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.

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 46438 2 (1987, mono) | +3.6 ¢ | A 440.9 | 14 | +1.3 to +6.1 ¢ | 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 +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
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1. No Reply
E StandardMeasured
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2. I'm a Loser
E StandardMeasured
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3. Baby's in Black
E StandardMeasured
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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.
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5. I'll Follow the Sun
E StandardMeasured
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6. Mr. Moonlight
E StandardMeasured
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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).
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8. Eight Days a Week
E StandardMeasured
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9. Words of Love
E StandardMeasured
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10. Honey Don't
E StandardMeasured
Notes
On its own, this song measures sharper: CD +8.1 ¢. Tune uses the album's A 440.
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11. Every Little Thing
E StandardMeasured
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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.
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13. What You're Doing
E StandardMeasured
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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.