Skip to content

Heart Shaped Box by Nirvana

Verse

Here’s what the verse sounds like with guitar and bass:

Guitar

Bass

The bass part is easy and fun to play, and there are a few slide to get that thick sound for the bass. Here, you will be using one finger the whole time, and you may want to play with a pick as Krist did in the band. It sounds much better. Begin the riff by placing your 1st finger on the seventh fret on the “E” string. Play accordingly, and simply slide to the third fret. Play that a few times, and then slide to the fifth fret. From there on out, you will just be playing the fifth fret on the “A” string, including the open “E” string notes.

Chorus

Here’s what the chorus sounds like with guitar and bass:

The chorus to this riff has a few bends in it. Notice though that the first and third measures are identical, as are the second and fourth measures. Also, in the chorus realize that you are just playing the verse again, just not picked out. Knowing that, try to find a comfortable finger to bend with. Kurt used his 4th finger when playing this, but it MAY be easier to use your 3rd finger, as it is a little stronger usually. Bend to the sound on the audio, which is equal to a half bend.

The second and fourth measures are just like the fourth measure of the verse, but just as with above, you will be playing it in chord patterning, and bending the fourth fret again on the “G” string. Do that with your 2nd finger or 3rd finger this time as well.

Guitar

Bass

The bass here also gives you some practice with bends. Really, you can use any finger to do this, so you won’t have any trouble playing the correct notes on the first or second measures. At the end of the second measure gives you a bit of a walking bass line, so you MAY want to use your 1st AND 2nd finger for this if you have trouble playing speedy.

Guitar Solo

The first and third measures here are identical, as are the second
and fourth. Here you will be bending and playing pull-offs. A pull-off
is nothing more than polar opposite of a hammer-on. That means that
you will go from a higher note to a lower note, only striking the first
note(s). Play the solo by placing your 1st finger on the seventh fret
on the “D” string. Next, you will quickly play the eighth
fret on the “B” string, then bend one full step. After you
have done that, you will need to use your 2nd finger to play the seventh
fret. You should hear the note change for the pull-off if you are playing
it briskly enough. End the measure by moving your 1st finger to the
fifth fret on the “D” string again, and then use your 2nd
or 3rd finger to bend the sixth fret on the “B” string one
full step as well.

For the second measure, try using only your 1st finger and your 4th
finger for this. Place your 1st finger on the “D” string
on the third fret, allowing the “A” string to play open.
Next, place your 4th finger on the fifth fret on the “B” string,
and quickly bend it one-half of a step. You can then just move your
1st finger to the third fret on the “B” string, and then
move it to the first fret on the same string. End the measure by pulling-off
from the first fret to its open “B” string note.

Riff Resources

Complete Transcription To “Heart Shaped Box” (PDF)

Complete Transcription To “Heart Shaped Box” (Power Tab)