Metallica · 1983 · Studio album
Kill 'Em All tuning.
E Standard, about 16 cents sharp (A ≈ 444), measured on the CD and the original LP. 1 of 10 songs are tuned differently.
Album tuning
E Standard +16 ¢
About 16 cents sharp (A ≈ 444), measured on the CD and the original LP.
MeasuredCommunity
Measured by TuneLit
16 ¢ sharp
| Source | Offset | Equivalent A | Songs | Spread | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD edition Used for the Tune buttons | +15.6 ¢ | A 444 | 9 | +13.8 to +18.0 ¢ | Medium |
| Original LP, Megaforce MRI 069 | +16.9 ¢ | A 444.3 | 9 | +15.6 to +18.4 ¢ | Medium |
Before we measured, sources said: E Standard, about 20 cents sharp (community).
The guitars are in E Standard, but the original record sits sharp of A440. Players who jam along settle on about A=445 (roughly +20 ¢); TuneLit measured +16 ¢ (A ≈ 444) on the CD and +17 ¢ on the original Megaforce LP. No band or producer statement explains the offset. In concert since the Load era these songs are played half a step down in E♭, so tune to E♭ for modern live recordings.
10 songs · 1 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. Hit the Lights
E Standard +16 ¢Measured
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2. The Four Horsemen
E Standard +16 ¢Measured
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3. Motorbreath
E Standard +16 ¢Measured
Notes
On its own, this song measures sharper: CD +26.4 ¢, LP +26.6 ¢ (medium confidence). Tune uses the album's +16 ¢.
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4. Jump in the Fire
E Standard +16 ¢Measured
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5. (Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth
E Standard +16 ¢Measured
Notes
A bass solo by Cliff Burton with drums; there is no guitar part on this track.
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6. Whiplash
Different pitch
E Standard +23 ¢Measured
Notes
Players' play-along figure is about A=445 (roughly +20 ¢); TuneLit measured +16 ¢ (A ≈ 444) on the CD and +17 ¢ on the original LP. No band or producer statement explains the offset.
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7. Phantom Lord
E Standard +16 ¢Measured
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8. No Remorse
E Standard +16 ¢Measured
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9. Seek & Destroy
E Standard +16 ¢Measured
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10. Metal Militia
E Standard +16 ¢Measured
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 Kill 'Em All in?
Metallica recorded Kill 'Em All (1983) in E Standard, about 16 cents sharp (A ≈ 444), measured by TuneLit on the CD and the original LP. Whiplash uses E Standard +23 ¢.
Why does Kill 'Em All sound out of tune with my guitar?
The record sits about 16 cents sharp (A ≈ 444), 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.