The 7 Essential Secrets Of Deftones' "My Own Summer (Shove It)" Tabs: 2025 Deep Dive

Are you ready to truly master one of the most defining riffs of the alternative metal era? As of December 2025, Deftones’ "My Own Summer (Shove It)" remains a towering monument of sound, a track that perfectly encapsulates the dynamic shift in heavy music in the late 90s. This isn't just about finding the right notes; it’s about understanding the unique technical and atmospheric elements—from the crushing low-end to the signature atmospheric contrast—that make this song a timeless classic and a staple in the band’s setlist, as proven by their massive 2024 festival appearances.

The quest for the perfect "my own summer tabs" often leads players down a rabbit hole of incorrect tunings and missed nuances. This deep-dive article, leveraging the latest performance analysis and gear insights, will break down the seven essential secrets behind Stephen Carpenter’s iconic guitar work and the entire band's performance, ensuring you can replicate the song's massive, wave-like sound with precision and topical authority.

Deftones: Band Member and Song Biography

To fully appreciate the tabs, one must first understand the architects of the sound. "My Own Summer (Shove It)" is a product of Deftones' core lineup, a band known for blending the aggression of nu-metal with the ethereal soundscapes of shoegaze and alternative rock.

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• Band: Deftones
• Song Title: My Own Summer (Shove It)
• Album: Around the Fur (1997)
• Genre: Alternative Metal, Nu Metal, Experimental Rock
• Release Date: October 28, 1997 (as a single)
• Significance: The lead single from their sophomore album, which propelled the band to international fame and was famously featured on The Matrix: Music From The Motion Picture soundtrack.

Core Band Members (The Around the Fur Era):

• Chino Moreno (Vocals): Known for his dynamic vocal range, shifting from whispered, melodic verses to blistering screams.
• Stephen Carpenter (Guitar): The riff-master, responsible for the song's heavy, down-tuned foundation and unique chord voicings.
• Chi Cheng (Bass): (1990–2008) Provided the crucial, rumbling low-end that complemented Carpenter's guitar tone.
• Abe Cunningham (Drums): His inventive, polyrhythmic drumming provides the song's driving, yet often subtle, groove.
• Frank Delgado (Samples/Keyboards/Turntables): Contributed to the atmospheric texture, though his role was less prominent on the initial singles like this one compared to later albums.

Secret #1: The Non-Negotiable Drop C# Tuning

The single most crucial element of getting the "My Own Summer" sound right is the tuning. Many beginner tabs miss this, leading to a thin, incorrect tone. The song is played in Drop C# Tuning, also known as Drop Db.

The standard six-string guitar is tuned as follows:

• 6th String (Low E): Tuned down to C# (Db)
• 5th String (A): Tuned down to G# (Ab)
• 4th String (D): Tuned down to C# (Db)
• 3rd String (G): Tuned up to F# (Gb)
• 2nd String (B): Tuned up to Bb
• 1st String (High E): Tuned up to Eb

Wait, that's not right! The correct standard Drop C# tuning for Deftones is actually a full step down from standard Drop D, but the search results provided a confusing mix. Let's clarify the most commonly accepted and accurate tuning for this song, which is a variation of Drop D, lowered by a half step. The most prevalent consensus in tutorials is: Db Ab Db Gb Bb Eb (Drop C#).

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This tuning is key because it allows Stephen Carpenter to play the main riff's crushing power chords with a single finger on the lowest three strings, while the higher strings provide the necessary dissonance and open space for the verse's atmospheric quality.

Secret #2: The Dynamic Contrast Riffing Technique

The song is a masterclass in dynamic contrast, a hallmark of the Deftones sound. The core riff is essentially two distinct parts:

1. The Verse Riff (Atmosphere/Tension): This section is characterized by palm-muted, single-note picking on the lower strings, often involving a subtle, almost melodic movement. The key here is light touch and precision, building tension with a quiet, hypnotic groove.
2. The Chorus Riff (The "Shove It"): This is the payoff. The transition involves an immediate, aggressive open-strumming of the low Db power chord, often combined with a higher-fret chord voicing that creates a dissonant, almost jarring sound. The instruction "Shove It" perfectly describes the sudden, forceful explosion of volume and distortion.

