TUNELIT

Van Halen · 1988 · Studio album

OU812 tuning.

E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD. 8 of 10 songs are tuned differently.

OU812 album cover

Album tuning

E Standard

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

MeasuredFrom tabs

Tune like thisPlay alongAll 10 songs

Measured by TuneLit

At concert pitch

SourceOffsetEquivalent ASongsSpreadConfidence
CD, Warner Bros. 9 25732-2 (US, 1988)0 ¢A 44010−13.5 to +9.3 ¢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).

Every tab is in E Standard, and TuneLit measured the US CD right at A 440, but single songs wander more than on any other Van Halen album, from about 50 cents flat (Source of Infection) to 40 cents sharp (A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)). A Apolitical Blues was on the CD only.

10 songs · 8 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. Mine All Mine

    Different pitch

    E Standard +10 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Opens on synthesizer. Measured about 10 cents sharp (A ≈ 442.4).

    Community tabs put every song in E Standard.

  2. 2. When It's Love

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Wikipedia says it grew from a piano and drums demo by Eddie and Alex.

  3. 3. A.F.U. (Naturally Wired)

    Different pitch

    E Standard +40 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Measured about 40 cents sharp of E (A ≈ 450.3), the most of any song on the album, so its page offers two readings. TuneLit's audio check hears the open E, but the only tab's notes fit the record better a half step lower: check this one by ear.

    Community tabs put every song in E Standard.

  4. 4. Cabo Wabo

    Different pitch

    E Standard −14 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Measured about 14 cents flat (A ≈ 436.5).

    Community tabs put every song in E Standard.

  5. 5. Source of Infection

    Different pitch

    E Standard −50 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Measured almost exactly halfway between E♭ and E, about 50 cents flat of E (A ≈ 427.5). The tab and the audio check both say E; E♭ 50 cents sharp is the same pitch.

    Community tabs put every song in E Standard.

  6. 6. Feels So Good

    E StandardMeasured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Keyboard-led.

  7. 7. Finish What Ya Started

    Different pitch

    E Standard +9 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    A clean, country-tinged rhythm part, tabbed in E Standard. Measured about 9 cents sharp (A ≈ 442.2).

    Community tabs put every song in E Standard.

  8. 8. Black and Blue

    Different pitch

    E Standard −12 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Measured about 12 cents flat (A ≈ 437).

    Community tabs put every song in E Standard.

  9. 9. Sucker in a 3 Piece

    Different pitch

    E Standard −16 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    Measured about 16 cents flat (A ≈ 435.9).

    Community tabs put every song in E Standard.

  10. 10. A Apolitical Blues

    Different pitch

    E Standard +10 ¢Measured

    Tune Play along
    Notes

    The Little Feat cover, on the CD only (the LP and cassette left it off, per Wikipedia). Measured about 10 cents sharp (A ≈ 442.4).

    Community tabs put every song in E Standard.

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 OU812 in?

Van Halen recorded OU812 (1988) in E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit on the CD. 8 songs use other tunings or pitches, listed song by song on this page.

Why does OU812 sound out of tune with my guitar?

A.F.U. (Naturally Wired) sits about 40 cents sharp (A ≈ 450), 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.