Grunge Time on your CBG 

In the late ’80s and early ’90s, the music scene was dominated by hair metal and glam rock. Then, grunge emerged from the streets of Seattle—a raw, unpolished sound that changed the sound of modern music and its psychology. This was a musical revolution that still echoes in our ears today.

The bands that defined this new revolution, like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden, are still standard high school merch wear today.  It’s impossible to say how much grunge, or what we called “alternative” in the day, has influenced music.

The grunge riffs presented here are often called the “top” riffs of the grunge era, but they were chosen not for their popularity but for their playability on the cigar box guitar. They are routinely heard in music stores and basements worldwide and are often the first steps to learning guitar. Most grunge guitar music is accessible to beginner and intermediate players and is quite adaptable to the CBG.

Of course, we lose a little in translation by arranging for only three strings on our cigar box guitar, but we are up for the challenge, right? Our tuning will be the standard CBG tuning of G-D-G for most riffs, but a few altered tunings are needed to accommodate the three strings.

If you are new to the cigar box guitar, check out my first lessons here:

If grunge is not your thing, check out my top 10 Beatles riffs here.

Cigar Box Guitar Fingerboard Review

If you have tried Open G tuning before, you have played in the same tuning as the standard CBG. In Open G, you tune your guitar to DGDGBD. You will notice the 3rd, 4th, and 5th strings in Open G: GDG. If you have not played in Open G on the six-string guitar, then have a look at the intervals to see the similarities to standard guitar tuning:

So, you see, the two tunings are not that far apart. The following riffs are not necessarily the best grunge riffs; they are just the most popular during the period. Let’s start jamming out our top grunge riffs on your three-stringer.

Is Grunge not your thing? Check out the roots blues riffs on the cigar box guitar.

Top Ten Grunge Riffs on 3-String Cigar Box Guitar

Jane’s Addiction, “Jane Says” (1991)

Jane’s Addiction’s “Jane Says” is one of the first grunge hits from the early 1990s. This riff is straightforward to play on the cigar box with the open string G5 up to the A5 barre chord at the second fret.

Hold the barre down and pull off from the fourth fret to the second on the first string, followed by the same pull-off on the second.  Keep the sixteenth-note rhythms even when doing the pull-offs and lock into the groove.

Want to learn 96 cigar box guitar chords on your 3-string tuned GDG? Check out the wall poster set here.

Nirvana, “Heart-Shaped Box” (1993)

I remember hearing Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box” in 1993 and knowing this would become an iconic guitar riff. Keep your first finger barre down on the seventh to the third fret. The last part of the riff is a little trickier as you need to play the 10th fret with your pinky finger.

If you want to read more about the history of grunge, I recommend Steve Wide’s “A Fieldbook to Grunge.”

Pearl Jam, “Alive” (1991) ADG Tuning

“Alive” was the first single from Pearl Jam’s debut album “Ten.” This riff works pretty well on the cigar box guitar, but you must tune the third string to A from the standard G. So, the tuning is ADG. The basis of this little riff is the hammer-on and string bending on the second string. You will have to move your hand very quickly from the third to the seventh fret to play the hammer-on in time.

Hole, “Violet” (1991)

Violet is another quintessential grunge anthem from Hole’s Live Through This. Power chords are a huge part of playing grunge and many rock guitar styles. The ease of playing a two—or three-finger moveable chord is very conducive to jumping around a stage and singing your heart out, and this tune is no exception.

Power chords may be easy to play, but getting the fast-strumming rhythm with accents is another issue. You will need down and up strumming on the faster sixteenth notes and added emphasis on the accented notes (>).

In the chorus, you must stretch your fingers on the major chord. This chord moves up the neck from 1st to 2nd, then 4th fret, but take note of the sus chord by sliding the 1st finger up to the fifth fret and back.

Power Chords on the Cigar Box Guitar

Playing the two-note power chord is prevalent in all rock and grunge styles and is a great place to start for beginner players. The great thing about power chords is you can play them with one finger! The power chord is theoretically called a 5th chord because the two notes are the root and the 5th. So, for a G5 power chord, you play the G (root) and D (fifth). Study the chart below to learn the power chords in GDG tuning.

Soundgarden, “Black Hole Sun” (1994)

“Black Hole Sun”   was written by Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell and released in 1994 as the third single from the album “Superunkown.” Arranging this riff for three strings was challenging and required right-hand tapping to reach the arpeggiated chords. Use your first or second finger to tap (T) while you fingerpick the other notes. It is possible to do this with a pick as well. In this case, many guitarists use the pick to tap the note. This is an advanced technique and will take time to perfect. Start slow and strive for accuracy.

Alice in Chains, “Would?” (1992)

“Would?” has a cool hammer-on riff that is pretty easy to play. Make a barre with your first finger at the ninth fret and hammer on using your fourth finger at the eleventh fret.  Your fingers may feel a bit cramped up the neck, so adjust your wrist angle so you can hear the notes clearly.

Nirvana, “Come As You Are” (1992) GCG Tuning

 “Come As You Are” is one of the most iconic Nirvana songs and, fortunately, also very accessible on the cigar box. You must retune your second string to a C instead of the standard D. So, the tuning is GCG. If you want to play along with the original recording, tune your strings down a minor third to E-A-E. Turn on your EH Small Clone chorus effect and crank it up.

Soundgarden, “Blow Up the Outside World” (1996)

Soundgarden’s “Blow Up the Outside World” riff is a finger salad on the three-string cigar box guitar! I wasn’t going to include this riff in the list, but it is a good example of trying to reduce from the six-string guitar to three.  

You lose the flow of the original riff, but once you play it a few times, it is fun to play, even as an exercise. I’ve included the fingering under the tab to help sort out some awkward chords. Take it bar by bar until you can memorise some of the movements.

Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)

The anthem “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is likely the most famous grunge song ever. The opening riff begins with power chords and fast sixteenth-note strumming. Make your first finger barre and keep that shape throughout the intro riff. The muted strumming will take some practice to get the rhythm accurate, but it is essential to get it right. If you want to play in the original tuning, tune to E B E.

Temple of the Dog, “Hunger Strike” (1991) GCE Tuning

“Hunger Strike” brought Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell and Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder for a brief time to form the Seattle group Temple of the Dog.  This riff requires another change in tuning:  G-C-E. From standard GDG tuning, tune down your second string from D to C and the first string up from D to E. 

Check out the chord symbols to help learn the arpeggio pattern. Both chords require holding down the first finger barre to let the notes ring.

Grunge Effects Pedals

To go full grunge, add your favourite distortion and fuzz pedals. I read that Kurt Cobain used the Boss DS-1 and DS-2 and, as mentioned earlier, the small clone chorus pedal. Dedicated “grunge” pedals are also available, but in the end, as long as you have a good amount of overdrive distorting the channel, you should be good to go.

In conclusion, the 3-string cigar box guitar provides a unique and accessible way to play riffs of the grunge era. With a few tuning adjustments and practice, most of these riffs should be within your grasp. Happy jamming!

For More Cigar Box Guitar Songs: https://brentrobitaille.com/cigar-box-guitar-arrangements/