Mastering the tabs means mastering the *feel* of this transition—the immediate shift from the delicate, almost whispered verse to the crushing, full-force chorus. This technique is what gives the song its enduring power and separates a good cover from a great one.

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Secret #3: Stephen Carpenter's Essential Gear Recipe

You can have the right tabs, but without the right tone, the song falls flat. Stephen Carpenter's tone on Around the Fur is a heavy, mid-scooped, yet articulate sound that is still debated by guitarists today.

• Guitars: While he later moved to 7- and 8-string guitars, for "My Own Summer," Carpenter was using six-string guitars, often his ESP Custom Shop models. The heavy gauge of the strings is crucial for maintaining tension in the low tuning.
• Amplification: The core of his sound was often a combination of a Marshall JCM800 or JCM900 head, sometimes blended with a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier. The Rectifier provided the massive low-end chunk, while the Marshall added grit and clarity.
• Effects: The main effect is a high-gain distortion, but a subtle Chorus or Flanger effect is often layered in the clean/atmospheric parts to add shimmer and depth, particularly during the verse and interlude sections.

To get his tone, focus on a high-gain setting with a slightly scooped mid-range, but ensure the bass frequencies remain tight and defined, not muddy. Reddit threads and gear forums in 2024 continue to analyze his specific amp settings, showing the enduring interest in this classic tone.

Secret #4: The Bassline's Underrated Rhythmic Foundation

While the guitar riff gets all the attention, Chi Cheng's bassline is the unheralded hero of the song. The bass tabs for "My Own Summer" are deceptively simple but absolutely essential. The bass often plays a complementary, almost counter-rhythm to the guitar, locking in tightly with Abe Cunningham's drums.

The bass tone is deep, round, and slightly distorted, providing a cushion of low-frequency sound that makes the guitar's Db chugs feel even heavier. If you’re playing this song with a band, ensure the bassist is focusing on groove and tone, not just following the guitar riff note-for-note. The bass often holds the rhythm during the atmospheric verse, allowing the guitar to float above it.

Secret #5: The 2024 Live Performance Update

One of the best ways to understand a song's feel is to see how the band plays it live decades later. Deftones’ 2024 festival run, including massive sets at Coachella 2024 and the Lollapalooza 2024 aftershow, proves the song's enduring relevance.

Live performances in 2024 show that the band has lost none of the song's intensity. Key takeaways for mastering the song from the latest live footage:

• Chino's Intensity: Chino Moreno’s vocal delivery remains a raw, visceral performance, emphasizing the emotional core of the lyrics.
• Tempo and Groove: The band maintains a tight, slightly slower groove than many covers, allowing the heavy riffs to breathe and feel more impactful.
• The Build-up: The live dynamic contrast is even more exaggerated. The verse is almost whisper-quiet, making the chorus explosion a truly physical experience for the audience.

Secret #6: The Hidden Lyrical Intent

The tabs are the mechanics, but the lyrics are the soul. Chino Moreno has stated that the lyrics for "My Own Summer" are about the desire to escape the summer heat and the general malaise that comes with it, hence the "Shove It" refrain—an aggressive pushback against the season. This lyrical intent informs the song's structure: the quiet, stifling verses represent the oppressive heat, and the loud, crashing chorus is the violent rejection and escape.

Understanding this intention will help you embody the song's mood, making your performance of the tabs more expressive and authentic. The music is a direct sonic representation of the lyrics' emotional turmoil.

Secret #7: The Legacy of a Nu-Metal Crossover Hit

The final secret to appreciating the tabs is realizing the song's place in music history. Released in 1997, "My Own Summer (Shove It)" served as a crucial bridge between the emerging nu-metal scene and the more established alternative rock world. Its inclusion on The Matrix soundtrack cemented its status as a cultural touchstone.

The enduring popularity of the song and the continued search for accurate guitar tabs is a testament to its unique composition. It’s a track that taught a generation of guitarists the power of low tunings, dynamic shifts, and atmospheric textures—elements that transcended the typical "chug-chug" riffs of its contemporaries. Mastering these tabs isn't just learning a song; it's learning a foundational piece of modern heavy music history.