Van Halen · 1984 · Studio album
1984 tuning.
E Standard, about 8 cents sharp (A ≈ 442), measured on the CD. 7 of 9 songs are tuned differently.
Album tuning
E Standard +8 ¢
About 8 cents sharp (A ≈ 442), measured on the CD.
MeasuredFrom tabs
Measured by TuneLit
8 ¢ sharp
| Source | Offset | Equivalent A | Songs | Spread | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD, Warner Bros. 9 23985-2 (US) | +7.5 ¢ | A 441.9 | 9 | −1.3 to +19.2 ¢ | High |
Before we measured, sources said: E Standard, with no pitch given (community).
The first album made at Eddie's 5150 studio, with his Oberheim synthesizers beside the guitar. Tabbed in E Standard, with Drop D on Drop Dead Legs and E♭ on Panama. TuneLit measured the US CD about 8 cents sharp (A ≈ 441.9), with songs from about 28 cents flat (the title intro) to 42 cents sharp (Top Jimmy). Panama sits in E♭ about 34 cents sharp.
9 songs · 7 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. 1984
Different pitch
E Standard −28 ¢Measured
Notes
A one-minute synthesizer instrumental; no guitar. Measured about 28 cents flat (A ≈ 432.9).
Community tabs put most of the album in E Standard; the most-viewed Panama tab is in E♭.
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Notes
The riff is Eddie on an Oberheim OB-Xa synthesizer; Wikipedia, citing the Van Halen Guitar Anthology, puts the song in C major with the guitar solo in B♭ minor. The record sits at concert pitch.
Community tabs put most of the album in E Standard; the most-viewed Panama tab is in E♭.
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Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: Every string down a half step.
The tabs disagree by a half step: the most-viewed Songsterr tab is in E♭ Standard, a second one almost as popular in E Standard, and Wikipedia gives the key as E♭ major against the published score's E major. The record sides with E♭: TuneLit measured it about 34 cents above E♭ (A ≈ 448.8), two thirds of the way to E, and hears an open E♭ string.
The tabs disagree by a half step: the most-viewed Songsterr tab is in E♭ Standard, two others in E Standard. Wikipedia gives the key as E♭ major, while the published score is written in E. The notes of the E♭ tab match the record as written; those of the E tabs sit a half step above it.
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4. Top Jimmy
Different pitch
E Standard +42 ¢Measured
Notes
The intro uses harmonics. One popular tab puts the clean guitar in an altered tuning (D A D A C D) and the rest in standard; Ultimate Guitar plays it all in standard. Measured about 42 cents above E (A ≈ 450.7), almost halfway to F, so its page offers two readings; the audio check hears E.
The most-viewed Songsterr tab puts the clean guitar in an altered tuning (D A D A C D) and its other guitars in E Standard; the Ultimate Guitar tab plays it all in standard. No source names the tuning.
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5. Drop Dead Legs
Different tuning
Drop D +8 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: String 6 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
The tab is in Drop D.
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Notes
Opens with Alex's drum intro and Eddie's tapped part. Measured about 19 cents sharp (A ≈ 444.9).
Community tabs put most of the album in E Standard; the most-viewed Panama tab is in E♭.
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7. I'll Wait
E Standard +8 ¢Measured
Notes
Keyboard-led; Wikipedia says this one used an Oberheim OB-8 while the OB-Xa was being repaired.
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8. Girl Gone Bad
E Standard +8 ¢Measured
Notes
Community tabs put most of the album in E Standard; the most-viewed Panama tab is in E♭.
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9. House of Pain
Different pitch
E Standard −25 ¢Measured
Notes
Measured about 25 cents flat (A ≈ 433.7), the lowest guitar song on the album.
Community tabs put most of the album in E Standard; the most-viewed Panama tab is in E♭.
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 1984 in?
Van Halen recorded 1984 (1984) in E Standard, about 8 cents sharp (A ≈ 442), measured by TuneLit on the CD. 7 songs use other tunings or pitches, listed song by song on this page.
Why does 1984 sound out of tune with my guitar?
The record sits about 28 cents flat (A ≈ 433), 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.