Tuning Your 12 String Guitar: Exploring Beyond Standard Octaves

The allure of a 12 string guitar is undeniable. Its rich, shimmering sound, a product of its doubled strings, adds a unique texture to any musical piece. Typically, these doubled courses are tuned in octaves, creating that signature full and vibrant tone. But what if you ventured beyond the standard octave tuning? Can you tune a 12 string guitar in other ways, and what would be the result? Let’s explore the fascinating world of 12 string guitar tuning and delve into some unconventional approaches.

For players familiar with standard six-string guitars, the good news is that many alternate tunings you already know and love can be readily applied to a 12 string. Open tunings like Open G and Open D, or modal tunings such as DADGAD and CGDCGD, translate beautifully to the expanded sonic landscape of a twelve string guitar. These tunings can particularly enhance fingerpicking styles, creating even more resonant and complex textures compared to a six-string.

However, the question of alternate tunings for a 12 string often leads to curiosity about altering the octave pairings themselves. Instead of each pair being an octave apart (or unison for the higher strings), what if we tuned them to different intervals? This opens up intriguing possibilities, but also introduces significant complexities.

Let’s consider an example: tuning some of the octave strings in fifths instead of octaves. Imagine tuning the octave strings of the low E, A, D, and G strings a fifth higher than their counterparts. Using standard notation, from high to low, your tuning would look like this:

1. E
2. E (same as string #1)
3. B
4. B (same as string #2)
5. G
6. D (a fifth higher than string #5)
7. D
8. A (a fifth higher than string #7)
9. A
10. E (a fifth higher than string #9)
11. E
12. B (a fifth higher than string #11)

While this might seem theoretically interesting, the practical implications for chord playing are substantial. Take a simple Em chord, for instance. With this fifth-based tuning, an Em chord shape would actually produce an Em9 voicing:

1. E
2. E
3. B
4. B
5. G
6. D
7. E
8. B
9. B
10. F#
11. E
12. B

While an Em9 chord is harmonically rich and pleasing, it might not always be the intended sound. The same principle applies to other chords. An E major chord, in this tuning, transforms into an Emaj9:

1. E
2. E
3. B
4. B
5. G#
6. D#
7. E
8. B
9. B
10. F#
11. E
12. B

Unless you are meticulously muting strings, you are essentially committed to these extended chord voicings. While potentially beautiful, this can limit the versatility and expected sound of common chord progressions.

The situation becomes even more challenging if you consider tuning the octave strings in intervals of thirds. An Em chord, in a hypothetical third-based tuning, could become highly dissonant:

1. E
2. E
3. B
4. B
5. G
6. B
7. E
8. G#
9. B
10. D#
11. E
12. G#

As you can see, the resulting harmonic clashes make this tuning impractical for most musical contexts. Developing tunings based on intervals other than octaves quickly becomes incredibly complex, potentially requiring a unique tuning for each set of strings to maintain any semblance of harmonic coherence. The effort involved might outweigh the musical benefits.

Alt text: Detailed view of a 12 string guitar headstock, emphasizing the tuning pegs and string arrangement, relevant to tuning instructions.

The characteristic sound of a 12 string guitar is inherently linked to the paired strings being struck together, resonating in close harmony. Tuning these pairs in octaves achieves this effect beautifully and simply. For players seeking to expand their 12 string sonic palette, a more fruitful approach might be to explore new and interesting chord voicings within standard or common alternate tunings, rather than drastically altering the octave relationships.

To delve deeper into creative chord voicings, consider exploring resources like Multiple Personality Disorder on GuitarNoise, which offers insights into enriching your chord vocabulary.

Welcome to the rewarding journey of 12 string guitar playing! It’s an instrument that offers both challenges and immense musical expression. For those new to the instrument and looking for guidance on standard tuning, be sure to check out How do I tune a 12 string guitar? for a step-by-step guide.

Alt text: A musician playing a 12 string acoustic guitar, illustrating the instrument in use and its musical context.