ZZ Top · 2003 · Studio album
Mescalero tuning.
E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured on the CD. 10 of 16 songs are tuned differently.
Album tuning
E Standard +4 ¢
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, RCA 82876 51654 2 (EU, 2003) | +4.1 ¢ | A 441 | 16 | +2.5 to +8.7 ¢ | High |
Before we measured, sources said: E Standard, with no pitch given (community).
The album with the most tunings: E Standard for most songs, D Standard for Two Ways to Play and What It Is Kid, Drop C for Alley-Gator, open G for Buck Nekkid, E♭ Standard for Que Lastima. About 4 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 441) overall, but the songs range from 8 ¢ flat to 22 ¢ sharp.
16 songs · 10 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. Mescalero
E Standard +4 ¢Measured
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2. Two Ways to Play
Different tuning
D Standard +4 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: Every string down a whole step.
Wikipedia says Gibbons tuned a whole step down for it; the one tab uses Drop D. Both put the low string on D, and TuneLit's semitone check agrees.
Wikipedia says Gibbons tuned a whole step down (D Standard) for it; the one tab is in Drop D. Both put the low string on D.
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3. Alley-Gator
Different tuning
Drop C +4 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: String 6 down 4 half steps (E → C), String 5 down a whole step (A → G), String 4 down a whole step (D → C), String 3 down a whole step (G → F), String 2 down a whole step (B → A), String 1 down a whole step (E → D).
Tabbed in Drop C (C G C F A D); TuneLit's semitone check agrees.
The one tab (little viewed) is in Drop C (C G C F A D).
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4. Buck Nekkid
Different tuning
Open G +4 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: String 6 down a whole step (E → D), String 5 down a whole step (A → G), String 1 down a whole step (E → D); the other strings stay.
Tabbed in open G (D G D G B D); TuneLit's semitone check agrees.
The one tab (little viewed) is in open G (D G D G B D).
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5. Goin' So Good
Different pitch
E Standard −8 ¢Measured
Notes
A slow ballad with pedal steel. TuneLit measured it about 8 ¢ flat (A ≈ 438.1).
The few tabs of the title track, Goin' So Good and Liquor are in E Standard; several other songs are tabbed lower.
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6. Me So Stupid
E Standard +4 ¢Measured
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7. Piece
E Standard +4 ¢Measured
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8. Punk Ass Boyfriend
E Standard +4 ¢Measured
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9. Stackin' Paper
E Standard +4 ¢Measured
Notes
Its machine-made tab is in E Standard, but TuneLit's semitone check hears E♭ as the lowest string. Check by ear.
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10. What Would You Do
Different pitch
E Standard +12 ¢Measured
Notes
TuneLit measured it about 12 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 443.1).
The few tabs of the title track, Goin' So Good and Liquor are in E Standard; several other songs are tabbed lower.
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11. What It Is Kid
Different tuning
D Standard +22 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: Every string down a whole step.
Its only tab, a machine transcription, is in D Standard; TuneLit's semitone check agrees. It measures about 22 ¢ sharp (A ≈ 445.6), the highest song on the album.
The only tab, a machine transcription (Songsterr AI), is in D Standard.
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12. Que Lastima
Different tuning
E♭ Standard +4 ¢Measured
Notes
How to get there from the album's E Standard: Every string down a half step.
Its only tab, a machine transcription, adds a low B♭ string to E♭ Standard; a six-string in E♭ Standard covers it, and TuneLit's semitone check agrees with E♭.
The only tab, a machine transcription (Songsterr AI), is written for a 7-string guitar tuned B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ B♭ E♭; its six upper strings are E♭ Standard.
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13. Tramp
Different pitch
E Standard −4 ¢Measured
Notes
The Lowell Fulson and Jimmy McCracklin song. TuneLit measured it about 4 ¢ flat (A ≈ 439).
The few tabs of the title track, Goin' So Good and Liquor are in E Standard; several other songs are tabbed lower.
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14. Crunchy
Different pitch
E Standard −8 ¢Measured
Notes
TuneLit measured it about 8 ¢ flat (A ≈ 438).
The few tabs of the title track, Goin' So Good and Liquor are in E Standard; several other songs are tabbed lower.
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15. Dusted
Different pitch
E Standard −5 ¢Measured
Notes
TuneLit measured it about 5 ¢ flat (A ≈ 438.6).
The few tabs of the title track, Goin' So Good and Liquor are in E Standard; several other songs are tabbed lower.
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16. Liquor
E Standard +4 ¢Measured
Notes
The few tabs of the title track, Goin' So Good and Liquor are in E Standard; several other songs are tabbed lower.
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 Mescalero in?
ZZ Top recorded Mescalero (2003) in E Standard at concert pitch (A 440), measured by TuneLit on the CD. 10 songs use other tunings or pitches, listed song by song on this page.
Why does Mescalero sound out of tune with my guitar?
What Would You Do sits about 12 cents sharp (A ≈ 443), 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.