Meshuggah · obZen · song 1
Combustion tuning.
Combustion (Meshuggah, 2008) is in F Standard, about 12 cents sharp (A ≈ 443), measured by TuneLit from the record.
Measured by TuneLit
12 ¢ sharp
The album's value, measured on the CD: Tune moves every string +12 ¢.
Meshuggah · obZen · 2008
About Combustion
The opening track of obZen (2008) and one of the band's fastest songs, with Tomas Haake back on a real drum kit after the programmed drums of Catch Thirtythree. Both guitars use eight strings tuned a half step down, F B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭, the setup the band's techs described to Premier Guitar and the factory tuning of Hagström's Ibanez signature model. The riffs move quickly between the open F and fretted notes on the two lowest strings, closer to thrash than most of the album.
TuneLit measured the original 2008 CD about 12 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 443), and the 2023 remaster plays at the same pitch. Combustion reads a little above the album at modest confidence, so its button uses the album value. The semitone check from the audio could not decide on this song; the tabs and the band's own tuning are clear on F.
At this speed the slack low strings go sharp when picked hard, so dig in evenly rather than harder. The main tab writes Thordendal's rhythm part, his solo and Hagström's part all in the same F tuning, so nothing changes mid-song.
Tip: Tune with Tune's +12 ¢ and then play the opening riff lightly: if the open F sounds sharp only when you dig in, ease off the attack, not the tuner.
Step by step
Tune your guitar like the record
- Tap Tune like this: the tuner switches to F Standard, every string +12 ¢, the notes Combustion was recorded in.
- From F♯ Standard: Every string down a half step. No tuner that knows F Standard? Clamp a capo across fret 1, tune to F♯ Standard as usual, then take it off: every string drops to F Standard. Check each string again afterwards, since a capo pulls the strings a little sharp.
- Turn String 8 to String 1 until each shows ✓ in tune. Combustion sits 12 cents sharp on the record: at A 440 your guitar would sound that much flat against it, which Tune already corrects.
- Then play Combustion along with the record: its lowest open note and your String 8 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 Combustion instead. Add your own copy, for example from your CD (it never leaves your device); the link already says the song is in F Standard +12 ¢. Choose F♯ Standard at A 440 and Combustion moves up 88 cents, at its own speed. Slow it down or loop a few bars to learn it, and save the result as a WAV file.
Questions
What tuning is Combustion in?
F Standard +12 ¢: F B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭, low to high, at the pitch TuneLit measured on the record.