work and ensure that a note is dead on. There are several different types of tuners that you can buy. A standard guitar tuner will have a built in microphone to hear your guitar, and usually an input jack for electric and acoustic electric guitars. The input jack will give a more accurate reading because it will eliminate any background noise that the microphone might pick up.

The more sophisticated tuners will include guitar and bass tuning, a metronome, and settings for alternative tunings such as a drop D tuning, etc.

Peizo tuners or Clip-On Chromatic Guitar Tuners work by clipping onto the headpiece of your guitar and picking up the vibrations of each string. These are inexpensive and very accurate and are great fora a quick tuning that only takes a couple of minutes. Even the nicer digital guitar tuners are very reasonably priced and it is worth the money to purchase one.

Other devices you can use to tune your guitar are pitch pipes, tuning forks or other instruments. A pitch pipe is like a little whistle that has six notes, one for each string of the guitar. These are great to keep in your case for a quick tuning. Just adjust your string to the tone of the pitch pipe. The E tuning fork is something you don’t see around much but will give you the most accurate starting note, the E note. Hold the handle between your right thumb and index finger and strike the prongs against your knee. Then hold the end of the handle on the bridge of the guitar with the prongs in the air and you should hear the note you need. A tuning fork will give you a starting note and the rest of the strings will have to be tuned by ear, one string at a time. See this article, “How to tune your guitar by ear“

Guitar Harmonics

Harmonics, bell-tones, chimes, are high notes used for special effects and as an aid in tuning. They can be played on any string in several different places on the fretboard, but the clearest, most useful harmonics are those found directly over the 12th, 7th and 5th frets.

The easiest harmonics to play are over the 12th fret. To play harmonics do the following:

Rest the 2nd finger on your left hand lightly on any string directly over the 12th fret. The finger should touch the string but not press on it.

Pluck the string firmly, when remove the left-hand finger. You should hear a long, clear bell-like note.

It may take a little practice and at first you may only hear a muted tone. But keep at it. You have to get the timing just right; releasing the left hand as you pluck the string.

Practice playing harmonics on all the strings at the 12th fret. When you can make clear, bell-like notes there, try playing the harmonics over the 7th and 5th frets in the same way. These are not as strong, but you should be able to play them with a little practice.

Parts of some melodies can be played with the harmonics over the 12th, 7th and 5th frets mixed together, or over just one of the freets at a time. Try a familiar song that you know by heart with the harmonics over the 12the fret by playing the strings in this order:

Play these strings on the 12th fret:
4 3 3 2 3 4,
4 3 3 2 3

Harmonic chords can be played by lightly resting the 1st finger across several of the strings like a bar chord. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd string harmonics make and Em Chord over the 12th and 5th frets and a Bm Chord over the 7th fret.

The 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th strin harmonics make a G6 Chord over the 12th and 5th frets and a D6 Chord over the 7th fret.

These chords can be used to finish tunes. Try a G6 over the 12th fret, a D6 over the 7th ffret, then a G6 over the 5th fret to end a song in G.

Experiment with harmonics on these frets with all the strings and you’ll find a lot of different ways you can use them. Harmonics really add a lot of richness to a song and a wonderful ending to a tune.

Memorize all the Notes of the Guitar Fretboard

Memorizing the fretboard on your guitar is a big task, but as long as you realize it’s going take some time and you’ll need a practice routine and lot’s of dedication. Here is a four step action plan that you can use to get a jump start on memorizing the notes of the guitar fretboard.

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Step 1: The 21 day Note Workout

Studies have shown that if you want something to be come a habit, do it everyday for 21 days, so for 21 days take out pencil and a sheet of guitar fretboard diagram paper write out all of the natural notes of the finger board 3 times. One the first one, leave it as natural notes. One the second diagram write in all the sharps and on the 3rd one, write down all the flats. Physically writing down the notes will do wonders so, stay committed and you will see great results

Step 2:  Octave Pattern Geometry

On another piece of guitar fretboard diagram paper and write out all the octaves of at least 5 different notes. Then take out your guitar and memorize those octave shapes. Use a metronome to really drill in those notes. Afterward, make a study of every other note on the neck in the exact same way. For example, if the first note you choose is “G”, then write down the location of all the “G” notes on your fretboard diagram. Then play all those notes one at a time along with a metronome. This will really help you memorize where every G note is located. Do the same with every all other notes.

Step 3: Timed Fingerboard Note Scans

Pick a note and play that note using a metronome. Taking the G note again, play every single possible G note between the 1st position to the 12th position playing only one note per string. Repeat it over and over until it’s flawless. Do this with every note in the octave. It’s very important to do this with a metronome to help you dial in your accuracy. When you get better, you can speed it up.

Step 4:  Study and Master Music Reading

The last step involves a daily routine and commitment to learning how to read music notation across the entire guitar neck. Not tab, but notes. This may involve some guitar instruction such as private tutors or lessons or a few good books or online programs. If you choose to do this on your own we highly recommend an online course called Guitar Notes Master. Learning to read music and truly memorize the notes on the guitar neck will take time and commitment but will be a great achievement and accomplishment in the long run, pushing you from guitar player to true musician. Learning to read music will give you the ability to memorize and understand all the notes and all the rhythmic concepts as well.

So that is a four step process that you can use to learn all the notes of the guitar fretboard. It does require a good deal of memorization so stay committed. Here are some recommended books for learning notes of the fretboard and for learning to read music notation.