Welcome to the Sonic Youth Tuning Tutorial. On this page, you'll find all of SY's major releases and the tunings used by each member, where known. Next to the tuning will be a white or blue dot. You can click these dots to show information in the bottom frame. If a dot is white, the only information given is where the tuning was confirmed. If a dot is blue, that means there's an additional note that relates to the song, indicating whether a slide, capo, drumstick, or something else is used. Albums where Kim plays guitar will have a Kim column, otherwise she's playing bass in standard. If it says "n/a", they don't play an instrument on the song.

Tunings not confirmed are in a light blue font, or a ? if I have no viable guess.

Alternately, you can view an alphabetical list of all tunings known to be used by the band or on solo compositions. Here the songs are grouped by their tuning, rather than album. It also shows you how to tune to each tuning from standard EADGBE.

Please contact me if you have any corrections/suggestions!

SONG	Thurston		Lee		Kim
THE BURNING SPEAR	E A D G B E		E A D G B E		bass
I DREAMED I DREAM	E A D G B E		E A D G B E		bass
SHE IS NOT ALONE	E A D G B E		E A D G B E		bass
I DON'T WANT TO PUSH IT	E A D G B E		E A D G B E		bass
THE GOOD AND THE BAD	bass		E A D G B E		E A D G B E

SONG	Thurston		Lee		Kim
SHE'S IN A BAD MOOD	"ANYTHING"		E B D G B E		bass
PROTECT ME YOU	E E E E E E		bass		n/a
I WANNA BE YR DOG	bass		E A D G B E		n/a
SHAKING HELL	bass		E A D G B E		"ANYTHING"
INHUMAN	bass		zither		"ANYTHING"
THE WORLD LOOKS RED	"ANYTHING"		E A D E C D		bass
CONFUSION IS NEXT	n/a		E A D E C D		bass
MAKING THE NATURE SCENE	bass		E A D G B E		n/a

SONG	Thurston		Lee
KILL YR IDOLS	G G D D D# D#		G G D D D# D#
BROTHER JAMES	G G D D D# D#		G G D D D# D#
EARLY AMERICAN	G G D D D# D#		G G D D D# D#

SONG	Thurston		Lee
INTRO	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# F# F# E B
BRAVE MEN RUN	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# F# F# E B
SOCIETY IS A HOLE	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# F# F# E B
I LOVE HER ALL THE TIME	G G C C A# A#		D# D# C# C# G G
GHOST BITCH	G G C C A# A#		F# F# F# F# E B
I'M INSANE	n/a		D D D D E A
JUSTICE IS MIGHT	n/a		A A E E F# A
DEATH VALLEY '69	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# F# F# E B
FLOWER	G G D D D# D#		G G D D D# D#
HALLOWEEN	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# F# F# E B

SONG	Thurston		Lee
TOM VIOLENCE	F# F# G G A A		F# F# G G A A
SHADOW OF A DOUBT	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# A A E E
STARPOWER	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# F# F# E B
IN THE KINGDOM #19	?		?
GREEN LIGHT	G G D D D# D#		G G D D D# D#
DEATH TO OUR FRIENDS	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# F# F# E B
SECRET GIRL	anything		anything
MARILYN MOORE	C C x x D# D#		C C D# G G D
EXPRESSWAY TO YR SKULL	E G# E G# E G#		E G# E G# E G#

SONG	Thurston		Lee
SCHIZOPHRENIA	F# F# G G A A		D D D D A A
CATHOLIC BLOCK	F# F# F# F# E B		D D D D A A
BEAUTY LIES IN THE EYE	bass		F# F# C# C# C# C#
STEREO SANCTITY	G G D D D# D#		G G D D D# D#
PIPELINE/KILL TIME	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# F# F# E B
TUFF GNARL	F# F# F# F# E B		D D D D A A
PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY	E G# E G# E G#		E G# E G# E G#
HOTWIRE MY HEART	E A D G B E		E A D G B E
COTTON CROWN	G G D D D# D#		G G D D D# D#
WHITE KROSS	F# F# G G A A		F# F# G G A A

SONG	Thurston		Lee
TEENAGE RIOT	G A B D E G		G G D D G G
SILVER ROCKET	A C C G G# C		A A E E A A
THE SPRAWL	C C E B G D		G G D D G G
'CROSS THE BREEZE	C C E B G D		E E E E F# F#
ERIC'S TRIP	B B x x F# F#		E B E E A B
TOTAL TRASH	G G D D D# D#		G G D D G G
HEY JONI	G A B D E G		E B E E A B
CANDLE	A C C G G# C		A A E E A A
RAIN KING	D# D# A A E E		E B E E A A
KISSABILITY	A C C G G# C		E B E E A B
THE WONDER	G G D D D# D#		G G C# D G G
HYPERSTATION	G G D D D# D#		G G C# D G G
ELIMINATOR JR	G G D D D# D#		G G D D G G

