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Nirvana - Heart Shaped Box Chords

ChordsA, F, D, Am
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow. Using the Transpose tool, switch to E key to play this song with easier chords.

  • Guitar A chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-2-0Guitar A chord diagram
  • Guitar F chord diagram Fingering: 1-3-3-2-1-1 Barre at fret 1.Guitar F chord diagram
  • Guitar D chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-3-2Guitar D chord diagram
  • Guitar Am chord diagram Fingering: x-0-2-2-1-0Guitar Am chord diagram


[A] [F] [D] [A] [F] [D]
[A]She [F]eyes me [D]like a pisces [A]when [F]I am [D]weak.
[A]I’ve been [F]locked [D]inside your heart-shaped [A]box [F]for [D]weeks.
[A]I’ve been [F]drawn into [D]your magnet [A]tar [F]pit [D]trap.
[A]I wish [F]I could [D]eat your cancer [A]when [F]you turn [D]black.


[A] [F]Hey! [D]Wait! I got a new complaint,
[A] [F]forever in [D]debt to your priceless advice.
[A] [F]Hey! [D]Wait! I got a new complaint,
[A] [F]forever in [D]debt to your priceless advice.
[A] [F]Hey! [D]Wait! I got a new complaint,
[A]For[F]ever in [D]debt to your priceless advice, [F] [D]
Your [F]advice [D]


[A] [F]Meat-eating [D]orchids forgive [A]no [F]one just [D]yet
[A]Cut [F]myself on [D]angel hair and [A] [F]baby’s [D]breath
[A]Broken [F]hymen [D]of your highness [A]I’m [F]left [D]black
[A]Throw [F]down your [D]umbilical noose so I can [A]climb [F]right [D]back


[A] [F]Hey! [D]Wait! I got a new complaint,
[A] [F]forever in [D]debt to your priceless advice.
[A] [F]Hey! [D]Wait! I got a new complaint,
[A] [F]forever in [D]debt to your priceless advice.
[A] [F]Hey! [D]Wait! I got a new complaint,
[A]For[F]ever in [D]debt to your priceless advice, [F] [D]
Your [F]advice [D] [Am] [F]


[A]She [F]eyes me [D]like a pisces [A]when [F]I am [D]weak.
[A]I’ve been [F]locked [D]inside your heart-shaped [A]box [F]for [D]weeks.
[A]I’ve been [F]drawn into [D]your magnet [A]tar [F]pit [D]trap.
[A]I wish [F]I could [D]eat your cancer [A]when [F]you turn [D]black.


[A] [F]Hey! [D]Wait! I got a new complaint,
[A] [F]forever in [D]debt to your priceless advice
[A] [F]Hey! [D]Wait! I got a new complaint,
[A] [F]forever in [D]debt to your priceless advice
[A] [F]Hey! [D]Wait! I got a new complaint,
[A]For[F]ever in [D]debt to your priceless advice, [F] [D]
Your [F]advice [D] [Am] [F]

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ArtistNirvana
AlbumIn Utero
Year1993
KeyA

How to play Heart Shaped Box on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Nirvana - Heart Shaped Box on guitar requires 4 chords and 5 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

Heart Shaped Box uses these transitions most often: F → D (50), A → F (44), and D → A (42). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with A - F chord transition.

1. A → F chord transition

To move from A to F;

  1. Lift your index finger from D string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from B string fret 2 to A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.
A to F

2. F → D chord transition

To move from F to D;

  1. While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
F to D

3. D → A chord transition

To move from D to A;

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on B string from fret 3 to fret 2.
D to A

4. D → Am chord transition

To move from D to Am;

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
D to Am

5. Am → F chord transition

To move from Am to F;

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Heart Shaped Box.

  • Heart Shaped Box includes 147 chord transitions, 5 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.04% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Heart Shaped Box contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Heart Shaped Box connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → D: 1%
    • F → A: 1%
    After D, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (29%), A (17%), and Em (17%).
    • D → A: 17%
    • D → Am: 4%