The guitar is a wonderful instrument and a great pastime for people who love to play songs. A person who has a guitar can say that he has everything: a voice, an ear, talent, friends, and an audience. In fact, playing such an instrument is quite difficult, since not everyone has the development of fingers and the desire to learn. Although there are still people who are inclined to music, and chose not a piano and violin, but a guitar as accompaniment.
Before you start playing and learning the guitar, there is one thing you should first do that is intrinsic to the instrument. It's worth figuring out how to set it up! Yes, you heard right, there are not 6 strings, as you are used to seeing, but twice as many. This means that playing a 12-string guitar is several times more difficult. But believe me, it's worth starting!
What is the main difference?
Before you start tuning your guitar, let's tell you a little about how important sound is. In fact, it is the sound that makes up the further impression of the audience on the musician. How the player delivers the sound, at what tempo and volume determines the audience’s desire to listen to the piece to the end or to interrupt it at the very first measure. It should be remembered that playing a 12-string guitar is almost the same as playing a 6-string. True, you will have to strain a little, because the sound should be cleaner and thinner. Now let's move on to how to tune a 12-string guitar.
Setting nuances
The strings are defined in pairs, so we will call them batches. First batch of strings. Every self-respecting musician should have a tuning fork at home, which is used to begin tuning a guitar and any other instrument. So, the first set of strings should sound like a pure “E” note. The first string should sound in unison with the second and vice versa. Tighten or loosen the strings. The tighter they are, the higher the sound will become. Accordingly, the weaker, the lower. If two strings sound exactly the same, it means you did everything right and can move on to the next steps.
Second batch. These two strings together should sound like a B note. You can easily use the first batch to help you set up. Gently press the second pair, which is on the fifth fret, with your finger, and if it sounds the same, in unison, then the job is done - the sound is the same.
Third party. These two “neighbors” should sound like the note “sol”, which is well known to all musicians. But here the situation is a little more complicated than with the first two games. To begin with, it is important to tune the first string by first holding it only at the fifth fret, and then play it with the second string. One of them must be fitter than the second. It is in this case that the two “girlfriends” will sound in unison.
Fourth batch of strings. Everything is easy here, since the two strings should sound like the note “D”. Since you already learned how to tune the previous game, you won’t have any problems with this one. Everything is done in exactly the same way - through the fifth fret by clamping each of the strings, and then two at the same time.
Fifth batch of strings. Everything is the same as the previous steps. The setup will be similar. These two strings sound ideally like the note “A”. Everything is exactly the same, according to the diagram written above, through the fifth fret - clamping the first string, then the second, and then all together.
And finally, the sixth set of strings. They sound like the note "E". The actions will be similar to the previous ones. So just stick to the skills you've gained from tuning all five strings.
Easier setup option
To make it easier for you to understand, look at tuning a 12-string guitar online. It's much easier than reading printed letters. Many homemade videos are made on this subject by ordinary people who help beginners understand how to properly handle the guitar. It is precisely tuning a 12-string guitar online that has now become a popular way to even learn to play if you don’t know the notes.
- It is recommended to tune your guitar a semitone lower. This way the tool itself is not subject to deformation. This happens due to the fact that the volume of the strings is quite large - there are as many as 12 of them, and the tension is strong. In order not to spoil the instrument or break it, it is better for it to sound slightly lower in tones.
- Follow a certain order when tuning the strings, do not start everything chaotically. The sixth string generally tends to strain more than all the others. Therefore, take it up at the very last moment.
- If you have nylon strings and just put them on your guitar, then first tune the sixth string, as nylon has a special property of stretching. After some time, the string itself will stretch, and then tighten it until it sounds perfect.
- Be sure to adjust the strings if they have moved, do not try to play if you see that everything is not in order with the tuning. It’s better to stop and straighten the strings than to play the melody to the end and break them.
