Come As You Are — One String Guitar Tab
Nirvana
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Practice Tips
- 1Start slow — use the 0.5x speed option
- 2Focus on one note at a time
- 3Keep your fretting hand relaxed
Similar Melodies
About This Melody
Come As You Are by Nirvana is one of the most iconic grunge riffs ever written. Released in 1992 as a single from the legendary album Nevermind, the song features a hypnotic, repeating guitar line that became instantly recognizable worldwide. The original uses a chorus effect pedal, but the melody itself is beautifully simple — it's played on a single string using only frets 0 through 7 on the 6th (low E) string. This makes it a perfect riff for beginners who want to play something that sounds impressive right away.
How to Play
- This melody uses just the 6th string (low E string) of your guitar. The fret sequence is: 0, 0, 1, 2, 5, 2, 5, 2, 2, 1, 0, 7, 0, 7 — then it repeats.
- Start with two open string picks (fret 0). Let each note ring out evenly.
- Walk up slowly: fret 1, then fret 2, then jump to fret 5.
- Now bounce between frets: 2, 5, 2 — keep a steady, even rhythm here.
- Walk back down: fret 2, fret 1, then open string (0).
- Finish the phrase with a jump to fret 7, back to 0, then fret 7 again.
- Repeat the entire pattern. The key to this riff is keeping every note the same length — aim for a smooth, flowing feel. Start at half speed and gradually increase to the original tempo of around 120 BPM.
Common Mistakes
Rushing through the 0–1–2 walk-up at the start — take your time, each note should have equal length. Losing the rhythm when jumping from fret 2 to fret 5 — practice this transition slowly until it feels natural. Accidentally muting the open string notes — make sure your fretting hand fingers are clear of the string when playing fret 0. Playing on the wrong string — this riff uses the 6th (low E) string, not the 5th (A) string.