TUNELIT

Metallica · 1996 · Studio album

Load tuning.

E♭ Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD and the original LP. 1 of 14 songs are tuned differently.

Load album cover

Album tuning

E♭ Standard

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

MeasuredOfficial

Tune like thisPlay alongAll 14 songs

Measured by TuneLit

At concert pitch

SourceOffsetEquivalent ASongsSpreadConfidence
CD edition Used for the Tune buttons−1.3 ¢A 439.715−1.7 to +1.3 ¢High
Original 2LP, Elektra 61923-1+2.0 ¢A 440.514+1.2 to +4.0 ¢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 (official).

Metallica's first album with every track in E♭. Kirk Hammett said he was chasing the feel of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Thin Lizzy, and James Hetfield liked that the lower pitch eased the strain on his voice.

14 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

  1. 1. Ain't My Bitch

    E♭ StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  2. 2. 2 X 4

    E♭ StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    On its own, this song measures sharper: CD +10.8 ¢, LP +20.7 ¢. Tune uses the album's A 440.

  3. 3. The House Jack Built

    E♭ StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  4. 4. Until It Sleeps

    E♭ StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  5. 5. King Nothing

    E♭ StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  6. 6. Hero of the Day

    E♭ StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  7. 7. Bleeding Me

    E♭ StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  8. 8. Cure

    Different pitch

    E♭ Standard +6 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Every track is tuned a half step down to E♭.

  9. 9. Poor Twisted Me

    E♭ StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  10. 10. Wasting My Hate

    E♭ StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  11. 11. Mama Said

    E♭ StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  12. 12. Thorn Within

    E♭ StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  13. 13. Ronnie

    E♭ StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  14. 14. The Outlaw Torn

    E♭ StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

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 Load in?

Metallica recorded Load (1996) in E♭ Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit on the CD and the original LP. Cure uses E♭ Standard +6 ¢.