- Tuning a 12-string guitar can also be done through a tuner, if you have one, of course. It's much simpler and more convenient. And if you have an electronic tuner, then it’s even doubly more comfortable. This kind of tuning of a 12-string guitar using a tuner allows you to refine the sound, highlight its brightness and unusualness.
- Tuning a guitar by ear without the help of a tuning fork or tuner is a bad example for a beginner and not entirely the wrong way out of the situation. This way you can simply ruin the instrument. Here you need to have an amazing ear for the notes to be sharp, which is rarely the case among beginners.
- Be attentive to the neck - this is the “spine” of your instrument. Remember that you need to hold the bar carefully and not take it with aggression, even if something doesn’t work out.
We hope that all these tips and rules for tuning a guitar have been very helpful to you. But don’t forget to watch the training video so that all the above points are clear both in writing and in speech. You need a clear example of what you should achieve.
Technically, a 12-string guitar is not much different from the usual six-string classic. Musicians use it to perform acoustic compositions. But many guitarists, after mastering the standard guitar, learn to play a 12-string guitar. Performing it is very difficult, but exciting.
In the 60s of the 20th century, many musicians began to experiment with sound. Legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix was the first to overdrive the amplifier output of his electric guitar. Thus, the well-known distortion appeared. Rock 'n' roll artist Buddy Holly was the first to use overdubbing when recording songs.
Then the first guitar with 12 strings appeared. At first, musician Joe Pass performed his solos on the 12-string guitar, thereby popularizing it. In Russia, Yuri Shevchuk from the DDT group first started using this instrument.
When playing the guitar, great precision is required when pressing the strings. At first, your hands will get very tired. Despite the fact that the sound is somewhat quieter than that of a six-string guitar, it is melodic and spacious. Guitarists perform solo parts and accompany themselves when performing songs.
A twelve-string guitar is an instrument consisting of six paired strings. Learning to play it is more difficult due to the pairing of strings. To clamp them and extract a clear and soft sound, you need to make a lot of effort. The neck is wide and thick, which also needs to be held correctly. The quality of the game depends on this.
The strings are spaced far apart, so the guitarist must be able to stretch the wrist, especially with barre chords. At first your fingers don’t obey you, it’s difficult to pinch two strings at a time. But with patience and experience, you'll appreciate the big, vibrant sound.
Useful information before setting up
Try to tune the 12-string using a tuner or special programs. At first, a beginner may get confused and tune the fragile instrument incorrectly, which can lead to damage to the guitar.
Attention! If you decide to change the strings to new ones, do not remove all the strings at once. When the usual load on the neck abruptly ceases, the guitar may deteriorate: the neck may tilt or the soundboard itself may be damaged.
First you need to tighten the first and sixth strings, and then all the others. The sixth string should be the last one to tune. It has the greatest tension. To start, tune it down a tone. After stretching, bring it to the desired note.
The peculiarity of the neck is that it can withstand the tension of all the strings. But be extremely careful when tightening additional ones, as the load on the tool doubles. With correct and unhurried actions, you will avoid unpleasant rattling.
Some musicians tune the instrument specifically below standard tuning by placing a capo on the first fret. Thanks to this, the guitar can last much longer.
The structure of a 12-string guitar and the difference from a 6-string
Tuning the main strings is no different from the tuning of a six-string guitar. The problem may arise with additional strings. You will need special equipment or perfect ear for music. The first two pairs should sound in unison, the rest are lined up so that one of the strings is an octave lower than the other. Therefore, when playing such an instrument, it seems as if several guitars are playing.
Algorithm of actions when setting up
A twelve-string guitar is tuned in the same way as a six-string guitar. Except for some nuances.
The setup algorithm is quite simple:
- Change strings if necessary. Carefully remove the old ones one by one and put on the new ones. Try not to overextend the bar.
- Pull the first string immediately so that the note “E” of the first octave sounds. Do this using a tuner, a tuning fork, or your own hearing.
- Now tune the sixth string, the main string, to the note “E”.
- Then set the standard tuning for everyone else.
