TUNELIT

Megadeth · 1997 · Studio album

Cryptic Writings tuning.

E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD. All 12 songs use it.

Cryptic Writings album cover

Album tuning

E Standard

At concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD.

MeasuredWidely reported

Tune like thisPlay alongAll 12 songs

Measured by TuneLit

At concert pitch

SourceOffsetEquivalent ASongsSpreadConfidence
CD, Capitol/Toshiba-EMI TOCP-50211 (1997, Japan)+2.6 ¢A 440.712+0.9 to +4.7 ¢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 (widely reported).

Back to E Standard at concert pitch. A Secret Place has a low D and E♭ in the bass but no open E; it stays in E Standard and is worth an ear check. In the 2004 remix I'll Get Even reads about 36 ¢ higher.

12 songs

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. Trust

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  2. 2. Almost Honest

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  3. 3. Use the Man

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  4. 4. Mastermind

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  5. 5. The Disintegrators

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  6. 6. I'll Get Even

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  7. 7. Sin

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  8. 8. A Secret Place

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Low D and E♭ are heard in the bass, open E never; a little-viewed tab says Drop D. Listed in E Standard as the main tab has it; check by ear.

  9. 9. Have Cool, Will Travel

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  10. 10. She-Wolf

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  11. 11. Vortex

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  12. 12. FFF

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    On its own, this song measures sharper: CD +8.8 ¢. Tune uses the album's A 440.

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 Cryptic Writings in?

Megadeth recorded Cryptic Writings (1997) in E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit on the CD. Every song uses it.