Foo Fighters · 1997 · Studio album
The Colour and the Shape tuning.
E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD. 5 of 13 songs are tuned differently.
Album tuning
E Standard
At concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD.
MeasuredCommunity
Measured by TuneLit
At concert pitch
| Source | Offset | Equivalent A | Songs | Spread | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD, BMG Japan BVCM-35130 | +2.0 ¢ | A 440.5 | 13 | −1.0 to +2.9 ¢ | High |
Before we measured, sources said: E Standard, with no pitch given (community).
The first album with a full band, produced by Gil Norton. It splits between E Standard (My Hero, Walking After You) and Drop D. Grohl has said Monkey Wrench was in Drop D and that he found the opening chord of Everlong in the same tuning, between takes of Monkey Wrench. Hey, Johnny Park! and February Stars are Drop D as well.
13 songs · 5 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. Doll
E StandardMeasured
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2. Monkey Wrench
Different tuning
Drop DMeasured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: String 6 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
The open low D is rarely heard on the record, so the audio check alone could not confirm Drop D; Grohl's own account settles it.
Grohl recalled that Monkey Wrench was in Drop D when he found the Everlong chord between takes; Wikipedia and every main tab agree, and Chris Shiflett keeps a Drop D guitar for it on tour.
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3. Hey, Johnny Park!
Different tuning
Drop DMeasured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: String 6 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
Tabbed in Drop D for both guitars and the bass.
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4. My Poor Brain
E StandardMeasured
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5. Wind Up
E StandardMeasured
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6. Up in Arms
E StandardMeasured
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7. My Hero
E StandardMeasured
Notes
E Standard in every main tab; a version written a half step down exists but is little used.
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8. See You
Different tuning
E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 D4Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: String 1 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
The main tab lowers only the top string, from E to D (E A D G B D), for Grohl's acoustic part. Pat Smear's electric part is in plain E Standard.
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9. Enough Space
E StandardMeasured
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10. February Stars
Different tuning
Drop DMeasured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: String 6 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
Tabbed in Drop D for every guitar part and the bass.
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11. Everlong
Different tuning
Drop DMeasured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: String 6 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
The famous chord shape needs the low D: tune the 6th string down a whole step and leave the rest at E Standard.
Grohl found the opening chord in Drop D between takes of Monkey Wrench and wrote the song on an acoustic in the same tuning. Every main tab agrees, and Chris Shiflett keeps a Drop D guitar for it on tour.
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12. Walking After You
E StandardMeasured
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13. New Way Home
E StandardMeasured
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 The Colour and the Shape in?
Foo Fighters recorded The Colour and the Shape (1997) in E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit on the CD. Monkey Wrench, Hey, Johnny Park!, February Stars and Everlong use Drop D; See You uses E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 D4.