Standard modern tuning

• e E - a A - d' d - g' g - b b - e' e'

Although the modern twelve-string is derived from the six-string guitar, this twelve-string tuning bears a striking similarity to that of the Baroque guitar, and was possibly even the tuning used on the twelve-string guitars that were built and played as the Baroque guitar evolved to the Romantic and then to the modern Spanish guitar. However these older instruments were probably tuned a little flat of the modern pitch standard, see Baroque guitar.

Unison G

Used on some electric twelves, particularly for power chord players. Saves breaking octave G strings, which are the only string in the standard tuning tuned above the top E string of a normal guitar. Standard stringing of the Shergold Modulator 12.

• e E - a A - d' d - g g - b b - e' e'

Rickenbacker 360/12

Famously used by the Byrds, and also by the Easybeats, Beatles and others, this particular guitar model (still in production) reversed the order of the principal and octave strings.

• E e -  A a  - d d' - g g' - b b - e' e'

Traditional tuning

Early 20th century twelve-strings were just not strong enough for "concert pitch", so were tuned two frets down, and often played with capot 2 to bring them back to "concert". This also meant that the octave G string, now an F, was tuned only one semitone higher than the string designer had intended, not three!

• d D - g G - c' c - f ' f - a a - d' d'

Also known as D tuning.

External links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickenbacker_360/12