12 String Guitar Strings
Complete sets are listed in the sections below. Individual 12 string guitar strings can be found in the Single Strings section.
We carry 12 string guitar strings for both acoustic and electric 12 string guitars. We have many brands of bronze and phosphor bronze 12 string acoustic strings. We offer D'Addario, D'Angelico, Elixir, Ernie Ball, GHS, La Bella, Pyramid, Rotosound, and SIT electric 12 string guitar strings. You can find all of these by following the links above.
Twelve string guitar strings are usually tuned E, e, A, a, D, d, G, g, b, b, e & e. They are essentially a set of regular 6 string guitar strings with 6 extra plain strings. Strings for a 12 string guitar come in 6 courses of 2. This allows one to tune a 12 string guitar like a regular acoustic guitar with the addition of 4 higher octave strings and 2 unison strings. Typically the low E, A, D and G are each paired with a smaller string tuned one octave up and the B and e are paired with strings of the same gauge to provide a unison effect. Some people opt to use unison G strings for a more powerful tone. Some players remove the octaves from the wound E, A and D bass strings and just leave the extra strings on the G, B and e strings to make it easier to play single note riffs and bass lines while still maintaining some of the shimmering sound quality that 12 string guitar strings are known for.
Twelve string guitar strings exert more tension on an instrument than a similar set of regular six string guitar strings, since there are six extra strings involved. Because of this, some players opt to tune their instruments down slightly from standard E, A, D, G, B & e tuning. Many play one half step down, and others play a whole step down. There are two reasons for this: it makes the instrument easier to play and improves the ease of fingering, and it is easier on the instrument itself. Like any guitar, one can tune a 12 string however one wants provided it is not tuned too high, as that may damage the instrument.
Twelve string guitar strings are usually tuned E, e, A, a, D, d, G, g, b, b, e & e. They are essentially a set of regular 6 string guitar strings with 6 extra plain strings. Strings for a 12 string guitar come in 6 courses of 2. This allows one to tune a 12 string guitar like a regular acoustic guitar with the addition of 4 higher octave strings and 2 unison strings. Typically the low E, A, D and G are each paired with a smaller string tuned one octave up and the B and e are paired with strings of the same gauge to provide a unison effect. Some people opt to use unison G strings for a more powerful tone. Some players remove the octaves from the wound E, A and D bass strings and just leave the extra strings on the G, B and e strings to make it easier to play single note riffs and bass lines while still maintaining some of the shimmering sound quality that 12 string guitar strings are known for.
Twelve string guitar strings exert more tension on an instrument than a similar set of regular six string guitar strings, since there are six extra strings involved. Because of this, some players opt to tune their instruments down slightly from standard E, A, D, G, B & e tuning. Many play one half step down, and others play a whole step down. There are two reasons for this: it makes the instrument easier to play and improves the ease of fingering, and it is easier on the instrument itself. Like any guitar, one can tune a 12 string however one wants provided it is not tuned too high, as that may damage the instrument.
