Is The Nothing Else Matters Tab In Original Tuning?

I still get a tiny thrill when the first harmonics of the intro ring out — that gentle, open-string arpeggio is very much in the original recording's tuning. To be plain: the studio version of 'Nothing Else Matters' is in standard tuning (E A D G B E), and there’s no capo on the original. If you learn a tab that uses standard tuning and it aligns with the pitch of the 1991 recording, then you’re right on the money. That said, not every tab out there is faithful to the studio track: folks often post simplified, transposed, or live-arrangement tabs that shift the tuning so it sits better under a singer’s voice or is easier to play.

If you want to be super sure, a couple of practical checks helped me over the years. First, listen to the song and match the low open E — it should sound like a true E (around 82 Hz), not Eb. Second, check the tab’s header or the uploader’s notes; many decent tab sites will say something like ‘Standard tuning’ or ‘Drop D’ right at the top. Third, compare to an official source — the band’s published guitar book or licensed sheet music will confirm tuning and any nuances (and those often include the exact fingerings Hetfield/Ulrich used). One thing to keep in mind from live footage: bands sometimes tune down a half-step for vocal comfort during long tours, so you may find versions marked ‘Eb Standard’ — those will sound a semitone lower than the studio cut.

I learned the intro on a battered acoustic on my roommate’s balcony, so I’m picky about tuning matching the record. If you want to play along with the original recording, set your guitar to standard tuning and tune by ear to the recording’s low open string, or use a tuner to make sure that low E is E. If a tab says it’s in standard but sounds off when you play with the track, try retuning a half-step down; some transcribers write in standard while actually playing live versions that are down-tuned. Bottom line: most tabs labeled ‘original’ are in standard tuning for 'Nothing Else Matters', but always double-check with the recording or an official tab if you want absolute accuracy.

I’m usually impatient when learning songs, so I do quick detective work: the original studio recording of 'Nothing Else Matters' is in standard tuning (E A D G B E) and there’s no capo. That means most faithful tabs should assume standard tuning. However, be careful — lots of user tabs online are simplified, transposed, or based on live shows where the band sometimes plays a half-step down (Eb), which makes the song sound lower.

If a tab feels off when you play along, try these two fast checks: 1) use a chromatic tuner while the record plays and see if the open low string matches E or Eb, and 2) look for the tab author’s notes or comments — people often say ‘tuned down half-step’ or ‘standard tuning’. For absolute certainty, the official licensed tab book or the publisher’s sheet music is the safest source. If you want to sing along with the original track, stick to standard tuning unless the version you’re following is explicitly labelled otherwise.