- Proceed with additional strings. The first two should be in unison with the main ones, and the rest should be an octave lower.
- Let the guitar stand for a while - during this time the strings will stretch.
- Check the tuning, starting with the main strings. Tighten where necessary.
With proper and careful tuning, the instrument and strings will last a very long time.
Playing technique
After setting up the instrument, you can start playing the game itself. To understand the guitar, learn to play melodies on open chords. In this case, you will already be halfway to your goal. The technique is almost no different from playing a six-string guitar.
Features and difficulties of search
When playing a 12-string guitar, the left hand gets very tired, because the shape of the neck is unusual and the distance between the strings is large. In particular, the use of the barre causes inconvenience for a beginner, but otherwise the playing technique is no different from a regular instrument.
Picking is one of the ways to play the guitar. Unlike guitar strumming, when picking, the strings are plucked and sound separately. This method of sound production is ideal for acoustic romances, folk songs and beautiful ballads. When playing a 12-string guitar, plucking occurs by gripping paired strings, which takes some getting used to.
There are many types of searches, each of which depends on the composition and its duration. Along with an original and unusual song, you need to learn not only the chords and notes, but also the method of extraction. There are also standard types of reception. They are used in a large number of songs.
The simplest types of search are “six” and “four”. They are performed with a small number of strings or pairs of strings in the case of a 12-string. The standard “four” involves bass and three lower ones. First, use your thumb to pluck one of the bass notes, then the third, second, and first in turn. The principles of other types of fingerpicking involve changing the sequence of the lower strings. So, for example, in one case, after the bass, you should pluck the third, then the first, and then the second. Another sequence is third-second-third.
The "six" principle is similar to the previous one, but two more notes are involved in the game. After the bass, alternate sounds of the third, second, first, second, third pair. There are also slightly more complex techniques: figure eight and waltz moves.
Fighting method
Guitar strumming is a simple and common method of playing any guitar. It consists of successive strokes of the right hand on the strings up or down. On a 12-string guitar, the musician grabs all the strings of the instrument to produce an unusual and spacious sound.
There are as many types of guitar strumming as there are rhythmic patterns. The main methods are six, eight, four, criminal stroke, waltz fight. Often, with this method of sound production, the guitarist muffles the strings with the edge of his palm to achieve a clear and complete sound. From a technical point of view, muting adds emphasis and helps the musician navigate the rhythmic pattern.
Plucking a 12-string guitar
Plucking on a twelve-string guitar occurs when multiple pairs of lower strings are plucked simultaneously.
The sliver alternates with a pair of bass notes. Three or sometimes four fingers simultaneously pluck the strings. Using this technique, waltz melodies are played. This method is widespread among the performance of yard songs, but few people know how to correctly produce sound. The pinches are fast and precise. The rhythm of the game should not be disrupted.
Playing with a pick
Picking is a fundamental skill that any guitarist should master. The sound of the instrument becomes rich, bright, loud. In the case of a 12-string guitar, its sound becomes even more powerful than when played with fingers and a hand.
The mediator is a plastic plate. The guitarist holds it between the fingers of his right hand and hits the strings with it. With the help of a mediator, they play combat and busting. Instead of three or four fingers, a single plectrum is used, so the player needs to develop speed and coordination. This method requires correct hand placement to produce clear and even sounds.
Playing melodies with a pick is technically different from playing with a brush or fingers. The movement should be carried out not from the shoulder, but from the hand, using a small amplitude.
Classes should be held every day. They promote finger development and increase the ability to play in sync. They also develop a sense of rhythm and an ear for music.
Exercise “1-2-3-4”
The name of the exercise speaks for itself. It involves extracting sounds from one pair of strings on four frets. Hold the first two strings on the first fret with your index finger and pluck the string. Place your middle finger on the second fret and make a sound. Then raise your little finger on the fourth fret to the top position. Practice up to the 12th fret, then in reverse order. Notes should sound clear and loud.
