The Tuning Differences of 12 Strings Vs. 6 Strings
Tuning a guitar is one of the most important things a player needs to learn how to do. If the guitar is not in tune, songs you are playing will likely not have a good sound. Most people play a six-string guitar, but 12-string guitars are fairly common, as well. The extra strings provide for a more lush and fuller tone. Twelve-string guitars have twice as many strings to tune as a six-string guitar, and both instruments follow a similar tuning method.
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Six-String Tuning
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Most guitarists tune their instruments using what is referred to as "standard tuning." The strings from low to high are tuned to the notes E, A, D, G, B and E. There are two E strings, one low and one high, and they sound two octaves apart. It is often easier to tune a six-string guitar because there are fewer strings. You can also utilize guitar tricks like slurs and bends on a six-string guitar more easily. You should tune every time before you play. You can use a tuner or tune by ear. Tuning by ear is also known as tuning the guitar to itself. To tune the guitar by ear, place a finger on the fifth fret of the E string; play this fretted string followed by the open A string. They should sound the same. Follow this pattern across all the strings, but you need to hold down the fourth fret of the G string. You can also use harmonics at the fifth and seventh frets; the harmonic at the fifth fret of the E string should sound the same as the seventh-fret harmonic of the A string, and so on.
Twelve-String Tuning
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You can tune a 12-string guitar much like you would a six-string guitar, but the 12-string guitar has six groups of two strings each. The standard tuning for a twelve-string guitar follows the order eE, aA, dD, gG, BB and EE. The lowercase letters refer to notes that are an octave above the uppercase letters; for example, the first "a" string is an octave higher than the second "A" string. The four treble strings, the Bs and Es, are tuned in unison. As with the six-string guitar, you can use an electronic tuner or tune by ear.
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Alternate Tunings
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Other than standard tuning, there are other ways to tune your guitar for a different sound. One popular alternate tuning is D, A, D, G, A and D. You can also tune the guitar down a half step or whole step; this method is popular for heavy music like metal and punk. Another style of alternate tuning is called open tuning; you tune the open strings to play a chord. For example, the tuning, D, A, D, F-sharp, A and D is an open D chord. Drop-D tuning is also popular for hard rock songs; to play in drop-D tuning, use standard tuning and drop the low-E string to a D. Twelve-string guitars can be tuned to these alternate tunings; keep in mind the groups of four low strings will have one string an octave higher than its neighbor string, and the two groups of treble strings will be in unison.
Considerations
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Twelve-string guitars are used because they have a rich and full sound. Twelve-string guitars are used often while strumming chords; playing lead and using techniques like bends and slurs are very difficult on the 12-string guitar. Beginners should start with a six-string guitar because it is easier on their fingers and they can learn those popular guitar techniques. Twelve-string guitars are also typically more expensive and need to be replaced more often because of the extra tension placed on the neck from all the strings. You should keep your guitar in tune, but avoid drastically changing the tuning often; if you go from standard tunings to open tunings to other alternate tunings too often, you can break the strings.
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References
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