TUNELIT

Black Sabbath · 1975 · Studio album

Sabotage tuning.

C♯ Standard, about 6 cents flat (A ≈ 438), measured on the CD. 6 of 8 songs are tuned differently.

Sabotage album cover

Album tuning

C♯ Standard −6 ¢

About 6 cents flat (A ≈ 438), measured on the CD.

MeasuredFrom tabs

Tune like thisPlay alongAll 8 songs

Measured by TuneLit

6 ¢ flat

SourceOffsetEquivalent ASongsSpreadConfidence
CD, Castle Communications NELCD 6018 (1986)−5.7 ¢A 438.68−19.2 to −0.5 ¢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: C♯ Standard, with no pitch given (community).

C♯ Standard about 6 ¢ flat (A ≈ 438.6) on the 1986 Castle CD, with E Standard for the lighter pieces. Hole in the Sky and Symptom of the Universe sit 19–⁠20 ¢ flat, Don't Start (Too Late) 34 ¢ flat, Am I Going Insane (Radio) 11 ¢ sharp. The US Warner CD runs about 7 ¢ flatter, the 1996 reissues 4.5 ¢.

8 songs · 6 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. Hole in the Sky

    Different pitch

    C♯ Standard −19 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    C♯ Standard, about 19 ¢ flat (A ≈ 435.2), the same as Symptom of the Universe.

    The heavy songs are tabbed in C♯ Standard; several acoustic and lighter pieces are tabbed in E Standard.

  2. 2. Don't Start (Too Late)

    Different tuning

    E Standard −34 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    How to get there from the album's C♯ Standard: Every string up 3 half steps.

    Iommi's short acoustic showpiece is in E Standard, about 34 ¢ flat (A ≈ 431.5).

    The short acoustic instrumental is tabbed in E Standard.

  3. 3. Symptom of the Universe

    Different pitch

    C♯ Standard −20 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    The riff is in C♯ Standard, about 20 ¢ flat (A ≈ 435). It follows Don't Start (Too Late), which is in E Standard, without a break.

    The heavy songs are tabbed in C♯ Standard; several acoustic and lighter pieces are tabbed in E Standard.

  4. 4. Megalomania

    C♯ Standard −6 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    The heavy songs are tabbed in C♯ Standard; several acoustic and lighter pieces are tabbed in E Standard.

  5. 5. The Thrill of It All

    Different tuning

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    How to get there from the album's C♯ Standard: Every string up 3 half steps.

    Its main tab is in E Standard (a newer machine transcription says C♯), and TuneLit's check from the audio agrees with E. The record is at concert pitch.

    Its main tab is in E Standard; a newer machine transcription puts it in C♯.

  6. 6. Supertzar

    Different tuning

    E Standard −6 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    How to get there from the album's C♯ Standard: Every string up 3 half steps.

    The English Chamber Choir sings; the guitar is tabbed in E Standard. The reading is weak, so the button uses the album value.

    The choir piece is tabbed in E Standard.

  7. 7. Am I Going Insane (Radio)

    Different tuning

    E Standard +11 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    How to get there from the album's C♯ Standard: Every string up 3 half steps.

    The synth-driven single is in E Standard, about 11 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 442.7).

    The synth-driven single is tabbed in E Standard.

  8. 8. The Writ

    C♯ Standard −6 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    C♯ Standard; its acoustic part is tabbed in E Standard.

    The heavy songs are tabbed in C♯ Standard; several acoustic and lighter pieces are tabbed in E Standard.

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 Sabotage in?

Black Sabbath recorded Sabotage (1975) in C♯ Standard, about 6 cents flat (A ≈ 438), measured by TuneLit on the CD. 6 songs use other tunings or pitches, listed song by song on this page.

Why does Sabotage sound out of tune with my guitar?

Hole in the Sky sits about 19 cents flat (A ≈ 435), 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, song by song, so you only tune the strings.