TUNELIT

Aerosmith · 1982 · Studio album

Rock in a Hard Place tuning.

E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD. 1 of 10 songs are tuned differently.

Rock in a Hard Place album cover

Album tuning

E Standard

At concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD.

MeasuredCommunity

Tune like thisPlay alongAll 10 songs

Measured by TuneLit

At concert pitch

SourceOffsetEquivalent ASongsSpreadConfidence
CD, Columbia CK 38061 (1988)+3.9 ¢A 44110+1.3 to +4.7 ¢High
 Offset from concert pitch (A 440). Spread: the middle half of the songs, when four or more share the album's pitch. Confidence: how well the notes agree with one grid.

Before we measured, sources said: E Standard, with no pitch given (community).

The only Aerosmith album without both Joe Perry and Brad Whitford: Jimmy Crespo plays nearly all the guitars, and Whitford appears only on Lightning Strikes. Rick Dufay is credited but joined after the recording. Tabs are scarce and keep to E Standard, and TuneLit measured the CD about 4 cents sharp (A ≈ 441), close to concert pitch.

10 songs · 1 tuned differently

Every song, ready to tune

Tune opens the tuner in that song's tuning, pitch included. Play along opens the song player set to that tuning, so the track plays in yours. What the labels mean

  1. 1. Jailbait

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  2. 2. Lightning Strikes

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  3. 3. Bitch's Brew

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    One old fan tab claims the studio take is tuned down, with a lowered 6th string; TuneLit measured it at the album's pitch, and the audio check confirms E as the lowest string.

  4. 4. Bolivian Ragamuffin

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  5. 5. Cry Me a River

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  6. 6. Prelude to Joanie

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  7. 7. Joanie's Butterfly

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Acoustic guitar by session player John Lievano, violin by Reinhard Straub.

  8. 8. Rock in a Hard Place (Cheshire Cat)

    Different pitch

    E Standard −11 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Measured about 11 cents flat (A ≈ 437.2), lower than the rest of the album.

    The few tabs of this album (Lightning Strikes, Jailbait, Cry Me a River) are in E Standard.

  9. 9. Jig Is Up

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  10. 10. Push Comes to Shove

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Piano-led, in D♭. One small tab tunes the guitars down to C♯ Standard while leaving the bass in standard; E Standard with barre chords plays the same notes.

What the labels mean

Measured
TuneLit measured the pitch on an original CD or LP. The tuning name still comes from the sources.
Official
The band, a member, their producer or their guitar tech said it.
Widely reported
Trusted outlets, guides and tabs agree, but the band did not say it directly.
Community
From community tabs, or from players who tune along with the record.
Disputed
Sources disagree. The likeliest setting is shown; the notes name the other one.

Each song shows one label, the strongest it has, in this order. How we measure recordings →

Questions

What tuning is Rock in a Hard Place in?

Aerosmith recorded Rock in a Hard Place (1982) in E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit on the CD. Rock in a Hard Place (Cheshire Cat) uses E Standard −11 ¢.

Why does Rock in a Hard Place sound out of tune with my guitar?

Rock in a Hard Place (Cheshire Cat) sits about 11 cents flat (A ≈ 437), so a guitar tuned to A 440 clashes with it. The Tune buttons on this page set the tuner's reference to match the record, so you only tune the strings.