Van Halen · 1979 · Studio album
Van Halen II tuning.
E♭ Standard, about 28 cents sharp (A ≈ 447), measured on the CD. 4 of 10 songs are tuned differently.
Album tuning
E♭ Standard +28 ¢
About 28 cents sharp (A ≈ 447), measured on the CD.
MeasuredWidely reported
Measured by TuneLit
28 ¢ sharp
| Source | Offset | Equivalent A | Songs | Spread | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD, Warner-Pioneer 20P2-2031 (Japan, 1988) | +28.3 ¢ | A 447.3 | 10 | +27.8 to +30.2 ¢ | High |
Before we measured, sources said: E♭ Standard, about 40 cents sharp (widely reported).
Tabbed in E♭ Standard like the debut. TuneLit measured the Japanese CD about 28 cents above E♭ (A ≈ 447.3): of all Van Halen albums, this one fits the "between E♭ and E" reputation best. D.O.A. and Women in Love... sit lower, about 12 to 13 cents above E♭, and Spanish Fly is played a whole step down in D.
10 songs · 4 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. You're No Good
E♭ Standard +28 ¢Measured
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2. Dance the Night Away
E♭ Standard +28 ¢Measured
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3. Somebody Get Me a Doctor
E♭ Standard +28 ¢Measured
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4. Bottoms Up!
Different pitch
E♭ Standard +37 ¢Measured
Notes
Measured about 37 cents above E♭ (A ≈ 449.5), the sharpest song on the album; it sits between two notes, so its page offers two readings. The audio check hears E♭.
Tabs put the album in E♭ Standard like the debut, and the same Guitar World lesson says the first two albums sit above E♭ (about D♯ +40 ¢).
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5. Outta Love Again
E♭ Standard +28 ¢Measured
Notes
On its own, this song measures sharper: CD +36.9 ¢ (medium confidence). Tune uses the album's +28 ¢.
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6. Light Up the Sky
E♭ Standard +28 ¢Measured
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7. Spanish Fly
Different tuning
D Standard +12 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E♭ Standard: Every string down a half step.
An acoustic tapping showpiece on a nylon-string Ovation, tuned a whole step down to D Standard rather than the band's E♭. TuneLit measured it about 12 cents above D (A ≈ 443) and hears D as its lowest string.
Played on a nylon-string Ovation (VHND). Bonedo's Eddie Van Halen workshop says the guitar is tuned to D, and both Songsterr tabs use D Standard, a whole step down.
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8. D.O.A.
Different pitch
E♭ Standard +12 ¢Measured
Notes
Measured about 12 cents above E♭ (A ≈ 443.2), some 16 cents below most of the album.
Tabs put the album in E♭ Standard like the debut, and the same Guitar World lesson says the first two albums sit above E♭ (about D♯ +40 ¢).
-
9. Women in Love...
Different pitch
E♭ Standard +13 ¢Measured
Notes
Opens with a harmonics figure. Measured about 13 cents above E♭ (A ≈ 443.4), lower than most of the album.
Tabs put the album in E♭ Standard like the debut, and the same Guitar World lesson says the first two albums sit above E♭ (about D♯ +40 ¢).
-
10. Beautiful Girls
E♭ Standard +28 ¢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 Van Halen II in?
Van Halen recorded Van Halen II (1979) in E♭ Standard, about 28 cents sharp (A ≈ 447), measured by TuneLit on the CD. 4 songs use other tunings or pitches, listed song by song on this page.
Why does Van Halen II sound out of tune with my guitar?
The record sits about 28 cents sharp (A ≈ 447), 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.