The Beatles · 1964 · Studio album
A Hard Day's Night tuning.
E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD. 6 of 13 songs are tuned differently.
Album tuning
E Standard
At concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD.
MeasuredFrom tabs
Measured by TuneLit
At concert pitch
| Source | Offset | Equivalent A | Songs | Spread | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD, Parlophone CDP 7 46437 2 (1987, mono) | +3.0 ¢ | A 440.8 | 13 | +2.3 to +4.0 ¢ | High |
Before we measured, sources said: E Standard, with no pitch given (community).
E Standard at concert pitch on the 1987 mono CD (it reads +3 ¢). Harrison's Rickenbacker 12-string is all over the album, always in standard tuning. Two songs run sharp: I'm Happy Just to Dance with You and Can't Buy Me Love, recorded in Paris. The stereo vinyl copies TuneLit checked read the whole album about 8 to 10 ¢ lower than this CD.
13 songs · 6 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
-
Notes
Harrison's 12-string opening chord and solo; the solo was recorded at half speed and played back an octave up. TuneLit found no steady reading in the song, so the button uses the album value.
Harrison's Rickenbacker 360/12 plays the opening chord and the solo, Lennon a six-string acoustic; all in standard tuning, so a six-string plays the same chords.
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2. I Should Have Known Better
Different pitch
E Standard −6 ¢Measured
Notes
Lennon plays harmonica, Harrison the 12-string solo. TuneLit measured about 6 ¢ flat (A ≈ 438.5).
The songs are tabbed in E Standard throughout, the 12-string parts included (Songsterr).
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3. If I Fell
E StandardMeasured
-
4. I'm Happy Just to Dance with You
Different pitch
E Standard +21 ¢Measured
Notes
TuneLit measured about 21 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 445.3), 18 ¢ above the album.
The songs are tabbed in E Standard throughout, the 12-string parts included (Songsterr).
-
5. And I Love Her
Different pitch
E Standard −9 ¢Measured
Notes
Harrison plays the riff on a nylon-string guitar; the key rises a half step for the solo. TuneLit measured about 9 ¢ flat (A ≈ 437.8).
The songs are tabbed in E Standard throughout, the 12-string parts included (Songsterr).
-
6. Tell Me Why
E StandardMeasured
-
7. Can't Buy Me Love
Different pitch
E Standard +16 ¢Measured
Notes
Recorded in Paris in January 1964. TuneLit measured about 16 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 444), 13 ¢ above the album.
The songs are tabbed in E Standard throughout, the 12-string parts included (Songsterr).
-
8. Any Time at All
E StandardMeasured
-
9. I'll Cry Instead
Different pitch
E Standard −8 ¢Measured
Notes
TuneLit measured about 8 ¢ flat (A ≈ 437.9).
The songs are tabbed in E Standard throughout, the 12-string parts included (Songsterr).
-
10. Things We Said Today
E StandardMeasured
-
11. When I Get Home
E StandardMeasured
-
12. You Can't Do That
E StandardMeasured
Notes
Lennon plays the lead on his six-string Rickenbacker, Harrison the 12-string chords.
-
13. I'll Be Back
E StandardMeasured
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 A Hard Day's Night in?
The Beatles recorded A Hard Day's Night (1964) in E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit on the CD. 6 songs use other tunings or pitches, listed song by song on this page.
Why does A Hard Day's Night sound out of tune with my guitar?
I'm Happy Just to Dance with You sits about 21 cents sharp (A ≈ 445), 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.