The Beatles · 1964 · Studio album

Beatles for Sale tuning.

E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD. 1 of 14 songs are tuned differently.

Beatles for Sale album cover

Album tuning

E Standard

At concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD.

MeasuredFrom tabs

Tune like thisPlay alongAll 14 songs

Measured by TuneLit

At concert pitch

SourceOffsetEquivalent ASongsSpreadConfidence
CD, Parlophone CDP 7 46438 2 (1987, mono)+3.6 ¢A 440.914+1.3 to +6.1 ¢High
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 (community).

E Standard at concert pitch on the 1987 mono CD (it reads +4 ¢), the steadiest album of the early years: only the Kansas City medley stands apart. The stereo vinyl copies TuneLit checked read about 5 to 7 ¢ lower.

14 songs · 1 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. 1. No Reply

    E StandardMeasured

  2. 2. I'm a Loser

    E StandardMeasured

  3. 3. Baby's in Black

    E StandardMeasured

  4. 4. Rock and Roll Music

    E StandardMeasured

    Notes

    On its own, this song measures sharper: CD +8.4 ¢. Tune uses the album's A 440.

  5. 5. I'll Follow the Sun

    E StandardMeasured

  6. 6. Mr. Moonlight

    E StandardMeasured

  7. 7. Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!

    Different pitch

    E Standard +13 ¢Measured

    Notes

    TuneLit measured about 13 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 443.2), 9 ¢ above the album, the one song that leaves the album's pitch.

    The songs are tabbed in E Standard throughout (Songsterr).

  8. 8. Eight Days a Week

    E StandardMeasured

  9. 9. Words of Love

    E StandardMeasured

  10. 10. Honey Don't

    E StandardMeasured

    Notes

    On its own, this song measures sharper: CD +8.1 ¢. Tune uses the album's A 440.

  11. 11. Every Little Thing

    E StandardMeasured

  12. 12. I Don't Want to Spoil the Party

    E StandardMeasured

    Notes

    On its own, this song measures sharper: CD +10.4 ¢. Tune uses the album's A 440.

  13. 13. What You're Doing

    E StandardMeasured

  14. 14. Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby

    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 Beatles for Sale in?

The Beatles recorded Beatles for Sale (1964) in E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit on the CD. Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! uses E Standard +13 ¢.

Why does Beatles for Sale sound out of tune with my guitar?

Kansas City/Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey! sits about 13 cents sharp (A ≈ 443), 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.