SONG	Thurston		Lee		Kim
DIRTY BOOTS	E G D G E D		E E B B E F#		bass
TUNIC	E G D G E D		G G D D G G		bass
MARY-CHRIST	F# F# F# F# E B		F F C C A A		bass
KOOL THING	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# F# F# E B		bass
MOTE	G G D D D# D#		G G D D F F		bass
MY FRIEND GOO	bass		G G D F F G		E G D G E D
DISAPPEARER	C C E B G D		E E E E G# G#		bass
MILDRED PIERCE	E A D G B E		E A D G B E		bass
CINDERELLA'S BIG SCORE	A C C G G# C		B B E E A A		bass
TITANIUM EXPOSE	E G D G E D		E G D D G G		bass
LEE #2	bass		F F C C A A		E G D G E D

SONG	Thurston		Lee		Kim
100%	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# F# F# E B		bass
SWIMSUIT ISSUE	E G D G E D		E E B B E F#		D E G D B B
THERESA'S SOUND-WORLD	A C C G G# C		A A E E A A		bass
DRUNKEN BUTTERFLY	F# F# G G A A		F# F# G G A A		F#F#GA
SHOOT	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# F# F# E B		bass
WISH FULFILLMENT	F# F# F# F# E B		E E B B E F#		D E G D B B
SUGAR KANE	G A B D E G		G G B D G A		bass
ORANGE ROLLS, ANGEL'S SPIT	G G D D D# D#		G G D D D# D#		bass
YOUTH AGAINST FASCISM	A C C G G# C		A A E E A A		bass
NIC FIT	G G D D D# D#		G G D D D# D#		bass
ON THE STRIP	A C C G G# C		A A E E A A		D E G D B B
CHAPEL HILL	E G D G E D		E E B B E F#		bass
JC	E G D G E D		E E B B E F#		bass
STALKER	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# F# F# E B		bass
PURR	E G D G E D		E E B B E F#		bass
CREME BRULEE	...		...		D E G D B B

SONG	Thurston		Lee		Kim
WINNER'S BLUES	E E B E G# B		n/a		n/a
BULL IN THE HEATHER	G G D D D# D#		G G C G C D		bass
STARFIELD ROAD	G G D D D# D#		G G C G C D		bass
SKINK	E G D G E D		E E B B E F#		bass
SCREAMING SKULL	G G D D D# D#		G G C G C D		bass
SELF-OBSESSED AND SEXXEE	G G D D D# D#		G G C G C D		bass
BONE	E G D G E D		F# F# F# F# E B		B E G D B B
ANDROGYNOUS MIND	G G D D D# D#		G G C G C D		bass
QUEST FOR THE CUP	E G D G E D		E E B B E F#		B E G D B B
WAIST	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# F# F# E B		bass
DOCTOR'S ORDERS	G G D D D# D#		G G C G C D		bass
TOKYO EYE	E G D G E D		E E B B E F#		bass
IN THE MIND OF THE BOURGEOIS READER	G G D D D# D#		G G C G C D		bass
SWEET SHINE	F# F# F# F# E B		F# F# F# F# E B		bass

SONG	Thurston		Lee		Kim
BECUZ	F# F# F# F# E B		A F# E F# E B		B E G D B B
JUNKIE'S PROMISE	D A D A B B		D A A D D A		B E G D B B
SAUCER-LIKE	F# F# F# F# E B		A F# E F# E B		B E G D B B
WASHING MACHINE	G G D D D# D#		A F# E F# E B / G G C G C D		B E G D B B
UNWIND	G G D D D# D#		G G C G C D		B E G D B B
LITTLE TROUBLE GIRL	E G D G E D		D G C D G G		bass
NO QUEEN BLUES	G G D D D# D#		G G C G C D		B E G D B B
PANTY LIES	F# F# F# F# E B		A F# E F# E B		bass
SKIP TRACER	F# F# G G A A		A F# E F# E B		bass
THE DIAMOND SEA	E G D G E D		E E B B E F#		bass

SONG	Thurston		Lee		Kim
CONTRE LE SEXISME	?		?		C G G D D D
SUNDAY	C G D G B B		G G D A G A		bass
FEMALE MECHANIC NOW ON DUTY	E G D G E D		G G D G G A		D A D G G B
WILDFLOWER SOUL	C G D G B B		G G D A G A		C G G D D D
HOARFROST	C G D G B B		G G D E G B		C G G D D D
FRENCH TICKLER	C G D G B B		C C G D G D		C G G D D D
HITS OF SUNSHINE	E G D G E D		E E B B E F#		bass
KAREN KOLTRANE	C G D G B B		G G D A G A#		D A D G G B
THE INEFFABLE ME	C G D G B B		G G D A G A		C G G D D D
SNARE, GIRL	C G D G B B		G G D E G B		C G G D D D
HEATHER ANGEL	C G D G B B		G G D A G A		C G G D D D

