Led Zeppelin · Physical Graffiti · song 6
Kashmir tuning.
Kashmir (Led Zeppelin, 1975) is in DADGAD at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit from the record.
Measured by TuneLit
At concert pitch
Measured on this song itself.
Led Zeppelin · Physical Graffiti · 1975
About Kashmir
The long, orchestral epic of Physical Graffiti (1975). Page plays it in DADGAD (D A D G A D), the tuning he had already used for White Summer with the Yardbirds and for Black Mountain Side on the first Led Zeppelin album. The climbing riff moves over droning open strings, with strings and brass joining it.
TuneLit measured the original 1980s two-CD set at concert pitch, and Kashmir reads about 1 ¢ sharp, so Tune opens DADGAD at A 440. TuneLit's audio check hears the low D right where DADGAD puts it, which backs the tuning the sources give.
From E Standard, three strings move: String 6 down a whole step (E → D), String 2 down a whole step (B → A) and String 1 down a whole step (E → D); Strings 5, 4 and 3 stay. Physical Graffiti is uneven in pitch, with several songs 9 to 17 ¢ flat, so retune for the next song rather than keeping Kashmir's setting.
Tip: After lowering Strings 6, 2 and 1, check both outer D strings against the open String 4, since the riff drones on them all the way through.
Step by step
Tune your guitar like the record
- Tap Tune like this: the tuner switches to DADGAD, the notes Kashmir was recorded in.
- From the album's E Standard: String 6 down a whole step (E → D), String 2 down a whole step (B → A), String 1 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
- Turn String 6 to String 1 until each shows ✓ in tune. Kashmir sits at concert pitch on the record, so the tuner stays at A 440.
- Then play Kashmir along with the record: its lowest open note and your String 6 should ring together without a wobble.
Or the other way round
Move the record into your tuning
Rather keep your guitar as it is? Let Play along move Kashmir instead. Add your own copy, for example from your CD (it never leaves your device); the link already says the song is in DADGAD. Kashmir is already in DADGAD at A 440, so nothing moves. Slow it down or loop a few bars to learn it, and save the result as a WAV file.
Questions
What tuning is Kashmir in?
DADGAD: D A D G A D, low to high, at the pitch TuneLit measured on the record.