Chris Lawrence posted this in the newsgroup so i thought i'd share it with you all
The Unofficial Sonic Youth Guitar Tunings List
Original version compiled by Art Lee. (1993-94)
Updated: 1995 by Simon.
1997 by Gav and Chris Lawrence.
1998 - Chris Lawrence
5/6/98 update: not much...a few leaves tunes.
4/15/98 update: Well, I was watching my PBS vid today, and I noticed
that the tuning on
Lee's guitar IS GGDDGG, which someone had already tried to point out.
I think that only the GGDAGA tuning is used for Sunday. So, I've changed
that.
3/18/98 update: a few title changes..
9/28/97 update: found a book called "Complete Book of alternate Tunings"
or something like that. Had a bunch of SY stuff in it, so I added that
today.
Thanks to: Guitar Player Aug 1989, Bad Moon Rising CD Booklet, Ron Rader
(rlr@bbt.com), Michael Hayes (mph@irl.chch.cri.nz), Sean C. Duncan
(scduncan@apsvax.aps.muohio.edu), Mike Goldsman
(goldsman@cc.gatech.edu),
Sam Rowe (elric@selway.umt.edu) and others.
Simon thanks: Guitar Player July 1994, Portland Set List, "Confusion is
Next", Musician Nov. 1995.
Gav and Chris thank: Various videos, our own eyes, pictures, etc. and
the Seattle set list. And the "Complete book of Alternate Tunings" by
some guy whose name I forget, lee.
Notes:
1. Tunings are listed from lowest to highest string.
Example: E-A-D-G-B-E (standard tuning).
2. LR = Lee Ranaldo, TM = Thurston Moore, KG = Kim Gordon
I never really understood the concept of "general tunings", "slightly
altered tunings", etc. so I took that stuff out.
Remember that many of these are guesses based on what we hear. However,
many have been verified, and by using set lists and common sense we
can often deduce what tunings certain songs are in.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
1. E-B-E-E-A-B
The second and third E's are in unison.
Used in: Eric's Trip, Hey Joni, Rain King, Kissability.
2. E-E-B-E-B-E
The first two E's are in unison.
Used in: Ghost Bitch (LR)
3. E-E-B-F#-B-E
The first two E's are in unison.
Used in: Intro, Brave Men Run, Ghost Bitch (LR - mellow).
4. F#-F#-F#-F#-E-B
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, Tom Violence, Shadow of
a Doubt, Starpower, Mary Christ, Kool Thing, 100%, Bone (LR)
Becuz (TM), Saucer-Like (TM), Washing Machine (TM), Green Light.
Panty Lies (TM), No Queen Blues (TM), On the Strip.
5. G-A-B-D-E-G
Used in: Teenage Riot (TM), Sugar Kane (TM) (anyone know if he uses
this tuning or GGDDEbEb for Sugar K?)
6. G-G-C-C-A#-A#
All three pairs are in unison.
Used in: I Love Her All the Time (TM).
7. G-G-C#-D-G-G
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 (LR), Hyperstation (LR), Eliminator Jr (LR),
Total Trash (LR).
8. G-G-D-D-F-F
All three pairs are in unison.
Used in: Mote (LR)
9. G-G-D-D-G-G
All three pairs are in unison, the second pair of G's are an
octave above the first pair.
Used by LR in: Teenage Riot (LR), Tunic (LR), Sugar Kane (LR),
Anagrama, The Ineffable Me, WildFlower Soul, Stil, and Heather
Angel.
10. G#-G#-G#-D-D#-D#
The three G#'s are in unison. The pair of D#'s are in unison.
Used in: White Cross (LR).
11. A-A-A-A-B-D
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: Justice is Might (TM?).
12. A-A-E-E-A-A
Used in Theresa's Sound-world (LR), Silver rocket (LR), Cinderella's
big Score (LR), Candle (LR).
13. A-A-E-E-F#-A
The first two A's are in unison. The pair of E's are in unison.
Used in: Justice is Might (LR).
14. A-C-C-G-G#-C
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. D-D-D-D-E-A
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. D#-D#-C#-C#-G-G
All three pairs are in unison.
Used in: I Love Her All the Time (LR).
17. B-E-D-D-B-B
The low B is below E and the pair of B's on the top match the
second fret of the (normally tuned) A string.
Tuning KG uses on: Bone, Quest for the Cup, Becuz, Junkie's
Promise, Saucer-like, Washing Machine, Unwind, Little Trouble
Girl, No Queen Blues, and all Free Kitten songs (apparently).
18. E-G-D-G-E-D
Used in: Dirty Boots (TM), Tunic (TM), Mildred Pierce,
My Friend Goo, Titanium Expose, Chapel Hill (TM), Purr (TM),
Skink (TM), Screaming Skull (TM), Androgynous Mind (TM),
Bone (TM), Diamond Sea (TM), Swimsuit Issue (TM), Wish Fulfillment
(TM),
Hits of Sunshine (TM), Female Mechanic Now on Duty (TM)
19. G-G-D-D-Eb-Eb
All three pairs are in unison.