Exercise “1-3-2-4”
This exercise is a slightly modified version of the previous one. The difference is that the strings sound first on the first fret, then on the third, second and fourth. Try playing this exercise on all strings, alternately plucking the next pair of strings. If you master it, your coordination of movements improves by an order of magnitude.
Exercise “1-4-3-2”
In this exercise, the sequence of notes is reversed. First you play the first fret, then the fourth, third and second. Move up the other pairs of strings again, honing your coordination and clear sound production.
On a note! To develop finger speed and flexibility, learn scales and exercises for the right and left hands alternately.
You can use these exercises as well as similar lesson modifications. Try playing in a sequence that you come up with yourself. Lessons on playing this unusual instrument can be found on the Internet, as well as in tutorials and interactive classes.
The ability to listen to a melody is one of the important points when learning. Before playing a composition, get a feel for the song, its pitch, timbre and volume. To achieve an even and clear sound, try to put both hands in the correct position, otherwise your hands will get tired and the notes will be muffled.
It is important to understand that playing the guitar is not a job. If you are not in the mood or desire to exercise, then don’t do it. Don't force yourself to learn exercises or scales because this will only lead to frustration. The desire to play may disappear completely. Try to practice playing the guitar in a good mood and with high spirits.
Play all exercises slowly. The speed of the game will come to you with experience. What's different about playing a 12-string guitar is that it takes a little more effort to get clear sounds. Therefore, be patient and strive to improve your playing technique every day.
To many beginners, the twelve-string guitar seems like a strange and exotic instrument. It’s not clear how to play it, because on six strings you barely have time to play chords, but here you need to manage to keep track of twelve. How to tune a twelve-string guitar is also not clear. In fact, everything is not so scary and confusing. In general design, tuning and sound, it is not much different from the six-string we are used to. But one thing is definitely clear: it is much harder to play on it than on six strings, so this type of guitar is usually chosen by experienced guitarists rather than beginners.
The roots of the twelve-string guitar
To this day it has not been possible to unambiguously determine the direct ancestor of the twelve-string guitar. Possible relatives include such instruments as the bouzouki (Greece), the mandolin (Italy), the vijuela (Spain) and the Arabic oud. Despite the fact that these instruments also had double strings, the overall design and appearance differed significantly from a twelve-string guitar.
The twelve-string came out to the masses at the beginning of the twentieth century. It was then that the American factories Regal and Oscar Schmidt decided to reconsider the concept of the guitar and return it to its former elitism. Even then, manufacturers understood that their target audience were serious, experienced musicians who were willing to endure some of the difficulties and inconveniences of the instrument for the sake of a rich, melodic sound.
The main “catalyst” for the popularity of the twelve-string guitar was the American fascination with folklore in the 60s. More and more interesting and virtuoso musicians appeared on big stages, who preferred the twelve-string guitar. In addition, the then world famous jazz musician Joe Pass changed his six-string guitar to a twelve-string one. If we take twelve-string electric guitars into account, it is worth noting that this musician was used by The Beatles and The Byrds in their studio recordings.
At the border of the 60s and 70s, the 12-string guitar began to give the musician the status of a connoisseur and virtuoso. Every self-respecting guitarist should have such an instrument in his collection. Stevie Ray, Eric Clapton, and Roy Orbison picked up the twelve-string. Parts on this guitar appeared in recordings by Led Zeppelin, Queen and Eagles. Among the domestic musicians who have chosen the twelve-string guitar are Alexander Gradsky, Maxim Dunaevsky, Yuri Shevchuk and Alexander Rosenbaum.
The structure of a twelve-string guitar
Musicians who are already looking for a twelve-string guitar may have noticed that the average price of a twelve-string guitar is higher than six-string guitars (prices start at $200). The reason for the difference in price is the increased quality and strength of the case. Naturally, the tension of twelve strings is stronger than six. Therefore, a standard neck would begin to deform. The neck of a twelve-string is wider, and the body is wider. To avoid such problems, it is highly recommended not to save money.
