https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:37:59 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-180062 Tue, 30 May 2006 12:46:58 +0000 I have been through this tuning issue on the 12-string for over 30 years. I started with Pete Seeger and Leadbelly and it became a way of life to battle with not being at concert pitch when playing with others, heavy La Bella strings while trying to prove to yourself that tuning down was relieving tension! I even had a 12-string built for me by Pete Seeger's 12-string maker Bruce Taylor. I battled bravely with the strings 013/4 to 070!! In between all this I played most of my professional gigs in bands and solo with concert tuned 12-string. I discovered that what I was suffreing from was not a practical issue of not strainig my guitars, but a Psychological issue of not upseting my heroes, Kottke Seeger Leadbelly etc. I am now cured (I hope!) as I am tuning all my 12-strings to concert pitch using 009s or 10's. Most 12-strings will tune to concert using xlights. Even My Bruce Taylor guitar agrees as does my Gibson B45-12. Pete Seeger ruined all his guitars with the string tension by his own admission. Leadbelly had no real choice for light strings.... We do!]]> Guitar Players Discussion stringbean https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-180062 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176658 Sat, 13 May 2006 00:23:53 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion TwistedLefty https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176658 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176630 Fri, 12 May 2006 21:59:29 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion art&lutherie https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176630 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176611 Fri, 12 May 2006 20:10:28 +0000
Hey isn't that Stella reissue one with the 12th fret at the body?]]> Guitar Players Discussion DemoEtc https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176611 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176600 Fri, 12 May 2006 18:44:20 +0000 Robbie]]> Guitar Players Discussion Robbie https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176600 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176593 Fri, 12 May 2006 17:36:49 +0000
I tuned it down a half step and played a bit, using a capo. However, I discovered that since I tend to utilize the dots on the edge of the fretboard in my playing, I didn't like using the capo, as it "threw off" their positioning. Thus, I went ahead and tuned it up to standard tuning of EADGBE.

Amistad
'ya gotta love a 12-string! :wink: ']]> Guitar Players Discussion Amistad https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176593 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176571 Fri, 12 May 2006 16:54:12 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion slejhamer https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176571 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176562 Fri, 12 May 2006 16:23:19 +0000
Occasionally I'll borrow my dads acoustic 12, we keep it tuned down a whole step and capoed. The reason being it is about 30 years old, and it's action is rather high, It just gets to aggravating to play when the strings are tuned to standard, theres to much tension. but tuned down it's not that bad, and it sounds awsome for stuff like turn turn turn. :P]]> Guitar Players Discussion afterblast https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176562 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176535 Fri, 12 May 2006 10:26:35 +0000 Any neck work on it might cost more than it's worth, so I want to be kind to it. My electrics get most of the use these days, so maybe I'll back off those strings once again, and let it enjoy "semi-retirement" in its case. I may also switch to extra light strings; 249.6 lbs. tension from a set of Martin MSP4600 vs. 312 lbs. with the Martin M1700's that I have now. :shock:]]> Guitar Players Discussion Doug_C https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176535 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176514 Fri, 12 May 2006 06:41:30 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion Elecktrablue https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/tuning-a-12-string/#post-176514