6 Steps to Tune a 12 String Guitar in the UK and Stop Breaking Strings

Tune a 12 string guitar to standard EADGBE by tuning the low string of each pair to reference pitch, then matching its mate: the low four courses are octave pairs (E2/E3, A2/A3, D3/D4, G3/G4) and the top two are unison pairs (B3/B3, E4/E4). Start with the low E course and work upward, muting one string of each pair while reading a chromatic tuner or app.

Table of Contents

• Step by step sequence to tune each course
• Using electronic tuners, headstock clips and smartphone apps
• Alternate tunings and capo use for tension relief
• Restringing and setup checks that affect tuning stability
• Diagnose and fix common tuning problems
• MusicStreet’s professional setup and when to use it
• A practitioner’s checklist before you play
• MusicStreet’s restring and setup service, and where to find a 12 string
• Sources
• FAQ

Step by step sequence to tune each course

The string order low to high follows a simple mnemonic: Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears, standing for E, A, D, G, B, E. On a 12 string, each of those six notes is actually a pair of strings sitting side by side, called a course. The bottom four courses (E, A, D, G) are tuned an octave apart, with the thin string in each pair sounding a higher note than its thick partner. The top two courses (B and E) are tuned in unison, meaning both strings play the same pitch.

Before touching any pegs, pick a reference pitch. Concert pitch is A440, so if you have a tuner, app or piano handy, start there. Working from a fixed reference stops the whole instrument drifting flat or sharp over a session, which matters more on a 12 string because there is twice the string tension pulling against the neck.

The D’Addario method recommends this order:

1. Tune the low E course to E2 and E3, then the A course to A2 and A3.
2. Move to the D course (D3/D4), then the G course (G3/G4).
3. Tune the B course to matching B3 unisons, then the high E course to matching E4 unisons.
4. Use the fifth fret method on adjacent strings where a tuner reading is uncertain: fret the fifth fret of one string and match it to the open string above.
5. Play a full chord, listen for any pair that sounds slightly out, and fine-tune that course again.
6. Stretch each string gently by pulling it away from the fretboard, then retune the whole set.

Muting is the part most players skip and regret. To isolate one string of a pair while tuning the other, rest your picking-hand thumb across the neighbouring string, slide a finger from your fretting hand between the two strings, or wedge a pick between them near the bridge. Guitar World’s restringing guide points out that muting avoids the doubled-note interference that confuses tuners trying to read two closely pitched strings at once.

Once both strings of a course are close, you will hear a wobbling or pulsing sound called beating. That pulse slows down as the two pitches converge and disappears entirely when they match exactly (or sit a clean octave apart). Keep adjusting the higher string until the beating stops.

Pro Tip: New strings stretch and slip for the first few songs, so tune up, play a verse and chorus, then retune before you trust the pitch for a gig.

Using electronic tuners, headstock clips and smartphone apps

A chromatic tuner reads any note you play and tells you how sharp or flat it is, which makes it the most practical choice for a 12 string’s doubled courses. Strobe tuners give a finer, more visual readout and suit studio or workshop use, while microphone-based apps pick up sound through your phone or laptop and work well in a quiet room.

Whichever tool you use, the routine stays the same: mute one string of the course, set the tuner to chromatic mode with A at 440Hz, pluck the single audible string, and adjust the tuning peg until the display centres. Repeat for the second string of the pair.

• Clip a headstock tuner onto the head itself so it reads string vibration rather than room noise, and still mute the partner string for a clean signal.
• Pedal and studio tuners work the same way as clip-ons but sit inline with your signal chain, which suits electro-acoustic 12 strings plugged into an amp.
• Web and phone-based tuners can read a 12 string accurately, but need a quiet room and the microphone held close to the soundhole.
• Search app stores for “chromatic guitar tuner” or “12 string tuner” rather than a generic single-note tuner, since some basic apps assume six individual strings.
• After tuning by app or clip, strum a full chord and check it against a second reference, such as a piano note or another tuner, to catch any drift.

Alternate tunings and capo use for tension relief

Dropping the whole instrument down a half step, to Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb, is common on 12 strings because it eases the string tension across twelve strings pulling on one neck, which Premier Guitar notes makes fretting noticeably easier while keeping the big, chorused sound.

• For drop D, lower only the low E course (both E2 and E3) down a whole step to D2 and D3, then recheck that the D course pair still rings in a clean octave.
• A capo lowers pitch without retuning: clamp it at the first fret to play in a lower key while keeping standard fingerings, which is a quick fix mid-set rather than a permanent tension change.
• Lowering tuning genuinely reduces the physical load on the neck and top, which is one reason many gigging players default to half-step-down as their everyday tuning.
• Whatever tuning you settle on, retune fully after any change since loosening or tightening one course shifts the balance across the rest of the neck.

