Black Sabbath · 1972 · Studio album
Vol. 4 tuning.
C♯ Standard, about 19 cents sharp (A ≈ 445), measured on the CD. 4 of 10 songs are tuned differently.
Album tuning
C♯ Standard +19 ¢
About 19 cents sharp (A ≈ 445), measured on the CD.
MeasuredWidely reported
Measured by TuneLit
19 ¢ sharp
| Source | Offset | Equivalent A | Songs | Spread | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD, Castle Communications NELCD 6005 (1986) | +18.7 ¢ | A 444.8 | 10 | +16.5 to +36.4 ¢ | Medium |
Before we measured, sources said: C♯ Standard, with no pitch given (widely reported).
C♯ Standard about 19 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 444.8) on the 1986 Castle CD, with the widest spread of any Sabbath album: Tomorrow's Dream and St. Vitus Dance are D Standard 32 ¢ flat (A ≈ 432), Laguna Sunrise and Changes are in E Standard at or near concert pitch, and Wheels of Confusion reads 27 ¢ under the album at low confidence. Japanese CDs of 1989–1991 and the US Warner CD run about 4 ¢ flatter, with Snowblind and Under the Sun 11–13 ¢ lower.
10 songs · 4 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
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1. Wheels of Confusion
C♯ Standard +19 ¢Measured
Notes
Tabbed in C♯ Standard. TuneLit's reading is about 8 ¢ flat, 27 ¢ under the album value, at low confidence (0.53), and its check from the audio leans towards D: if the album setting sounds sharp, try C♯ at A ≈ 438.
On its own, this song measures flatter: CD −8.2 ¢ (medium confidence). Tune uses the album's +19 ¢.
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2. Tomorrow's Dream
Different tuning
D Standard −32 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's C♯ Standard: Every string up a half step.
D Standard 32 ¢ flat (A ≈ 432), the same pitch as St. Vitus Dance. The most-viewed tab says C♯ Standard, an Ultimate Guitar tab D Standard; TuneLit's check from the audio rules out C♯.
Tabs disagree: the most-viewed one (Songsterr) is in C♯ Standard like the album, an Ultimate Guitar tab is in D Standard.
TuneLit's semitone check from the audio rules out the C♯ of the most-viewed tab (D fits much better, and so does C, which no source names): D Standard, like St. Vitus Dance.
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3. Changes
Different tuning
E StandardMeasured
Notes
How to get there from the album's C♯ Standard: Every string up 3 half steps.
No guitar: Iommi plays piano and Mellotron. Chord charts are in standard tuning, and the record is at concert pitch.
No guitar: Iommi plays piano and Mellotron. The chord charts and the bass tab are in standard tuning.
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4. FX
C♯ Standard +19 ¢Measured
Notes
A minute and a half of echoing guitar taps with no riff to tune to; TuneLit found no steady pitch, so the button uses the album value.
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5. Supernaut
C♯ Standard +19 ¢Measured
Notes
C♯ Standard, about 24 ¢ sharp: within 5 ¢ of the album value. A popular tab moves it to E Standard, but guitarguitar's guide points out that the riff does not sound right there.
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6. Snowblind
C♯ Standard +19 ¢Measured
Notes
C♯ Standard about 16 ¢ sharp, close to the album value.
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7. Cornucopia
C♯ Standard +19 ¢Measured
Notes
Tabbed in C♯ Standard. TuneLit reads it about 41 ¢ sharp, at low confidence (0.56), 22 ¢ above the album value; if the album setting sounds flat, raise the reference towards A ≈ 450.
On its own, this song measures sharper: CD +40.6 ¢ (medium confidence). Tune uses the album's +19 ¢.
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8. Laguna Sunrise
Different tuning
E Standard −7 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's C♯ Standard: Every string up 3 half steps.
The acoustic instrumental is in E Standard, 7 ¢ flat (A ≈ 438.3).
The acoustic instrumental (steel- and nylon-string guitars, strings) is tabbed in E Standard.
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9. St. Vitus Dance
Different tuning
D Standard −32 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's C♯ Standard: Every string up a half step.
D Standard 32 ¢ flat (A ≈ 432), half a semitone above the C♯ songs around it; its one tab says D, and TuneLit's check from the audio agrees.
Its one tab is in D Standard, a semitone above the rest of the album.
TuneLit’s semitone check from the audio agrees with the tab’s D Standard: about 32 ¢ flat (A ≈ 432), half a semitone above the C♯ songs around it.
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10. Under the Sun
C♯ Standard +19 ¢Measured
Notes
C♯ Standard about 19 ¢ sharp, the album value.
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 Vol. 4 in?
Black Sabbath recorded Vol. 4 (1972) in C♯ Standard, about 19 cents sharp (A ≈ 445), measured by TuneLit on the CD. Tomorrow's Dream and St. Vitus Dance use D Standard −32 ¢; Changes uses E Standard; Laguna Sunrise uses E Standard −7 ¢.
Why does Vol. 4 sound out of tune with my guitar?
The record sits about 19 cents sharp (A ≈ 445), 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.