Queen · 1982 · Studio album
Hot Space tuning.
E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD. 4 of 11 songs are tuned differently.
Album tuning
E Standard
At concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD.
MeasuredWidely reported
Measured by TuneLit
At concert pitch
| Source | Offset | Equivalent A | Songs | Spread | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD, Parlophone CDPCSD 135 (1994 Digital Master Series) | +0.6 ¢ | A 440.2 | 11 | −0.2 to +2.4 ¢ | High |
Before we measured, sources said: E Standard, with no pitch given (widely reported).
E Standard at concert pitch on EMI's 1994 CD, but the dance songs scatter: Staying Power about 35 ¢ sharp, Back Chat and Body Language 14 and 19 ¢ flat. Under Pressure sits at A 440.
11 songs · 4 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. Staying Power
Different pitch
E Standard +35 ¢Measured
Notes
Horns where the band's demo had a guitar. The record sits about 35 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 448.9), steady through the song; the audio check hears E as the lowest string.
Tabbed in E Standard.
-
2. Dancer
E StandardMeasured
Notes
May's song; he also plays the drum machine and synthesiser bass.
-
3. Back Chat
Different pitch
E Standard −14 ¢Measured
Notes
Deacon's song: he plays bass, rhythm guitar and synthesiser. It measures about 14 ¢ flat (A ≈ 436.3).
Tabbed in E Standard.
-
4. Body Language
Different pitch
E Standard −19 ¢Measured
Notes
Very little guitar: the song runs on its bassline. It measures about 19 ¢ flat (A ≈ 435.3).
The few guitar notes are in standard tuning.
-
5. Action This Day
E StandardMeasured
-
6. Put Out the Fire
Different pitch
E Standard +11 ¢Measured
Notes
May's song and solo. About 11 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 442.9).
Tabbed in E Standard.
-
7. Life Is Real (Song for Lennon)
E StandardMeasured
-
8. Calling All Girls
E StandardMeasured
Notes
Taylor wrote it on guitar and plays the feedback in the break.
-
9. Las Palabras de Amor (The Words of Love)
E StandardMeasured
Notes
May adds a 12-string acoustic to his electric parts, all in standard tuning.
-
10. Cool Cat
E StandardMeasured
Notes
Deacon plays every instrument except Mercury's electric piano, guitars included.
-
11. Under Pressure
E StandardMeasured
Notes
Recorded with David Bowie; the bass riff is Deacon's. It sits at concert pitch, in E Standard on every tab.
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 Hot Space in?
Queen recorded Hot Space (1982) in E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit on the CD. 4 songs use other tunings or pitches, listed song by song on this page.
Why does Hot Space sound out of tune with my guitar?
Staying Power sits about 35 cents sharp (A ≈ 449), 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.