Restringing and setup checks that affect tuning stability

Getting the physical setup right matters as much as technique. When restringing, the thick wound string of each course goes on the rear row of bridge pins and the thinner octave string sits on the front row, a detail MusicStreet’s own guide to string names walks through in full. Getting this reversed throws off both intonation and the visual symmetry of the pairs.

At the tuning post, wind neatly with two or three clean wraps and avoid letting the string overlap itself, since a sloppy wrap is one of the most common causes of a string slipping flat within minutes of tuning up.

If a string buzzes, sits unevenly in its slot, or the nut looks worn, that is a job for a nut slot adjustment or saddle filing rather than a DIY fix. Premier Guitar’s setup notes describe this as iterative work: file, restring, tune, check the twelfth-fret harmonic against the fretted note, and repeat until it holds. Filing too far is not reversible, so this is worth leaving to a technician.

Gauge selection changes the tension you are fighting from the start. Lighter, balanced 12-string sets are easier on the neck and reduce the risk of snapping a thin octave string during tuning.

Pro Tip: If you are breaking octave strings repeatedly or a course never settles no matter how carefully you tune it, that is a setup problem, not a technique problem.

Diagnose and fix common tuning problems

Some pulsing between the two strings of a unison pair is normal and part of what gives a 12 string its shimmer. A slow, gentle wobble is character; a fast, obvious warble means the pair is genuinely out of tune and needs adjusting.

• If a string keeps slipping flat, check the winds at the post for loose overlap and confirm the bridge pin is fully seated.
• A sticking nut slot can hang a string sharp then snap it flat when it releases, and a touch of graphite or a bone-safe lubricant in the slot usually fixes it.
• If an octave string breaks, replace it with the same gauge as its mate to keep the pair balanced rather than grabbing whatever is closest in the pack.
• Persistent intonation trouble, where open strings sound fine but fretted notes drift sharp or flat, points to the saddle, not your tuning technique, and needs proper compensation work.

MusicStreet’s professional setup and when to use it

A professional restring and setup covers a full inspection, a fresh set of strings fitted in the correct row order, a full tune to pitch and a final check of intonation and action, the kind of service offered alongside guitar repairs. That level of attention pays off most on vintage instruments, guitars that keep breaking strings, or any 12 string that needs nut or saddle work beyond a simple retune. If you are shopping for a new instrument rather than servicing an old one, the G7Th Newport 12 String 0171, the Tanglewood TW12CE Winterleaf and the Tanglewood TW40-12-SDANE are each worth trying in hand.

A practitioner’s checklist before you play

Three things make the biggest difference before a gig: tune low to high in order, stretch every string and retune once more, then check that the nut slots and bridge pins are seated properly. Beyond that, stick to a conservative gauge and book a proper setup every so often rather than fighting the same slipping string every week.

— Music

MusicStreet’s restring and setup service, and where to find a 12 string

A 12 string holds tune far better once it has had a proper setup rather than a home restring squeezed in between rehearsals, and an in-store service checks the nut, saddle and bridge pins along with the strings themselves.

• Book a restring or setup and the guitar gets a full inspection, fresh strings in the correct row order, and a final tuned check before it goes back to you.
• Browse the Tanglewood TW12CE Winterleaf or the Tanglewood TW40-12-SDANE if you are after a new 12 string to try in hand.
• Head to the in-store restring service page to book a slot or pick up a balanced 12-string set.

Sources

• How to Tune a 12-string Guitar | D’Addario
• 12-string guitar setup secrets | Premier Guitar
• Master 12-string guitar: restringing, tuning & strumming | Guitar World

FAQ

What is the best tuner for a 12-string guitar?

A chromatic tuner is the most practical choice because it reads any note and shows sharp or flat clearly, whether it is a clip-on headstock model or a pedal tuner. Whichever type you use, mute the partner string in each course for an accurate reading.

What is the correct order of strings on a 12-string guitar?

The order low to high is E, A, D, G, B, E, remembered with the mnemonic Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears. The bottom four courses are tuned in octaves and the top two in unison, following D’Addario’s tuning layout.

Is there an app to tune a 12-string guitar?

Yes, microphone-based tuner apps and web tuners can read a 12 string accurately in a quiet room held close to the soundhole. Mute one string of each pair while tuning the other to avoid a confused reading from the doubled note.

How to get 12-string guitar sound?

The characteristic shimmer comes from the octave and unison pairs ringing very slightly apart, so a little natural beating between strings is normal rather than a fault. Keeping the guitar in tune with a fresh, balanced string set and a properly set nut and saddle keeps that chorus effect consistent.