According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in order to provide a tilt control method and optical disc apparatus capable of exerting control to eliminate tilt and capable of carrying out an appropriate gap servo operation, a light gathering element positioned facing a disc recordable with a signal, and capable of gathering light irradiated from a light source as near-field light at a position where a distance to the disc constitutes a first distance is made to come into contact with the disc (step 2), and tilt is controlled with the light gathering element in contact with the disc (steps 3 to 7). As a result, tilting with respect to the disc is adjusted with the SIL in contact with the disc, tilting can be eliminated in a reliable manner, and a gap servo operation can be carried out in an appropriate manner.