tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post8579463182671821702..comments2023-09-08T15:19:35.621-07:00Comments on Quick, to the BATSHIT CAVE!: Black Sabbath tuningsJoe Gilmorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06667929388430105704noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-59827963449342993972020-10-14T12:59:50.808-07:002020-10-14T12:59:50.808-07:00This is awesome! Thank you. I wish there was a sit...This is awesome! Thank you. I wish there was a site that you could search for songs in a particular tuning, better if you could narrow it down by genre. I arrived here by searching, 'black sabbath tuning of albums', which followed 'https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/en/wiki/C_sharp_tuning' from searching, 'songs in c# tuning'JDobshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07660424790748672648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-44287638016117412782020-03-31T04:02:27.579-07:002020-03-31T04:02:27.579-07:00The Who's "Tommy" (1969) features tw...The Who's "Tommy" (1969) features two songs ("Sparks" and "Underture") that are played in C# standard. Old twelve-string guitars are often tuned down to ease tension on the neck and stop strings breaking, with a capo put on the relevant fret. Live eg: Woodstock, "Sparks" was played in E standard on a regular electric.<br /><br />I wonder if Black Sabbath got their inspiration from this? Although they've namechecked the Beatles as a primary influence, I can't believe they wouldn't have been aware of what the 'Oo were doing as well.Ritchie333https://www.blogger.com/profile/07307206599130092669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-83730666193994585882020-03-19T13:58:13.397-07:002020-03-19T13:58:13.397-07:00I'm pretty sure everything from V backwards is...I'm pretty sure everything from V backwards is all standard E by Saint Vitus. <br /><br />If you play along to the song "Saint Vitus," main riff is the open "A" chord I keep mentioning above, lowest note is open E. Same with "Burial at Sea." Tune your guitar standard, strike your low E note, and compare with the lowest notes in these songs. They should match. <br /><br />I haven't checked every Vitus song/album, but the early stuff is all in standard E far as I know from memory. <br /><br />Thanks for reading and commenting.Joe Gilmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06667929388430105704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-1632884813001544022020-02-29T07:07:26.137-08:002020-02-29T07:07:26.137-08:00Here's The Psychopath by Saint Vitus, recorded...Here's The Psychopath by Saint Vitus, recorded 1982, released 1984, two years before Wino Weinrich joined the band and according to himself taught them (the godfathers of stoner/doom metal! not counting Sabbath, they inspired the entire genre but it didnt exist until the late 70's when bands started emulating the Sabbath sound, shedding the Heavy metal harmonies and cultivating the droning and the noise and the religious overtones) to tune down. If this song is not a good example, The Walking Dead (The Walking Dead EP, 1985) got a heavier riff. Verging on sludge/post-hc years before the genre existed. Wtf Ill link to that one as well. <br /><br />The Psychopath: https://youtu.be/v-5iVhwj9z4<br /><br />The Walking Dead: https://youtu.be/lf78Ut68PRM<br /><br />Please tell me the tuning used. I dont expect you to but Id really appreciate it. Fuckin Wino claiming he taught Sabbath worshipper Dave Chandler, lead guitarist of the grittiest stoner band on earth how to tune down... IHS-Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09405603417586152685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-51080325167537753652020-02-29T06:56:32.540-08:002020-02-29T06:56:32.540-08:00Im a old Sabbath fan (35, discovered Sabbath at 9 ...Im a old Sabbath fan (35, discovered Sabbath at 9 yrs of age so actually Iommi & CO are about my late grandparents' age but Im used to calling myself "old" on forums cause the topic online is usually hiphop and remembering when 36 Chambers came and Biggie got shot means youre ancient, its no culture for grown men in spite of hiphop being at its prime 30 years ago) and a guitarist since the early 90's. I rarely write just to give kudos but I got to now. Im embarassed to admit I thought Black Sabbath and Paranoid was recorded halw step down but simply sped up or fucked with in the studio somehow, cause Iommi talked about him starting tuning down one year after his accident (which I Think happened when he was 17, circa three years before Earth). Ive played in stoner/doom bands so it adds insult to injury that Ive been Walking around believing even Paranoid is supposed to be played in Eb/#D, half step down. But my excuse is Ive never did any serious Sabbath covers, they cant be improved on by a mortal such as myself and 99,9% of rock musicians, Glenn Danzig's versions of Hand of Doom and NIB are exceptions cause hes idiosyncratic rock/metal incarnated, does