TWhen I was 17… (I’m not sure if it was a very good year or not), I was just learning to play bass and drums, along with a bit of guitar. My closest friends were all musicians, so it was absolutely necessary. We were all music-obsessed. It was, and basically remains, the centre of our worlds.
Learning an instrument adds complexity to one’s existing love of music. You start paying closer attention to how things were done, as opposed to paying attention only to how they sound. You also begin developing an ear for when things are a little off — like if the song speeds up or slows down, if someone plays a bad note or if their instrument is not tuned properly.
Because I was late to the musician party compared to my friends, it took my ears a while to catch up to theirs. They noticed musical oddities long before I did, but their discussion of them showed me this was something fun to be listening for. After 35 years, these little musical curiosities have become hard to miss. So I thought I’d go through a few examples from my own record collections where something is out of tune.
Planet Of Sound | The Pixies
Kim Deal’s bass is out of tune. This was the first song ever pointed out to me with an out-of-tune instrument. I hadn’t noticed. Eventually, I did… and it almost ruined the song for me.
It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine) | R.E.M.
I’m looking at you, Peter Buck. That guitar is definitely not in tune. But, seeing as the Document album routinely makes all kinds of best-ever lists, and went platinum in the States and gold in the U.K., I’d wager most people either don’t notice or don’t care.
Queen Jane Approximately | Bob Dylan
Bob’s guitar is out of tune. Possibly just one string. Also, he capo’d so much stuff in those days but most guitar books don’t account for this. Instead, they suggest he’s playing a variety of wild and wooly chords and progressions.
Suffragette City | David Bowie
The culprit here is bassist Trevor Bolder. This song is in A, and that’s the note which seems most flat. It’s especially noticeable on the last line of the chorus, “it’s outta sight, she’s all right.”
Ziggy Stardust | David Bowie
Same album, different instrument. This time it’s Mick Ronson’s electric rhythm guitar. Ronson’s electric lead is fine, and so is Bowie’s acoustic 12-string rhythm guitar. Listen for Mick’s clunker chords in the right channel.
Bluebird | Wings
Since he was recording in Lagos, Nigeria in chaotic conditions, Paul McCartney can be forgiven for his acoustic guitar being out of tune on the instrumental break. But, it’s odd that it didn’t get redone when they got back to Abbey Road for overdubs.
To Love Somebody | The Bee Gees
Barry Gibb is the one playing rhythm guitar. It’s slightly, though definitely, out.
Friends | Led Zeppelin
At least one of those acoustic guitars is out. It almost sounds like a My Bloody Valentine-esque warp was added to the entire backing track. But that’s probably just the guitar or guitars. While I doubt it’s intentional, it was probably deemed acceptable. Sounds fantastic to me.
Snowblind | Black Sabbath
Chalk it up to cocaine ears, but Tony Iommi’s G string is out of tune.
Stir It Up | Bob Marley & The Wailers
Like in Planet Of Sound, it’s the bass that is out here. Specifically, Aston Barrett’s E string is flat.
The Piano Has Been Drinking | Tom Waits
Waits uses an intentionally, slightly out-of-tune piano to help conjure the image of a battered, old piano at a corner bar, played by a drunk. Detuning a piano is pretty common, for a honky-tonk effect. The Beatles used a jangle piano and a tack piano on many songs, like I Want To Tell You.
Mandy | Barry Manilow
While we’re talking out-of-tune pianos, there’s no way this one was intentional. Strikes me as odd, considering Bar’s a piano player. Still, pretty big hit — so what do I know?
I’m A Believer | The Monkees
One of the guitars is out of tune. It’s not Mike Nesmith, because he’s not on the song at all. In fact, he was booted from the studio because he thought this song wasn’t a hit. The three guitarists are Al Gorgola, Sal DiTroia and the actual songwriter, Neil Diamond. I’ve read the culprit was Diamond himself, who had just replaced a broken string before the recording, and it clearly drops out of tune.
Marchers In Orange | Guided By Voices
On the electric version (not the one on Vampire On Titus), the main rack tom is tuned ridiculously high. It makes me laugh on every fill.
She Smiled Sweetly | The Rolling Stones
I only noticed this during the tent scene in The Royal Tenenbaums. Jesus Christ, Bill Wyman — tune your bass!
Nothin’ In The World Can Stop Me Worryin’ ‘Bout That Girl | The Kinks
Sticking with songs from Wes Anderson films, this prominent track from Rushmore features Pete Quaife’s horribly out-of-tune Rickenbacker bass. I’ve owned one of these double-truss-rod bastards, so I totally forgive him. The bass comes in badly at the 30-second mark, and just gets worse and worse.
Takin’ Care Of Business | Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Randy Bachman’s guitar solo seems out to me. Well, the solo is iconic, but the guitar is out. I’ve owned a Gretsch, so this doesn’t shock me. Bachman used his beloved 1957 Gretsch 6120 hollow body.
The Singer Not The Song | The Rolling Stones
How ironic that the singer is the only one who seems to be in tune on this track, which served as the flipside to the Get Off My Cloud single, or on the band’s fifth U.S. album December’s Children (and Everybody’s). Nobody seems to have tuned up, or if they did it was in different rooms, days apart and alone. How on Earth did this get past Andrew Loog Oldham? I usually turn it off when the solo kicks in.
Goin’ Home | Fats Domino
What the hell is the deal with the tenor sax solo? Herb Hardesty provided tenor sax on practically all Fats’ hits, but it’s Buddy Hagens on this particular track.
Zurich Is Stained | Pavement
My gut tells me this one’s intentional. Still, that’s a pretty sour guitar — probably courtesy of Stephen Malkmus. Ah, the slackercore days.
Your cacophonous playlist:
• • •
Area Resident is an Ottawa-based journalist, recording artist, music collector and re-seller. Hear (and buy) his music on Bandcamp, email him HERE, follow him on Instagram and check him out on Discogs.
