TUNELIT

The Rolling Stones · 1989 · Studio album

Steel Wheels tuning.

E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD. 3 of 12 songs are tuned differently.

Steel Wheels album cover

Album tuning

E Standard

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

MeasuredFrom tabs

Tune like thisPlay alongAll 12 songs

Measured by TuneLit

At concert pitch

SourceOffsetEquivalent ASongsSpreadConfidence
CD (ALAC rip; pressing not identified)+2.7 ¢A 440.712+1.7 to +5.1 ¢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).

Standard tuning except Mixed Emotions (open G), at concert pitch; Terrifying sits about 39 ¢ flat.

12 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

  1. 1. Sad Sad Sad

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  2. 2. Mixed Emotions

    Different tuning

    G2 D3 G3 B3 D4Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Keith Richards's and Mick Jagger's guitars are tabbed in open G, Ronnie Wood's in standard tuning.

  3. 3. Terrifying

    Different pitch

    E Standard −39 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    TuneLit measured it about 39 ¢ flat (A ≈ 430.1).

    Standard tuning for most songs; Mixed Emotions is in open G.

  4. 4. Hold on to Your Hat

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    On its own, this song measures sharper: CD +8.3 ¢. Tune uses the album's A 440.

  5. 5. Hearts for Sale

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  6. 6. Blinded by Love

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  7. 7. Rock and a Hard Place

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  8. 8. Can't Be Seen

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  9. 9. Almost Hear You Sigh

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  10. 10. Continental Drift

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

  11. 11. Break the Spell

    Different pitch

    E Standard +12 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Standard tuning for most songs; Mixed Emotions is in open G.

  12. 12. Slipping Away

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along

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 Steel Wheels in?

The Rolling Stones recorded Steel Wheels (1989) in E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit on the CD. Mixed Emotions uses G2 D3 G3 B3 D4; Terrifying uses E Standard −39 ¢; Break the Spell uses E Standard +12 ¢.

Why does Steel Wheels sound out of tune with my guitar?

Terrifying sits about 39 cents flat (A ≈ 430), 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.