wtf he wants and the covers are totally different from the originals. Danzig<br />s NIB barely has any bass at all, skips the redundant last verse (only repeating verse 2 as the final verse is PERFECT) and got back-beat/half-beat, drums underlines the first stroke only instead of marking every other and each measure. Danzig NIB runs in half-pace (dont know the English term for "halvtakt", I dont mean they play it at half the pace/BPM but at another groove) while the drums goes off the straight 4/4 schematic, bass drum marking measure 1, 2 and 4 of the 4/4 while the snare hits every other 3rd. Wtf i ramble. My english skills are lacking here… Halfbeat is that even a word. The prechorus in Enter Sandman. Thats called "halvtakt" in Swedish, "half-groove" is the literal translation. Whatever; just wanted to say this was one of the most enlightening Sabbath related blog posts Ive ever read. I love to dig deep into rock n roll trivia and technical freakery. And I got wide frames of reference. I tune my own guitar half step down as standard cause that usually suits my vocals; plus its a Washburn Maverick so the strings are too close to the board to begin with, tuning down any more will have them rattling. I also need sort of a favor: Weino Wenrich claimed in an interview he taught Dave Chandler to tune down when he joined Saint Vitus in '86. But Im sure all or most songs on Saint Vitus debut LP s/t (1984) are tuned down, to d or c#. If u havent heard them, heres a link to their sludge/stoner masterpiece The Psychopath, from before Wino joined the band. I dont have access to my equipment for a while so I cant find out by jamming to it and I dont have perfect pitch. (Ill post the Youtube link in a seperate post or the spam filter may block me)IHS-Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09405603417586152685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-7093650536706915042020-02-19T13:54:04.412-08:002020-02-19T13:54:04.412-08:00This is a deep study of the Sabbath...thank you!This is a deep study of the Sabbath...thank you!Pinetop Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11730508487181317770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-59900522019604446032019-12-26T13:17:57.319-08:002019-12-26T13:17:57.319-08:00forgot the mailforgot the mailAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06368717033923828689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-90218948380738291392019-12-26T13:16:16.833-08:002019-12-26T13:16:16.833-08:00Thanks...alot of valuable info here...I modded a 4...Thanks...alot of valuable info here...I modded a 4 string bass with strings from a "5" set and tuned up to C# as M.O.R. was the first Sabbath LP I bought...in a grocery store...lol!!! Still have it and all up to Sabotage...power onAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06368717033923828689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-68037560398422486352019-10-14T11:59:04.646-07:002019-10-14T11:59:04.646-07:00I dig your straightforwardness, bro. As well the r...I dig your straightforwardness, bro. As well the responses.<br /><br />Think I'll hang around some...Billy Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09011872655339424359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-45360503561675320452019-09-15T08:38:01.466-07:002019-09-15T08:38:01.466-07:00Very interesting... not sure why you don't hav...Very interesting... not sure why you don't have another guitar in C# tuning in the arsenal - oh wellSchuslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05744960855134523757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-26125071187291038172019-09-15T08:35:14.905-07:002019-09-15T08:35:14.905-07:00One thing to note on Never Say Die... I believe to...One thing to note on Never Say Die... I believe to this day "Over to You" and possibly "Hard Road" are in C# guitar tuning. Rest are 440.Schuslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05744960855134523757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-64758426254495845162019-06-01T07:03:28.827-07:002019-06-01T07:03:28.827-07:00Awesome Job. The C# tuning is insane, brilliant a...Awesome Job. The C# tuning is insane, brilliant and ever so dark. Probably why I like sabbath so much. Kayaking NYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781743215491884941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-72117628357563548172019-05-31T11:19:16.481-07:002019-05-31T11:19:16.481-07:00Also, if anyone's curious here are the tunings...Also, if anyone's curious here are the tunings for the post-'70s Black Sabbath albums.<br /><br />Heaven and Hell: Eb tuning<br />The Mob Rules: Eb tuning<br />Born Again: D tuning<br />Seventh Star: D tuning, slightly sharp.