Van Halen · 1982 · Studio album
Diver Down tuning.
E Standard, about 27 cents flat (A ≈ 433), measured on the CD. 7 of 12 songs are tuned differently.
Album tuning
E Standard −27 ¢
About 27 cents flat (A ≈ 433), measured on the CD.
MeasuredFrom tabs
Measured by TuneLit
27 ¢ flat
| Source | Offset | Equivalent A | Songs | Spread | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD, Warner-Pioneer 20P2-2034 (Japan, 1988) | −27.2 ¢ | A 433.1 | 12 | −53.3 to −27.2 ¢ | Medium |
Before we measured, sources said: E Standard, with no pitch given (community).
Five covers and several short instrumentals. Most songs are tabbed in E Standard, and TuneLit measured them 20 to 45 cents flat, so the album value is E Standard 27 cents flat (A ≈ 433.1), a record that really sits between E♭ and E. Secrets and (Oh) Pretty Woman are in E♭, at about 0 and 27 cents above it. The 2016 Japanese remaster runs about 10 cents higher than the original CD.
12 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. Where Have All the Good Times Gone!
Different pitch
E Standard −35 ¢Measured
Notes
The Kinks cover, tabbed in E Standard. Measured about 35 cents flat (A ≈ 431.1), well on the way to E♭.
The tabs split this album: most songs, including Where Have All the Good Times Gone!, Hang 'Em High and Cathedral, are tabbed in E Standard, while Secrets, Intruder and (Oh) Pretty Woman are in E♭.
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2. Hang 'Em High
E Standard −27 ¢Measured
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3. Cathedral
Different pitch
E Standard −44 ¢Measured
Notes
Played with volume swells and an Echoplex delay, so the notes sound bowed; the band named it after a church organ (Wikipedia). Measured about 44 cents flat (A ≈ 428.9), almost halfway to E♭.
The tabs split this album: most songs, including Where Have All the Good Times Gone!, Hang 'Em High and Cathedral, are tabbed in E Standard, while Secrets, Intruder and (Oh) Pretty Woman are in E♭.
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4. Secrets
Different tuning
E♭ StandardMeasured
Notes
How to get there from E Standard: Every string down a half step.
Played on the 12-string neck of a Gibson doubleneck (Wikipedia). Measured right at E♭ (about +2 ¢).
Wikipedia says Eddie played it on a Gibson doubleneck 12-string with a flatpick; the tab is in E♭ Standard.
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5. Intruder
E Standard −27 ¢Measured
Notes
A noisy instrumental with Roth on synthesizer (album credits), written to fit the (Oh) Pretty Woman video. The tab plays its guitar in E♭ Standard with (Oh) Pretty Woman; TuneLit's reading of this track is too unsure for a value of its own, so its button uses the album setting. To play it into Pretty Woman, use that song's setting.
On its own, this song measures flatter: CD −53.3 ¢ (medium confidence). Tune uses the album's −27 ¢.
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6. (Oh) Pretty Woman
Different tuning
E♭ Standard +27 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: Every string down a half step.
The Roy Orbison cover, tabbed in E♭ Standard. Measured about 27 cents above E♭ (A ≈ 446.9).
Both tabs are in E♭ Standard.
TuneLit's semitone check from the audio hears E♭ about 27 cents sharp as the lowest open string, where the tabs put it.
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7. Dancing in the Street
Different pitch
E StandardMeasured
Notes
Eddie plays the synthesizer part himself (album credits). Measured at concert-pitch E, unlike the flat E songs around it.
The tabs split this album: most songs, including Where Have All the Good Times Gone!, Hang 'Em High and Cathedral, are tabbed in E Standard, while Secrets, Intruder and (Oh) Pretty Woman are in E♭.
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8. Little Guitars (Intro)
E Standard −27 ¢Measured
Notes
A flamenco-style piece on a nylon-string guitar, inspired by Carlos Montoya (Wikipedia).
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9. Little Guitars
Different tuning
Drop D −17 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: String 6 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
Played on Eddie's mini Les Paul. On a normal guitar, Drop D with a capo at the 3rd fret gives the notes the tabs use, and they match the record. Measured about 17 cents flat (A ≈ 435.6).
Eddie played it on a small Les Paul-style guitar made by David Petschulat. The tabs put that guitar at F C F B♭ D G, which is Drop D with a capo on the 3rd fret on a full-size guitar. No source documents the real tuning.
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10. Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)
Different pitch
E Standard −19 ¢Measured
Notes
An old-time jazz number with Eddie on acoustic guitar and his father Jan on clarinet (Wikipedia). Measured about 19 cents flat (A ≈ 435.1).
The tabs split this album: most songs, including Where Have All the Good Times Gone!, Hang 'Em High and Cathedral, are tabbed in E Standard, while Secrets, Intruder and (Oh) Pretty Woman are in E♭.
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11. The Full Bug
E Standard −27 ¢Measured
Notes
Roth plays the acoustic intro and harmonica (album credits).
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12. Happy Trails
E Standard −27 ¢Measured
Notes
Sung a cappella; no guitar.
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 Diver Down in?
Van Halen recorded Diver Down (1982) in E Standard, about 27 cents flat (A ≈ 433), measured by TuneLit on the CD. 7 songs use other tunings or pitches, listed song by song on this page.
Why does Diver Down sound out of tune with my guitar?
The record sits about 27 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.