Used in: Brother James, Kill Yr Idols, Stereo Sanctity, Cotton
Crown, Total Trash (TM), The Wonder (TM), Hyperstation (TM),
Eliminator
Jr (TM), Orange Rolls Angel's Spit, Bull in the Heather (TM),
Starfield Road (TM), Self Obsessed and Sexee (TM), Quest for the
Cup (TM), Doctor's Orders (TM), In the Mind of the Bourgeois Reader
(TM), Mote (TM), probably Sugar Kane (TM), Youth against Fascism,
Death to Our Friends.
Possibly also on new Kim songs like Anagrama, Ineffable Me,
Wildflower
Soul, etc?
20. F#-F#-G-G-A-A
All three pairs are in unison.
Used in: In the Kingdom #19, Death to our Friends, Marilyn Moore,
Bubblegum, Schizophrenia (TM), White Cross (TM).
21. E-E-B-E-G#-B
The two low E's are in Unison and the third string is an octave
above.
Used in: Winner's Blues, Compilation Blues, RazorBlade.
22. G-G-C-G-C-D
The two low G's are in Unison; the third string is an octave above.
Used by LR in: Bull in the Heather, Starfield Road,
Screaming Skull, Self Obsessed and Sexee, Androgynous Mind,
Waist, Quest for the Cup, Doctor's Orders, Tokyo Eye, In the
Mind of the Bourgeois Reader, 2nd half of Washing Machine, Female
Mechanic Now on Duty (w/ capo @ 2nd fret during 2nd part of song),
Karen Koltrane.
23. A-F#-E-F#-E-B
The A is the same pitch as the open A on the bass, The F#'s are
an octave apart and the second string is lower than the third.
Used in: Becuz (LR), Saucer-Like (LR), 1st half of Washing Machine
(LR),
Panty Lies (LR).
24. C-G-D-G-B-B
Pavement tuning - The C is below the E and the B's are in unison.
Used by TM on all of Psychic Hearts album, Anagrama, Ineffable Me,
Wildflower Soul, Slaapkamers, Stil, Sunday, Heather Angel, Karen
Koltrane, French Tickler.
25. E-E-B-B-E-F#
The first two E's are in unison, the pair of B's are in unison.
Used in: Dirty Boots (LR), Purr (LR), Sweet Shine (LR), Diamond
Sea (LR), Skink (LR), Chapel Hill (LR), Wish Fulfillment (LR),
Swimsuit Issue (LR).
26. E-G#-E-G#-E-G#
Used in: Expressway to Yr Skull, Pacific Coast Highway.
27. C-C-E-B-G-D
The pair of C's are in unison.
Used in: Cross the Breeze, Disappearer.
28. G-G-D-A-G-A
Used by LR on Sunday, and maybe Heather angel (or GGDDGG).
29. A-D-D-A-A-D
Used by LR on Junkie's Promise.
30. E-A-D-G-B-E
Eek! Not that Godawful tuning??? Believe it or not,
they claim that the first EP was all in Standard. And, I think
Kim plays Female Mechanic Now On Duty in standard too... (see its
tab)
Actually, now I think otherwise...I'll try and find out. That would
mean that Kim's part on Karen Koltrane is in standard too...
Anyways, it looks like this tutorial's new home is Chris Lawrence's
Sonic Youth Guitar/Bass tab archive page, which can be found at:
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Stage/1993/tabs.html
Any updates can be found there. Please send any info to:
mustang@islandnet.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
TUNINGS BY ALBUM
Since the first EP's and Confusion are rather mysterious tuning-wise,
I've chosen to start this at Bad Moon Rising.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
BAD MOON RISING
TM LR
Intro: F#F#F#F#EB
EEBF#BE
Brave Men Run: F#F#F#F#EB EEBF#BE
Society is a Hole: ? ?
I Love Her All the Time: GGCCA#A# D#D#C#C#GG
Ghost Bitch: ? EEBEBE/EEBF#BE(mellow?)
I'm Insane: (doesn't play?) DDDDEA
Justice is Might: AAAABD AAEEF#A
Death Valley '69: F#F#F#F#EB F#F#F#F#EB (or EEBF#BE?)
Satan is Boring: ? ?
Flower: ? ?
Halloween: F#F#F#F#EB F#F#F#F#EB?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
EVOL
TM LR
Tom Violence: F#F#F#F#EB F#F#GGAA
Shadow of A Doubt: F#F#F#F#EB F#F#GGAA
Star Power: F#F#F#F#EB F#F#GGAA
In the Kingdom #19: F#F#F#F#EB F#F#GGAA
Green Light: F#F#F#F#EB F#F#GGAA
Death to our Friends: GGDDEbEb GGDDEbEb
Secret Girl: ? ?
Marilyn Moore: ? ?
Expressway to Yr Skull: EG#EG#EG# EG#EG#EG#
Bubblegum: F#F#F#F#EB F#F#GGAA
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SISTER
TM LR
Schizophrenia: F#F#GGAA ?
Catholic Block: ? ?
Beauty Lies In the Eye: ? ?
Stereo Sanctity: GGDDEbEb ?
Pipeline: ? ?
