Sonic Youth · 1995 · Studio album
Washing Machine tuning.
F♯2 F♯2 F♯3 F♯3 E3 B3 at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD. 8 of 11 songs are tuned differently.
Album tuning
F♯2 F♯2 F♯3 F♯3 E3 B3
At concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD.
MeasuredFrom tabs
Tune like thisPlay alongAll 11 songs
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.
Measured by TuneLit
At concert pitch
| Source | Offset | Equivalent A | Songs | Spread | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD, DGC/Geffen GED 24909 (1995, album disc of the edition with a bonus disc) | −2.2 ¢ | A 439.4 | 11 | Too few songs | High |
Before we measured, sources said: F♯2 F♯2 F♯3 F♯3 E3 B3, with no pitch given (community).
Kim Gordon plays guitar on most songs, usually in B E G D B B, so many tracks have three guitars and no bass. Thurston Moore's F♯ F♯ F♯ F♯ E B is the commonest tuning, with Lee Ranaldo in A F♯ E F♯ E B; the title track, Unwind and No Queen Blues pair G G D D D♯ D♯ with G G C G C D. TuneLit measured the album disc at concert pitch (2 ¢ flat). The Diamond Sea runs about 11 ¢ flat and Panty Lies 6 ¢ sharp.
11 songs · 8 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. Becuz
F♯2 F♯2 F♯3 F♯3 E3 B3Measured
Notes
Thurston in F♯ F♯ F♯ F♯ E B, Lee in A F♯ E F♯ E B, Kim on guitar in B E G D B B (set lists and videos; the Songsterr tab has all three).
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2. Junkie's Promise
Different tuning
D2 A2 D3 A3 B3 B3Measured
Notes
How to get there from E Standard: String 6 down a whole step (E → D), String 3 up a whole step (G → A), String 1 down 5 half steps (E → B); the other strings stay.
String 1 sits 5 half steps below its standard E4. On a normal set (.010) it keeps only about 55 % of its usual tension and feels loose. For the usual feel use about a .013 string, or a baritone guitar.
Thurston's guitar: D A D A B B (the band's techs). Lee's guitar: D A A D D A, which Lee confirmed; Kim in B E G D B B.
On its own, this song measures flatter: CD −8.2 ¢. Tune uses the album's A 440.
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3. Saucer-Like
F♯2 F♯2 F♯3 F♯3 E3 B3Measured
Notes
Thurston and Lee both in F♯ F♯ F♯ F♯ E B (Guitar Player, November 1995); Lee switched to A F♯ E F♯ E B live. Kim in B E G D B B.
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4. Washing Machine
Different tuning
G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3Measured
Notes
How to get there from E Standard: String 6 up 3 half steps (E → G), String 5 down a whole step (A → G), String 3 down 5 half steps (G → D), String 2 down 8 half steps (B → E♭), String 1 down 13 half steps (E → 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 starts in A F♯ E F♯ E B and changes to a guitar in G G C G C D for the long outro (Musician, December 1995). Kim in B E G D B B.
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5. Unwind
Different tuning
G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3Measured
Notes
How to get there from E Standard: String 6 up 3 half steps (E → G), String 5 down a whole step (A → G), String 3 down 5 half steps (G → D), String 2 down 8 half steps (B → E♭), String 1 down 13 half steps (E → 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 in G G D D D♯ D♯ (running a slide over his pickups at the start of the instrumental part), Lee in G G C G C D, Kim in B E G D B B (set lists and videos).
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6. Little Trouble Girl
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.
Thurston's E G D G E D is likely but unconfirmed; Lee's part is not documented (one tab gives D G C D G G). Kim Deal sings with Kim Gordon.
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7. No Queen Blues
Different tuning
G2 G2 D3 D3 D♯3 D♯3Measured
Notes
How to get there from E Standard: String 6 up 3 half steps (E → G), String 5 down a whole step (A → G), String 3 down 5 half steps (G → D), String 2 down 8 half steps (B → E♭), String 1 down 13 half steps (E → 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 in G G D D D♯ D♯, Lee in G G C G C D, Kim in B E G D B B (set lists and videos).
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8. Panty Lies
Different pitch
F♯2 F♯2 F♯3 F♯3 E3 B3 +6 ¢Measured
Notes
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 in F♯ F♯ F♯ F♯ E B, Lee in A F♯ E F♯ E B (set lists and videos).
Thurston Moore's guitar: F♯ F♯ F♯ F♯ E B; Lee Ranaldo plays A F♯ E F♯ E B (set lists and videos).
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9. Becuz Coda
F♯2 F♯2 F♯3 F♯3 E3 B3Measured
Notes
Untitled on the sleeve (some track lists call it Thumb): the instrumental coda of Becuz, on the same guitars.
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10. Skip Tracer
Different tuning
A2 F♯2 E3 F♯3 E3 B3Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's F♯2 F♯2 F♯3 F♯3 E3 B3: String 6 up 3 half steps (F♯ → A), String 4 down a whole step (F♯ → E); the other strings stay.
Lee Ranaldo's song and guitar: A F♯ E F♯ E B. Thurston plays F♯ F♯ G G A A (set lists and videos).
On its own, this song measures flatter: CD −8.2 ¢. Tune uses the album's A 440.
-
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.
Nearly 20 minutes: a song, then a long improvisation over the open strings.
Thurston in E G D G E D, Lee in E E B B E F♯ (set lists and videos); the Songsterr tab has both.
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 Washing Machine in?
Sonic Youth recorded Washing Machine (1995) in F♯2 F♯2 F♯3 F♯3 E3 B3 at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit on the CD. 8 songs use other tunings or pitches, listed song by song on this page.
Why does Washing Machine sound out of tune with my guitar?
The Diamond Sea sits about 11 cents flat (A ≈ 437), 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, so you only tune the strings.