There is a trick that will allow you to painlessly reduce the tension of the strings and, thereby, extend the life of the guitar. Lower the tuning by a semitone and place the capo on the first fret.
How to tune a twelve-string guitar
Every guitarist who picks up such an unusual, strange and difficult-to-learn instrument for the first time, has a reasonable question: how to tune a twelve-string guitar?
We hasten to reassure you - you should not have any special difficulties.
The general process for tuning a 12 string guitar is very similar to tuning a six string guitar.
We are dealing with six pairs of double strings, which are divided into two types: octave and regular. Regular strings are tuned on a twelve-string guitar in exactly the same way as on a six-string instrument. The first two additional strings are tuned in unison with the main ones, and the remaining ones are tuned an octave higher. It is best to tune a twelve-string (as well as any other guitar) using
- a unique and quite common musical instrument in our time, which gained its popularity due to the originality of its sound. When playing it, you will hear a deeper and richer sound, unlike its relatives - the acoustic and classical guitar. It creates the feeling of several guitars playing simultaneously. Although it is usually used for accompaniment, it can amaze listeners when played solo. The result is achieved thanks to additional strings.
There is no ideal number of strings on a guitar to achieve the ideal sound. It's a matter of everyone's taste, and many musicians simply disagree. Most guitarists will relentlessly insist that this is the best sounding guitar.
And therefore, many who want to master this instrument ask the question: “What strings are suitable for a 12-string guitar?” and “What strings should I choose for a 12-string guitar?” Let's try to figure this out.
About the features of selection and purchase
The instrument differs from its relatives in that at a distance of 4 mm from each string there are additional steel wires. They come in pairs, each main one has its own additional one.
It is interesting that in the classification of instruments this does not belong to instruments with twelve strings, but to those with paired strings.
The string thickness of a 12-string guitar is much thinner than that of a regular guitar. Due to their large number, the neck of the guitar is wider than its classical counterpart. The strength of the instrument's structure is very important, since the tension of 12 thin elements is enormous, which is why the guitar has such a hefty price.
A good model must have an anchor bolt in the neck. It takes on the wear and tear on the bar due to tension. The tonal range is usually 3 octaves. They lie over a strip of plastic or wood, which is called a “saddle,” and are then separated into the holes using pins.
The strings for a 12-string guitar are threaded into pegs, located 6 on each side of the head. Tuning is done using a movement relative to the peg string. The nut performs the function of holding the elements between the fingerboard and the head. It is made of plastic. It represents one of the most important aspects in the arrangement - their height and the feasibility of its regulation. If it is too large, pressing will be difficult. At a fairly low altitude, the game becomes easier, but the sound acquires noticeable noise.
Which strings to choose for a 12-string guitar and not make a mistake when buying?
When you purchase an instrument in a store, you also purchase strings that come with it. They are called tuning and are needed so that buyers can test the tool. Any guitar equipped with standard models sounds bulky and dull. Keep this in mind when you buy it. The type of this element greatly affects the sound, along with the quality of the instrument.
If you think that your model is bad, and you are already planning to buy a new one, then maybe the problem is simply bad, low-quality strings? There's nothing to lose when trying out the sound of a new kit. If your instrument still doesn’t play, you can save them for purchasing another guitar. Because of this, you will have to buy a new and quite expensive set, which has twice as many strings as a regular one.
Many musicians have been looking for their configuration for many years, which they like according to all criteria. To do this, they take strings, not only comparing the gauge, but also choosing them through combinations with strings from other manufacturers. In practice, this is done in this way: when playing accompaniment, thicker models are used. They give a loud and rich sound.
If you have to play fast and solo, you will need small gauge strings. Guitars of this kind have their own nuances; they can use universal sets of medium thickness with slight variations. A very useful tool for your guitar is the winder. It is used for winding strings and will help you a lot. You will see how useful it is if the need arises to change strings.
