Sonic Youth · 1994 · Studio album
Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star tuning.
G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3 at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD. 7 of 14 songs are tuned differently.
Album tuning
G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3
At concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD.
MeasuredFrom tabs
Tune like thisPlay alongAll 14 songs
String 1 sits 13 half steps below its standard E4. On a normal set (.010) it keeps only about 20 % of its usual tension and flaps. For the usual feel use about a .021 string, or a baritone guitar.
Measured by TuneLit
At concert pitch
| Source | Offset | Equivalent A | Songs | Spread | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD, DGC/Geffen GED 24632 (1994) | +2.7 ¢ | A 440.7 | 14 | +1.2 to +5.0 ¢ | High |
Before we measured, sources said: G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3, with no pitch given (community).
Two pairings carry the album: Thurston Moore's G G D D D♯ D♯ against Lee Ranaldo's G G C G C D, and E G D G E D against E E B B E F♯. Kim Gordon plays guitar in B E G D B B on Skink, Bone and Quest for the Cup. TuneLit measured the 1994 CD about 3 ¢ sharp, concert pitch, but Winner's Blues, Thurston alone on acoustic guitar, reads 26 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 446.6), Bone 24 ¢ flat and Tokyo Eye 11 ¢ sharp.
14 songs · 7 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. Winner's Blues
Different tuning
E2 E2 B2 E3 G♯3 B3 +26 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from E Standard: String 5 down 5 half steps (A → E), String 4 down 3 half steps (D → B), String 3 down 3 half steps (G → E), String 2 down 3 half steps (B → G♯), String 1 down 5 half steps (E → B); the other strings stay.
Thurston alone on acoustic guitar in E E B E G♯ B (Guitar Player, July 1994). The Songsterr tab uses open E (E B E G♯ B E), which shares the chord.
-
2. Bull in the Heather
G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3Measured
Notes
Thurston in G G D D D♯ D♯, Lee in G G C G C D; the Songsterr tab has both. Kim sings and plays bass.
-
3. Starfield Road
G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3Measured
Notes
Thurston in G G D D D♯ D♯, Lee in G G C G C D (set lists and videos).
-
4. Skink
Different tuning
E2 G2 D3 G3 E3 D4Measured
Notes
How to get there from E Standard: String 5 down a whole step (A → G), String 2 down 7 half steps (B → E), String 1 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
String 2 sits 7 half steps below its standard B3. On a normal set (.013) it keeps only about 45 % of its usual tension and feels loose. For the usual feel use about a .019 string, or a baritone guitar.
Thurston's guitar: E G D G E D (Guitar Player, July 1994); Lee's: E E B B E F♯. Kim told Guitar Player there is no bass on the record and that she plays a guitar tuned B E G D B B.
-
5. Screaming Skull
Different tuning
E2 G2 D3 G3 E3 D4Measured
Notes
How to get there from E Standard: String 5 down a whole step (A → G), String 2 down 7 half steps (B → E), String 1 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
String 2 sits 7 half steps below its standard B3. On a normal set (.013) it keeps only about 45 % of its usual tension and feels loose. For the usual feel use about a .019 string, or a baritone guitar.
Thurston's guitar: E G D G E D (Guitar Player, July 1994). Lee probably plays G G C G C D.
-
6. Self-Obsessed and Sexxee
G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3Measured
Notes
Thurston in G G D D D♯ D♯, Lee in G G C G C D (set lists and videos).
-
7. Bone
Different tuning
E2 G2 D3 G3 E3 D4 −24 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from E Standard: String 5 down a whole step (A → G), String 2 down 7 half steps (B → E), String 1 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
String 2 sits 7 half steps below its standard B3. On a normal set (.013) it keeps only about 45 % of its usual tension and feels loose. For the usual feel use about a .020 string, or a baritone guitar.
Thurston's guitar: E G D G E D (set lists and videos). Lee plays F♯ F♯ F♯ F♯ E B and Kim a guitar in B E G D B B (Guitar Player, July 1994).
-
8. Androgynous Mind
G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3Measured
Notes
Thurston in G G D D D♯ D♯ (the band's techs); Lee probably in G G C G C D.
-
9. Quest for the Cup
G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3Measured
Notes
Probably Thurston in G G D D D♯ D♯ and Lee in G G C G C D (not confirmed); Kim plays guitar in B E G D B B (Guitar Player, July 1994).
-
10. Waist
Different tuning
F♯2 F♯2 F♯3 F♯3 E3 B3Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3: String 6 down a half step (G → F♯), String 5 down a half step (G → F♯), String 4 up 4 half steps (D → F♯), String 3 up 4 half steps (D → F♯), String 2 up a half step (E♭ → E), String 1 up 8 half steps (E♭ → B).
String 2 sits 7 half steps below its standard B3. On a normal set (.013) it keeps only about 45 % of its usual tension and feels loose. For the usual feel use about a .019 string, or a baritone guitar.
Both guitars in F♯ F♯ F♯ F♯ E B (set lists).
On its own, this song measures sharper: CD +8.4 ¢. Tune uses the album's A 440.
-
11. Doctor's Orders
G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3Measured
Notes
Probably the album's main pair, G G D D D♯ D♯ and G G C G C D; not confirmed.
-
12. Tokyo Eye
Different tuning
E2 G2 D3 G3 E3 D4 +11 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from E Standard: String 5 down a whole step (A → G), String 2 down 7 half steps (B → E), String 1 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
String 2 sits 7 half steps below its standard B3. On a normal set (.013) it keeps only about 45 % of its usual tension and feels loose. For the usual feel use about a .019 string, or a baritone guitar.
Thurston's guitar: E G D G E D (Guitar Player, July 1994); Lee's: E E B B E F♯. Kim plays a toy beatbox through her bass pickups instead of a bass line.
-
13. In the Mind of the Bourgeois Reader
G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3Measured
Notes
Thurston in G G D D D♯ D♯, Lee in G G C G C D (videos).
-
14. Sweet Shine
Different tuning
E2 G2 D3 G3 E3 D4Measured
Notes
How to get there from E Standard: String 5 down a whole step (A → G), String 2 down 7 half steps (B → E), String 1 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
String 2 sits 7 half steps below its standard B3. On a normal set (.013) it keeps only about 45 % of its usual tension and feels loose. For the usual feel use about a .019 string, or a baritone guitar.
A stretch of hidden noise follows the song.
Thurston's guitar: E G D G E D; Lee's: E E B B E F♯ (Guitar Player, July 1994).
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 Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star in?
Sonic Youth recorded Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star (1994) in G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3 at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit on the CD. 7 songs use other tunings or pitches, listed song by song on this page.
Why does Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star sound out of tune with my guitar?
Winner's Blues sits about 26 cents sharp (A ≈ 447), 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.