Song · Drop C⁠#⁠ tuning

Heart-Shaped Box — Nirvana

Nirvana tuned down a half-step below standard Drop D for this one — Drop C⁠#⁠, one whole tuning lower than Everlong's Drop D. The verse riff walks straight down the neck: a power chord at the 7th fret, then the 3rd fret, then all the way to open strings, with a minor chord and a dominant seventh coloring the descent. In A⁠#⁠ minor, that's G⁠#⁠5 → E5 → C⁠#⁠5 → G⁠#⁠m → E5 → C⁠#⁠7.

Same drop-tuning trick as Everlong — one finger, straight across the low strings — just pitched a step lower for the heavier, darker tone.

This is the verse progression, sourced and cross-checked against the song's documented key and chord structure — the chorus reuses the same three power chords without the minor-chord passing tone. Open the progression below to hear each shape in Drop C⁠#⁠.