Van Halen · 1998 · Studio album
Van Halen III tuning.
E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD. 6 of 12 songs are tuned differently.
Album tuning
E Standard
At concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD.
MeasuredFrom tabs
Measured by TuneLit
At concert pitch
| Source | Offset | Equivalent A | Songs | Spread | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD, Warner Bros. 9362-46662-2 (Europe, 1998) | −1.9 ¢ | A 439.5 | 12 | −2.7 to −1.1 ¢ | High |
Before we measured, sources said: E Standard, with no pitch given (community).
Gary Cherone's only album, with Eddie also playing bass on several songs (Wikipedia). Few tabs exist; they put most songs in E Standard, with Drop D, E A D G A D and open A with a low A on single songs. TuneLit measured the European CD about 2 cents flat (A ≈ 439.5), with Year to the Day about 18 cents flat.
12 songs · 6 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. Neworld
Different tuning
Drop DMeasured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: String 6 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
A short acoustic opener, with Mike Post on piano (album credits).
The tab plays this short acoustic opener in Drop D.
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2. Without You
E StandardMeasured
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3. One I Want
E StandardMeasured
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4. From Afar
Different pitch
E Standard +9 ¢Measured
Notes
Measured about 9 cents sharp (A ≈ 442.3).
The only album with Gary Cherone. The few tabs of it put most songs in E Standard.
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5. Dirty Water Dog
E StandardMeasured
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6. Once
E StandardMeasured
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7. Fire in the Hole
E StandardMeasured
Notes
Eddie bends whole chords with his tremolo; the tab follows those shifts up and down from E Standard.
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8. Josephina
Different tuning
E2 A2 D3 G3 A3 D4Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: String 2 down a whole step (B → A), String 1 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
The acoustic part lowers the top two strings a whole step: E A D G A D.
The tab's acoustic part lowers the 2nd string to A and the 1st to D: E A D G A D.
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9. Year to the Day
Different pitch
E Standard −18 ¢Measured
Notes
Measured about 18 cents flat (A ≈ 435.4).
The only album with Gary Cherone. The few tabs of it put most songs in E Standard.
-
10. Primary
Different tuning
A1 A2 E3 A3 C♯4 E4Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: String 6 down 7 half steps (E → A), String 4 up a whole step (D → E), String 3 up a whole step (G → A), String 2 up a whole step (B → C♯); the other strings stay.
String 6 sits 7 half steps below its standard E2. On a normal set (.046) it keeps only about 45 % of its usual tension and feels loose. For the usual feel use about a .069 string, or a baritone guitar.
A short piece on electric sitar (album credits).
Eddie plays it on an electric sitar (album credits); the tab tunes it to open A with a low A on the 6th string: A A E A C♯ E.
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11. Ballot or the Bullet
Different tuning
A1 A2 E3 A3 C♯4 E4Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: String 6 down 7 half steps (E → A), String 4 up a whole step (D → E), String 3 up a whole step (G → A), String 2 up a whole step (B → C♯); the other strings stay.
String 6 sits 7 half steps below its standard E2. On a normal set (.046) it keeps only about 45 % of its usual tension and feels loose. For the usual feel use about a .069 string, or a baritone guitar.
Slide guitar in open A.
The tab puts every guitar, slide parts included, in open A with the 6th string down to a low A: A A E A C♯ E.
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12. How Many Say I
E StandardMeasured
Notes
A piano ballad sung by Eddie (Wikipedia); 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 Van Halen III in?
Van Halen recorded Van Halen III (1998) in E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit on the CD. 6 songs use other tunings or pitches, listed song by song on this page.
Why does Van Halen III sound out of tune with my guitar?
Year to the Day sits about 18 cents flat (A ≈ 435), 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, so you only tune the strings.