TUNELIT

Queen · 1989 · Studio album

The Miracle tuning.

E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD. 4 of 10 songs are tuned differently.

The Miracle album cover

Album tuning

E Standard

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

MeasuredWidely reported

Tune like thisPlay alongAll 10 songs

Measured by TuneLit

At concert pitch

SourceOffsetEquivalent ASongsSpreadConfidence
CD, Parlophone CDP 7 92357 2 (1989, first CD issue)+0.5 ¢A 440.110−0.1 to +1.7 ¢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).

E Standard at concert pitch on the first CD, Parlophone CDP 7 92357 2. Four songs break away: Khashoggi's Ship about 47 ¢ flat, I Want It All, Scandal and Was It All Worth It 10 to 27 ¢ sharp.

10 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

  1. 1. Party

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  2. 2. Khashoggi's Ship

    Different pitch

    E Standard −47 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    About 47 ¢ flat (A ≈ 428.1): almost halfway to E♭, and 48 ¢ below the album. The audio check hears E as the lowest string, so tune E Standard with the song's own button.

    Tabbed in E Standard.

  3. 3. The Miracle

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  4. 4. I Want It All

    Different pitch

    E Standard +13 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    May's song, tabbed in E Standard. About 13 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 443.2), 12 ¢ above the album.

    Tabbed in E Standard.

  5. 5. The Invisible Man

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    It sits at concert pitch.

  6. 6. Breakthru

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  7. 7. Rain Must Fall

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  8. 8. Scandal

    Different pitch

    E Standard +27 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    May plays keyboards and the guitar solo, a first take; David Richards plays the synthesiser bass. About 27 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 446.9).

    Tabbed in E Standard.

  9. 9. My Baby Does Me

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  10. 10. Was It All Worth It

    Different pitch

    E Standard +10 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    About 10 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 442.4).

    Tabbed in E Standard.

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 The Miracle in?

Queen recorded The Miracle (1989) 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 The Miracle sound out of tune with my guitar?

Khashoggi's Ship sits about 48 cents flat (A ≈ 428), 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.