Tuff Gnarl: EG#EG#EG# EG#EG#EG#
PCH: EG#EG#EG# EG#EG#EG#
Hotwire: ? ?
Cotton Krown: GGDDEbEb ?
White Kross: F#F#GGAA G#G#G#DEbEb
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DAYDREAM NATION
TM LR
Teenage Riot: GABDEG GGDDGG
Silver Rocket: ACCGG#C AAEEAA
The Sprawl: ACCGG#C AAEEAA
'Cross the Breeze: CCEBGD CCEBGD
Eric's Trip: ? EBEEAB
Total Trash: GGDDEbEb GGC#DGG
Hey Joni: ? EBEEAB
Candle: ACCGG#C AAEEAA
Rain King: ? EBEEAB
Kissability: ? EBEEAB
The Wonder: GGDDEbEb GGC#DGG
Hyperstation: GGDDEbEb GGC#DGG
Eliminator Jr.: GGDDEbEb GGC#DGG
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOO
TM LR
Dirty Boots: EGDGED EEBBEF#
Tunic: EGDGED GGDDGG
Mary-Christ: F#F#F#F#EB F#F#F#F#EB
Kool Thing: F#F#F#F#EB F#F#F#F#EB
Mote: GGDDEbEb GGDDFF
My Friend Goo: EGDGED ?
Disappearer: CCEBGD ?
Mildred Pierce: EGDGED ?
Cinderella's Big Score: ACCGG#C AAEEAA
Titanium Expose: EGDGED ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIRTY
TM LR
100%: F#F#F#F#EB F#F#F#F#EB
Swimsuit Issue: EGDGED EEBBEF#
Theresa's S-W: ACCGG#C AAEEAA
Drunken Butterfly: ? ?
Shoot: F#F#F#F#EB ?
Wish Fulfillment: EGDGED EEBBEF#
Sugar Kane: GGDDEbEb/GABDEG? GGDDGG
Orange Rolls, Angel Spit: GGDDEbEb ?
Youth against Fascism: GGDDEbEb ?
Nic Fit: ? ?
On the Strip: F#F#F#F#EB ?
Chapel Hill: EGDGED EEBBEF#
JC: ? (F#F#F#F#EB?) ?
Purr: EGDGED EEBBEF#
Creme Brulee: EGDGED ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXPERIMENTAL JET SET, TRASH AND NO STAR
TM LR KG
Winner's Blues: EEBEG#B n/a n/a
Bull in the Heather: GGDDEbEb GGCGCD n/a
Starfield Road: GGDDEbEb GGCGCD n/a
Skink: EGDGED EEBBEF# n/a
Screaming Skull: EGDGED GGCGCD n/a
Self-Obsessed and Sexxee: GGDDEbEb GGCGCD n/a
Bone: EGDGED F#F#F#F#EB BEDDBB
Androgynous Mind: EGDGED GGCGCD n/a
Quest for the Cup: GGDDEbEb GGCGCD BEDDBB
Waist: F#F#F#F#EB GGCGCD n/a
Doctor's Orders: GGDDEbEb GGCGCD n/a
Tokyo Eye: EGDGED GGCGCD n/a
the Bourgeois Reader: GGDDEbEb GGCGCD n/a
Sweet Shine: EGDGED EEBBEF# n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
WASHING MACHINE
TM LR KG
Becuz: F#F#F#F#EB AF#EF#EB BEDDBB
Junkie's Promise: ? ADDAAD BEDDBB
Saucer-Like: F#F#F#F#EB AF#EF#EB BEDDBB
Washing Machine: F#F#F#F#EB AF#EF#EB BEDDBB
Unwind: ? ? BEDDBB
Little Trouble Girl: ? ? BEDDBB
No Queen Blues: F#F#F#F#EB AF#EF#EB BEDDBB
Panty Lies: F#F#F#F#EB AF#EF#EB n/a
Skip Tracer: F#F#F#F#EB F#F#GGAA? n/a
Diamond Sea: EGDGED EEBBEF# n/a
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A THOUSAND LEAVES
TM: LR: KG:
Contre Le Sexism: ? ? ?
Sunday: CGDGBB GGDAGA n/a
Female Mechanic Now on Duty: EGDGED GGCGCD D/EADGBE?
Wildflower Soul: CGDGBB GGDDGG GGDDEbEb?
Hoarfrost: ? ? ?
French Tickler: CGDGBB ? ?
Hits of Sunshine: EGDGED EEBBEF#? n/a
Karen Koltrane: CGDGBB GGCGCD same as FMNOD
The Ineffable Me: CGDGBB GGDDGG GGDDEbEb?
Snare, Girl: CGDGBB? ? ?
Heather Angel: CGDGBB GGDDGG?(Sunday?)GGDDEbEb??
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: there are many errors and guesses amongst these lists.
Please
help in any way you can. I'm especially interested in hearing from
people
who have copies of their set lists with the guitars listed on them (it'd
make sense if you've seen one). These are often a GREAT help in figuring
out the tunings.
Thanks for reading this and please send me yr input.
Chris Lawrence
mustang@islandnet.com