The Unofficial Sonic Youth
Guitar Tunings List
Dec 10 1993
Compiled and supplemented by: Art Lee (
[email protected]). This
document copyright (c) 1993 Art Lee. This document may not be reproduced in
any format. This includes posting this document to any newsgroup or mailing
list. Send corrections/additions/etc to this address please.
Ftp: ftp.maths.tcd.ie - /pub/music/guitar/sonic_youth/guitar.tunings
Posted to: Usenet monthly.
Update: None; last revised May 19 1993.
Thanks to: Guitar Player Aug 1989, Bad Moon Rising CD Booklet, Ron Rader
(
[email protected]), Michael Hayes (
[email protected]), Sean C. Duncan
(
[email protected]), Mike Goldsman (
[email protected]),
Sam Rowe (
[email protected]) and others.
Notes:
1. Tunings are listed from lowest to highest string.
Example: ----- (standard tuning).
2. LR = Lee Ranaldo, TM = Thurston Moore.
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Contents: by section
1. General tunings
2. Slightly altered tunings
3. Split tunings
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Section 1: General tunings
1. -----
The second and third E s are in unison.
Used in: Eric s Trip, Hey Joni, Rain King, Kissability.
2. -----
The first two E s are in unison.
Used in: Intro, Brave Men Run, Ghost Bitch (LR - mellow).
3. -----
The first two E s are in unison.
Used in: Ghost Bitch (LR).
4. -----
The first pair of F# s are in unison. The second pair of F# s
are in unison and an octave above the first pair.
Used in: Death Valley 69, Halloween, Mary Christ, Kool Thing, 100%.
5. -----
Used in: Teenage Riot (TM).
6. -----
All three pairs are in unison.
Used in: I Love Her All the Time (TM).
7. -----
The first pair of G s are in unison. The second pair of G s
are in unison an octave above the first pair.
Used in: The Wonder (TM), Hyperstation (TM).
8. -----
All three pairs are in unison.
Used in: Mote.
9. -----
All three pairs are in unison, the second pair of G s are an
octave above the first pair.
Used in: Teenage Riot (LR), Tunic (LR).
10. -----
The three G# s are in unison. The pair of D# s are in unison.
Used in: White Cross (TM).
11. -----
The first pair of A s are in unison. The second pair of A s
are in unison and an octave above the first pair.
Used in: Justic is Might (TM?).
12. -----
This is tuning #9 with a capo on the second fret.
Used in Theresa s Sound-world (LR).
13. -----
The first two A s are in unison. The pair of E s are in unison.
Used in: Justic is Might (LR).
14. -----
The first two C s are in unison, the third is an octave above.
Used in: Silver Rocket, The Sprawl, Candle, Cinderella s Big Score,
Theresa s Sound-world (TM).
15. -----
The first pair of D s are in unison. The second pair of D s
are in unison an octave above the first pair.
Used in: I m Insane (LR).
16. -----
All three pairs are in unison.
Used in: I Love Her All the Time (LR).
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Section 2: Slightly altered tunings
For this section, the tunings use standard tuning, with slight
adjustments. To achieve the similarity, you have to tune up or
down, noted by: u = tune up Don t expect your strings
d = tune down to be the same after!
17. -dE---dE-dF#
The first two E s are in unison, the pair of B s are in unison.
Used in: Dirty Boots (LR).
18. -dG---dE-dD
Used in: Dirty Boots (TM), Tunic (TM), Mildred Pierce,
My Friend Goo, Titanium Expose, Sugar Kane (TM), Chapel Hill.
19. -dG#-uE-uG#-dE-dG#
Used in: Expressway to Yr Skull.
20. uF#-dF#-uG--dA-dA
All three pairs are in unison.
Used in: Tom Violence, Starpower, In the Kingdom #19, Death to our
Friends, Marilyn Moore, Bubblegum, Schizophrenia, White Cross (LR).
21. uG-dG--dD-dEb-dEb
All three pairs are in unison.
Used in: Brother James, Stereo Sanctity, Cotton Crown,
Total Trash, The Wonder (LR), Hyperstation (LR), Sugar Kane (LR),
Orange Rolls Angel s Spit.
22. uC-uC-uE-uB-dG-dD
The pair of C s are in unison.
Used in: Cross the Breeze, Disappearer.
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Section 3: Split tunings
Title Thurston Moore Lee Ranaldo
----------------------- -------------- --------------------|
I Love Her All the Time ----- (6) ----- (16-|
Justic is Might ----- ?(11) ----- (13-|
White Cross ----- (10) ----- (20-|
Teenage Riot G-A-B-D-E-G (5) G-G-D-D-G-G---------| (9)
The Wonder ----- (7) ----- (21-|
Hyperstation ----- (7) ----- (21-|
Dirty Boots ----- (18) ----- (17-|
Tunic E-G-D-G-E-D (18) G-G-D-D-G-G---------| (9)
Theresa s Sound-world ----- (14) ----- (12-|
Sugar Kane ----- ?(18) ----- (21-|
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Art Lee (
[email protected])
Please send any Sonic Youth guitar related info to the above address.
Will post updates to tunings as well as tablatures.