TUNELIT

Black Sabbath · 1978 · Studio album

Never Say Die! tuning.

E Standard, about 10 cents flat (A ≈ 437), measured on the CD. 3 of 9 songs are tuned differently.

Never Say Die! album cover

Album tuning

E Standard −10 ¢

About 10 cents flat (A ≈ 437), measured on the CD.

MeasuredFrom tabs

Tune like thisPlay alongAll 9 songs

Measured by TuneLit

10 ¢ flat

SourceOffsetEquivalent ASongsSpreadConfidence
CD, Vertigo 830 789-2 (Germany)−9.8 ¢A 437.59−9.8 to −7.6 ¢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).

E Standard about 10 ¢ flat (A ≈ 437.5) on the 1987 Vertigo CD. Junior's Eyes and Air Dance are at concert pitch, Swinging the Chain 8 ¢ sharp. The US Warner, Japanese and 1996 CDs run about 4 ¢ flatter; the 2009 reissue matches Vertigo.

9 songs · 3 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. Never Say Die

    E Standard −10 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along

  2. 2. Johnny Blade

    E Standard −10 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along

  3. 3. Junior's Eyes

    Different pitch

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    E Standard at concert pitch, about 12 ¢ above the album value.

    E Standard: every song is tabbed in standard tuning.

  4. 4. A Hard Road

    E Standard −10 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along

  5. 5. Shock Wave

    E Standard −10 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along

  6. 6. Air Dance

    Different pitch

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    The jazzy instrumental is at concert pitch, about 10 ¢ above the album value.

    E Standard: every song is tabbed in standard tuning.

  7. 7. Over to You

    E Standard −10 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along

  8. 8. Breakout

    E Standard −10 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    A short instrumental with horns; TuneLit found no steady pitch, so the button uses the album value.

  9. 9. Swinging the Chain

    Different pitch

    E Standard +8 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    E Standard, about 8 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 442); Bill Ward sings it.

    E Standard: every song is tabbed in standard tuning.

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.
From tabs
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 Never Say Die! in?

Black Sabbath recorded Never Say Die! (1978) in E Standard, about 10 cents flat (A ≈ 437), measured by TuneLit on the CD. Junior's Eyes and Air Dance use E Standard; Swinging the Chain uses E Standard +8 ¢.