The Beatles · 1969 · Studio album
Yellow Submarine tuning.
E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD. 3 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 46445 2 (1987, stereo) | +3.0 ¢ | A 440.8 | 13 | +0.6 to +5.3 ¢ | High |
Before we measured, sources said: E Standard, with no pitch given (community).
E Standard at concert pitch on the 1987 CD (it reads +3 ¢). Side one has four new songs plus Yellow Submarine and All You Need Is Love; side two is George Martin's orchestral score from the film, played without the Beatles, at concert pitch. Yellow Submarine reads about 30 ¢ flat here, 11 ¢ lower than on the 1987 Revolver CD; the vinyl copies of Revolver side with this disc.
13 songs · 3 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. Yellow Submarine
Different tuning
E♭ Standard −30 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: Every string down a half step.
E♭ Standard. TuneLit measured about 30 ¢ flat (A ≈ 432.4), 33 ¢ below the album; the 1987 Revolver CD reads the same recording about 11 ¢ higher.
The same recording as on Revolver. The tab tunes a half step down (E♭ Standard) and plays G shapes, so the song sounds in G♭ major.
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2. Only a Northern Song
Different pitch
E Standard −6 ¢Measured
Notes
Harrison's organ-led song from the Sgt. Pepper sessions. TuneLit measured about 6 ¢ flat (A ≈ 438.6), 9 ¢ below the album.
The songs are tabbed in E Standard, except Yellow Submarine (E♭ Standard); side two is George Martin's orchestral score (Songsterr).
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3. All Together Now
E StandardMeasured
Notes
The reading is weak and points about 24 ¢ flat; the button uses the album value, so lower the reference if you sound sharp.
On its own, this song measures flatter: CD −24.3 ¢ (medium confidence). Tune uses the album's A 440.
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4. Hey Bulldog
E StandardMeasured
Notes
Built on a piano riff doubled by guitar. The reading is weak but points about 34 ¢ sharp, and the vinyl copy agrees; the button uses the album value, so check by ear and raise the reference if you sound flat.
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5. It's All Too Much
E StandardMeasured
Notes
Organ and feedback; the reading is weak, so the button uses the album value.
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6. All You Need Is Love
E StandardMeasured
Notes
The same recording as on Magical Mystery Tour; it reads close to concert pitch on both.
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7. Pepperland
E StandardMeasured
Notes
George Martin's orchestral score; no guitars.
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8. Sea of Time
E StandardMeasured
Notes
George Martin's orchestral score; no guitars.
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9. Sea of Holes
E StandardMeasured
Notes
George Martin's orchestral score; no guitars.
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10. Sea of Monsters
E StandardMeasured
Notes
George Martin's orchestral score; no guitars.
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11. March of the Meanies
E StandardMeasured
Notes
George Martin's orchestral score; no guitars.
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12. Pepperland Laid Waste
E StandardMeasured
Notes
George Martin's orchestral score; no guitars.
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13. Yellow Submarine in Pepperland
Different pitch
E Standard −8 ¢Measured
Notes
George Martin's orchestral version of the song. TuneLit measured about 8 ¢ flat (A ≈ 438), 11 ¢ below the album.
The songs are tabbed in E Standard, except Yellow Submarine (E♭ Standard); side two is George Martin's orchestral score (Songsterr).
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 Yellow Submarine in?
The Beatles recorded Yellow Submarine (1969) in E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit on the CD. Yellow Submarine uses E♭ Standard −30 ¢; Only a Northern Song uses E Standard −6 ¢; Yellow Submarine in Pepperland uses E Standard −8 ¢.
Why does Yellow Submarine sound out of tune with my guitar?
The record sits about 30 cents flat (A ≈ 432), 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.