The double ranks of strings of the 12-string guitar produce a shimmering effect, because even the strings tuned in unison can never vibrate with precise simultaneity-that is, they vibrate out of phase. However, the acoustic type is more common. Twelve-string guitars are made in both acoustic and electric forms. The fretting scale is generally shorter to reduce the overall string tension.The body is also reinforced, and built with a stronger structure, to withstand the higher tension.The added tension of the six additional strings necessitates stronger reinforcement of the neck.The headstock is elongated to accommodate 12 tuning machines.Structurally, 12-string guitars, especially those built before 1970, differ from six-string guitars in the following ways: The 12-string guitar can be played like a 6-string guitar as players still use the same notes, chords and guitar techniques like a standard 6-string guitar, but advanced techniques might be tough as players need to play or pluck two strings simultaneously. The sound, particularly on acoustic instruments, is fuller and more harmonically resonant than six-string instruments. The neck is wider, to accommodate the extra strings, and is similar to the width of a classical guitar neck. The gap between the strings within each dual-string course is narrow, and the strings of each course are fretted and plucked as a single unit. Typically, the strings of the lower four courses are tuned in octaves, with those of the upper two courses tuned in unison. The Hal Leonard Guitar Method is a great learning resource for those who are learning to play the guitar.An acoustic 12-string guitar hand-crafted in 1977Ī twelve-string guitar (or 12-string guitar) is a steel-string guitar with 12 strings in six courses, which produces a thicker, more ringing tone than a standard six-string guitar.

Now that you have your guitar tuned, you can get to playing it. See more tips at the Guitar Tuning Tips page. So make sure you keep on checking and tuning the strings until all are in tune, so make several passes. This causes the other strings to slightly change in pitch. This is because you are increasing or decreasing the tension on each of the strings as you tune it and the instrument's body might bend ever so slightly due to this difference in tension. For example you might have noticed that if you have tuned all the strings once, and then back to the first one you tuned, it might be off a little bit. Tip: Make several passes tuning each of the strings. Also, be careful on how high you set the notes, because I have included notes on the tuner that would probably snap average guitar strings. It tells you what string it is on each button. The thickest string on the guitar is the 6th string, and the thinnest is the 1st string. Then click on the buttons one at a time and then tune your corresponding guitar string to the note. Once you have set up the notes and have the correct tuning. If you don't find the tuning your looking for then you have to adjust the notes manually. If you want a different tuning then try some of the presets on the right side of the guitar tuner. If you want to tune it in standard form then you don't have to change any of the notes above, because it is initially set to EADGBE. The standard tuning for 6 string guitars is EADGBE. Instructions: To tune your guitar, first you need to know what tuning you want the guitar to be in. If it still does not work, please try our older Online Guitar Tuner that runs on Adobe Flash. If there is no sound or the tuner above does not work, try updating your web browser to the latest version.

Free guitar tuner