AC/DC · High Voltage · song 1
It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) tuning.
It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) (AC/DC, 1976) is in F Standard at concert pitch (A 440).
Not measured yet
TuneLit has not measured this record. The tuning comes from widely reported sources, at concert pitch unless they say otherwise.
AC/DC · High Voltage · 1976
About It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)
The bagpipe song: Bon Scott plays the pipes on this 1975 recording, which opens the international High Voltage (1976). The band plays it with the usual A chord shapes of standard tuning, but the record sounds in B♭, a half step higher.
TuneLit has not measured it; the tuning comes from sources. Bassist Mark Evans recalled that the record is in B♭ while the band played the song in A on stage, a 2005 Guitar Legends transcription says the guitars are tuned up a half step, and the most-viewed tab uses F Standard. Tune opens F Standard at concert pitch (A 440).
Fans still argue whether the band tuned up to match the bagpipes or the tape was sped up. For playing along it does not matter: A shapes a half step up match the record. A capo on the first fret in E Standard gives the same pitch without the extra string tension. A less-viewed tab plays the song in E, which leaves you a half step below the record.
Tip: If you would rather not tune up, put a capo on the first fret in E Standard and play the same A shapes.
Step by step
Tune your guitar like the record
- Tap Tune like this: the tuner switches to F Standard, the notes It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) was recorded in.
- From the album's E Standard: Every string up a half step.
- Turn String 6 to String 1 until each shows ✓ in tune. It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) sits at concert pitch on the record, so the tuner stays at A 440.
- Then play It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) along with the record: its lowest open note and your String 6 should ring together without a wobble.
Or the other way round
Move the record into your tuning
Rather keep your guitar as it is? Let Play along move It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) instead. Add your own copy, for example from your CD (it never leaves your device); the link already says the song is in F Standard. Choose E Standard at A 440 and It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) moves down a half step, at its own speed. Slow it down or loop a few bars to learn it, and save the result as a WAV file.
Questions
What tuning is It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll) in?
F Standard: F B♭ E♭ A♭ C F, low to high.