TUNELIT

Slayer · 1988 · Studio album

South of Heaven tuning.

E♭ Standard, about 6 cents sharp (A ≈ 442), measured on the CD. All 10 songs use it.

South of Heaven album cover

Album tuning

E♭ Standard +6 ¢

About 6 cents sharp (A ≈ 442), measured on the CD.

MeasuredWidely reported

Tune like thisPlay alongAll 10 songs

Measured by TuneLit

6 ¢ sharp

SourceOffsetEquivalent ASongsSpreadConfidence
CD, Def Jam 9 24203-2 (1988, USA)+5.7 ¢A 441.510+1.4 to +11.2 ¢Medium
 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).

Slower and heavier than Reign in Blood, in the same half-step-down tuning. The CD sits about 6 ¢ sharp, practically concert pitch. Dissident Aggressor is a Judas Priest cover.

10 songs

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. South of Heaven

    E♭ Standard +6 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    On its own, this song measures flatter: CD −8.6 ¢ (medium confidence). Tune uses the album's +6 ¢.

  2. 2. Silent Scream

    E♭ Standard +6 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along

  3. 3. Live Undead

    E♭ Standard +6 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along

  4. 4. Behind the Crooked Cross

    E♭ Standard +6 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along

  5. 5. Mandatory Suicide

    E♭ Standard +6 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along

  6. 6. Ghosts of War

    E♭ Standard +6 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along

  7. 7. Read Between the Lies

    E♭ Standard +6 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along

  8. 8. Cleanse the Soul

    E♭ Standard +6 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along

  9. 9. Dissident Aggressor

    E♭ Standard +6 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    A Judas Priest cover, played in the album's E♭ tuning.

  10. 10. Spill the Blood

    E♭ Standard +6 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    The opening acoustic part is a 12-string, tabbed in E♭ like the rest.

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 South of Heaven in?

Slayer recorded South of Heaven (1988) in E♭ Standard, about 6 cents sharp (A ≈ 442), measured by TuneLit on the CD. Every song uses it.