SONG	Thurston		Lee		Kim
FREE CITY RHYMES	C G D G B B		C G C C G A#/C		D G D D B B
RENEGADE PRINCESS	C G D G B B		C G C C G A#/C		D G D D B B
NEVERMIND (WHAT WAS IT ANYWAY)	F G C F A F#		D F C D F F		D A D A B B
SMALL FLOWERS CRACK CONCRETE	F G C F A F#		D F C D F F		D A D A B B
SIDE2SIDE	F G C F A F#		C G C C G A#/C		bass
STREAMXSONIK SUBWAY	F G C F A F#		D F C D F F		bass
NYC GHOSTS & FLOWERS	F G C F A F#		D F C D F F		bass
LIGHTNIN'	F G C F A F#		synth		D A D G G B trumpet

SONG	Thurston		Lee		Kim		Jim
THE EMPTY PAGE	C G D G C D		E E B E B B		D A D A B B		bass
DISCONNECTION NOTICE	C G D G C D		G G D G G A		D A D A B B		bass
RAIN ON TIN	C G D G C D		C G D C G D		bass		G G D E G B
KAREN REVISITED	C G D G C D		G G D G G A		D A D A B B		bass/gtr
RADICAL ADULTS LICK GODHEAD STYLE	C G D G C D		G G D G G A		bass		G G D D D# D#
PLASTIC SUN	C G D G C D		G G D G G A		E B E G G B		bass
SYMPATHY FOR THE STRAWBERRY	C G D G B B		E E B E B B organ		E E B B F# F#		bass

SONG	Thurston		Lee		Kim		Jim
PATTERN RECOGNITION	G G D D D# D#		C G D C G D		G G D D D# D#		bass
UNMADE BED	C G D G C D		G G D G G A		bass		G G D E G B
DRIPPING DREAM	C G D G C D		G G D G G A		bass		G G D D D# D#
KIM GORDON & THE ARTHUR DOYLE HAND CREAM	C G D G C D		G G D G G A		E B E G G B		bass
STONES	C G D G C D		G G D G G A		bass		G G D D D# D#
DUDE RANCH NURSE	G G D D D# D#		C G D C G D		G G D D D# D#		bass
NEW HAMPSHIRE	C G D G C D		G G D G G A		D A D A B B		bass
PAPER CUP EXIT	E G# E G# E G#		E G# E G # E G#		bass		G G D E G B
I LOVE YOU GOLDEN BLUE	F# F# F# F# E B		C G D C G D organ		bass		G G D E G B
PEACE ATTACK	C G D G C D		E E B E B B		bass		G G D E G B

SONG	Thurston		Lee		Kim
REENA	C G D G C D		C G D C G D		bass
INCINERATE	D D# A# D# G G		D# D# A# D# G G		bass
DO YOU BELIEVE IN RAPTURE?	D D# A# D# G G		D# D# A# D# G G		bass
SLEEPIN' AROUND	D D# A# D# G G		D D# A# D# G C		bass
WHAT A WASTE	C G D G C D		C G D C G D		bass
JAMS RUN FREE	D D# A# D# G G		D# A# D# B C# F#		bass
RATS	bass		D# A# D# B C# F#		D A D A B B
TURQUOISE BOY	C G D G C D		G G D G G A		bass
LIGHTS OUT	C G D G C D		C G D C G D		bass
THE NEUTRAL	C G D G C D		C G D C G D		bass
PINK STEAM	D D# A# D# G G		D# D# A# D# G G		bass
OR	D D# A# D# G G		D# D# A# D# G G		bass
HELEN LUNDEBERG	D D# A# D# G G		D D# A# D# G G		bass
EYELINER	D D# A# D# G G		D D# A# D# G G		bass

SONG	Thurston		Lee		Kim
SACRED TRICKSTER	D D A F# A D		D D D D A A		n/a
ANTI-ORGASM	D D A F# A D		C G D C G D		D D A F# A D
LEAKY LIFEBOAT (FOR GREGORY CORSO)	D D A F# A D		D D D D A A		D A D A B D
ANTENNA	D D A F# A D		D D D D A A		D A D A B D
WHAT WE KNOW	C G D G C D		C G D C G D		C G D A C D
CALMING THE SNAKE	D D A F# A D		D D D D A A		D D A F# A D
POISON ARROW	D D A F# A D		D D D D A A		D D A F# A D
MALIBU GAS STATION	C G D G C D		C G D C G D		C D G A D G
THUNDERCLAP FOR BOBBY PYN	C G D G C D		C G D C G D		C G D A C D
NO WAY	D D A F# A D		D D D D A A		D D A F# A D
WALKIN BLUE	D D A F# A D		D D D D A A		D D A F# A D
MASSAGE THE HISTORY	D D A F# A D		D D D D A A		D A D A B D

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