Nirvana · 1993 · Studio album
In Utero tuning.
E♭ Standard at concert pitch (A 440). 3 of 12 songs are tuned differently.
Not measured yet
TuneLit has not measured this record. The tuning comes from community sources, at concert pitch unless they say otherwise.
By 1993 Nirvana tuned a half step down on stage and in the studio. Nine songs are in E♭ Standard; Scentless Apprentice, Heart-Shaped Box and All Apologies drop the low string a further whole step, to Drop C♯ (C♯ G♯ C♯ F♯ A♯ D♯). TuneLit has not measured In Utero. Non-US CDs add a hidden track, Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through the Strip, also tabbed in E♭.
12 songs · 3 tuned differently
Every song, ready to tune
Tune opens the tuner in that song's tuning, pitch included. Play along opens the song player set to that tuning, so the track plays in yours. What the labels mean
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1. Serve the Servants
E♭ StandardCommunity
Notes
E♭ Standard on the main tab and on the Live and Loud tab; a rarely used tab has it in E.
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2. Scentless Apprentice
Different tuning
Drop C♯Community
Notes
How to get there from the album's E♭ Standard: String 6 down a whole step (E♭ → C♯); the other strings stay.
Built on a riff by Dave Grohl. Tabbed in Drop C♯, the same tuning as Heart-Shaped Box, live as in the studio.
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3. Heart-Shaped Box
Different tuning
Drop C♯Community
Notes
How to get there from the album's E♭ Standard: String 6 down a whole step (E♭ → C♯); the other strings stay.
Drop C♯. Songsterr's popular Drop D and Drop C versions are the same tab moved to other keys; they do not match the record.
Drop D tuned down a half step: C♯ G♯ C♯ F♯ A♯ D♯. Wikipedia gives the key as A♭ minor, which fits. The live tabs use the same tuning.
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4. Rape Me
E♭ StandardCommunity
Notes
E♭ Standard. Its 1991 live debut (Paramount) is tabbed in E, before the band tuned down.
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5. Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle
E♭ StandardCommunity
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6. Dumb
E♭ StandardCommunity
Notes
E♭ Standard here and on MTV Unplugged.
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7. Very Ape
E♭ StandardCommunity
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8. Milk It
E♭ StandardCommunity
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9. Pennyroyal Tea
E♭ StandardCommunity
Notes
E♭ Standard, as on MTV Unplugged.
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10. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter
E♭ StandardCommunity
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11. Tourette's
E♭ StandardCommunity
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12. All Apologies
Different tuning
Drop C♯Community
Notes
How to get there from the album's E♭ Standard: String 6 down a whole step (E♭ → C♯); the other strings stay.
Tabbed in Drop C♯, studio and MTV Unplugged alike. Chord charts written for standard tuning will not match the record's pitch.
What the labels mean
- Measured
- TuneLit measured the pitch on an original CD or LP. The tuning name still comes from the sources.
- Official
- The band, a member, their producer or their guitar tech said it.
- Widely reported
- Trusted outlets, guides and tabs agree, but the band did not say it directly.
- Community
- From community tabs, or from players who tune along with the record.
- Disputed
- Sources disagree. The likeliest setting is shown; the notes name the other one.
Each song shows one label, the strongest it has, in this order. How we measure recordings →
Questions
What tuning is In Utero in?
Nirvana recorded In Utero (1993) in E♭ Standard at concert pitch (A 440), from community sources. Scentless Apprentice, Heart-Shaped Box and All Apologies use Drop C♯.