Using a simple model for the layer of the tearing mode, it is demonstrated that toroidally coupled tearing modes with two rational surfaces are most unstable when the &ohgr;*’s of the electrons at the rational surfaces are equal. The onset of instability may then occur because of the tuning of &ohgr;* rather than the passage of &Dgr;’‐like quantities through zero. This mechanism for the onset of instability is sharp since the resonance is narrow. The effect of toroidal rotation is also discussed.