Top 2 strings (E and B) are just like regular guitar tuning, the next 4 are an octave higher than on a regular guitar, so you have to either buy a Nashville tuning set of strings (D'Addario makes an excellent one) or a 12-string set and use the high strings that are supposed to go on the bottom 4. Nashville tuning works great when doubling another guitar playing a similar part on a guitar with regular tuning.