Sonic Youth · 2004 · Studio album
Sonic Nurse tuning.
C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4, about 6 cents sharp (A ≈ 442), measured on the CD. 5 of 10 songs are tuned differently.
Album tuning
C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4 +6 ¢
About 6 cents sharp (A ≈ 442), measured on the CD.
MeasuredFrom tabs
Measured by TuneLit
6 ¢ sharp
| Source | Offset | Equivalent A | Songs | Spread | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD, Geffen 9862547 (2004) | +6.2 ¢ | A 441.6 | 10 | +5.9 to +9.7 ¢ | High |
Before we measured, sources said: C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4, with no pitch given (community).
Thurston Moore's C G D G C D against Lee Ranaldo's G G D G G A on most songs; Pattern Recognition and Dude Ranch Nurse use G G D D D♯ D♯, and Paper Cup Exit E G♯ E G♯ E G♯. TuneLit measured the 2004 CD about 6 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 441.6); Kim Gordon and the Arthur Doyle Hand Cream reads at concert pitch. The bonus track Kim's Chords is left out.
10 songs · 5 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. Pattern Recognition
Different tuning
G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3 +6 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4: String 6 up 7 half steps (C → G), String 3 down 5 half steps (G → D), String 2 down 9 half steps (C → E♭), String 1 down 11 half steps (D → E♭); the other strings stay.
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.
Thurston's guitar: G G D D D♯ D♯. Lee plays C G D C G D, and Kim plays slide on a second G G D D D♯ D♯ guitar while Jim O'Rourke takes the bass (set lists).
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2. Unmade Bed
C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4 +6 ¢Measured
Notes
Thurston in C G D G C D, Lee in G G D G G A, Jim O'Rourke in G G D E G B; Kim on bass. The Songsterr tab has all three guitars.
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3. Dripping Dream
C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4 +6 ¢Measured
Notes
Thurston in C G D G C D, Lee in G G D G G A, Jim O'Rourke in G G D D D♯ D♯.
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4. Kim Gordon and the Arthur Doyle Hand Cream
Different pitch
C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4Measured
Notes
Thurston in C G D G C D, Lee in G G D G G A, Kim on slide guitar in E B E G G B. First released as "Mariah Carey and the Arthur Doyle Hand Cream".
Thurston Moore's guitar: C G D G C D; Lee Ranaldo in G G D G G A; Kim Gordon plays slide in E B E G G B (set lists).
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5. Stones
C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4 +6 ¢Measured
Notes
Thurston in C G D G C D, Lee in G G D G G A, Jim O'Rourke in G G D D D♯ D♯ (set lists). One tab plays it in C G C F A D.
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6. Dude Ranch Nurse
Different tuning
G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3 +6 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4: String 6 up 7 half steps (C → G), String 3 down 5 half steps (G → D), String 2 down 9 half steps (C → E♭), String 1 down 11 half steps (D → E♭); the other strings stay.
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.
Thurston's guitar: G G D D D♯ D♯; Lee in C G D C G D; Kim on slide in G G D D D♯ D♯ (set lists).
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7. New Hampshire
C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4 +6 ¢Measured
Notes
Thurston in C G D G C D, Lee in G G D G G A; Kim plays slide on a guitar in D A D A B B with a capo at the 5th fret.
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8. Paper Cup Exit
Different tuning
E2 G♯2 E3 G♯3 E3 G♯3 +6 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from E Standard: String 5 down a half step (A → G♯), String 4 up a whole step (D → E), String 3 up a half step (G → G♯), String 2 down 7 half steps (B → E), String 1 down 8 half steps (E → G♯); the other strings stay.
String 1 sits 8 half steps below its standard E4. On a normal set (.010) it keeps only about 40 % of its usual tension and flaps. For the usual feel use about a .016 string, or a baritone guitar.
Lee sings.
Thurston and Lee both in E G♯ E G♯ E G♯, the Expressway to Yr. Skull tuning; Jim O'Rourke in G G D E G B with a capo at the 4th fret (set lists).
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9. I Love You Golden Blue
Different tuning
F♯2 F♯2 F♯2 F♯3 E3 B3 +6 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4: String 6 up 6 half steps (C → F♯), String 5 down a half step (G → F♯), String 4 down 8 half steps (D → F♯), String 3 down a half step (G → F♯), String 2 down 8 half steps (C → E), String 1 down 3 half steps (D → B).
String 4 sits 8 half steps below its standard D3. On a normal set (.026) it keeps only about 40 % of its usual tension and flaps. For the usual feel use about a .041 string, or a baritone guitar.
Thurston's guitar: F♯ F♯ F♯ F♯ E B, but with the three lowest F♯s in unison and only the fourth an octave up. Lee plays C G D C G D and organ; Jim O'Rourke has a G G D E G B guitar capoed at the 11th fret.
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10. Peace Attack
C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4 +6 ¢Measured
Notes
Thurston in C G D G C D, Lee in E E B E B B, Jim O'Rourke in G G D E G B; the Songsterr tab agrees on both main parts.
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 Sonic Nurse in?
Sonic Youth recorded Sonic Nurse (2004) in C2 G2 D3 G3 C4 D4, about 6 cents sharp (A ≈ 442), measured by TuneLit on the CD. 5 songs use other tunings or pitches, listed song by song on this page.