How to Tune a 12-String Guitar
Updated Nov 11, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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A 12-string guitar tunes to E A D G B E, with the lower pairs split into octaves and the top pairs in unison. Tune the main strings, then add each octave string, and check the pairs against each other at the end.
Clip the tuner on and check the notes
Clip the tuner to the headstock and pluck a string so the tuner reads the note. A clip-on tuner reads vibration through the headstock, so room noise does not change the reading. Set the calibration to A440 if the tuner offers a calibration setting.
Start with the main strings
Start with the low E string and work up through A, D, G, B and high E, tuning each string to its note in standard tuning. Turn the tuning peg slowly and pluck the string again after each small turn, so the tuner shows the note settling. When the tuner shows the right note, move to the next string and leave the octave strings for later.
Add the octave strings next
Each of the lower pairs has a thinner octave string beside the main string. Tune that octave string to the same note name an octave above the main string, so the pair rings together. The KLIQ UberTuner-MAX shows which octave you are tuning in, which helps when the strings of a pair sit an octave apart.
Match the top pairs in unison
The B and high E pairs use strings at the same pitch, so tune each string of the pair to the same note. Pluck the strings of the pair together and listen for a steady note; if the sound wavers, adjust the string until it holds steady with the pair. A tuner that reads the pair helps here, since the notes should read the same.
Check each pair again
After all the pairs are tuned, play through the strings from low to high and watch the tuner on each string. Strings settle after tuning, so a string that read in tune a moment ago can drift flat; bring it back to its note and check the pair again. When every pair reads true, the guitar is ready to play.
What you need
KLIQ UberTuner-MAX USB Rechargeable Clip On Guitar
A rechargeable clip-on tuner with a chromatic mode and an octave display, so it shows which octave each string sits in.
- Chromatic mode
- Rechargeable
- Tuner type: Clip On
Snark SIL-RED Silver Snark Chromatic Tuner Red
A chromatic clip-on tuner with a high-resolution display that rotates 360 degrees.
- Chromatic mode
Snark ST-8HPT High Precision Rechargeable Clip-On Tuner
A rechargeable clip-on tuner with a bright screen and pitch calibration at 432 and 442 Hz.
- Rechargeable
- Tuner type: Clip-On
These come from our ranked list Best Tuners, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
What notes do I tune a 12-string guitar to?
Standard tuning, E A D G B E, with the lower pairs in octaves and the top pairs in unison. Tune the main strings, then add the octave strings.
Why does my 12-string guitar keep going out of tune?
New strings stretch and settle after tuning, so check the pairs again after playing for a while. If a string keeps slipping, check that it sits right in the tuning peg and the nut, and ask a repair shop if it will not hold.
Can I use a regular guitar tuner on a 12-string?
Yes, if it reads chromatic notes. The KLIQ UberTuner-MAX adds an octave display, which shows which octave you are tuning in, and the Snark ST-8HPT offers pitch calibration at 432 and 442 Hz.
Ranked guitar tuners lists
More how-to guides
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