Like a regular acoustic guitar, a 12-string guitar has 6 main strings in the standard tuning of “E” (the first lower one in relation to the neck), “B”, “G”, “D”, “A”, “E” (sixth top). There are 6 more backups, which are located between the main ones. They create a pair that sounds in unison. They still need to be configured correctly. This process is almost identical to the six-string model, but do not forget that the second string in the pair should be an octave higher - like the last 3 bass strings (second in line).
If you lower the tuning by a half step, then nothing terrible will happen to the sound. It can even be helpful in reducing stress on the bar and soundboard. If your instrument has a weak body, then it is better to carry out this procedure.
To tune, you can use any tuner or a special tuning fork for such guitars.
Approach and preparation are the key to setting up!
An instrument such as a twelve-string guitar requires a painstaking approach: selection of a high-quality and durable body, its size, and most importantly, selection of strings and their tuning. They play one of the most important roles in its operation, along with strength. Their quality determines the purity of sound, tonality and modes.
What strings should you use for a 12-string guitar? Try several types, there is no optimal option for their variations, it is up to you, the musician, to decide, but it is worth remembering the quality of the instrument, it is better to try not to skimp, because the result will come back to you in full!
12 string guitar
Here you can tune a 12 string guitar by ear using online tuner.
How to tune a guitar by ear using an online tuner?
With this tuner you can also tune your guitar online, without a microphone or any other hassle.
This tuner is quite simple. With its help, you can tune the guitar only in standard tuning eEaAdDgGBBEE for 12-string guitar.
How to operate the tuner:
You can use this tuner to tune a 12-string guitar.
This tuner has 12 buttons. Each button individually corresponds to one of the open strings of a 12-string guitar, tuned in standard tuning. eEaAdDgGBBEE. Lowercase letters mean that the sound of the string is one octave higher than that of its pair.
You will not be able to do lower tuning and alternative tuning using this tuner.
To start playing the desired note, click on it at the bottom of the tuner.
To stop playing a note, there is a button on the left - Stop Sound.
Setting procedure:
The tuning of a 12-string guitar is almost no different from the standard acoustic guitar tuning. The only difference is that a 12-string guitar has 6 pairs of strings of 2 types: 6 regular and 6 octave strings. The thinner the string, the more its sound is one octave higher than that of its pair.
The main strings of a 12 string guitar are tuned to standard tuning.
The 1st additional string (i.e. string No. 1) is tuned in unison with the main one (string No. 2)
The 2nd additional string (i.e. string No. 3) is also tuned in unison with the main one (string No. 4)
The remaining additional strings (strings No. 5, 7, 9, 11) are tuned to the same notes as the main strings (strings No. 6, 8, 10, 12), but an octave higher.
So, we got the following setup scheme:
1st string – E (MI first octave)
2nd string – E (MI first octave)
3rd string - H (SI small octave)
4th string - H (SI small octave)
5th string - G (small octave G)
6th string - G (1st octave G)
7th string - D (PE small octave)
8th string - D (D first octave)
9th string - A (A major octave)
10th string - A (L small octave)
11th string - E (major octave MI)
12th string - E (MI small octave)
Features of tuning a twelve-string guitar:
Tune the sixth string last and very carefully, as this string has the highest tension.
If you have new or nylon strings, it is better to tune the sixth string a tone lower, and after it stretches, you will need to reach the desired note. If this is not done, there is a high risk that the string will break.
The string tension on a 12-string guitar is very high (due to the large number of strings) and this can have a detrimental effect on an acoustic guitar if it is not of very good quality.
To reduce string tension, alternative tunings are used (which are usually a semitone or a tone lower).
But if you want to tune your guitar using standard 12-string tuning without damaging your instrument, there's a clever trick you can use: tune your acoustic guitar a tone lower and put a capo on the first fret. As a result, the tuning will remain the same, but the tension will decrease.
This will help extend the life of your instrument.