<br />The Eternal Idol: Eb tuning<br />Headless Cross: Eb tuning<br />TYR: Eb tuning<br />Dehumanizer: Eb tuning<br />Cross Purposes: Eb tuning<br />Forbidden: Eb tuning (except "Forbidden" and "Can't Get Close Enough". A comment says those are tuned to Bb-Ab-Db-Gb-Bb-Eb)<br /><br />I got the information from here: http://www.black-sabbath.com/vb/showthread.php?34829-Tuning-Down&s=16098220789e586d6ae645c8d1bd17e4&p=250911&viewfull=1#post250911<br /><br />I think 13 is also in Eb tuning, according to this thread (https://www.black-sabbath.com/vb/showthread.php?41089-Down-tuning-live). The Devil You Know is according to the first thread in Eb tuning except "Follow the Tears" and "Rock and Roll Angel" which are in C# tuning (or Drop C#, Wikipedia listed "Follow the Tears" as being played in Drop C live. They played a half-step down from studio on the tour so maybe it was drop C# in studio.)Haydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12925628802482767610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-682493101486479462019-05-31T11:15:01.936-07:002019-05-31T11:15:01.936-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Haydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12925628802482767610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-33521020348130253992019-05-31T11:14:22.417-07:002019-05-31T11:14:22.417-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Haydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12925628802482767610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-28184905214429158902019-05-31T11:09:26.137-07:002019-05-31T11:09:26.137-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Haydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12925628802482767610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-31551534181694464012019-05-31T11:05:32.968-07:002019-05-31T11:05:32.968-07:00Late reply, but they did tour for Technical Ecstas...Late reply, but they did tour for Technical Ecstasy. They played in E standard for all the songs, and all of the C# tuning songs were dropped from the setlist except "Symptom of the Universe", "Children of the Grave" and "Snowblind", along with a few performances of "Megalomania", "Embryo" and "Into the Void". This was likely to give Ozzy's voice less of a workout.Haydenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12925628802482767610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-51518227726884179392019-04-10T09:51:04.071-07:002019-04-10T09:51:04.071-07:00Great job explaining all this....the 70's were...Great job explaining all this....the 70's were full of slightly "off" mystery tunings that makes it hard to learn and play along to this music. Iowacaptive2011https://www.blogger.com/profile/00297918825623770903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-32022191817063554472019-01-25T18:13:15.395-08:002019-01-25T18:13:15.395-08:00Do seventh star please. Can't quite figure out...Do seventh star please. Can't quite figure out Heart Like A Wheel. One of Iommi's best works btw...<br />Great post<br />If you can help thanksAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17988296207216610601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-78437938216308961392019-01-24T01:29:42.069-08:002019-01-24T01:29:42.069-08:00Stumbled across this the other night. And a loud T...Stumbled across this the other night. And a loud THANK YOU for confirming my sanity (or insanity, whatever works). So many times I’ve tried jamming to Sabbath YouTube videos and thought wtf, then looked for another version of War Pigs that didn’t sound out of wack to my tuned guitar. You nailed the sharposity. Glad I can’t blame my sorry guitar skills. Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06219167259410136191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-82441115597660681542018-12-16T19:36:06.093-08:002018-12-16T19:36:06.093-08:00Good shit, im 16 and Sabbath is my favorite band r...Good shit, im 16 and Sabbath is my favorite band right now<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10289283240076792503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-1864857661443748842018-07-30T17:07:31.079-07:002018-07-30T17:07:31.079-07:00thank you, very informative.thank you, very informative.IwasFUCKEDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09527804418164769187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-32682487038956978202018-04-19T03:54:00.686-07:002018-04-19T03:54:00.686-07:00Very helpful thanks and confirmed my suspicions re...Very helpful thanks and confirmed my suspicions regarding Paranoid, slightly off tuning, thanks. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07959037740403921029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-43185588581163312612018-03-17T09:54:38.448-07:002018-03-17T09:54:38.448-07:00Awesome post, super helpful and thorough!Awesome post, super helpful and thorough!Drowning Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16287649202327660838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4172192832250046079.post-35790269708347671582018-01-30T10:51:11.470-08:002018-01-30T10:51:11.470-08:00Quite enjoyed this, thanks!Quite enjoyed this, thanks!ydrivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09365280077331598067noreply@blogger.com