The Rolling Stones · 1972 · Studio album
Exile on Main St. tuning.
E Standard, about 18 cents sharp (A ≈ 445), measured on the CD. 11 of 18 songs are tuned differently.
Album tuning
E Standard +18 ¢
About 18 cents sharp (A ≈ 445), measured on the CD.
MeasuredFrom tabs
Measured by TuneLit
18 ¢ sharp
| Source | Offset | Equivalent A | Songs | Spread | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2CD, 2010 reissue, disc 1 (the original album) | +17.8 ¢ | A 444.5 | 18 | +15.8 to +19.4 ¢ | High |
Before we measured, sources said: E Standard, with no pitch given (community).
Five-string open G with capos for Tumbling Dice and Happy, open G for Rocks Off and Rip This Joint, standard tuning for most of the rest. TuneLit measured the album about 18 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 444.5), but the songs split into a sharp group and a group near concert pitch, with Sweet Black Angel about 33 ¢ flat.
18 songs · 11 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. Rocks Off
Different tuning
G2 D3 G3 B3 D4 +18 ¢Measured
Notes
The tab writes Keith Richards's part as open G with the unused low string left at E (E G D G B D); on five strings that is his usual G D G B D. A second guitar is in standard tuning.
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2. Rip This Joint
Different tuning
G2 D3 G3 B3 D4 +18 ¢Measured
Notes
One guitar is tabbed in open G with a capo at the 2nd fret, the other in standard tuning.
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3. Shake Your Hips
E Standard +18 ¢Measured
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4. Casino Boogie
Different pitch
E StandardMeasured
Notes
Most songs are tabbed in standard tuning; Keith Richards's five-string open G drives Rocks Off, Rip This Joint, Tumbling Dice and Happy.
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Notes
About 23 ¢ sharp in TuneLit's reading, within a few cents of the album value.
Keith Richards plays it in five-string open G with a capo at the 4th fret, so the open strings sound as B.
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6. Sweet Virginia
Different pitch
E Standard −12 ¢Measured
Notes
Keith Richards's acoustic is tabbed in standard tuning with a capo at the 2nd fret.
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7. Torn and Frayed
E Standard +18 ¢Measured
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8. Sweet Black Angel
Different pitch
E Standard −33 ¢Measured
Notes
Stored as E Standard about 33 ¢ flat (A ≈ 431.8).
Tabbed in standard tuning: Keith Richards's acoustic, Mick Taylor's acoustic lead, with marimba.
TuneLit's semitone check from the audio hears the low E, about 33 ¢ flat; F, a half step above, never sounds in the low octave.
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9. Loving Cup
E Standard +18 ¢Measured
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10. Happy
Different tuning
G2 D3 G3 B3 D4 −16 ¢Measured
Notes
TuneLit measured it about 16 ¢ flat (A ≈ 436), some 34 ¢ below Tumbling Dice in the same tuning.
Keith Richards's song in five-string open G with a capo at the 4th fret, the same set-up as Tumbling Dice.
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11. Turd on the Run
E Standard +18 ¢Measured
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12. Ventilator Blues
Different pitch
E Standard +6 ¢Measured
Notes
Most songs are tabbed in standard tuning; Keith Richards's five-string open G drives Rocks Off, Rip This Joint, Tumbling Dice and Happy.
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13. I Just Want to See His Face
E Standard +18 ¢Measured
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14. Let It Loose
Different pitch
E Standard +5 ¢Measured
Notes
The tab has the guitar in standard tuning with a capo at the 3rd fret.
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15. All Down the Line
E Standard +18 ¢Measured
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16. Stop Breaking Down
Different pitch
E Standard +5 ¢Measured
Notes
Most songs are tabbed in standard tuning; Keith Richards's five-string open G drives Rocks Off, Rip This Joint, Tumbling Dice and Happy.
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17. Shine a Light
Different pitch
E StandardMeasured
Notes
Most songs are tabbed in standard tuning; Keith Richards's five-string open G drives Rocks Off, Rip This Joint, Tumbling Dice and Happy.
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18. Soul Survivor
E Standard +18 ¢Measured
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 Exile on Main St. in?
The Rolling Stones recorded Exile on Main St. (1972) in E Standard, about 18 cents sharp (A ≈ 445), measured by TuneLit on the CD. 11 songs use other tunings or pitches, listed song by song on this page.
Why does Exile on Main St. sound out of tune with my guitar?
The record sits about 18 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.